Fun things to do with family in fort worth

Spending a day in Fort Worth, Texas is a must-do! Whether you are wanting to spend a day kayaking, splashing in a lake, exploring dinosaurs, visit museums or ride a train, you’ll find it in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth has so many activities for children. From free events, outdoor activities, and cultural learning. So if you are wanting something to do with the kids for a few hours, a full day, or a weekend getaway, Cowtown is the place to go.

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Family Fun in Fort Worth

Fort Worth Museum of Science

This hands-on museum is great for kids of all ages. You’ll find a dinosaur dig, artifacts from the Space Race and Space Shuttle, the 9/11 Tribute, and special interactive exhibits that change throughout the year.

Visitors can also travel through the universe at the Noble Planetarium or catch a movie on the rounded 8-story screen.

Fort Worth Zoo

Ranked the number one zoo in the United States by USA Today, so of course, it’s at the top of our to-do list. There is always something new and exciting happening at this zoo. The Museum of Living Art is always our first stop at the zoo.

It is important to note that the zoo is currently going through an extensive master plan innovation and project, so I highly recommend looking on the website before visiting to see what exhibits are on display.

Japanese Garden

The Fort Worth Japanese Garden is 7.5-acres and located inside the Botanic Gardens. Guests can enjoy strolling through the winding paths, cherry trees, Japanese maples, magnolias, brings, and several ponds filled with more than 1,200 Koi fish.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

The Botanic Garden features several unique gardens, a native Texas boardwalk, rose gardens, vegetable gardens, and a tropical foliage conservatory. It’s home to more than 2,500 species of plants in 23 different gardens.

Kimbell Art Museum

This free museum hosts a large art collection that includes antiques, European, Asian, African art, educational programs, and multiple traveling art exhibitions.

Permanent exhibits include Fra Angelico, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Poussin, Monet, Picasso, and Matisse.

Backwoods Paddle Sports

Head to the Trinity river for the best place to rent water sports. They have everything from canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards.

Paddle down the Trinity while enjoying the gorgeous views of downtown Fort Worth. It’s the perfect place for a fun afternoon family outing.

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

This museum is dedicated to honoring the women of the American West who had the courage and the pioneer spirit in their trailblazing efforts.

It includes interactive exhibit galleries that feature artifacts of the permanent collection, a traveling exhibit gallery, two theaters, a gift shop, and a research library and archives.

Visitors can test their bronc riding skills on the renovated bronc ride by saddling up! You will be superimposed into real rodeo footage, and you can email or text your clip.

Fort Worth Nature Center

Located on 3,000 acres and has over 20 miles of hiking trails and is one of the best places to hike with kids in Texas. This is the perfect spot to explore nature, picnic, and get up close & personal with buffalo.

There are plenty of shade trees and picnic tables scattered throughout the park.

Be prepared to see bison, deer, and buffalos. It’s easy to spend an entire day here exploring!

Forest Park Miniature Railroad

This has been a family tradition since the 1950s. This miniature train ride takes you through part of the Trinity Trails. The complete 5-mile circuit features two depots, six bridges and is about a 40-minute ride.

Bureau of Engraving

Inside the free Tour and Visitor Center, you’ll be treated to both an interactive history lesson about currency production and up-close views of real bills coming off the printing line.

Before your self-guided tour, visitors are invited to watch an immersive film that takes you inside the production process, as Bureau employees share their unique part in transforming a blank sheet of paper into U.S. currency.

The tour takes place on an elevated walkway that overlooks the production floor.

Before leaving, stop by the gift shop for souvenirs including uncut currency sheets, and birthday and anniversary currency-themed items.

*Due to Covid, tours are currently closed. Check the website for updates on when tours will resume.

Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District

Pull on your cowboy boots and make your way to the famous Stockyards. Once you stroll down the bricks of Exchange you’ll realize the fascination with cowtown!

Start the day off by watching the twice-daily Fort Worth Herd cattle drive, catch a shootout show, take a trail ride, find your way out of the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze, petting zoo and stroll through the shops.

Take a break and grab lunch (or dinner) at one of the many great restaurants. The local favorites that are kid-friendly include Love Shack, Riscky’s Barbecue, and The Biscuit Bar.

Looking for an authentic cowboy experience? Then check out the Stockyards Championship Rodeo that takes place every Friday & Saturday night at 7:30. It’s the perfect place to watch bull riding.

Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Located in the cultural district, you will enjoy the expansive free museum. Be sure to check the calendar of events on the website. The museum offers family workshops, toddler studios, art tales, and storytimes.

Log Cabin Village

This living history museum takes you back to life on the frontier. Each of the historic structures is furnished with authentic artifacts that give you a glimpse of life in the nineteenth century.

Exhibits include a water-powered gristmill, one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, herb garden, and several log homes.

You will see the volunteers and staff dressed as those who lived and settled in the area in the mid-1800s.

Fort Worth Water Gardens

This downtown oasis is located next to the Convention Center. Visitors can experience a variety of water features as they wander through this relaxing urban park.

Visitors can climb the steps down to the active Pool. Being 40 feet below, you get a unique perspective of the rushing water.

Be sure to also visit The Quiet Pool features a sheet of water falling into a still, sunken pool surrounded by bald cypress, while the Dancing Pool boasts forty aerating fountains.

Sundance Square

This area of Fort Worth is the center of it all. It covers 35 blocks and is a mix of old and new.

Here you can find everything from art galleries, live music, shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, movie theater, large fountains, and more.

SeaQuest Fort Worth

Enjoy over 20,000 square feet of adventure! Visitors can touch, feed, and interact with animals from five continents. Want to get a little more up close and personal with the animals?

Then you can purchase additional experiences such as a seaside spa session, Asian otter interaction, sloth interaction, snorkel with stingrays, or a kinkajou encounter.

Burger’s Lake

The perfect place for family fun in the sun! The park sits on 30-acres and in the middle is a one-acre spring-fed lake for swimming.

The lake is chlorinated, filtered, and chemically maintained by a state-of-the-art purification system, the lake is clean and safe for your swimming enjoyment. Certified lifeguards are on duty at all times.

The park has two sandy beaches for sunning and with trees sprinkled through to get some shade during the hot summer months.

Over 300 picnic tables, six diving boards, 20-foot slide, and 25-foot trapeze. They also have a concession stand, volleyball courts, and charcoal grills.

Dream Park

This is not your typical park and playground. Dream Park is a playground for children of all abilities and is located inside Trinity Park. Its 57,000 square feet and is fully fenced in.

It’s a place where everybody can play. This park will give you chills and bring a smile to your face seeing that every child can play and have fun.

Kids with mobility challenges and other issues will no longer be left on the sidelines when it comes to playing in a public park.

Bass Performance Hall

This gorgeous performing arts hall is located in Sundance Square. Its the permanent home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and Cliburn Concerts.

Throughout the year they have Broadway Plays, musicals, concerts, and the Nutcrackers during the holidays.

Texas Motor Speedway

Fire up the engines and head to North Fort Worth for some motorsports. The speedways are the place to watch NASCAR, truck races, and special events.

Trinity Trails

This 70-mile trail follows along the bank of the Trinity River. This is the perfect place to get out with the family and it’s free! Visitors can walk, jog or bike along the trails.

Or better yet, you can bring your house or go on a rented trail ride. Along the Trinity Trails are playgrounds, picnic tables, coffee shops and restaurants.

Altitude Trampoline Park Fort Worth

Have kids that need to get their wiggles out? Altitude Trampoline Park is a 35,000-square-foot indoor trampoline park that has a main court, battle beam, dodge ball, foam pit, rock climbing, wipeout, basketball and a designated toddler area for the smaller kids.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

This museum collects any media in the post-World War 2 world, including documenting international developments. It has a main collection and rotating special exhibits throughout the year.

Guests can also dine the Modern Cafe for lunch and dinner. The Museum offers half-price tickets on Sundays and free admission on Fridays. 

Hawaiian Falls

The tropics of Hawaii in the middle of Texas. There is no better place to beat the brutal Texas heat than at this awesome waterpark. Enjoy days going down the exciting slides, floating the lazy river or riding waves in the wave pool. 

Acton Nature Center

Located in Granbury, visitors can explore the wildlife of Texas. The park offers hiking and biking trails, butterfly garden and birding. The center also hosts free kids event throughout the year that include Star Parties, Nature Fun Run and Reptile Day.

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Fort Worth Kids Activities

The activities around the city are endless! What you are your favorite kid-friendly things to do around Fort Worth?