Armed with a little imagination, kids exploring the 19th- and 20th-century buildings at Old City Park (1515 S. Harwood St.) can discover what life was like for tough Texan pioneers.
Themed dining areas and a zany waitstaff turn the tables on adults at the Magic Time Machine (5003 Beltline Rd.), the longtime local restaurant that's extremely popular with grade-schoolers. Dressed in superhero tights and fairy-tale frocks, servers crack jokes, sign autographs and lead pint-size patrons to the “Salad Car,” a salad bar whose vintage roadster design entices even finicky eaters to load up on veggies.
Monets and Picassos in training get their scribble on at the Dallas Museum of Art (1717 N. Harwood St.). During regularly scheduled family-friendly events, fun things to do—everything from paper leaf-making to story time with Arturo the Parrot, the museum's cartoon mascot—keep developing minds stimulated.
Teens
Generation X and beyond have no firsthand knowledge of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. But, through films, photos and eyewitness accounts, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (411 Elm St.) vividly re-creates one of America's darkest days. If the somber subject matter concerns you, ask for the toned-down youth version of the audio tour.Cheering on the home team is guaranteed fun, as are behind-the-scenes tours of AT&T Stadium (1 AT&T Way) and Globe Life Field (734 Stadium Dr.), about 25 miles west of Dallas.
Six Flags Over Texas (2201 Road to Six Flags in Arlington) is a no-brainer for groups with fearless youngsters in tow. When they're not launching 32.5 stories into the air on Superman: Tower of Power, kids will be texting their friends about the Texas Giant's 79-degree drop. If your trip is during the summer, pack the swimsuits, too—just across the street is Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (1800 E. Lamar Blvd.), which doles out enough action to keep the brood busy a second day.
What to Do for All Ages
It doesn't matter if you're 4 or 14 going on 24 — Galleria Dallas (13350 Dallas Pkwy.) is a pretty cool place, and not just because it has an ice rink. At the American Girl store, beloved dolls can be treated to brunch and spa treatments. Your littlest ones will love running amok at Play Place; the jungle-themed playground on Level 3 is the site of the mall's free weekly kids event, Showtime Saturdays.Watch elephants flap their ears to keep cool and young lions roughhousing at the Dallas Zoo (650 S. R.L. Thornton Frwy.). On the other end of the spectrum are the koalas, which spend most of the day dozing. Why? Eucalyptus leaves, their favorite treat, have a sedative effect.
Fair Park (2 mi. e. of downtown off I-30) hosts the State Fair of Texas (R.B. Cullum Blvd. and Pennsylvania Ave.) as well as sporting events, concerts and plays. It's also home to several year-round centers of learning. Drop by the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park 's (1462 1st Ave.) stingray touch tank or check out the butterfly house and insectarium at Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park (3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.).
Adventure awaits at The Dallas World Aquarium (1801 N. Griffin St.). Younger children go bananas imitating vocal red howler monkeys in the Orinoco South American rainforest experience. Brown, sawfish and bonnethead sharks in the Mundo Maya exhibit will capture the attention of older kids.