Dallas/Grapevine Area for Kids

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

We're taking a whirlwind trip to Dallas (staying at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine for two nights) with the kids at the beginning of Spring Break (March 14-16). They've been dying to take the train, so we're taking the Amtrak down there, and my mom and gramma are meeting us with the car.

We've always done Dallas as grown-up girls only one-day shopping sprees (once every couple of months), so I'm not too familiar with the area as far as kids' activities. What's fun for DS4 and DNiece7? I thought about Six Flags, if it's open, but our concern is that it will pale in comparison to Disney and the kids will be bored (well, us, too ). I know they want to eat at Rainforest, so we'll do that, too. I looked at the Magic Time Machine, but it doesn't have very good reviews. Other than that, I'm at a loss for what to do with the kiddos.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The Great Wolf lodge is right near the Gaylord.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

The Great Wolf lodge is right near the Gaylord.

Yes! That's our out-of-school celebration hotel for the end of May (or beginning of June with all our snow days!!!!). The kids are really excited about that one!

 

[stsomewhere]

The Dallas Aquarium
American girl Doll store

 

[Planogirl]

The aquarium in downtown Dallas is outstanding. Just don't confuse it with the horrible aquarium in City Park.

The Fort Worth Zoo is world class and Fort Worth has also recently reopened a remodeled Science Museum.

There is a Medieval Times in Dallas.

There are also scattered waterparks including a small one called NRH2O that DS and DH used to go to when DS was younger.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

My DD and I visited family in Dallas two summers ago - we had a car and the days to ourselves - like earlier suggestions - we did the Downtown Dallas Aquarium - it was a great visit - nicely laid out and not very expensive. We also went to the Fort Worth Zoo! Amazing! We were there from opening to close and wish we had more time! Lots of animals - I especially liked the "Texas" town at the back of the park. Highly recommended!!

http://www.dwazoo.com/d/
http://www.fortworthzoo.com/

We also spent the part of a couple of days at Grapevine Mills - awesome mall! There is a Rainforest Cafe inside, but also a great movie theater (we saw Kung Foo Panda), as well as GameWorks - which is an arcade/restaurant - DD loved it there! There is also a Build A Bear, Ice Skating Rink, Skatepark, glow in the dark mini-golf, a carousel (in/near the food court) - and a Disney store! http://www.simon.com/mall/malldirectory.aspx?id=1248 By far our favorite Mall anywhere!! There is also a Bass Pro Shop basically in the parking lot - that is a tourist attraction itself.

Here is the link to the thread where I asked basically the same question!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1846442


Hope you have a great visit!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

My DD and I visited family in Dallas two summers ago - we had a car and the days to ourselves - like earlier suggestions - we did the Downtown Dallas Aquarium - it was a great visit - nicely laid out and not very expensive. We also went to the Fort Worth Zoo! Amazing! We were there from opening to close and wish we had more time! Lots of animals - I especially liked the "Texas" town at the back of the park. Highly recommended!!

http://www.dwazoo.com/d/
http://www.fortworthzoo.com/

We also spent the part of a couple of days at Grapevine Mills - awesome mall! There is a Rainforest Cafe inside, but also a great movie theater (we saw Kung Foo Panda), as well as GameWorks - which is an arcade/restaurant - DD loved it there! There is also a Build A Bear, Ice Skating Rink, Skatepark, glow in the dark mini-golf, a carousel (in/near the food court) - and a Disney store! http://www.simon.com/mall/malldirectory.aspx?id=1248 By far our favorite Mall anywhere!! There is also a Bass Pro Shop basically in the parking lot - that is a tourist attraction itself.

Here is the link to the thread where I asked basically the same question!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1846442


Hope you have a great visit!

Oh, we're VERY well acquainted with Dallas area shopping...from Grapevine to Galleria to North Park to...

It's just the kids' stuff I wasn't too familiar with...yet. I think we'll definitely hit the zoo (ours has a reciprocal program with Ft. Worth). We'll feel the kids out on the aquarium. DNiece has been asking to go to SeaWorld, so it might be up her alley.

Anymore???

 

[missypie]

Welcome to my town and thanks in advance for spending lots of money!

If the kids love trains, ride the steam train from downtown Grapevine to Ft. Worth and back.

https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/FestivalsAndEvents/EventDetails/tabid/533/Default.aspx?EID=226

Ft. Worth has the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame if you want western type of entertainment.

Do check out the Grapevine Mills website - lots of entertainment and food options. (Including a large movie theater if it rains.)

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Welcome to my town and thanks in advance for spending lots of money!

If the kids love trains, ride the steam train from downtown Grapevine to Ft. Worth and back.

https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/FestivalsAndEvents/EventDetails/tabid/533/Default.aspx?EID=226

Ft. Worth has the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame if you want western type of entertainment.

Do check out the Grapevine Mills website - lots of entertainment and food options. (Including a large movie theater if it rains.)

We stayed at the Hilton just outside GMills over New Year's, and we're definitely shopping pros. If you're in Dallas, we definitely drop lots and lots of money in the area several times a year. Loooove NorthPark!! It's more my taste than GMills, but I have to hit the Disney Store and Sanrio!!!

 

[tchrrx]

We're considering going to Dallas for Spring Break this year also. If you take the train, will you rent a car? Last year we stayed at the Galleria. We went to the American Girl store & Medieval Times. DH really wants to go to Six Flags, but I'm afraid it will be too crowded & dirty. Plus, I don't like waiting in long lines, but I refuse to pay for a 'FastPass' thing! Disney has spoiled me & I don't know that I can handle Six Flags.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

We're considering going to Dallas for Spring Break this year also. If you take the train, will you rent a car? Last year we stayed at the Galleria. We went to the American Girl store & Medieval Times. DH really wants to go to Six Flags, but I'm afraid it will be too crowded & dirty. Plus, I don't like waiting in long lines, but I refuse to pay for a 'FastPass' thing! Disney has spoiled me & I don't know that I can handle Six Flags.

My mom and gramma will meet us (my grampa, the kids and me) at the train station with our car (they'll beat the train driving down from Norman). We would rent, though, if we weren't going to have a car otherwise.

I'd love to hit Bliss for a nice spa afternoon, but this trip is more for the kids.

How was Medieval Times? I don't know that my little guys would be too interested, but I did look up some info. DNiece isn't into AG, or that would be on the list, too.

I looked at Six Flags info today, too, and they're offering $25 tickets for that week. I looked at doing the VIP thing, but I don't know that it would really be worth it there. Definitely in the same Disney snob boat.

I would have just been done with it if I booked Great Wolf Lodge, but we already planned on that for the first week of summer, and I want it to be a fun, new surprise. Really, the kids would be completely content hanging out at the pool all day (and DS4 loves hotel rooms...I have no idea why). I'd just like to check out what the area has to offer (aside from the shopping spots we always hit).

 

[tchrrx]

Where did you find the $25 ticket offer? I may consider going for that rate.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Where did you find the $25 ticket offer? I may consider going for that rate.

It's on the web site under Spring Break by Stride.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Things I miss about DFW, mexican food and Virgin Records in Grapevine Mall. Still kicking myself over not buying CDs there.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Things I miss about DFW, mexican food and Virgin Records in Grapevine Mall. Still kicking myself over not buying CDs there.

It was such a bummer to lose that cut through the middle of the mall.

 

[m&m's mom]

We loved, loved The Magic Time Machine in Addison. The food was very good and we just had the best waitrss ever. She was a hoot!
I am not super fond of Grapevine Mills Mall. It is kind of loud and impersonal for my tastes but there is RFC there and also a Build a Bear. They also have the ice skating rink.
Bass Pro Shop is next door to the mall and that can be fun to spend some time at. Fuddruckers is a good place to eat at and it is very close.
Moving further away, one of me and my kids favorite place is the Dallas World Aquarium. We go at least once a year. They have the cutest Manatees and a 3 toed Sloth that is adorable.
I live pretty close to the Gaylord area and dang if I can think of other things to do.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

I'd definitely go to the Dallas Aquarium. I believe there's also a skating rink downtown near the aquarium. There's also the Hard Rock, House of Blues, etc. for lunch/dinner down in that area. The victory park area is nice, but there isn't really anything to do, besides catching a Stars/Mavs game at the American Airlines center.

Another option is the Dallas/Ft. Worth Zoo. You can catch the train (I believe it's called the TRE) in downtown Dallas over to Ft. Worth.

Northpark has Build a Bear and a Lego store (that just opened recently, I believe).

I wouldn't go to Six Flags. A lot of middle/high school kids spend their spring breaks there and I've heard it can get pretty busy. If you want to do Six Flags, I'd wait until summer when it's practically empty (that's when I go).

Although it might be boring for the kids, you can take tours of the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington. You get to go up in the press box, down in the locker room, and lots of other cool places. They let us run around down on the field after the tour was over, but I don't think they let you do that all the time.

There's also the Dallas Arboretum, but that might be pretty boring for the kids.

ETA: I just looked up some events online, and it looks like Thomas the Tank Engine will be in Grapevine at that time. No idea if your kids are into that though.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

ETA: I just looked up some events online, and it looks like Thomas the Tank Engine will be in Grapevine at that time. No idea if your kids are into that though.

Oooooooh no!!! DS4 still love Thomas!! In fact, he recently asked when Thomas was coming back to OK.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

Oooooooh no!!! DS4 still love Thomas!! In fact, he recently asked when Thomas was coming back to OK.

Here's the link for Thomas in Grapevine. It looks like he'll only be there March 12-14. Depending on what time you got down there you should be able to see him