The aquarium, much like the zoo, is one of the best family activities because it ends up not only being fun for the kids but for the adults as well. If you’re looking for a great day trip, The Dallas World Aquarium, located in the West End Historic District of downtown Dallas, is an excellent choice. The aquarium houses many endangered creatures in an effort to conserve Amazonian and Antillean manatees. If you travel upstairs, you can check out a reproduction of the Orinoco Rainforest. You’ll see toucans flying around or three-toed sloths hanging from trees. There are also poison dart frogs, Orinoco crocodiles, Giant river otters, and vampire bats. If you venture on the main floor, you will see aquariums filled with fish, sea anemones, coral, and jellyfish. The most exciting part of the exhibit is the 40-foot tunnel visitors can walk through. Watch fish of the continental shelf swim around you and over you too! On top of all this, the aquarium puts on daily performances.

Another great choice is the Dallas Children’s Theater, which is focused on creating theater for young children and families. The theater has nine main stage productions annually, a national touring company, and educational programs. The next upcoming play is, Pinkalicious: The Musical, which is running from September 21-October 21. Take your family to sing and dance with your favorite characters from the book Pinkalicious. And who can forget the infamous series Junie B. Jones by Barbara Parks? This holiday season, Junie B. will be taking the stage in Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. It’s going to be pure mayhem with this spunky first grader! Tickets start at $12.00. This couldn’t be any more perfect if you’re looking for a night on the town with the family.

If the other two options don’t appeal to you, maybe you and your family should consider a trip to the Dallas Arboretum. With 66-acres of gardens, the Arboretum is known for being one of the most beautiful outdoor attractions in Dallas. The gardens have seasonal flowers, shrubs, and trees that look beautiful on White Rock Lake. The Arboretum also has outdoor festivals, concerts, and art shows as well as indoor and outdoor dining. If you’re looking for more of an educational experience for your kids, the Arboretum offers classroom and outdoor labs that focus on nature while integrating hands-on activities. Adults can take part in the educational fun too! The Arboretum has year-round adult educational classes in horticulture, landscape design, floral design, and much more.