Things to Do in Dallas with Family

We took a quick trip to Dallas over spring break and I’m so glad we did! We haven’t traveled as much as I would like since becoming a family of seven. But I’m happy to say that our six hours in the car was easier than I thought it would be and our time in Dallas was so enjoyable. I’m excited to share my top things to do in Dallas with family.

This trip was hosted by Visit Dallas and Bread & Butter Public Relations, however, all opinions are my own.

We spent our first day in Dallas at PINSTACK. If you have not been to PINSTACK, it is a must-see! There is literally something for everyone and it’s North Texas’ first state-of-the-art bowling and active entertainment destination. From VIP bowling experiences to two-story laser tag, bumper cars, LED lit six-lane rock climbing walls, hundreds of interactive games and simulator technology, they offer fun for all ages.

We started with their VIP bowling, which was truly a VIP experience. We had so much fun bowling together, and things always seem to get a little competitive and I always seem to lose, ha! PINSTACK has a full menu offered with gourmet food choices. We wanted something simple for the kids so we ordered pizza, but we got their loaded chicken nachos for us and they were amazing! The kids enjoyed them as well.

After bowling, we went to experience the other activities. First up, the rock wall and ropes course. I literally defied all my fears in order to join my daughter on the ropes course. I do not do heights well! While one of her big brothers couldn’t handle it, our girl was so brave and kept trucking along. We moved to arcade games and laser tag next. The boys had a blast playing laser tag and the big kids loved the light up bumper cars. They had a friendly competition of who could get dad first. I had fun filming everything and getting some extra cuddle time with the baby.This was a really fun experience for our family because everyone got to do something they haven’t done before, and we all had fun together! I love finding places like this that allow for total family fun for everyone. We were there for almost half a day, but we were having so much fun we barely noticed the time passing! This is a perfect indoor activity for the entire family, and certainly one of the top things to do in Dallas with family while traveling. 

We visited Unleavened Fresh Kitchen for dinner and we loved it! It is a very laid-back but clean and fresh environment. Kids eat free after 4 p.m., so naturally, it is a very family-friendly restaurant. When traveling with kids, I typically worry about having to keep them under control if we have a long wait. Thankfully there was nothing to worry about here as our food came very quickly! Their menu has a very healthy, fresh take on the classic favorites.

For the kids, we ordered the Grilled Chicken and the Wynne which was a wrap with peanut butter and strawberries inside. My husband ordered the Southwestern in a burrito which included grilled fajita steak, peppers and onions, and pico among other goodies. It was SO yummy and came with a side of grilled sweet corn. I ordered the Clubhouse on a bed of greens. It was exactly what I needed. Fresh ingredients, a healthy dish, and very good.

While we were there each table was full and people kept coming in. I can see why it’s a favorite spot for those looking for something casual, family-oriented and something they can feel good about eating. All of their dishes are made from scratch, in-house, daily. The lunch and dinner menu features an assortment of wraps and salads, as well as dips, sides, and sweets, while the breakfast menu focuses on wraps. We loved having real, fresh food in a casual environment that welcomes families. We will be back for sure!

Our next activity was visiting the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. It is absolutely beautiful there. They have over 200,000 blooms in the spring and their tulips are spectacular! They have waterfalls, beautiful gazebos, walkways lined with so many different plants, and gorgeous water views of White Rock Lake. The kids loved getting to run and be a little wild. They had a large field with a hill and I turned around to find them rolling down the hill. Sometimes it’s good to let kids just be kids!

This arboretum has been listed among the top arboretums in the world. They offer fun annual events, educational programs for children and adults, and I love that they have an emphasis on family-oriented activities. They have a children’s adventure garden with a splash pad and a nature wall with fun facts about horticulture, science, technology, art, and math. I love seeing my kids learn through experiences like this! 

We spent a wonderful afternoon at the Dallas Zoo. With over 2,000 animals to see, the Dallas Zoo is quite large and has so many fun things to see and do. It is also really clean which is so nice when you are trying to keep up with little ones! There are hand washing stations everywhere and the bathrooms were well maintained. The parking is very convenient and we had no problem bringing our own double stroller but they also offer stroller rentals as well, which is another plus! We saw so many animals we don’t get to see often, and I loved seeing their faces light up as they learned and saw so many fun things.

The kids loved the new Hippo Outpost, an immersive African waterhole habitat that includes an underwater viewing area. It’s really expansive and has a play area as well. We took the chance to take a bit of a break here and rest our legs while the kids played. They also loved the farm area which had goats, pigs, chickens, cows, and other farm animals. They got to go inside and brush the goats and as you can see they were all smiles! One of my favorite parts of our visit to the Dallas Zoo was the Giants of the Savanna exhibit. It’s the only multi-species zoo exhibit in the United States to mix elephants and other species like giraffes, zebras, impalas, and ostriches in the same habitat. We got to feed the giraffes and it was quite the experience! We have visited a lot of Zoo’s over the years and have never gotten to do this. Each of my kids had their turn and they loved it and still talk about the giraffe’s long tongue. We also loved seeing the baby elephant. We finished our day with a ride on the Endangered Species Carousel, which is a custom-made merry-go-round featuring hand-crafted exotic animals. This carousel received a design award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and I can see why. It’s both large and very unique. The kids had fun picking out their animal to ride, and they were all smiles as it went round and round. I can’t believe my husband captured this picture of my girls and sweet boy. I will treasure these for sure! We loved every minute of the Dallas Zoo and this is definitely one of the top things to do in Dallas with family. We will most definitely visit again the next time we are in town!

I feel like the final part of our trip needs a bit of a drum roll. You see, I love food. I also love trying new things and tasting unique recipes. I have now found one of my all-time favorite restaurants, and I need to find a way to bring Street’s Fine Chicken to Arkansas. Until then I’ve been thinking of excuses to go back to Dallas just to eat there again.

They have an array of amazingly delicious, French-brined chicken dishes, an assortment of decadent appetizers including these Little Devils. It’s not your typical chicken eatery, they have so many unique entrees and sandwiches, along with AMAZING sides you won’t find anywhere else. Street’s also has a very chic interior, making it the perfect location for families looking to relax and enjoy a nice meal out with the kids. 

Are those not the prettiest deviled eggs you’ve ever seen? Well, they’re also the tastiest. We ordered a little of everything. The kids loved their chicken fingers and fries served with various sauces, and they all tried some of the other dishes as well. My husband and I ordered their famous Sin Killer Peri Peri Chicken which is a Portuguese style marinated chicken cooked over a fire, served with Brie Mac and Cheese and honey butter biscuits…oh my! We loved the Roasted and Toasted Chicken, which is roasted in herbs de Provence and toasted to absolute perfection, served with their famous Brussel sprouts. When they suggested that we order the Brussel sprouts I was hesitant, but I’m so glad I took their advice because they were divine. They recommended we try the Slow-Roasted Pork Chop and it was another winner. The apple brandy butter sauce on top was pure perfection, and we all loved the garlic green beans on the side. Last but certainly not least, because good dessert is never least, we ordered the Chocolate Mousse and the Texas Pecan Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. If chocolate mousse is on the menu, you bet I’m ordering it. So that was a given, however, they recommended we try the bread pudding and although we are not a fan of pecans (I know, surprising) we thought it was worth trying. This dessert was hands down one of the best I’ve had, ever. It was so good I almost needed complete silence while I savored every morsel. My husband and I had a near fight over the last bite and if I hadn’t just indulged in everything else I would have had to have my own! Trust me, it’s so good and worth EVERY single calorie. Their staff took care of our every need and we felt like we were eating at home. Street’s Fine Chicken is for sure a must-eat restaurant when you are in Dallas.

Our last stop in Dallas was to visit the Reunion Tower Geo-Deck. We almost didn’t make time for this but I’m so glad we did. The kids loved seeing panoramic views of the big city of Dallas from 470 feet in the air. We got to see breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views in their indoor/outdoor observation deck that lets you see for miles in any direction. The city is quite beautiful from that high up! They also have educational information displayed on interactive touch screens, including maps where the kids could zoom in. Brian enjoyed sharing some historical facts with the kids while we were there. One thing to note for those with young children visiting, the parking lot is a little bit of a walk and they do not allow strollers up to the top, however they do have stroller parking at the elevators. If you have small children and a baby, you might bring a sling or other type of carrier for your trip up to the top.

We pretty much loved every activity on this trip and I really don’t have anything negative to say about it! It was a great bonding time for us, my kids got to experience and learn a lot, and we had the experience of traveling as a family of seven! Our desire for our family is to allow our kids the opportunity to see different cultures, experience new things, and learn from seeing the world around us. I’m looking forward to doing a lot more family travel and sharing our travels here!

I’m so thankful to Visit Dallas and Bread & Butter Public Relations for their partnership in planning this trip. They were a delight to work with, and customer service was top notch. With over 12,000 places to eat and 80,000 places to stay in Dallas, there is so much to see! You can see all of the attractions above with the City Pass which provides 40% savings off of the admission. I’m always looking for ways to save!

I hope this gives you a few of the top things to do in Dallas with family. For more family travel ideas, check out our Disney World series. For more inspiration, follow me on Instagram,  Pinterest,  LIKEtoKNOW.it,  Facebook,  and Twitter. Here is a pin to save this for later!