Spring Break (& Beyond!) Fun is Here at Alley Cats Hurst, Arlington & Burleson

 Affordable, family-friendly fun at three convenient locations

*This content is paid for by Alley Cats. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

Alley Cat's slogan is "Indoor. Outdoor. Fun!" and this couldn't possibly be more accurate. From rides to bowling and laser tag to arcade games, Alley Cats has everything you need for family fun under one roof, and at great prices, to boot!

Enjoying the arcade games at Alley Cats Hurst.

We recently visited the Hurst location and hung out and played together as a family for hours. At Alley Cats Hurst, you can:

- Check out the rides outdoors. Our favorite? The Rattler Rollercoaster!

- Drive go karts. Who doesn't have a need for speed?

- Challenge the family to mini golf. Spoiler alert: I will always lose even when I'm genuinely trying not to!

- Hit up the batting cages. My oldest's favorite Alley Cats activity!

- Go bowling. I bowled. I lost. And I promise I gave the game my all!

- Play the arcade games. My girls love the piano game, and I just don't get it!

- Grab a bite to eat at the restaurant. I love the black bean burger!

- Play laser tag. Always fun!

Suited up for laser tag at Alley Cats Hurst.

On Sundays, Alley Cats Hurst even does brunch so you can dine and play for the ultimate family fun day. 

Have I mentioned how affordable Alley Cats is? Before you head out to one of their three awesome locations, be sure and check the "special promotions" tab on their website- it will let you know the latest deals at that location. Right now, in Hurst, for $60, you can get unlimited rides, batting cages, bowling and mini golf PLUS a $20 arcade card. That is hours and hours of fun for one low price. (Promotion not available during Spring Break)

Enjoying some fun in the sun at Alley Cats Hurst.

Looking for a thrills a little closer to home? Alley Cats Arlington has everything you need for a family fun day in town. We always enjoy family time here mini golfing, playing arcade games and more.

Looking to check out their newest space? You'll want to hit up the Burleson location! It's less than a year old and equipped with all the fun activities you've come to know and expect from Alley Cats. Bowl. Go Kart. Ride. Play. Tag. The list goes on!

What do you love most about Alley Cats?

Summer Reading Freebies 2024

I'm an avid reader... I'm about to finish my 30th book of 2024! But my girls have grown up in a digital age where the lure of the internet is real. I'm all about incentivizing them to read in hopes that one day they'll love it as much as I do. 

If your kids are like mine, they are incentivized by prizes, rewards and freebies. So, here it is- the list of cool, free things they can get in Summer 2024 for reading.

Summer 2024 Reading Freebies in the DFW area

Barnes & Noble- 

Kids in grades 1-6 can earn a free book from a selected list when they read 8 books of their choosing. Download the journal here and once your child has completed their reading, bring it to your closest location for a free book. Program runs July 1- August 31, 2024. 

Panda Express-

This program is best for teachers to sign up for to reward their kids, but I still wanted to include it! Teachers can enroll in the program and then receive free meal cards to be handed to students who complete five books. 

Pizza Hut- 

I loved the Book It! Program as a kid and I still love it as an adult! Kids can earn a free personal pan pizza for completing their reading journal. This program is designed for kids in PreK through 6th grade. Homeschool children can participate in this program during the school year, too! 

Half Price Books-

Summer reading camp is back! You can enroll your child on the linked website and print their reading log. Once they complete their summer reading (between June 1 and July 31), they can bring their completed reading log to their local HPB store and receive $5 in bookworm bucks, which is good for $5 off anything in the store. 

Freeplay-

We especially love this prize. Read 5 books and then play games all day! Score! Submit your reading log to the above link and your child receives free admission to Freeplay! This is an easy, fun reward for kids- and parents! 

Don't forget to check out the programs at your local library. Last year we earned a free membership to the Perot Museum through the Grand Prairie Library! 

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!

It's pumpkin farm time!

Best pumpkin farms for fall in Dallas/Fort Worth

🎃 Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm
📍 Midlothian
💰 $12/person

🎃 Mainstay Farm 
📍Cleburne
💰 $24/person

🎃 Hall's Pumpkin Farm 
📍Grapevine
💰$15/adults, $10/kids

🎃 Yesterland Farm 
📍Canton
💰 $22 in advance/ $28 at the gate

🎃 Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch 
📍Flower Mound
💰$5/weekdays, $10 weekends

🎃 Lonestar Family Farm
📍Stephenville
💰 $16.50/person

🎃 Country Critters Farm 
📍 Alvarado
💰 $12/person

🎃 The Patch at Crossover Farm
📍 Rhome
💰 Hayride + Smores- $20/4 people

Where is your favorite pumpkin farm in DFW?