Fort Worth Zoo
If you’ve got kids, then you have been to a zoo or two in your life. Be sure to add this one to your list of great outdoor activities for families. The Fort Worth Zoo is a wonderful place with 64 acres, housing 542 species, including native and exotic animals. Most reviews give the Fort Worth Zoo a slight edge over its neighboring cousin, the Dallas Zoo.
Some of the attractions you can plan to see here include:
- Giraffe experience
- Stingray cove
- Safari Splash – A water play area for kids
- Yellow Rose Express train
- Country Carousel – An old-fashioned carousel
- Wild West Shooting Gallery – laser tag
- Playbarn indoor play area
- Tasmanian Tower – 25-foot rock climbing wall
- Hurricane and tornado simulator
Some attractions require an additional fee. The Fort Worth Zoo is open 365 days a year. Plan to spend 2-3 hours.
Monday through Friday 10 am – 5 pm
Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
Fort Worth Water Gardens
Add this one to your list of things to do in Fort Worth with kids for free. The Fort Worth Water Gardens are an urban park located next to the Fort Worth Convention Center.
The park is 4.3 acres with waterfalls and quiet reflecting pools. The park is considered a quiet oasis in the city. Swimming is not allowed, so don’t bring your bathing suits.
The park is open daily, and the entrance is free.
With small children, plan on less than half an hour. With older children, you might stay longer to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Pro tip – If your kids are water lovers, check out the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. It’s a 10-minute drive that’s well worth the trip. It’s a great place to hang out, admire the gardens and the fish pond, and enjoy family outdoor activities. There is an admission charge for the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.
Top Attractions At The Fort Worth Stockyards
The Fort Worth Stockyards served as the largest livestock market in the southwest for decades until it held its last livestock auction in December 1992. For its many years of serving the cattle industry, the Stockyards was added to the National Register as a historic district in 1976.
The Stockyards is now a lively entertainment venue with old west cowboy style that will top your list of fun things to do in Fort Worth with kids.
Here are a few things you can find at the Fort Worth Stockyards that your kids will enjoy:
- Watch a longhorn cattle drive twice daily
- Stockyards barnyard petting corral – petting zoo
- Cowtown cattle pen maze – 5400 square foot open-air maze
- Stockyards Gunfighter – Virtual shooting range
- Stockyards stables
- Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
- Texas Bull Riding Hall of Fame
Throughout the Stockyards, you’ll also find restaurants serving Texas BBQ, bars, souvenir shops, and shops selling genuine cowboy boots.
Plan to spend the day here. Getting into the Stockyards, walking around the western-style town, and watching the longhorn cattle drive is free, but the other attractions will have an admission charge.
Children’s Museum
Spending a day playing at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and Industry Children’s Museum is fun for all ages.
The museum is a Texas-size 166,000 square feet of space made to spark your child’s interest in science and stories of the southwest. Just in case your kids are flinching at the idea of visiting a museum, here are a few exhibits to entice them:
- DinoLabs
- DinoDig
- Children’s area with interactive play for ages up to 8
- Innovation Studios
- Energy Blast
- Cattle raisers Museum
- Noble Planetarium
Plan to spend 2 hours here. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and Industry is open from Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday from noon – 5 pm.
Horseback Riding, Bull Riding, And Rodeo
Chances are, while you are in Fort Worth, your kids are going to want to ride a horse, or a bull, or see an exciting rodeo. This is cowboy country, after all!
For all three activities, you’ll head to the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Horseback riding is available at the stables. The guided trail ride leaves the Stockyards, taking the Chisholm trail along the Trinity River. Here are a few things to know ahead of time:
Horseback riders:
- Must be 11 and older
- Must be 240 lbs or less
- No double riding
Trail rides are available for 30 minutes or one hour.
Mechanical bull:
A mechanical bull in front of the Stockyards Station is kid-friendly and available for a fee to let kids test their cowboy bull riding skills.
Championship weekend rodeos are available in the Stockyards Cowtown Coliseum every Friday and Saturday night.
Weekend Rodeos:
- Doors open at 6 pm each night
- Rodeo starts at 7:30 pm
- Performances last 1.5 to 2 hours
Things To Do In Fort Worth With Kids – Bonus
Take a break from the walking and the stress of finding your way in a busy city. Sit back and leave the driving to us. We’ll show you the Fort Worth highlights and share a few hidden gems along the way.
On our Fort Worth tour, you’ll see:
- Fort Worth Stockyards
- Fort Worth Cattle Drive
- Cowtown Coliseum
- Stockyard Station
- Livestock Exchange site
- Billy Bob’s Texas Honky Tonk
All with an experienced local guide sharing the history of this great city. Go online or call today to book your next great tour!
