Want to take your child on a fun, weeklong summer “Staycation” without breaking the bank?
Curious about what you can do in Dallas during your time off?
The cities of Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and Dallas offer exciting, inexpensive things to do with your child this summer.
In this article, we give you a plan for a week-long summer “staycation” for you and your child using locations and events around the DFW Metrolpex.
Week-long Summer DFW Staycation Schedule
Sunday
Half Price Books (Multiple Locations)
Pack up your half-pint readers and come to Half Price Books for Sunday Storytime and Crafts. Sit down and enjoy a good tale and free activities with the store starting at 3 p.m. each Sunday. Readers, listeners and arts-and-crafts lovers of all ages are welcome. [Richardson Half Price Books – 100 S. Central Expressway, Richardson, TX]
Their Las Colinas store in Irving opens for buying starting Thursday, June 4. Bring your used stuff to sell 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday, and take a sneak peek inside our new store before we open for business. While you’re in the store, be sure to ask for some money-saving coupons to save even more during our Great Opening Celebration. Visit www.hpb.com for more information and event details.
[Las Colinas Half Price Books – 7631 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX]
Monday
NickleMania in Carrollton
Enjoy exciting and entertaining games and family get-togethers for less than $2.00! NickleMaina is an arcade where your children can pay a nickel to play arcade classics and fun skill games.
Admission is $1.95 per person (players and non players). Kids and adults are the same price. Each game costs a nickel or a little more. It is a great way to beat the heat while having fun. For information call 972-713-9500 or visit www.nicklemania.com.
[NickleMania – SW Corner of Midway Rd and Trinity Mills in Carrollton]
Tuesday
The Carrollton Josey Ranch Library Storytime
This is a free event that is sponsored by the Carrollton Library. Children ages 3 to 6 can enjoy stories, songs, finger plays, action rhymes and puppetry. The event starts at 11 AM every Tuesday during the summer.
You can also visit the Josey Ranch Lake Library for Second Monday Family Fun Night on Monday, July 13 from 7-8:30 p.m. for a night of free, fun games and crafts for families. Meet up with other families or just enjoy a great night with your family. For more information, call 972-466-4800 or visit cityofcarrollton.com/library.
[Josey Ranch Lake Library – 1700 Keller Springs Road, Carrollton, Tx]
Wednesday
Ice Skating at the Galleria
Once you step on the ice at the Galleria you’ll discover it’s truly the most unique ice-skating experience around. With hundreds of stores, shoppers and restaurants to surround you, we put you in the center of it all. So take a lesson, have a party, or just go for a spin.
Admission is $10 and skate rental is $3. All skaters using rental skates are required to wear socks. Once skaters have purchased the admission and skate rental tickets, they’re welcome to skate as long as you like during the public session. Find more information at www.galleriaiceskatingcenter.com
[Galleria Skating Center – 13350 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX]
Thursday
Farmers Branch Aquatic Center
This family water park is the newest edition to the City of Farmers Branch recreational department. The facility includes the Margaret Young Natatorium, which is a year round aquatics facility for swimmers of all ages and abilities. The natatorium features aquatic fitness classes, water therapy, swim lessons for all ages and abilities, and American Red Cross certification courses.
The aquatic center also features a brand new state of the art outdoor water park called the Frog Pond. It features an activity pool with over 60 water features including four water slides and dump buckets. There is also a lazy river that is over 500 feet long and a lagoon pool with a tanning ledge and pavilions to rent.
The Frog pond season follows the CFB-ISD school calendar. It is open to the public through Labor Day. Daily passes cost $5 for Farmers Branch residents and $8 for non-residents. It’s a great place to cool off this summer. Find more information at www.fbh2o.com
[Farmers Branch Aquatic Center – 14032 Heartside Pl., Farmers Branch, TX]
Friday
Alamo Drafthouse Movie Theater in Richardson
The Alamo Drafthouse is a great theater for film lovers and offers a full menu to enjoy while you watch your movie. During the summer months, the theater offers the Summer Kids Camp with a lineup of fun family favorites and a new choose-your-own-ticket price option with proceeds benefiting local charities!
The “choose-your-own-ticket price” model ranges from $1 to $3 per person with 100% of ticket sales being donated to local nonprofits helping families.
The Summer Camp has an exciting lineup, which includes classics like MARY POPPINS and the original PARENT TRAP, to literary inspirations like MATILDA and CHARLOTTE’S WEB. The full lineup of movies can be found here: Summer Kids Camp http://drafthouse.com/packages/2015-summer-kids-camp
[Alamo Drafthouse – 100 South Central Expressway, Richardson, TX]
Saturday
Dallas Zoo
Saturday nights will sizzle this summer at the Dallas Zoo, when the Safari Nights evening concert series returns featuring great music, extended hours and a chance to mingle with some of the stars of the Dallas Zoo.
The concerts are FREE with the price of Zoo admission and begin at 7 p.m. Food will be available for purchase, along with soft drinks. Admission to the park is $15 for adults and $12 per children. Children under the age of two are free.
This is a great way to view all the great animals while enjoying music and special events. The Dallas Zoo also recently expanded its park to include a dinosaur exhibit with model dinosaurs children can explore. Also be on the lookout for “Dollar Days” throughout the summer where admission to the zoo is only $1. More information can be found on their website at www.dallaszoo.com.
[Dallas Zoo – 650 S. R.L. Thornton, Dallas, TX]
Other Options to Choose From
Follow this plan for a weeklong vacation that is inexpensive and close to home. There are many other great options in the Dallas area you can choose from. Other options include the Perot Museum, the Nasher Sculpture Center, Klyde Warren Park, Rosemeade Rainforest Complex or Main Event.
What do you like to do over the summer with your children that are local and inexpensive? Leave your suggestions in the comment section below.
- Staycation – a vacation spent at home or nearby
Compiled by Jason Wheeler