Spring break is right around the corner, and you may be thinking, “Let’s pack up and go somewhere!” The beach? The mountains? Those are all fun and wonderful ideas, but did you know that there are several places right here in our own backyard that are fun and way cheaper?!?! Here are my top seven staycation ideas in the DFW area.
1.”Hey Boo-Boo!”
You have to check out Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo at the North Texas Jellystone Park. There are several of these Jellystone Parks around the great state of Texas, but the closest one is in Burleson, Texas, only about an hour away from the Dallas area.
My family and I went to Jellystone in October last year, and we had a great time. You can tent camp, RV camp, or rent a cabin. We rented a cabin, and it was perfect for our family of five. Since it was October, there was a Halloween theme, which meant lots of fun activities planned for adults and kids alike. You can also find paintball, laser tag, a bounce house park, playgrounds, fishing, and much more. Needless to say, we were never bored, and we all had a blast!
Check out Jellystone event schedule for upcoming themes and fun activities. Oh, and this place is also right next door to Pirate’s Cove Water Park. It was closed when we went in October (obviously), but we will definitely be going back this summer!!
2. Spend Time in the City
If you are like us, we rarely go downtown, but when we do, we have so much fun! Some girlfriends and I stayed at the Hilton Anatole last summer for a staycation girls’ trip, and we had a blast! There’s a Leisure Cove Pool that stays open year-round and a waterpark called JadeWaters, open Memorial Day through Labor Day. It has slides, a lazy river, an activity pool, a play pool for the little ones, and a swim-up bar for the adults. The hotel itself is very large and has lots to offer within, like restaurants, shops, and cool art and history, including a piece of the Berlin Wall. Downtown Dallas has a ton to do, such as Dallas World Aquarium, Klyde Warren Park, or the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Check out Dallas Moms for even more visitor tips!
3. Tried and True
Great Wolf Lodge is always a favorite with the kids. I mean what child doesn’t like to be at a fun water park in the middle of winter?!?! Besides the awesome indoor and outdoor water park, Great Wolf Lodge offers lots of activities for kids of all ages. Character appearances, crafts, story time, scavenger hunts, ropes course, and more! Or opt for the Gaylord Texan right across the street, which always has family-friendly things to do. Everyone loves Paradise Springs, the Gaylord’s exclusive water park.
4. An Oldie but Goodie
I have fond memories of going to Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor (known as Wet ‘n Wild back in the day)! Is anyone out there old enough to remember that? No, just me? Okay, moving on! Anyway, these parks are a good time for kids of all ages. Make it a weekend getaway and stay in Arlington. Baseball season is coming up, so maybe head over to Globe Life Field to see the Rangers play. Or if you go during football season, splurge on a Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium!
5. Get Back to Nature
Our family loves to camp. I grew up camping and love that we have passed this tradition on to our kids. One of our favorite places to camp is at Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma. The campsites are well taken care of and there is plenty to do to keep you busy. They have hiking trails, swimming, fishing, playgrounds, and even kids activities, like nature-based crafts. If camping isn’t your thing, you can rent a cabin at Grandpappy Point or stay at Tanglewood Resort. You can also rent boats and wave runners at many of the marinas around the lake. While you are out that way, you should visit the birthplace of President Eisenhower for a little history lesson or head over to Hagerman’s National Wildlife Refuge to see the beautiful wildlife.
6. Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Fossil Rim in Glen Rose, Texas is another family favorite. We went a few years ago over Spring Break and had the best time. My kids loved feeding the animals right from our car windows. You can even stay overnight on property. They have rooms at the Lodge, or you can stay in bunkhouse cabins overlooking the most popular watering hole (more animal viewing opportunities!). One of the perks of staying overnight is that you get to go on a special Morning Safari Guided Tour. How fun is that?
7. Can’t Forget Cowtown!
Fort Worth can sometimes get forgotten, but it has so much to offer! The Fort Worth Zoo is a great zoo and even has a fun little water park called Safari Splash (opens daily on May 1st). The Fort Worth Water Gardens are a must see, and you can’t go to Cowtown without visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these, so pick one or two and get it on your family’s calendar today. Have fun!
Great ideas, thanks so much!