A Family Fun Itinerary

Dallas has the whole family covered with fun activities for parents, kids and anyone else that wants to tag along. From outdoor adventures to bigger-than-life experiences, just make sure you bring your comfy shoes for your family weekend in Dallas.

And with several of these stops on included in Dallas CityPASS, getting in the door and saving on admission is just a breeze.

Day 1

1 HOUR

1Kick Off the Day

Start the morning at The Rooftop Restaurant at RH Dallas, where a skylit garden escape awaits you. Enjoy their signature, thick-cut maple bacon to start your meal. Then indulge in a perfectly prepared lobster roll dawned in butter and lemon.

2 Hours

2Head to the Garden

Enjoy some fresh air at Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Wander the trails and learn how wetlands clean the water and see alternative energy in action. Traverse the Texas Skywalk to feel what it's like to be in the treetops and scamper like a squirrel along the netting suspended above the trails.

While you're there, ask for a copy of the walkSTEM@Dallas Arboretum tour so you can take a self-guided tour that incorporates some fun learning for your kids while enjoying the gardens.

1 hour

3Lunch at Dallas Grilled Cheese Co.

Grab a bite to eat at Dallas Grilled Cheese Co, the perfect family-friendly restaurant. Kids will love the classic grilled cheese or staple PB&J while parents can choose from menu options like Grilled Mac 'N Cheese, Cattleman's Grilled Cheese, craft cocktails and southern desserts like root beer floats or bread pudding.

1.5 Hours

4Geo-Deck

Head downtown and get a glimpse of Dallas' brilliantly illuminated skyline from the GeO-Deck at Reunion Tower, one of five Dallas CityPASS attractions. Look out across the city from over 500 feet high, and interact with Halo, the deck's digital information system, to learn about Dallas, its landmarks, Reunion Tower's light shows, milestone events in the city and more.

30 minutes

5Pioneer Plaza

Stop for a selfie at Pioneer Plaza as you stand amongst the massive bronze longhorn cattle sculptures and site of the famous 1850s Shawnee Trail.

2.5 Hours

6Klyde Warren Park

Grab a table and catch up on your reading or a board game from the kiosks at Dallas' living room, Klyde Warren Park. The urban park is perched above an eight-lane highway, though you'd never guess it wandering through the playground or enjoying live music or yoga classes offered regularly. Need a bite? Make it a Tex-Mex picnic with quesadillas and chips and queso from La Parada, a walk-up window on the green.

Day 2

1.5 hours

1Breakfast a Cafe Brazil

Bask in the uniqueness of their huge selection of Brazilian coffees before digging into a plate of chorizo empanadas or buttery crepes at Cafe Brazil. Their kid's menu offers both terrific healthy options like fresh fruit topped pancakes and yogurt parfaits and the kind of decadent items, like M&M-topped pancakes, that make vacations memorable.

2.5 Hours

2Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!

Explore the wild side at the Dallas Zoo (another Dallas CityPASS attraction!), named one of "20 Best Zoos" by USA Today, and the biggest one you'll find in the Lone Star State. Visit the Giants of the Savanna, an 11-acre safari exhibit where you can feed the giraffes and see for yourself how fast a cheetah can run. Don't miss the Lacerte Family Children's Zoo and Travis & Zach's Birds Landing where the kids can hand-feed colorful cockatiels.

1.5 hours

3Grab a Bite at the Zoo

Take a break from the animal adventures to refuel. The Zoo has three indoor restaurants that feature a variety of options from Tex-Mex and pizza to hearty sandwiches as well as several food stands for a quick snack like popcorn and ice cream.

3 hours

4Dinner, Medieval-Style

Finish your day at Medieval Times, a family dinner theater featuring rousing medieval-style games, impressive horsemanship, sword fighting and jousting, along with a four-course meal fit for a king.

Day 3

1 hour

1Mama’s

Enjoy a southern style breakfast at Mama's Daughters' Diner, a Dallas favorite for traditional home cooking. Order the biscuits and gravy or the pancakes and feast on a hearty meal before heading out for the day.

2.5 Hours

2Channel Your Inner Cheetah

Want to see if you could keep up with a cheetah? Head to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science (who guessed it? Another Dallas CityPASS attraction!), where you can race one of the wild cats, or challenge an Olympic runner! Don't miss the popular earthquake simulator or towering skeleton of Alamosaurus, a plant-eater who lived in Texas and towered over the T-Rex. Or spend the afternoon at the Dallas Museum of Art, which offers free admission and terrific family programs. Download one of several free self-guided tours designed for kids, or check out an Art to Go bag filled with fun kid-friendly museum activities.

1.5 hours

3Catch a Ride

Ditch the car and hop on the McKinney Avenue Trolley, which loops from the Dallas Arts District through Downtown before heading to Dallas' vibrant Uptown neighborhood. The kids can check out the old-school, reversible benches and maybe even ring the bell. The best part? It's free!

1.5 hours

4Pass the Chips and Salsa

Hop off near West Village and walk to Gloria's Latin Cuisine. The Salvadoran and Tex-Mex menus offer plenty of choices for even the pickiest palates and terrific margaritas for the adults. Relax and snack on free chips and salsa that appear seconds after you sit down. After lunch, head back to the main shopping area in West Village for some retail therapy or to the Katy Trail, a popular running trail in Uptown, for an afternoon walk.

3 hours

5Topgolf

Make it parents vs. kids with a round of golf like nothing you've seen before at Topgolf Dallas, where chip-embedded balls leave no doubt who hit that terrible shot. Its extensive food and drink menu, 200+ HDTVs, and addictively fun games provide something unforgettable for the whole family.