Having children far apart in age can pose a real challenge when finding activities to “fit” both older and younger children alike. Venues geared toward older children go right over my toddlers’ heads, while others are too “babyish” for my older two. A family favorite that provides hands-on, educational fun for all four of my kids (ages 1-9) is the Perot Museum in Dallas.

Leading into the museum, my children are already enamored by the outdoor entertainment area which includes a splash pad, frog garden and sound center with xylophones. The free splash area is the perfect place to cool off and beat the Texas heat. We usually make a stop to play here on our way out!

Inside the museum there are several exhibits with different themes on each floor, including space, gems, fuel, energy, sports, children’s museum, and so much more. You could easily spend the entire day exploring all the exhibits.

If you have an especially active kid like my seven-year-old, the lower level sports hall is a must! “Oh yeah, it is Katie’s time to dominate!” my daughter screams as she heads to the running lanes along the speed wall. Here kids have an opportunity to race a T. rex, a cheetah, or their favorite athletes. Nothing brings out the thrill of my daughter’s competitive side like getting to race Patrick Mahomes (and her brothers). Oh to have that much energy again!

Also on the lower level is the children’s museum geared towards toddlers and younger children. There are so many opportunities for imaginative play here! My kids are big fans of the mini campsite, where they can crawl through a fallen log into their tent or huddle around the campfire and pretend to make snores.

As we make our way up to the fourth floor dinosaur exhibit, we are greeted with the skeleton of a wooly mammoth. “Look, it’s Manny!” my son shouts. Here you’ll find tons of fossils and interactive activities for the kids to get familiar with paleontology. You can even watch Perot paleontologists working on releasing fossil bones from rocks right in front of you.

My toddler loves to “Roar!” with the “dancy dinos” where he can show off his dance moves. This simulator replicates his motion onto a raptor projected on a wall. Your children are sure to get a laugh out of this!

Located in the center of the Dallas Arts District, the Perot Museum is easy to get to. Although there is a small fee, there is a covered parking lot that is always well-lit and easily accessible. I recommend buying tickets in advance to skip the line. There are also discounts available for educators, military, and first responders.

All details can be found on our newly launched app, KidFriendlyVenues, that is part of this website. Register now for free and plan that great day trip with your kids!

Allison M.