Fall for Dallas for Family Travel

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Published on Monday, September 17, 2012 08:44

Written by Vegetarian TravelingMom

In the summer of 2012, Dallas enjoyed/ suffered through an incredible string of 100 degree days. These were broken up by the occasional 100+ day, and on my recent trip, we got to experience heat and humidity in a way unaccustomed to Yankee constitution.

Luckily, Dallasalso has a number of indoor, air-conditioned attractions that make visiting there pleasant in any weather. And autumn through spring often brings mild temperatures (sunny and 70 in November, anyone?) that add to the city’s charm.
Dallas Opens New Park
Just in time for residents and travelers to be able to spend time outdoors, the Klyde Warren Park is opening this fall in the Arts District, downtown. The urban green space boasts a performance stage, children’s garden, and shaded walking paths and splash fountains for overly hot days.

The park will host free music and dance performances, story telling, fitness classes and movies. For family travelers on a budget, there is petanque, a putting green and ping-pong, all of which can keep the kids busy at no charge.

Dallas Arts District
The Dallas Arts District also includes the Nasher Sculpture Center, which offers children’s activities as part of the free monthly First Saturdays program. These include a hands-on project, a scavenger hunt and specially designed family tours.

Wolfgang Puck consulted on the café, so there is a wonderful salad selection and a vegetarian Bahn Mi. There are also kids meals.

If your child is a night owl, head over to the adjacent Dallas Museum of Art, on the third Friday of each month, where the museum is open until midnight. Interactive programs include treasure hunts, Yoga for kids, and bedtime stories. If you are traveling with teens, they might enjoy late night concerts and films.

The café has a decent vegetarian selection, with local organic salads, sandwiches and pastas.

Dallas Blooms Year Round
The Dallas Arboretum, on White Rock Lake, is a short drive from downtown. The botanic gardens has a stunning and colorful exhibit of Dale Chihuly works through November 5, with magical evening hours showcasing the glass sculptures.

But there is till plenty here to enchant young and old. Through December 31, kids can explore 'Small Houses of Great Artists', tiny houses they can walk through. These are in the style of the artists Georgia O'Keefe, Vincent Van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet, with a large ‘storybook’ intro to each artist and complementary flowers. There is also a splash fountain in the arboretum.