Family Fun in the Fort – Summer 2024
The warm weather is setting in and the countdown to the last day of school has begun! The question on every parent’s mind has become: What do we do with the long days of summer? Whether you’ve packed the days with summer camps or plan to enjoy a slightly slower pace, we have some amazing suggestions for things to do right here in our own favorite city (and a few a bit further away) to beat the heat and create summer memories as a family!
Water Fun
The Texas heat is infamous. But you don’t have to let it slow you down this summer. There are plenty of ways to stay cool around Fort Worth. The Forest Park Pool is set for a grand re-opening May 25th! From May 25-June 9, the pool will be open weekends only from 12pm-6pm. Starting June 11, the pool will be open every day except Monday from 12pm-6pm. Admission for children is $5 and $6 for each adult. The new design includes a play structure and a big water slide! Of course, there’s also the fabulous splash pad at the Fort Worth Zoo! Safari Splash is a fun and interactive water play ground that will have your kids laughing and playing for hours. Open 10am until the zoo closes (5pm on week days and 6pm on weekends), you can pack a small ice chest or buy food from concessions and there are cabanas available to rent on a first come first serve basis ($50 for 2 hours and $25 for each additional hour). Admissions is $6 for all ages (2 and under are free) or $5 for zoo members. Please note that admission price is in addition to regular zoo admissions unless you are a member.
Learning Fun
Want to sneak in some learning this summer without your kids noticing? Fort Worth has plenty of hands-on learning opportunities. We love the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and particularly the area called “Innovation Studios” where kids can get creative in the Doodler Studio, play with light and sound in the Designer Studio, tinker in the Inventor Studio, and more! Get wiggles out on the outdoor playground and explore the universe with a visit to the Planetarium. Admissions is $16 for adults and $12 for children (2 and under are free) or you can invest in a membership and visit over and over again! But there are plenty of other museums and learning opportunities! Did you know we have two aviation museums in Fort Worth? Visit the C.R. Smith American Airlines Museum or the Fort Worth Aviation Museum to see real planes up close and maybe try out a flight simulator! Did you know that Fort Worth is also home to The Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s Western Currency Facility? This is where more than half of the nation’s currency is printed! Tours are offered Tuesday through Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm (the last tour begins at 4:30pm).
Movement Fun
It’s easy to get lazy over the summer, but we all know kids (and adult) need to keep moving to burn energy and stay healthy. Get out early to enjoy outdoor activities or choose indoor fun to escape the heat. Fort Worth has some amazing bike routes. You can check out a list of city bike paths here. We, of course, love biking along the beautiful Trinity River. These concrete paths are easy for riders of all experience levels and ages and there are so many fun places to hop and and off the bike. If you want to drive a little ways for other great paths, we enjoy the shady wooded paths of River Legacy Park in Arlington. This park offers 8 miles of paved bike paths as well as a 10 mile mountain bike trail. If you prefer skate parks, check out Fire Station Park in Fort Worth. This wonderful skate park opened in 2023 and is open to skaters of all ages. If you want to stay indoors but still let the kids run wild, we recommend checking out one of Fort Worth’s trampoline parks (such as Altitude Trampoline Park) or indoor playgrounds (like Kid Mania for elementary age and older or Imagination Station for infants and toddlers).
Food Fun
Are you into food? Want to eat and let the kids play? Fort Worth has a few amazing options when it comes to active outdoor dining and play opportunities. Of course, theirs the perennial favorite, Central Market, where everyone in the family can find something yummy to eat in the grab and go department, where a large outdoor patio offers live music on a regular basis, and where the kids can run and play in the outdoor play area. We also thoroughly enjoy Zoli’s where adults can savor delicious pizza or brunch foods while the kids run and play on the outdoor play area. But perhaps the newest Fort Worth favorite is Wild Acre Brewery’s Restaurant and Beer Garden where kids (and adults) can race on four-wheeled pedal carts, climb and explore a large playground, play a round of cornhole, or jump on The Bandid Bounce inflatable bubble. Enjoy a cold beer and a delicious burger and a leisurely night out with family and friends.
Nature Fun
We know it’s hot, but don’t let that stop you from getting outside and enjoying the natural world this summer. The Dream Park may be one of the best parks in the metroplex. Built to be accessible to all bodies, this park boasts a variety of swing options, a toddler climbing a play area, a zip line, and so much more. Of course, you absolutely must visit the Fort Worth Nature Center. Covering 3,621 acres and boasting more than 20 miles of hiking trails, this beautiful preserve offers tso much natural beauty. Check out their educational opportunities or go on a family hike this summer! You also don’t want to miss the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. Did you know this incredible outdoor space in the heart of our city covers 120 acres and cultivates more than 2,500 species of plants? Get in quick to see the dinosaur exhibit before it departs on May 30th!
Gaming Fun
Whether you and your family enjoy board games, arcade games, or bowling and laser tag, there are certainly fun options for you in the city. Visit Cidercade where adults and kids can enjoy more than 275 arcade games for a flat rate of $12 a person (or check out their monthly pass) or FreePlay for a slightly smaller retro feel. Both places also offer food and drink for an afternoon or evening of fun. For bowling we love Pinstripes located in Clearfork or Main Event in south Fort Worth. Speaking of Main Event, they offer unlimited games for $18.99 as long as you show up before noon or $12.99 on Mondays after 4pm. For those who enjoy board games, check out Game Theory where you can eat and play as a family (or for a fun date night).
Further Afield
If you feel like exploring a bit further away from home this summer, you simply cannot run out of fun things to do. From lakes and zoos to wildlife refuges and world class museums, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has some of the greatest attractions in the nation. Visit Globe Life Field and take in a Ranger’s Game this summer! Yes, the same Rangers who won the World Series last year are right in our backyard! Drive or take the train to Victory Station in Dallas and walk to the Dallas Aquarium or the incredible Perot Museum for hours of fun and learning! To find more about train schedules visit the TRE website. Speaking of trains, you can also hop on a train and get of right in the heart of Grapevine, where you can eat, shop, and sip local wines and you can also grab a shuttle to the Gaylord Texan Resort or Grapevine Mills Mall.
There is truly so much to do in Fort Worth. Whether your summer is business as usual or a time to sit back with the family, we hope you take some time to vacation here at home. Share with us your local summer favorites and let us know how we can serve you this summer!
