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Children's eyes widen while scoping creatures at the Dallas Zoo. Photo: © Weaver Multimedia Group.
| Dallas is one city that fits all sizes. Whether you're a family with toddlers in strollers or a crew with a couple of teenagers, there are several options to choose from. Enjoy the thrills of amusement and water parks, throw in some educational fun at popular attractions, or explore Dallas and its southwest lifestyle at unique destinations. Because it's true, the family that plays together stays together.
Why Go:Bigger is better at these two premier parks that are next to each other just outside of Dallas. Six Flags Over Texas combines classic thrill rides with state-of-the-art roller coasters, while Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is the ultimate oasis of water park fun.
Don't Miss: Superman Tower of Power at Six Flags Over Texas is the tallest ride of its kind in the world, shooting riders up in the air and then turbo dropping them back to Earth. Cooling off in Hook's Lagoon at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor means splashing around five stories of net ladders, slippery slides and water cannons.
Insider Tip: Avoid the lines. Visit the parks Mon.-Thurs and ride ten times more coasters.
Where Is It: Six Flags Over Texas, 2201 Rd. to Six Flags, Arlington, TX 76010; 817-530-6000; Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, 1800 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX 76006; 817-265-3356.
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Why Go: Get behind the wheel of four types of cars across different racetracks, including 300-horsepower dragsters. There's also 36-holes of mini-golf and more than 100 racing simulation video games.
Don't Miss: Race wheel-to-wheel with up to 20 other drivers in custom-scale turbo cars with high-torque engines on the Turbo Track.
Insider Tip: On Tuesdays, purchase a $12 wristband and play all the video games and mini-golf you can handle. For $10 more, get unlimited racing on the Turbo Track.
Where Is It: 11130 Malibu Dr., Dallas, TX 75229; 972-247-7223.
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Why Go: A dynamic duo of Texas-sized thrills and chills housed under one roof. At Ripley's Believe It or Not, take a step into a real Texas twister, ride out a cataclysmic earthquake or find yourself swimming along the bottom of the ocean floor. Then move along to Louis Tussaud's where you can mingle among the wax figures of Hollywood hotshots and other celebrities.
Don't Miss: See 41 different presidents immortalized as wax figures in a permanent exhibit that goes from George Washington to George W. Bush.
Insider Tip: Download study guides from the Web site (www.palaceofwax.com) to give kids a historic background about the exhibits located here.
Where Is It: 601 Palace Pkwy., Grand Prairie, Texas 75050; 972-263-2391.
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Why Go:Visit the aquatic worlds of four continents at this underwater center that consists of more than 85,000 gallons of saltwater and marine life from places like Fiji, Bahamas, Indonesia and Japan.
Don't Miss: Watch live video cameras catch the manatees in their freshwater river exhibit and otters playing in the Lobo del Rio exhibit.
Insider Tip: The popular Mayan Performance Troupe is featured on Sat. and Sun. in the new Mundo Maya exhibit at 12:15, 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15.
Where Is It: 1801 N. Griffin St., Dallas, TX 75202; 214-720-2224.
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Why Go:Thousands of animals roam 95 acres of land at this educational and entertaining adventure for any family.
Don't Miss: The Endangered Tiger Habitat with Indochinese and Sumatran tigers, and the 25-acre Wilds of Africa, named the best African zoo exhibit in the United States by The Zoobook: A Guide To America's Best.
Insider Tip: Saturday Safari Club is an opportunity for kids ages 8-10 to meet with Dallas Zoo experts.
Where Is It: 650 South R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas, TX 75203; 214-670-5656.
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