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!
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