Considered the cultural gateway into the American West and sprawling over almost three hundred square miles, Fort Worth is a surprisingly impressive family vacation destination. With scores of museums, art galleries and recreational options to choose from, you’re sure to find something to suit every member of your family in the Fort Worth area. These ten attractions are ideally suited to visiting with the younger members of your household, who will find more than enough to keep them engaged and entertained while you’re away from home.
- Trinity Park (Fort Worth, TX 76107) – One of the best playgrounds in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to ParentsConnect.com, Trinity park wanders through cultural districts and downtown with paved multi-use paths, a scattering of playgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms and shelters along the trails. Be sure to check out the Shakespeare in the Park program if you’re visiting Fort Worth during the summer months, or Mayfest in the spring.
- Department of the Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Fort Worth, TX 76131) – Kids can learn how money is made at the Department of the Treasury, and interesting lesson in today’s debit-card economy. The forty-five minute tour is guided, and admission is free, with plenty of exhibits and installations displaying the history of paper currency and how it’s created.
- Fort Worth Zoo (Fort Worth, TX 76110) – The pathways at the Fort Worth Zoo are largely shaded and easy to navigate, with plenty of exciting exhibits and habitats along the way. If possible, arrange your trip so that you can take advantage of their half-price admission program on Wednesdays throughout the year.
- Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, TX 76107) – Dig for dinosaur bones, wander through a specially-designed Children’s Museum exhibit aimed at kids under the age of eight, catch a film in the IMAX theater or a show at the Noble Planetarium, all on one inclusive campus. There’s plenty to excite and entertain visitors of all ages at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, meaning that adults and teenagers aren’t forced to suffer through an experience aimed solely at little ones.
- Cowtown Cattlepen Maze (Fort Worth, TX 76106) – More than five thousand, four hundred square feet of ever-changing wooden pathways designed to mimic the motif of the Old West, the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze will keep your kids challenged and excited. Race the clock or each other, maybe winning a prize along the way. Don’t forget to stop by the observation deck before starting out, to strategize and plan a navigation plan.
- Burger’s Lake (Fort Worth, TX 76114) – A spring-fed lake perfect for swimming and cooling off during Texas summers sprawls over an entire acre of this thirty-acre park, with six diving boards, a twenty-five-foot trapeze, a massive slide and inner tubes for lakeside fun. Those that aren’t fond of the water can test their skills on the volleyball park, and take advantage of a picnic table for a lunch break, of which there are more than three hundred.
- National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame (Fort Worth, TX 76107) – Girls are sure to be thrilled with a museum dedicated to the efforts and accomplishments of women in the Old West, as well as the chance to hop on a green-screened simulated bronc ride that puts them right in the middle of their own old western film. Little ones under the age of six will also love the Connie Reeves Discovery Corral, which provides plenty of age-appropriate.
- American Airlines CR Smith Museum (Fort Worth, TX 76155) – Commercial aviation is the star of the show at the American Airlines CR Smith Museum, which features plenty of hands-on activities and a flight simulator to help kids and adults alike understand and appreciate the wonder of commercial air travel. If you’re in the Fort Worth area for an extended period during the summer months, you may also be interested in looking into the Eagle Aviation Academy, a week-long program for kids in fifth through eight grade to learn more about aviation.
- Kimbell Art Museum (Fort Worth, TX 76107) – Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of modern architecture, housing one of the best art collection in the world, the Kimbell Museum is a destination not to be missed if you have any interest in instilling an appreciation for the arts in your children. Keep in mind that even though the Kimbell is considered a family-friendly attraction, strollers are not permitted in the galleries during peak times.
- The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (Fort Worth, TX 76107) – As the oldest art museum in the state of Texas and one of the oldest in the entire Western region of the United States, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is a great stop for families due to their specialized art programs for kids. The first Sunday of each month is a free-admission day, which can be helpful if your vacation is beginning to run a bit over-budget.
Hotwire.com placed Fort Worth at number four on their “Value friendly destinations” list, making it an ideal choice for family vacations where the budget is a concern. The unique atmosphere of the city will allow your family to explore everything from ranch life to refined museums and galleries, leaving you with a well-balanced and inclusive vacation experience. A thriving downtown area and blossoming culinary scene will also provide the adults in the family with plenty of grown-up diversions after the kids are in bed.