During the summer months, you might be looking for some fun activities to keep your kids engaged and learning while school is out. If you live in Dallas, there are plenty of great museums around that can do just that. Whatever your children’s interests may be, they’re sure to love some of these hands-on experiences, stunning visual displays, and other fun features while learning amazing facts about the world around them. From art to science and history to nature, here are a few highly recommended museums that we think your kids will love to explore.

Dallas Museum of Art

Dallas Museum of Art by Nicolas Vigier is licensed with CC0 1.0

Little artists will find inspiration at the Dallas Museum of Art, which is conveniently located in the Dallas Arts District at 1717 N. Harwood St. The art museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Friday when it stays open to 9 p.m. The galleries and most exhibits are free but require a ticket, and even the paid exhibitions are free for children 11 and under, so this is definitely an affordable experience that everyone can enjoy. The art on display includes work by both local and international artists in various mediums.

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

If your kid’s interest is more toward science, check out the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Its hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It’s located at 1600 Gendy Street in Fort Worth. Admission costs $16 for ages 12 to 64 and $12 for children from 3 to 11. Included in the ticket are the Noble Planetarium and the Cattle Raisers Museum, as well as permanent exhibits such as a dinosaur skeleton and Innovations Studios, where kids can build, invent, and doodle to their heart’s content.

Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary

For the little animal lover in your life, head to the Heard Museum and see their faces light up. It offers many exhibits and gardens where you can see everything from butterflies to bobcats and lemurs and events, including bird walks and night hikes. The Heard is located at One Nature Place in McKinney, just north of Dallas, and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for children from 3 to 12, while children under 3 are free.

Frontiers of Flight Museum

The Frontiers of Flight Museum is the place to go for aviation fans, with everything on display from historic planes to spacecraft and even hot air balloons and other fun aircraft. You’ll find this gem at 6911 Lemmon Avenue in Dallas. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $9 for youths from 3 to 17. At the museum, there are over 35,000 historical artifacts from flight history within the 20 galleries and displays.

Museum of the American Railroad

Another fun transportation museum is the Museum of the American Railroad, which has both genuine life-sized trains and an indoor model train exhibit. You’ll find it about 30 minutes north of Dallas in Frisco at 8004 N. Dallas Parkway. The model train exhibit is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the guided walking tours of the outdoor train collection are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Each guided tour lasts about 60 minutes.

Old City Park

History lovers of all ages should check out the 19th-century pioneer and Victorian-era houses and commercial buildings that have been moved from various locations around north central Texas to stand in Old City Park, which was Dallas’s first park. Step back in time at this 20-acre park located near downtown Dallas at 1515 S. Harwood St. Admission is free.

However, you may want to take advantage of one of the many guided tours available, with most being $25 and lasting around an hour and a half. The park is open to the public Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or daily for Old City Park members.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science offers traveling exhibitions, fun nature films, and 11 permanent exhibit halls exploring nature and sciences, including the Moody Family Children’s Museum for younger children. The Perot is located at 2201 N. Field St. in Dallas and is open every day except Tuesday, with its hours being 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Sunday when it opens at 11 a.m. Visitors can learn amazing facts about other planets, ancient life on Earth, harnessing energy, scientific discoveries, and even the human body.

Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden

If the day is just too nice to stay indoors, then check out the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden where your kids can learn about nature and living plants. You’ll find this remarkable place at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens at 8525 Garland Road in Dallas, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are only $3, making this an affordable option for many. Several activities are scheduled throughout the day, including the Walne Family Discovery Lab at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. and events such as weekend puppet shows.

Looking for Help?

Everyone wants a fun summer with their kids, enjoying cultural enrichments and learning with the youngsters. But, if things aren’t going so well in your home, then Balekian Hayes PLLC is here to help. Whether you’re thinking about starting procedures for a divorce and need an experienced divorce attorney, or want someone in your corner in a child custody case, don’t hesitate to contact us at Balekian Hayes PLLC. We’re the experts in family law in the Dallas area, and we’d love to help.