FREE Things to do with Kids Around DFW
Need something to do with your kids that won’t cost a lot? DFW has lots of FREE things to do with kids. Check out our handy list of 30+ free things to do with your kids around town.
Adrian E. Flatt, M.D. Hand Collection
Baylor University Medical Center
3500 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX
Phone: 214-820-4581
From presidents to football players, the hands of people that have made some of the greatest contributions to society are preserved forever in this unusual personal collection. Free admission.
African American Museum
3536 Grand Ave, Dallas, TX
www.aamdallas.org
The African American Museum is the only one of its kind in the Southwestern Region devoted to the preservation and display of African American artistic, cultural and historical materials. It has one of the largest African American Folk Art collections in the United States.Admission to the African American Museum, Dallas is free except for special exhibitions, special events and groups of 10 or more; members are free.
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
3501 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX
www.cartermuseum.org
This free museum offers a stunning survey of western American art, from the first landscape painters of the 1830s to modern artists of the 20th century.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
9000 Blue Mound Road, Fort Worth, TX
www.moneyfactory.com
The BEP’s public Tour and Visitor Center located in Fort Worth, Texas is a great place to learn about U.S. currency. Visitors can see where billions of dollars are printed from an enclosed walkway, which is suspended above the production floor. Available before or after the free self-guided tour, the experience includes an informative theater film, and visitors have the opportunity to walk through two floors of interactive exhibits and displays showcasing currency history and the intricate art of currency manufacturing. Also located in the visitor center is the Moneyfactory Gift Shop where the public can purchase souvenir items including uncut currency sheets and other specialty currency products.
Cowtown Opry
131 E Exchange Avenue Ste 140, Fort Worth, TX
www.cowtownopry.org
A nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of country music as a part of Texas heritage, the Cowtown Opry provides for one of the most authentic Western experiences in the area.
Crow Collection of Asian Art
2010 Flora Street, Dallas, TX
www.crowcollection.org
A carefully curated collection of over 600 master works hailing from Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. Visitors can explore a series of galleries showcasing art objects, paintings, scrolls and large architectural pieces, some of which dates back to the 10th century. The museum also hosts special exhibitions featuring art from renowned collectors, other museums and private institutions throughout the world. For kids and families, Adventure Asia provides performances, storytelling, art activities, and more.
Dallas Museum of Art
1717 North Harwood, Dallas, TX
www.dma.org
The DMA invites everyone from toddlers to teens to make themselves at home in the Museum galleries. Whether you’re looking for quiet time with your baby, messy fun for your preschooler, or an art workshop for your tween, they have an activity just for you.
Denton Firefighters Museum
332 East Hickory Street, Denton, TX
Website
The unique Denton firefighters museum collection contains pieces spanning from 1800 to modern day. Learn about Denton’s amazing history of tragedy, triumph, and true heroes. Admission is free.
Frisco Fire Safety Town
8601 Gary Burns Drive, Frisco, TX
www.friscofiresafetytown.com
Year-round safety education classes run by the Frisco Fire Department where kids of all ages learn how to prevent injuries and stay safe.
Fritz Park Petting Farm
312 E. Vilbig, Irving, TX
Website
The free petting farm is only open during the months of June and July, weather permitting. Located near East 15th Street and East Vilbig Road.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
3220 Botanic Garden, Blvd, Fort Worth, TX
www.fwbg.org
Enjoy the captivating beauty of the oldest botanic garden in Texas. Fort Worth’s Botanic Gardens are home to more than 2,500 species of plants in its 21 specialty gardens.
Fort Worth Water Gardens
1502 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, TX
Website
The Fort Worth Water Gardens is a beautiful and refreshing oasis adjacent to the Fort Worth Convention Center. Visitors can experience a variety of water features as they wander through this relaxing urban plaza. The park features three pools of water: the aerating, the quiet and the active pool.
Grapevine Botanical Gardens
411 Ball Street, Grapevine, TX
Website
Park with trails, streams, ponds, sitting areas and hundreds of varieties of plants for viewing.
Home Depot
Search for a location near you on their website
Kids workshops provide a lively environment mixing skill-building, creativity, and safety for future DIYers.
Interurban Railway Museum
901 E. 15th Street, Plano, TX
www.interurbanrailwaymuseum.org
Features interactive exhibits on electricity, science, and Plano’s history.
Irving Arts Center
3333 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX
www.irvingartscenter.com
A 10-acre art center in the heart of DFW that caters to all ages within the community. Free admission to gallery exhibits and the sculpture garden which showcases permanent works and temporary installations amidst flowers and fountains. There are also monthly and annual events that are free for kids. Visit their website for details.
Kimbell Art Museum
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd. Fort Worth, TX
www.kimbellart.org
Admission to the museum’s permanent collection is always free. The Kimbell also offers free creative art workshops for kids; visit their website for details.
Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy (between Pearl Street and St. Paul), Dallas, TX
www.klydewarrenpark.org
This 5.2-acre urban deck-park is a popular, lush green space in the heart of downtown that connects Uptown with the Arts District and is a favorite among locals.
Lakeshore Learning
Various locations.
Search for a location near you on their website.
Every Saturday from 11:00-3:00pm. Free crafts for kids ages 3 and up; no reservations need. Visit their website for weekly themes and to find a location near you.
Latino Cultural Center
2600 Live Oak St, Dallas, TX
www.lcc.dallasculture.org
A multi-disciplinary arts center and regional catalyst for the preservation, development and promotion of Latino and Hispanic arts and culture. Access to the facility is free, but an admission fee may be required to attend some events. Visit their website for details.
Mary Kay Museum
16251 Dallas Parkway
Addison, Texas 75001
www.marykaymuseum.com
The Mary Kay Museum is part history lesson, part tribute and part recognition hall devoted to the life of one of America’s most famous businesswomen, Mary Kay Ash. It’s located inside the glass lobby of the Mary Kay World Headquarters in North Dallas.
McKinney Avenue Trolley M-Line
Website suggests to park at uptown station located at 2700 Cityplace West Blvd.
www.mata.org
Restored, vintage trolleys that run through Uptown and Downtown; free to ride. The trolleys stop at several points of interest, including West Village, Hotel Zaza, Shops at The Crescent, Dallas Arts District and more.
Mineral Wells Fossil Park
2375 Indian Creek Road, Mineral Wells, TX
www.mineralwellsfossilpark.com
Mineral Wells Fossil Park provides the fossil enthusiast, paleontologist and student an excellent opportunity to see and collect well preserved “Pennsylvanian Period” fossils with ease and abundance. These fossils have been dated to be just over 300 million years old. Admission to the park is free.
Monnig Meteorite Gallery at TCU
2950 W. Bowie St, Fort Worth, TX
Website
Experience pieces of the Solar System up close and explore the mysteries of meteorites! The Gallery is located on the TCU campus in the Sid Richardson Science Building at the corner of West Bowie Street and Cockrell Street.
Nasher Sculpture Center
2001 Flora Street
Dallas, Texas 75201
www.nashersculpturecenter.org
A museum oasis in the heart of downtown Dallas and home to one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculptures in the world. Free admission for children 12 and under as well as for First Responders during regular museum hours. Free admission for everyone on first Saturday of the month, 10 am – 5 pm, presented by Target.
National Scouting Museum
1329 W. Walnut Hill Ln, Irving, TX
www.bsamuseum.org
The National Scouting Museum is the official museum of the Boy Scouts of America. The Museum is committed to preserving the rich, 100+ year history of the Scouting movement by collecting, organizing, preserving and displaying some of Scouting’s greatest treasures. This collection not only documents Scouting’s unique influence on American culture, but also tells the story of a movement that has touched more than 110 million young people.
River Legacy Park
701 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, TX
www.riverlegacy.org
A 1,300-acre oasis along the Trinity River, River Legacy is the perfect family go-to spot for hiking, biking, kite flying, and picnicking. The free Living Science Center offers interactive exhibits, terrariums, nature trails, and special Saturday events. You could easily spend a full day there learning all about local animals and plant life.
Sid Richardson Museum
309 Main St. Sundance Square Fort Worth, TX
www.sidrichardsonmuseum.org
Located in historic Sundance Square, the Sid Richardson Museum features permanent and special exhibitions of paintings by the premier Western artists
Stockyards Museum
131 E Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, TX
www.stockyardsmuseum.org
This historic site offers visitors the chance to explore the rich history of Fort Worth and how it was developed from a stop for cowboys driving cattle north to the stock market of the West that sold millions of heads of cattle, and then shipped them by railroad.
Texas Sculpture Garden
6801 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco, TX
www.texassculpturegarden.org
A private collection open to the public year-round, comprised of more than 40 works of contemporary sculpture, celebrating the work of several prominent Texas artists throughout four sprawling acres. Free admission.
The Herd
E. Exchange Ave in Ft. Worth
Website
The Old West comes to life before your eyes during the Fort Worth Herd’s twice-daily cattle drive. The Cattle Drive travels through the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards on E. Exchange Avenue in front of the Fort Worth Livestock Exchange Building and then back to the holding pens behind the Livestock Exchange Building for viewing. Time: 11:30 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. Daily, Weather Permitting
Trinity River Audubon Center
Offers something for the whole family – an interactive exhibit hall, 5 miles of hiking trails through the Great Trinity Forest and our prairies and wetlands, a nature store, classes, events, and more.
Trinity Trails
offers 40 miles of running or biking trails, 17 trailheads for picnics and rest stops, five boat launches for canoes, kayaks and sculls, equestrian trails for horseback riding, a water-ski slalom course and fishing in a number of spots.
White Rock Lake Park
8300 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX
www.whiterockdallas.org
The park spans more than 1,015 acres and includes well-maintained hike-and-bike trails, sailing, kayaking, bird watching, picnic sites, fishing, and a host of other outdoor activities.
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