Thursday, September 30, 2021

The BEST Pumpkin Farms in DFW

These are not your average pumpkin farms.

It's fall in North Texas, and the EA Crew takes this time of year very seriously. We love all things spooky and pumpkin-y and basically just all of it.

So this list of Pumpkin Farms isn't just a list of fields full of pumpkins-for-purchase, although I have nothing against those spots! They are perfect for last-minute pictures and pumpkins for carving and just general inexpensive fun. 

But if you want a pumpkin farm that is a destination, a place where you can enjoy all that screams fall: hayrides, apple cider, pumpkins and more, well, this is the list for you!


Pumpkins
It's pumpkin farm time!



Best pumpkin farms for fall in Dallas/Fort Worth


πŸŽƒ Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm
πŸ“ Midlothian
πŸ’° $12/person

πŸŽƒ Mainstay Farm 
πŸ“Cleburne
πŸ’° $24/person

πŸŽƒ Hall's Pumpkin Farm 
πŸ“Grapevine
πŸ’°$15/adults, $10/kids

πŸŽƒ Yesterland Farm 
πŸ“Canton
πŸ’° $22 in advance/ $28 at the gate

πŸŽƒ Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch 
πŸ“Flower Mound
πŸ’°$5/weekdays, $10 weekends

πŸŽƒ Lonestar Family Farm
πŸ“Stephenville
πŸ’° $16.50/person

πŸŽƒ Country Critters Farm 
πŸ“ Alvarado
πŸ’° $12/person

πŸŽƒ The Patch at Crossover Farm
πŸ“ Rhome
πŸ’° Hayride + Smores- $20/4 people




Where is your favorite pumpkin farm in DFW?

Friday, September 24, 2021

Best Indoor Play Areas for Kids in the Fort Worth Area

When my kids were little, all I wanted was a fun indoor play area that wasn't attached to a fast food place and that require me to constantly open my wallet to buy more tokens or play time. I wanted some place for my little kids to play without being trampled by big kids. I wanted a spot where I could sit and drink coffee and chat with friends while my little roamed and explored.

Best indoor play areas in the Fort Worth area!

Sadly for me, all of these awesome play areas started popping up after my kids were of school age. These are the wonderful spots that offer Wi-Fi and a spot to sip coffee and toys and play areas that are safe for kiddos younger than seven or eight. While we still don't have any of these types of places in Arlington, I certainly hope that there is someone in the area working out what it would take to open a Play Street Museum or similar facility in Arlington. I'm just glad that these areas finally exist in the western half of DFW- because I spent a LOT of time trucking my trio to Dallas when they were little in search of play spaces for littles.

KidMania Fort Worth
Having too much fun at KidMania in Fort Worth!



These are the very best indoor play areas for younger kids in the Arlington & Fort Worth area! 🎠 Kid Mania Fort Worth πŸ’΄ $9 for kids, infants are free πŸ“ Fort Worth (Alliance area) (This play area is pictured) 🎠 Play Studio πŸ’΄ $10 per kid πŸ“ Fort Worth (Riverside area) 🎠 Play Street Museum Ft. Worth πŸ’΄ $12 per child πŸ“ Fort Worth (Ridglea area) 🎠 Recess Time Indoor Playground πŸ’΄ $14.50 per kid, includes socks πŸ“ Burleson 🎠 Celebration Party and Event Center πŸ’΄ $7 per child πŸ“ Keller 🎠 FamilyTime Mansfield πŸ’΄ $14 per kid πŸ“ Mansfield 🎠 The Family Playhouse Tx πŸ’΄ $10 per kid πŸ“ Fort Worth (Ridgmar Mall)
🎠 Kiddleton πŸ’΄ $7.50 weekdays/ $10 weekend πŸ“ Fort Worth (Hulen Mall) 🎠 Cheeky Monkeys Fort Worth πŸ’΄ $12.99/2 hours (weekdays) πŸ“Fort Worth (Alliance area) 🎠 Luv 2 Play πŸ’΄ $14 πŸ“ Grapevine

🎠 Peek N Play πŸ’΄ $13 πŸ“ Grapevine

Many of these spots will require kids to play in socks- don't forget yours or you may have to buy some on-site!

Don't forget snacks! Some places have designated eating areas. Our favorite was always Pirate's Booty.

Bring a water bottle and coffee if that's your jam. If your kids are a little older, consider your laptop if you're a work-from-home parent. Log some hours while the kids play!

If you want to know my absolute faves on this list... I love PlayStudio for kids younger than six, and they have a great outdoor space, as well. KidMania would be the top pick for my girls- this spot is great up until about age 12. We haven't been to several newer spots on this list, but Kiddleton looks absolutely amazing!

What is your favorite kids' play area in the Fort Worth area?

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

EA Roundup: Our Favorite Kids' Activities in the Arlington Area!

Now that we are almost a full month into the school year, it might be time to start thinking about kids' activities. Do you have a soccer player at home? Or maybe a gymnast? Perhaps your child wants to pursue art or music or scouting. We are fortunate to live in area where the list of activities in which you can enroll your child is virtually endless!

While you're here, click over to my article for Zulily, about all the classic board games you should own to play with your kids on weekends or on family nights spent bonding over board games from yesteryear!

No matter what interests your child has, there is truly something for everyone available in the greater Arlington area. While I won't pretend that we have personally tried out every place on this list (although, to be honest, we've tried a great many of these spots!), I will tell you that these spots all come recommended by friends and family.

Best Sports, Clubs and Activities for Kids in the Arlington Area

If you have an aspiring gymnast or dancer...

United Performing Arts Center will encourage your tiny dancer to learn tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and more as a fun way to express themselves. This Park Row spot is a favorite with local parents. 

Tiny dancer
There are lots of great dance studios in Arlington, Texas, for your tiny dancer!



Stars Gymnastics Arlington is a great spot for your dancer if they want to learn tumbling, as well. Stars will teach your child acro-dance, which will combine dancing and tumbling for your tiny dancer. 

Spirals Gymnastics in Kennedale and Mansfield will bring out the inner Simone Biles in your child. Your kiddo will get to learn bars, beam, vault and floor exercise at both of these area locations. 

Ice at the Parks will help your child get comfortable on ice! Whether your child wants to pursue ice hockey or figure skating, this is a great spot to start! 

If your child wants to pursue the arts...

Theatre Arlington can help your child gain confidence on stage and learn what it takes to become an actor.

KidCreate Mansfield will help your child hone their artistic skills with painting and craft classes.

Destiny Voice + Music Studio has a variety of musicians on hand who provide guitar lessons, piano lessons, voice coaching and more. My middle daughter loves lessons here (I take credit for exactly zero percent of her musical talent. Her guitar skills skipped a generation as they passed from my dad to my daughter). 

Girl plays guitar.
Learning the basics of playing the guitar- inspired by her days of listening to Dave Matthews Band with her dad!



If your child wants to pursue athletic endeavors...

MARSwim will have your child in the water year-round. You can start with lessons at UTA (or several other area locations) when your child is four, and then they can progress to swim team when they are ready. Swim meets are optional but oh-so-fun!

swim team
I love going to swim meets and cheering on my favorite middle girl. 



i9 Sports offers a variety of athletics for your high-energy kiddo. Whether your child wants to pursue baseball, soccer, football or other sports, i9 likely offers a great team-sport experience for your child.

The Arlington Tennis Center will help your child learn the coordination and skills it takes to be successful on the court. Don't forget to follow Arlington Tennis Association on Facebook to learn about all the fun, free lessons they host for kids at the ATC! 

Viridian Sailing Club will help your child learn to sail right here in Arlington! They don't appear to offer regular weekly lessons, just summer camps... But keep your eye out, just in case! 


Girl on boat
How fun would sailing lessons be?



Action Skatepark in Grand Prairie is a great spot for your child to learn to skateboard. My youngest just started lessons here and loves every second- even when she falls (hard) and ends lessons dripping in sweat. She (almost) never complains! 

If your child wants to learn new skills...

Code Ninjas Mansfield offers a number of computer programming classes and courses to help your child learn to code and so much more. 

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts offers kids a variety of ways to get involved in the local community. Kids will earn badges and learn skills that will help them throughout their lives. 

Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts is so much more than just selling cookies... Although we love doing that, too!



4-H introduces kids to the world of livestock. Kids will learn ways to serve their community through this organization. 

La Puerta Spanish Center offers Spanish instruction for kids interesting in learning a new language.

Arlington Chess Club will have your child thinking critically and mastering a new, challenging game in no time! (I admit- I have no idea how to play chess. Maybe I should join the adult club?...)


What activities will you be signing your kids up for this fall? 


Thursday, September 2, 2021

A New Reading Adventure: The Cities of Adventure Series by Rishi Piparaiya

I love to travel. And I love to read. 

So when I discovered the Cities of Adventure series by Rishi Piparaiya, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a few books! 

Books about travel have such a special place in my heart because I think they help you visualize places you maybe haven't personally experienced. I admit, one of my favorite things about Dan Brown's books (Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code) is reading about Robert Langdon racing through some of my favorite cities in Europe, uncovering secrets. I've been to the Vatican before, but Angels & Demons made me want to race back to Rome and rediscover some of the areas Dan Brown discusses in the novel with the information the book provided. I love when reading and real life intersect!

A new reading adventure: exciting stories for young readers



Cities of Adventure books
The Cities of Adventure Books by Rishi Piparaiya. 


These new adventure books, available on Amazon, are that intersection of travel and adventure for kids. My middle daughter, my most avid reader of my three, sped through these great chapter books, embarking on a city-wide adventure in three major metropolitan areas around the world. 

The Race to Phar Lap's Saddle follows kids Neil and Tara through this exciting Australian City as the kids find themselves on mission to recover a stolen artifact. The book includes a kid-friendly map of the city, as well as travel tips, some differences between American English and Australian English and lots of cool facts about the land down under.

Cities of Adventure Book: Melbourne
Cities of Adventure: The Race to Phar Lap's Saddle.



Framed in Hollywood tells the tale of a famed and framed Hollywood actress. Sally Sinclair is a well-known actress who is accused of committing a crime on the set of her latest film. Is she guilty? Or innocent? The books incorporates some of my favorite spots in Los Angeles- Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Sunset Boulevard. You can also learn cool facts about the US and some of your favorite celebrities in the back of this fun book. 

Cities of Adventure: Hollywood
Cities of Adventure: Framed in Hollywood



The Secret of the Snallygaster takes place in our nation's capitol, Washington D.C. Tara and Neil, the tale's star brother and sister duo, are on vacation in DC when a long-hidden family secret is revealed. The secret turns their vacation on its head, and the duo race to save a mysterious and magical creature, the snallygaster. We loved reading the tidbits about America in the back of the book and my middle daughter is mapping out all of the places she wants to go visit in Washington thanks to this book. 

There is already a fourth book out about New York City that we haven't read yet, called The Men from B.A.G.E.L. These books are all available on Amazon for $12.99. I am not an Amazon affiliate, so I don't stand to gain anything if you purchase through the links I've provided. There are more books coming in this series about cities all over the world. What a fun way to expose your kids to new cities and cultures and foster their love of reading!

Cities of Adventure Books
Showing off a city map in a Cities of Adventure book from Amazon.



I did receive these books for free in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.