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Fort Worth, Texas is a very family-friendly city. Whether you are a local or a tourist, there are tons of things to do in this city with children. Here are 8 of the best things to do in Fort Worth with kids.
The best part of this list is that all of the things on this list can be enjoyed by kids and parents alike, and none of them are expensive. In fact, many of these things are FREE! What can be better than that!?!?
#1: Fort Worth Zoo
The Fort Worth Zoo is one of the top zoos in the country. It currently houses over 7000 native and exotic animals. Approximately 1 million people visit the Fort Worth Zoo each year, and for good reason. It is an awesome way for families to spend a day.
One of our favorite exhibits is Parakeet Paradise, where for a small fee, you can feed the parakeets in the aviary. We also love MOLA, or the Museum Of Living Art, which houses most of the zoo’s reptiles and fish. MOLA’s animal exhibits are beautiful, and it has a lot of interactive educational exhibits.
During the summer, you can cool off at the zoo’s zero-depth splash park for a small additional fee. Kids love the splash pad!
The zoo is open 365 days a year. You can find operating hours and admission prices here. If you are going to be in Fort Worth in October, check out Boo at the Zoo, the zoo’s Halloween celebration.
#2: Historic Stockyards
Since the late 1800’s, Fort Worth has been known as “Cowtown.” This nickname originated from the city’s involvement with cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail. The Stockyards, located just two and a half miles from downtown, was built in 1887.
Today, the Historic Stockyards is more of a tourist attraction than a working stockyards, but it can immerse you and your kids in the cowboy culture better than any other locale.
In the Stockyards, you will find wonderful restaurants serving BBQ, steaks, and Tex Mex. Head over to the Cowtown Coliseum, in the heart of the Stockyards, to watch a rodeo and a Wild West show. Several venues in the Stockyards, including the famous Billy Bob’s Texas, showcase live music.
Your kids will love running through the cattle pen maze, taking their picture on a longhorn cow, and watching the daily cattle drive down the middle of the Exchange Avenue.
You can find more information on the Stockyards here.
#3: Casa Manana
Casa Manana is a great place to introduce your children to the theater without the stuffy seriousness you find at some venues. The children’s shows are wonderfully done and usually include some of the children involved in Casa Manana’s education program.
Since 1958, Casa Manana has been producing Broadway shows right in the heart of Fort Worth. The theater also puts on several children’s theater productions each year. It is a relatively small theater where every seat has a good view of the stage.
For tickets and show dates, visit Casa Manana’s website.
#4: The Museum District
Just southwest of the bustling 7th Street entertainment district is the Museum and Arts district of Fort Worth. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth hosts world class exhibits and artists year round. Adults can enjoy half price Wednesdays and free Sundays, while children under 12 never pay a fee.
The equally impressive Kimball Art Museum sits merely yards away from the Modern. Children under six are always free at the Kimball.
And the most popular museum for families is the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. It always draws a crowd, and features a planetarium, water works exploration, energy and petroleum exhibits, and areas for livestock and ranching education.
You can easily spend a day or two in the Museum district during your trip to Fort Worth with kids.
#5: TCU Sporting Events
Whether your family prefers football, basketball, baseball, or track, attending college games is always a fun way to spend time as a family. And Fort Worth is a great place to do just that!
TCU is a major university that sits in the middle of Fort Worth. This Big XII school is relatively small, which makes it a perfect place to share a collegiate sporting event with your kids.
Prior to football games, you will find Frog Alley right outside of the stadium. Frog Alley includes live music, bounce houses, face painting, and other family-friendly activities for FREE!
At TCU baseball games, Sundays are Kids’ Day. This means you will find dollar hot dogs, bounce houses, player autographs, and the ability for kids to run the bases after the game.
Our son loves going to all TCU athletic events. They are a great way for us to spend time together as a family.
You can find more information about tickets and schedules here.
#6: Parks and Trails
If you prefer getting out into nature with your family, Fort Worth has you covered. There are over 200 parks and other outdoor public spaces throughout the city. These include lots of green space for kids to run around and burn off some energy.
There is also an extensive network of trails running along the Trinity River and through many of the parks. These trails are the perfect place to go for a jog or family bike ride without having to worry about traffic.
If you are itching to spend some time in nature while still in the city, chances are, you aren’t too far from a trail or park regardless of where you are in the city.
Fort Worth has two off-leash dog parks, as well.
You can find a map of all of the Fort Worth parks here.
#7: Sundance Square
You can visit Fort Worth, Texas without spending at least a little time in Sundance Square. This is a popular entertainment, dining, and shopping district in the middle of downtown Fort Worth.
In the center of it all is Sundance Square Plaza, a 55,000 square-foot, pedestrian-only courtyard area where you will find a variety of events taking place throughout the year. The Plaza is surrounded by some of the city’s best restaurants and stores.
During the Christmas season, you will find the city’s official Christmas tree in the Plaza with Santa Claus visiting children in his sleigh at the base of the tree.
During the summer months, there is a set of fountains that periodically come to life for kids to splash around in. Sundance Square is a cool place to hang out and enjoy the city while your children play nearby.
For more information, visit Sundance Square’s website.
#8: Magnolia Street
Last on our list of the best things to do in Fort Worth with kids is Magnolia Street. Just a stone’s throw from downtown is Magnolia Street, in the heart of the Southside neighborhood. This area, and Magnolia Street in particular, has become a very family-friendly area in recent years.
On any given weekend, you will see couples and families strolling along on their way to one of the several delicious restaurants that line the street. After your yummy meal, you can walk over for some fabulous ice cream at Melt and then let the kids play at the Magnolia Micro Park.
We love playing in this very unique park which was created out of reused items, such as hubcaps and milk cartons.
Conclusion
Fort Worth is a unique blend of old-fashioned cowboy culture, world class arts venues, and laid-back family fun. Because of its low-key vibe, it is a wonderful place to spend quality time with your kids. Above are some of the best things to do in Fort Worth with kids.
Not only are all of these things fun, but they are also very affordable. Definitely take advantage of some (or all) of the ideas on this list during your family vacation to Fort Worth.
For more ideas on what to do in Fort Worth, see the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and Fort Worth’s Parade of Lights. For ideas on where to eat in Fort Worth see Mellow Mushroom, Babe’s, Taco Diner, and the best places to eat with kids.
If you need tips on traveling with kids, see our ultimate guide to happy travel with kids, tips for flying with kids, how to make any destination kid-friendly, and how to have successful road trips with kids.
Happy travels!
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