Family Coming to Town Need Ides on What to Do...?

I always love the DALLAS WORLD AQUARIUM In Down Town Dallas Its air conditioned and lots to look at plus you can have lunch there in one of their 2 restraunts.

A. J

I'm not from around here myself, and I have family visiting soon as well, so I'll be keeping my eyes on the replies you get :)

I've heard the Dallas Aquarium is very nice, (the zoo is only OK). Also, friends suggested going to a Rodeo (don't know details on that, though). Check with your Chamber of Commerce, and AAA (the auto club) - they know a lot about the area, I'm sure, and are always helpful.

Tameko,

It really depends where you live! If you are looking to do things cheap - I would rule out the aquarium. My husband and I walked away when we heard the price of the tickets. I forget how much they are, but you can see for yourself on their website.

I live in the Mesquite area, and have family coming in as well. If it wasn't so darn hot out, we would have A LOT more to do, but this heat just sucks! :)

We are going to:
Go to the dollar movies on Tuesday - they are all .50 cents that day. www.starplexcinemas.com

If you want to see a NEW movie, at a more comfortable theater, go to the starplex in Forney. During the day, all tickets are only $5.

For supper that night, we are going to Double Daves. Kids eat free on Tuesday nights! (A lot of restaurants do this.)

We are going to Dallas one day. We are going to start at the Farmer's Market (google it) and then head over to the West End.

One day, we are going swimming at Town East Pool, it is only $2 per person to get in, and we can take a cooler of food.

Another day, we are going to a little water park in Mesquite, and it cost $4 to get in. The littler kids will love it there. If you look on Mesquite's website, it is the pool off of Galloway. There is a HUGE area that is just for the smaller kids!

If you were thinking of something like the water park in Arlington, DON'T GO TO IT! Check out the water park, "Hawaiian Falls" in Garland. It is about $20 to get in (MUCH better price than Hurricane Harbor) and is a fun time. You can even buy your tickets online and include a lunch with the price of the ticket. I do NOT suggest that though!

Ft. Worth will never disappoint. It is really a tourist attraction in itself. (BTW, the Ft. Worth Zoo is great!)

You just have to go to the Mesquite Rodeo. It is not that expensive, and the cheap seats are great to sit in. You can find their website online. Don't eat at their restaurant though, unless you want to say you have eaten there. There are plenty of food stops around the arena like Whataburger, IHOP, Taco Bell... stuff like that. Not to mention further up 635, you have restaurant row.

The Main Event in Plano is someplace you can spend all day. You can also spend all of your money if you are not careful! They do have a great deal on laser tag though. If you have not tried laser tag - you are missing out! It is a blast! and I am not the competitive type)

In Mesquite, there is "Celebration Station". If you look on their site, you are likely to find deals, or when certain things there are cheaper than normal. They have pizza, a HORRIBLE arcade, mini golf, rock climbing wall, go carts, bumper boats, laser tag...

If you like the heat of Texas summers, then head out to Garland and "hike" around the Duck Creek park. It is a cement hike, mostly shaded, and you even run across the creek that is fun to wade in.

If they are going to be here on the right weekend, you can go to "First Monday" in Canton. It is a lot of fun. It is like a huge flea market / craft show and they even sell goats, chickens, and stuff like that.

Just east of Terrel, there is a place called Ham Orchard. www.hamorchard.com. You can pick your own berries, and it is kinda like a farmer's market. We are going there for the first time today, but they are really known for their fresh fruit and homemade soft serve ice cream.

Ugh. That is all i can think of right now.

Have fun! And let me know if you do any of these things and what you thought!
E.

Rosemeade Recreation Center in Carrollton has a Rainforest Water Park at their swimming complex. Lots of fun. Residents are $3 and non residents are around $5, I believe.

Coppell has a park, too. Not sure of the prices though. It is suppose to be fun.

Grapevine Mills Mall may offer some entertainment, too. You could go to Rainforest Cafe which isn't necessarily cheap by any means but it is very fun for kids and adults alike.

Sandy Lake Amusement Park in Carrollton might offer some fun as well. You could picnic and play. If my memory serves me correct they have a pool area as well.

Las Colinas Movie Studios might be fun.

Fairpark activities might be fun... Science Place, Aquarium etc., Children's Musuem

Life's a Beach in Flower Mound is suppose to be a great place for eats and the children supposedly can play in the sand and play area. I plan on taking my little one there, soon.

Jump Town in Richardson (maybe Plano) is something that parents and kids both like to do. They usually have open days for the public to participate.

How about a tour of the treasury in north Fort Worth. There are only 2 in the United States and it's free. It is amazing!

I know you have a ton of ideas...but the Airhogs baseball team in Grand Prairie is way fun! They always have promotion nights, and really inexpensive to get in...just eat before you go! They have a website! Really kid friendly, too.

The heat is def ugh at this time of year...so do things early go back home for relax time and get back out in the eve! Just be careful with the heat and the kiddos....even though they are probably very use to the heat.

Oh the Oasis at Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie is a fun atmosphere and not that costly...sometimes they have bands playing as well depending on when you go...and you can feed the ducks and the fish!

If you want to take a country trip go to Athens and the fish hatchery it is really kind of cool and cheap!

Enjoy your visitors...aren't summers fun!

I don't know where you live...but Celebration Park in Allen is AWESOME...they have a spray park and a huge playground...big fields to play frisbee, soccer, etc....PLUS....It's FREE!!!!!!Also, The Dallas Children's Theater is doing a Frog and Toad play. Not sure it would be much fun for your little guy, but I'm sure the 6 year olds would enjoy it.

www.dct.org

Have fun and enjoy your family!!!!!

A. ():-)

You could try the Fort Worth Zoo on Wednesdays. I think it's half price on that day!

Discover Yarncoture www.yarncoture.etsy.com

Don't forget to bring them to the Harbor in Rockwall. Eat at one of their great restaurants and then the 6 year old can play in the fountain in front of Gloria's.

Well you can spend a couple of hours at the Fort Worth Stock- yards. I think its 11:00am or 11:30am and again at 7:30 pm they have the bulls walk down the street, they have stuff to do. IF you decided to go later one after looking around head to Billy Bobs sometimes they have concerts there and you can watch some bull riding. It will cost some money but its fun.

Fort Worth Zoo is fun and not that expensive. The Kids will love it. When its hot they do have the sprinklers on it helps cool you down. IF you live near by it might be worth buying the membership and then you'll be able to get there tickets at discounted price.

You can probley spend the day in Dallas as well doing the Aquarium its a little expensive but not disappointing. Near by is the 6 floor museum (where JFK was shot). Alot of shopping and food. Then there is the Farmers Market. Then there is the Dallas Zoo. I only went there once. I like the Ft Worth Zoo better.

Hi Tameko,
I highly recommend "Dallas World Aquarium" in down town Dallas. I recommend buying a membership that is good for 1 year and you can visit as often as you would like. I enjoy going and seeing the penguins, 3 toed sloth, crocodile, monkeys,otters,Jaguar, the rainforest, fish from all over the world and much, much more most being in doors. I also recommend planning to eat a delicious lunch at one of the restaurants called "Eighteen-O-One"! They have an excellent chef! I recommend calling to make reservations before you go, the hours the restaurant is open are 11:30 - 2:30pm. You can make a day of it in down town Dallas! ###-###-####. Our family went about two weeks ago and we plan to go back soon. My daughters really enjoy it when we go for a day to Dallas World Aquarium! R.

We love the Frisco Roughriders minor league baseball team. Great venue, small area. It is a fun people watching social place. You can get tickets very cheaply, less than $10 I think, take blankets and sit in the grass. Just watch out for balls!! We enjoy going there.

Stonebriar Mall for ice skating. Ice skating is also as Dr. Pepper center and Galleria.

Mesquite Rodeo is fun for a one time see and do if you have not done so.

Dallas Aquarium is fun. Can get pricey.

Don Rodenbaugh natatorium in Allen is closed in facility for swimming and has a small water park area INDOORS!

Dave and Busters. Like Main Event, can get pricey but fun. There are several in the area.

Tour the 6th floor if you are downtown. Check out the W and Ghostbar, hotel Zaza and the Crescent.

Pizza Hut Park in Frisco for soccer.

That is all I can think of right now.

tf

Look up your local Space Walk on the web: www.herecomesfun.com (click: "find a branch" and enter your zip code)

I run the branch in Tyler, but there is one in your area. Water slides are a GREAT way to cool down in the HOT Texas heat. They will set it up for you and you can ALL play all day. Then you can cook out and be at home when the baby needs a nap. :o)

Hope it helps,
P. <><