Leap into fun this summer at any number of events and activities to enjoy in the DFW area.
19 Ways to Elevate Your Downtime
By Linden Wilson & Catherine Adcock
Summer is here, and lucky for us, the DFW area provides a sky-highbramount of both exhilarating and relaxing entertainment. Whether it's bravelybrleaping out of a plane, sliding down a waterpark chute or ambling through abrfascinating museum (just because it's summer doesn't mean the kids can't havebrfun learning something!), you'll never be in short supply of activities. Thisbrmonth, we've composed our annual list that will make your planning easy andbreffortless. So, if you'd like to spend a day with the family at the Fort WorthbrZoo or among beautiful flowers at the Dallas Arboretum — or if you prefer anbradults-only night out at a brewery or outdoor concert — you're in good handsbrwith our guide to summer fun.
Gaylord Texan
Paradise Springs, thebrGaylord Texan's aquatic resort, open daily until Labor Day, features abr600-foot-long lazy river, 6,000-square-foot family lagoon and a 27-foot-tallbrwater slide, ideal for staying cool during the dog days of summer. You can alsobrrelax in one of the 1,200 lounge chairs or enjoy a beer and burger poolsidebrwhile watching the kiddos play in the nearby game pavilion.
Great Wolf Lodge
Grapevine's Great Wolf Lodgebroffers wet and wild rides that are fun for everyone. Splash your way down AlbertabrFalls (four stories of twisting and turning toward the plunge pool), hang outbrin the Raccoon Lagoon, an outdoor pool area with heated water, floor geysersbrand water basketball, or unwind in the North and South Hot Springs — big warmingbrpools perfect for relaxation.
Hawaiian Falls Waterpark
Get ready to get soaked whenbryou visit Roanoke's Hawaiian Falls Waterpark, where you can find exhilaratingbrrides like Beach Blasters (the world's first dueling inner-tube race), PipelinebrPlunge (two 65-foot high, free-fall body slides) and Hawaiian Halfpipe (abrtwisting, turning shoot with a sudden drop). If you prefer peaceful relaxation,brfloat through the Rainforest River Adventure, a winding lazy river withbrwaterfalls, turtles and frogs. Afterward, hit the strip to experience thebrself-proclaimed “unique dining capital of Texas,” with unique eateries likebrBrix Pizza & Wine Bar and the Dove Creek Café.
AT&T Performing Arts Center
This year marks the 30thanniversary of one of the most influential and recognized albums in pop andbrrock history — Sports, by Huey Lewisbrand The News — and we think there’s hardly a better way to spend a summer nightbrthan rocking out to the band as they perform June 13 in the heart of the DallasbrArts District. Also keep an eye out for the acclaimed Book of Mormon, opening in August.
Bass Hall
Rufus Wainwright, deemedbr“the greatest songwriter on the planet” by Elton John, takes the stage June 13brat beautiful Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. The Grammy-nominated son ofbrtwo folk singers, Wainwright will treat you to his soothing vocals and originalbrsound. Another June show you'll want to check out: Broadway's smash musicalbrcomedy Sister Act, a performancebrthat’s fun for the whole family.
Dallas Arboretum
Summer at the Arboretumbrkicked off June 1 with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Flower Village. ThroughbrAug. 1, discover four topiary flower houses in the shade of Pecan Grovebrportraying the adventures of Alice, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat and Mad Hatter,brand watch as costumed characters bring the story to life during Family FunbrFridays.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
The oldest botanic garden inbrTexas, this 11-acre haven is home to more than 2,500 species of native andbrexotic plants. Spend the day perusing vibrant gardens like the Oval Rose Gardenbr— renovated in January 2012 to include a gazebo surrounded by hundreds of fragrantbrroses — and the Japanese Garden, a lush 7-acre space containing ponds filledbrwith thousands of Koi.
Dallas World Aquarium
Everyone will marvel at thebraquarium's 20,000-gallon walk-through tunnel exhibit that houses hundreds of Indo-Pacificbrfish plus species like the Japanese spider crab (reaching a 13-foot wingspan)brand giant Pacific octopus, which can weigh more than 100 pounds. Be sure tobralso stop by the Mundo Maya exhibit, where bright-colored birds including the ornatebrhawk-eagle, yellow-green grosbeak and bay-headed tanager can be found perchedbron lush foliage.
Dallas Zoo
Currently celebrating itsbr125th year, the Dallas Zoo recently introduced a myriad ofbrinteractive activities, including the Safari Express, an entirely electric,brtrackless train decorated with animal graphics that winds its way around thebrnew Picnic Ridge area. Also visit the Wildlife Encounters Stage, where you canbrget up close and personal with animals like an African serval cat and African-crestedbrporcupine.
Fort Worth Zoo
Kids won't be able to resistbrthe cuteness of the Fort Worth Zoo's newest resident Asha, an endangeredbrgreater one-horned rhinoceros, who celebrates her first birthday in August. Inbraddition to animal exhibits, you can also scale to the top of Tasmanian Towerbr(a 25-foot rock-climbing wall), take a spin on the zoo's Western-style carouselbror play an interactive laser target game in the Wild West Shooting Gallery.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
From familiar animals likebrostriches and giraffes to more exotic aoudads and Hartmann's mountain zebras,brFossil Rim houses a unique collection of species that will be out and aboutbrduring summer safari tours. Let knowledgeable guides take you through a scenicbrwildlife drive full of picturesque vistasbron the center's expansive 1,700 acres.
Dinosaur Valley State Park
This Glen Rose–area parkbrcontains some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world as well as twobrfiberglass models — a 70-foot Apatosaurus and a 45-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex.brDuring your visit, explore the 100-acre area where you can camp, picnic, bike,brfish, swim and ride horses along the riverbank. Nature hikes — including thosebrafter dark — take place throughout June and July.
Nasher Sculpture Center
Kids will love Berlin-basedbrartist Katharina Grosse's large, colorful and architecturally inspiring wallbrpaintings that she spray paints, taking inspiration from elements includingbrabstract impressionism and urban graffiti. The exhibit, titled Wunderblock,bropened June 1 and will be open until Sept. 1. Also at the center this summer:brTarget First Saturdays, where preschool- to elementary-age children can unleashbrtheir artistic sides on the first Saturday of each month with activities like maskbrpainting and an art scavenger hunt (all free of charge).
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Since it opened in December,brthe Perot Museum has welcomed throngs of visitors eager to explore the 11brpermanent exhibit halls featuring gems and minerals, a history of bird adaptation,brrare dinosaur fossils, oil and drilling displays and a 2,200-square-foot hallbrdedicated to increasing our understanding of the universe. Don't miss thebrinteractive sports section, where kids will love racing cheetahs, dinos andbrfamous athletes like Cowboy Felix Jones.
Six Flags Over Texas
Nestled in our own backyard,brthis legendary theme park opened a new ride this spring: the Texas SkyScreamer,brthe world's tallest swing-ride. Towering 400 feet above the ground, thebrbehemoth straps you into an open-air seat and swings you in a 124-wide circlebrat 35 mph above the park. Take a ride at night to see the swing illuminated. Wordbrto the wise: Don't open your eyes.
SkyDive Dallas
Take your summer fun tobrwhole new heights — literally — with a family dive from 13,500 feet up in thebrair. Whether tandem or solo, SkyDive Dallas knows how to make your first jumpbrone you'll never forget. At North Texas' premier skydiving center, you'll believebryou can fly (for about 60 seconds going 120 mph!)
Patronize a Local Brewery
North Texasbris awash in hops and barley, producing plenty of premium brews all its own. Webrlove the offerings of Rahr in Fort Worth (tours Wednesday and Saturday) andbrDallas' Deep Ellum Brewery (Thursday, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday (2 to 3brp.m.). Not enough beer to boast about? Try these brewers, like Lakewoodbr(Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Peticolas (First and Third Saturdays, 1 to 3brp.m.).
Thursday Night Live at the Dallas Museum ofbrArt
All over thebrMetroplex, major cultural institutions offer late-night options geared towardbrgrownups. At First Fridays at the Fort Worth Modern (5 p.m.) and After Hours atbrthe Kimbell (every second Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), you can find art,brcocktails and music. Our top pick goesbrto Thursday Night Live at the Dallas Museum of Art where every Thursday from 5brto 9 p.m., patrons enjoy jazz, cocktails, dinner and artful conversation.
Levitt Pavilion Music Under the Stars
Throw onbryour favorite vintage rock tee and head out Levitt Pavilion, which hosts localbrand national acts all summer long. This community-oriented venue boasts 50 freebrconcerts every year and draws bands from local indie darlings to popularbrnational acts. Shows are generalbradmission with lawn seating available. Concertgoers can feel free to bringbrblankets, lawn chairs, coolers and alcoholic beverages and make a picnic out ofbrthe show. Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to donate at thebrdoor.