Staying in Town for Spring Break? Make the Most of Your Staycation

Storytime Dallas

Spring Break Activities and Ideas

for Dallas – Ft Worth

If you and the kids are looking for some super fun family activities around the DFW metroplex, read on!

Staycation has become a popular buzz word of late and a new sales gimmick used by local businesses to attract attention. But in all honesty, many of us have often taken “staycations” and they can be both fun and cost effective. According to WiseGeek.com “A staycation is a unique kind of vacation in which vacationers, or staycationers in this case, stay at home instead of going away. One might ask how a staycation can be a vacation if it is spent at home. The idea behind a staycation is that one take time away from their everyday life, without actually having to travel away.” Whether money is tight, time is short or you just don’t like to fly and car trips make you crazy, a “staycation” can be a fun alternative. Here are a few tips on how to make the most out of your staycation and a few, fun ideas on where to go in the metroplex.

  • Pick a theme and make a list of activities around that theme. If you love the beach, see how many water-filled ideas you can come up with. A hose or a sprinkler in the backyard can be tons of fun. When was the last time you played with water balloons or water guns?
  • Stay at a local hotel and take advantage of nearby activities, sight seeing and restaurants. You still save on gas and airline tickets. Check out Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine for a truly unique local get away.

If you and your kids like animals, you have lots of great opportunities in the metroplex or within a few hours drive:

zoo animals

  • Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch in Pilot Point – Make sure to check website for dates they are open to the public.  www.sharkarosa.com

storytime

Don’t forget to schedule some down time, too!

  • Read a book, take a bubble bath, watch a family-friendly video and eat popcorn or spend a whole day in your pajamas!
  • Go to a local movie (Studio Movie Grill is our family favorite, watch for their Saturday Kidtoons movies.)
  • Visit a storytime at a local bookstore like Half Price Books or library. See our list of links to local libraries here.
  • Go to a  mall that you have never been to before. There are plenty to choose from around the metroplex: Collin Creek Mall, Willowbend Mall, Stonebriar Mall – all in Collin County. Firewheel Mall in Garland. Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine. Parks Mall in Arlington. Valley View in Lewisville. North Park Mall in Dallas. Many of them have great play scapes for kids. Firewheel is outside! Don’t forget the outlet malls, too.
  • Go to a fun, crafty place and make art like Smashing Times (Dallas), Art & Soul Art Studio (Plano), Quiggly’s Clayhouse (Richardson), Color Me Mine (Frisco and Flower Mound), Sunshine Glaze (Southlake), Paint Yer Pottery(Dallas) or Creative Hands (Pantego/Arlington).
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4 Comments

  1. Jennifer Barling

    Great ideas! Just to clarify on the malls – there is no Arlington Heights mall in Arlington. There’s The Parks Mall, which has ice skating, a bouncy place, and a great food court.

    There’s also the Arlington Highlands, which offers amazing shopping and food, but does not have a specific kids’ play area. There’s a stream outside that older kids love to climb around, but it’s definitely not something for the little ones. If you can spare a few bucks and want some grown-up time, The Highlands does have Kidspark, a fun drop-in daycare that charges by the hour. They have tons of activities, including crafts and even video games for the older kids.

    Thanks for this list!
    Jen Barling

    • Jennifer, Thank you so much for your comments and clarifications! We appreciate it so much. Happy Spring Break!

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