Virtual Schooling Field Trips: The Best Spots in DFW for Learning Adventures

Here we are, folks. Back to school, the 2020 edition.

Whether schooling virtually was the choice you wanted to make or the choice you had to make, virtual school is now a thing for most of the country. While I have very, very mixed feelings about how this is all going to go (I have kids in first grade, third grade and fifth grade- yikes!), I do know that it is up to me to make sure my kids are happy, healthy and learning from home for the foreseeable future. 

So, I've been wondering how I can make the best of this situation I'm less than thrilled about. And, as you all know, my girls are I are wanderers who don't sit still often (or well), so, naturally, educational field trips seem to lurking in my future. We can get out of the house, get some exercise, change the scenery and learn something new in the process!

So, at the request of many, I've compiled a list of the best places in the Metroplex to take an educational trip with your kiddos during this era of virtual schooling. 

Note: Check hours of operation as well as policies for each of the facilities listed below- may require advance registrations and masks for anyone older than 10. Also, please no negative comments. If going out to these places during this time isn't for you, I completely understand! Let's all agree to do the best we can for ourselves and our kids, whatever that looks like. 

Learn about animals

Both the Fort Worth Zoo and the Dallas Zoo allow kids to get up close and personal with the animals. Feed giraffes and birds, catch a few educational shows and so much more! Plus, these are both outdoor facilities that allow for easy social distancing. SeaQuest Aquarium at Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth, SeaLife Aqaurium at Grapevine Mills and the Dallas World Aquarium let kids explore marine life and observe fish, sting rays, sharks and more (I also want to note that the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park should be included in this list, but it is temporarily closed. Keep checking the website for updates). Go back in time and learn about dinosaurs at Dinosaur World in Glen Rose. Don't forget how much fun drive-thru safaris are! Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose and Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari allow you to interact with animals from the comfort of your own vehicle!

Study art

The Metroplex is home to some fantastic art collections, many of which can be enjoyed by all ages. In Dallas, try: the Meadows Museum at SMU, the Dallas Museum of Modern Art, the Crow Museum of Asian Art or the Nasher Sculpture Center. (There are so many more fabulous museums in Dallas that I simply couldn't list them all- but I think these are all great educational spots for kids!). In Fort Worth, try: the Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art or The Modern.

Hands on learning

When the kiddos need a more hands-on approach to learning, check out these spots for a combo of learning and playing! The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History has lots of great experiments and play areas for kids to explore. The Perot Museum in Dallas has multiple levels and exhibits for kids to learn and play. Legoland Discovery Center in Grapevine allows kids to get creative building with Legos. Crayola Experience Plano encourages kids to experiment with colors. And KidZania in Frisco is literally a miniature town where kids can earn "money" by "working" various jobs and then trade their earnings for prizes before they leave.

Unique Opportunities

Learn about life in yesteryear at the Log Cabin Village in Fort Worth. Discover the women of the West at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Engage at the African American Museum, which has one of the largest African American Folk Art collections in the US. Learn all about the history of flight at the Frontiers of Flight Museum from Southwest in Dallas (American Airlines also has a great museum called the CR Smith Museum that is currently closed due to COVID). Watch airplanes take off (pack your picnic lunch!) and listen to a radio that broadcasts communications from the FAA tower at Founder's Plaza. Experience farm life back in the day at Nash Farms in Grapevine. See Dallas from a bird's eye view at Reunion Tower. Try to figure out for yourself who killed JFK at the The Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza. Trick your mind at the Museum of Optical Illusions. (Also keep the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame right here in Arlington in mind, although it is also temporarily closed)

Be one with nature

Take your learning outside! We have some gorgeous spots in DFW to learn, explore and just relax! Take a stroll through the Dallas Arboretum and see how many different kinds of flowers you can name. Embark on a floral scavenger hunt through the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. Learn about plants, vegetation and more at the River Legacy Living Science Center. Hike the trails, learn about butterflies and so much more at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lastly, if you just need a spot for kiddos to get out of the house and stretch their imagination, check out PlayStudio Fort Worth, or one of the Playstreet Museums around the Metroplex. (Also put Spark Dallas on your must-visit list, although it is currently closed)

Hopefully this list will help you fill your days with your kiddos home virtually schooling and allow everyone to enjoy this temporary time in our lives! 

Roadtripping with Kids: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri!

Missouri is definitely not the obvious choice for a summer road trip with kids- at least not from Dallas/Fort Worth! There are closer lakes, closer beaches, closer family-friendly destinations.

But if you've never been to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, in the south central part of the state, it is worth considering the next time you decide to hit the road, with or without kiddos. The Lake of the Ozarks actually features more than 1,000 miles of shoreline- more than the state of California! Lake-goers can fish, water ski, jet ski, boat, play in the sand and so much more! Do I have you dreaming of a lake vacation yet?

Fun fact: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, is consistently rated one of the top party lakes in the nation, but, trust me here, it's as fun with kids as without kids! Can you name the top party lake in the country? Hint: it's right here in Texas! (Scroll to the end for the answer)

I hadn't actually been to the lake since my college days, back when the lake was the place for Mizzou students to party on long weekends. It looks a bit different when you've got kids in tow, but it's such a fun spot all the same! 

A simple search of AirBnB pulls up lots of spots to rent, from condos to houses and apartments. There are also plenty of hotels around the lake- the The Lodge of Four Seasons was one that was often recommended to us and looks fabulous! We lucked out and were able to stay at a friend's lake house.

Lake of the Ozarks is about an 8.5 hour drive from Arlington. For those of you that think that's simply too far- Galveston is 6 hours, Orange Beach is 9 and Destin is 11. So it's not any further than lots of common Texas road trips. The drive takes your north through Oklahoma and then east through Missouri. The drive allows you to see some fun Oklahoma spots (casino, anyone?) as well as Springfield and Branson, Missouri! If your kids are anything like mine, they will start asking "are we there yet?" by the time you hit Durant.

The Lake of Ozarks website has lots of great information on what to do when you reach the water. We were able to jet ski daily thanks to my friends, but jet skis and boats are easily rentable from many spots and retailers on the lake. It's a busy lake! While we were able to zip around easily on Thursday and Friday, Saturday and Sunday brought choppy waters and boaters galore. Something to keep in mind if you are a novice boater. My girls absolutely loved jet skiing- it was such a fun way to see the lake! The lake is huge, and there are gorgeous homes and hotels and restaurants to observe. We enjoyed looking around from our jet skis the same way we love looking at different houses and neighborhoods from our cars!

My girls really loved pulling up to waterfront restaurants around the lake and eating and enjoying the ambiance. Our favorite spot is called Franky & Louie's. This waterfront spot was a place we could have hung at all day. There is ample outdoor seating, but get there early! F & L's has a beach with a small, shallow swimming area safe for kiddos to play in (there is a dock surrounding it on three sides). Kids can build sandcastles, play in the water, play sand volleyball, play Jenga or so many more activities. Parents can enjoy adult beverages and a full menu. And there is an ice cream stand (bring your cash, no cards at the ice cream shack!). You can access the restaurant from the water or land. Bring your beach towels and sand toys and lots and LOTS of sunscreen (there is no shade on the beach or water area, save for a few sparse umbrellas). But this is a spot where you can spend an afternoon kicking back and soaking up lake life!

A few other spots we loved: Dog Days Bar & Grill (two separate pools, one for adults, one for kids, plus live entertainment and dogs are welcome!); Nautifish Rum Bar (bring quarters for fish food so kids can feed the massive fish that hang out by the dock, play ping pong and shuffleboard plus catch live music); Backwater Jack's (pool for ages 10 and over, so keep this in mind, great food prices, fun ambiance). 

When you tire of the water, there is plenty to do on land! There are several spots to mini golf (check out Sugar Creek Mini Golf), multiple indoor arcades (Miner Mike's comes highly recommended to us!), lots of great shopping spots (hello Osage Beach Premium Outlets) and so much more! The Visit Missouri Website has so many great resources for planning an unforgettable trip! And, if you've never been to Branson, it is totally worth a stop for kids and adults alike!

Let the EA crew know if you've been to Missouri lately and what we missed in terms of fun things to do with kids! We are pretty partial to the Show Me State (I met my husband at the University of Missouri- Go Tigers!), but we genuinely think that the Lake of  the Ozarks (and Branson) is worth a trip. 

The number one party lake in the nation is Lake Travis in Austin.