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Family Fun
Fort Worth Nature Center
9601 Fossil Ridge Road
Fort Worth, Texas
817-237-1111
Hours: Open daily (except major holidays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturdays, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Refuge gates open at 7 a.m. The Hardwicke Interpretive Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Interpretive Center is closed on Monday.
Admission Free
Explore the Texas wilderness that greeted the first pioneers at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. You'll see native wildlife and plants -- including buffalo, white-tailed deer and Texas wildflowers -- as you discover 25 miles of trails. The 3,500-acre sanctuary is located just 10 miles from downtown Fort Worth. The Hardwicke Interpretive Center includes nature programs, exhibits, and a library.
Stockyards National Historic District
130 E. Exchange Ave.
Fort Worth, Texas
817-624-4741
Guided walking tours daily 1-4 pm
Daily longhorn cattle drive 11:30am and 4pm, weather permitting.
Admission Free, charge for certain attractions
This historic area encompasses 125 acres/50 hectares of cattle pens and renovated buildings once used during Fort Worth's cattle-boom era. A lot of the original complex remains, and you'll still occasionally see horses tied to the hitching posts that line Exchange Avenue. The 10-block district is crammed with galleries, restaurants, saloons and western shops. The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame showcases history's top cowboys and cowgirls. Visitors can also get a taste of the past when a herd of legendary longhorns--descendants of cattle Christopher Columbus brought over from Spain--are driven through each day at 11:30 am and 4 pm, weather permitting. Horseback and carriage rides are available.
Cattle Raiser Museum
1301 West Seventh Street
Fort Worth, Texas
817-332-8551
Hours: Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission Charged
Discover the true story of the cattle and ranching industry in the Southwest. Talking mannequins, interactive exhibits, and authentic artifacts give you an up-close look at cattlemen, cowboys, ranch hands, and rustlers. The museum is also home to the largest documented branding iron collection in the world. It's an entertaining experience for the entire family.
The Tarantula Train
Depot locations: Grapevine Cotton Belt Depot, Main St. and Fort Worth Stockyards Station, 140 E. Exchange Ave.
817-625-RAIL or 800-952-5717
Train operates Wednesday - Sunday, call for additional information
Admission Charged
Tracing the trails once used by cowboys and ranch hands to herd cattle, this restored steam train takes passengers on a ride in true-to-the-era style. The name of the train comes from the 1873 railroad map, which showed the city as the central station with routes branching off like the legs of a spider. The train uses an 1896 steam locomotive, nicknamed "Puffy," that pulls four 1925-day coaches. It tours approximately 21 miles of the "Cotton Belt Route," traveling the communities of Grapevine, Colleyville and North Richland Hills before concluding in the Stockyards.
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
111 West 4th St
Fort Worth, TX 76102-3950
817-336-4475
Hours: 10am-6pm Mon-Fri
Admission Free
The museum is dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit in their trailblazing efforts.
Cowtown Coliseum
121 E. Exchange Ave.
Stockyards National Historic District
Fort Worth, 76106
817-625-1025
Hours: Box Office: 10am-5pm Mon-Thu; 10am-9pm Fri-Sat; Rodeo, Friday and Saturday at 8pm.
Admission Charged
Located in the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Coliseum has a tremendous history. It was the site of the first indoor rodeo, held in 1918, and the first live radio broadcast, which took place at a rodeo here in 1923.
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway (on University Drive south of I-30)
Fort Worth, TX 76110-6640
817-759-7555
Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Fri; 10am-6pm Sat-Sun
Admission Charged
The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo is a pioneer in using natural habitats to showcase animals. Exotic animals are kept out of cages and left to freely roam in a natural environment. At most exhibits, visitors are separated from the residents by only a river or a waterfall!
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
1501 Montgomery St
Fort Worth, TX 76107-3017
817-732-1631
Hours: 9am-5:30pm Mon-Thu; 9am-8pm Fri-Sat; noon-5:30pm Sun
Admission Charged
This delightful collection of tactile displays encourages learning by children and adults alike. A ferocious dinosaur offers greetings in the front walkway; from there, attractive and enticing exhibits branch out in all directions. There are nine permanent galleries with themes ranging from Texas history to computers to fossils. Two of these include Dino Dig and KidSpace, specifically designed for younger children.
Log Cabin Village
2100 Log Cabin Village Lane
Fort Worth, TX 76109-1000
817-926-5881
Hours: 1pm-5pm Sun; 9am-5pm Tues-Fri; 10am-5pm Sat
Admission Charged
Overview of Log Cabin Village
Located in a very woodsy section of Trinity Park, this 19th-century grouping of log cabins is a true delight. The seven fully restored cabins originated in the 1850s. Volunteers who run the operation are adept at giving demonstrations of everyday activities from days gone by including corn grinding, candle dipping, spinning and weaving.
Berger's Lake
1200 Meandering Road
Fort Worth, TX 76114-2416
817-737-3414
Hours: 9am-8pm Sun-Sat
Admission Charged
Generations of Fort Worth families have sought relief from the hot Texas sun by diving into this cold, clear, spring-fed private lake located in northwest Fort Worth. Once a goldfish hatchery, Berger's Lake is now a one-acre, family-oriented "swimming hole" featuring tall trees, picnic tables, barbecue grills, concession stands, and tennis and volleyball courts, along with occasional sand-castle building contests and related events meant to entertain visitors.
Hurricane Harbor
1800 East Lamar Blvd
Arlington, TX 76006-7304
Located 15 miles east of Fort Worth
817-265-3356
Hours: 10:30am-6pm daily
Admission Charged
With almost 50 acres of space, Hurricane Harbor gives you a chance to cool off or enjoy the hot Texas sun--whichever you please. The fun includes a variety of slip-sliding twists and turns on wild rides including the SeaWolf, Black Hole, Der Struka and Kamikazee. If you are a true thrill-seeker, drop six stories with the Geronimo; for something a little more sedate, try the Bubba Tub or Lazy River. The entire park is alive with music and interactive activities.
Forrest Park Miniature Train
2100 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, TX 76109-1027
817-336-3328
Admission Charged
Hours: On the hour from 11am-5pm Mon-Fri; may run more frequently Sat-Sun, depending on demand.
This pretty, leisurely five-mile journey takes passengers from Forest Park through the woods, over trestles and under bridges, on to the duck pond at Trinity Park and back.
Six Flags Over Texas
2201 Road to Six Flags
Arlington, TX 76011-5157
Located 15 miles east of Fort Worth
817-640-8900
Open Hours: Hours vary seasonally. Call the park for specific times.
Admission Charged
This huge amusement park serves up thrills and chills with a distinctly Texan flair. Sections of the park are named for each of the six nations that have governed Texas. There are more than 100 different rides and attractions, including the new Titan roller coaster, which reaches a speed of 85 miles per hour. Other Texas-themed attractions include the Texas Giant (one of the largest wooden roller coasters in the world), the Texas Chute-Out, the Oil Derrick and the Texas Tornado. Looney Tune Land offers gentler fun for small children, while those wishing to beat the heat can go inside and enjoy one of the many music and magic shows scattered throughout the park.
NRH20
9001 Grapevine Highway
North Richland Hills, TX 76180-5629
Located 13 miles northeast of Fort Worth
817-656-6500
Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
A manmade river twists and turns through trees and flowers at this 17-acre water park, a perfect spot for children of all ages. One highlight is Green Extreme, a water roller coaster measuring 65 feet tall and 1,161 feet long. With its myriad twists and turns, this ride--deemed the world's largest uphill water coaster--is everyone's favorite. The Endless River offers the opportunity for a relaxing ride on a lazy summer day, while NRH2Ocean is a 12,000-square-foot wave pool that all will enjoy. On Friday nights, "dive-in" movies are shown on a screen that is readily viewable from anywhere in this pool.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
2155 County Road 2008
Glen Rose, TX 76043-6117
Located 55 miles southwest of Fort Worth
254-897-2960
Hours: 9am until two hours before sunset daily
Admission Charged
This exotic ranch is a bit like flying to Africa and heading off on safari to see wild animals up close and personal--except you never have to leave Fort Worth. Embark on the 9.5-mile self-guided tour where you will see giraffes, rhinos, tigers, ostriches, zebras, and a variety of other animals roaming savannas, wooded hills and valleys.
Dinosaur Valley State Park
FM 205 & Park Road 59
Glen Rose, TX 76043
Located 55 miles southwest of Fort Worth
800-792-1112
Hours: 8am-10pm daily
Admission Charged
With some of the best dinosaur tracks in the world, Dinosaur Valley State Park is a great place for fossil enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The 1,500-acre park along the Paluxy River in Glen Rose is a great place to spend the day hiking among the limestone, sandstone, and mudstone deposited nearly 113 million years ago. You will be amazed at the two fiberglass dinosaur replicas--the 70-foot Apatosaurus and the 45-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Arlington Skatium
5515 South Cooper St
Arlington, TX 76017-4403
Located 15 miles east of Fort Worth
817-784-6222
Hours: 1pm-6pm Mon-Fri; 7pm-11pm Fri; 11am-10pm Sat; 1pm-6pm Sun
Admission Charged
Located in Arlington, midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. Shiny hard wood, maple floors, a video arcade, full concession stand and a variety of fun and exciting music make this a great place to take the entire family for an afternoon of fun. Both traditional four wheeled skates and inline skates are available at this favorite skating venue.
Adventure World
7451 Starnes Road
North Richland Hills, TX 76180-2802
Located 13 miles northeast of Fort Worth
817-581-5760
Open Hours: Dawn-dusk daily
Admission Free
The park was designed specifically with handicapped children in mind. A wood fiber material that is hard enough for wheelchairs, yet soft enough to minimize the effects of falls is found throughout the park. There are several playground areas for children of different ages and ramps, instead of stairs, lead to the equipment. Access points allow children to climb on the equipment from their wheelchairs.
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