tiny tourist: dallas

When we first sat around a restaurant table and came up with the idea of Small Fry, one of the first topics we wanted to cover was traveling with kids. We all have a pretty bad case of wanderlust and each have life goals of showing our kids the world. The part we seem to forget about this dream is that traveling with kids is hard work! The logistics of traveling and visiting a new place are tricky enough, but throwing in sleep schedules, spotting kid-friendly restaurants, and finding a park, museum, monument that will interest the whole crew? Consider us exhausted.

So this idea has since evolved into a new Small Fry series! We hope that by calling upon residents of cities you might be traveling to, whether it’s a quick road trip or a Trans-Atlantic flight away, that their expertise and experience of how they navigate their city with small fries in tow will make traveling with children that much easier. Welcome to Tiny Tourist! Five days, five cities, and we’re ready for our next adventure!

tinytouristheader

First up is our favorite Texan, Casey Wiegand! We finally met Casey in person this year and can attest that she is as sweet and thoughtful, deep-thinking and self-aware as she appears online. Her blog is full of beautiful photos and words, and her husband recently embarked on a Summer-long film tour for his upcoming documentary American Blogger! We’re happy to have Casey here today sharing the ins and outs of traveling to Dallas, Texas.
Dallas  Texas Farmers Market Casey Wiegand

1. We just discovered our love for going to the Dallas Farmer’s Market & we are already hooked! There are so many beautiful colors and so many delicious fresh fruits hooked! There are so many beautiful colors and so many delicious fresh fruits to bring home. My kids absolutely love running downtown for an afternoon there! This last trip we filled  our bag with fresh green grapes, flowers , fresh peaches and a giant watermelon!

Aquarium Childrens Fair Park Dallas Texas

 2. Last year when I was on bedrest, my husband took the kiddos to the Children’s Aquarium a few times to let them see all of the beautiful fish and do all of the fun activities. Fair Park is full of treasures and the aquarium is a for sure win with little ones! My kids favorite part is petting the giant stingrays!

 Dallas Texas Zoo
3. The Dallas Zoo is a must if you are in Dallas or just visiting. We love walking around for the day, enjoying the animals, taking a train ride and grabbing lunch as a family there! My kids favorite part is feeding the giraffes… they will come up and eat the food right out of their hands!
 White Rock Lake Dallas Texas
4. White Rock Lake is sooooo beautiful. One of our favorite things to do as a family is to pack-up a picnic, a big quilt, a pile of books & toys and head over to the lake for an afternoon. The lake is always filled with kayaks and sailboats and avariety of activities for your little ones to watch while you enjoy a family picnic.
 Dino World, Dallas Texas Casey Wiegland
5. My little guy is absolutely obsessed with Dinosaurs so last year we took a road trip to Dino State Valley Park and Dino World and it was an absolute blast. Dino World is filled with huge, colorful dinosaurs that the kids can walk around and see. Then Dino Valley State Park has a gorgeous creek which is the perfect place to kick off your shoes and play together outside.
Fellow Texans, what additions would you make to Casey’s kid-friendly list?

14 Comments

  • Jessica Mooneyham
    June 24, 2013 at 9:14 am

    I LOVE this segment. I always try to find “Family Favorites” when we head to other cities. If you are looking for a Denver Tiny Tourist, we would love to help.

    I love your blog and read it (and Casey’s) every day!

    ~Jessie (Reeve’s Mama)

    Reply
  • Sara
    June 24, 2013 at 9:56 am

    Seriously in love with this new series. You know this is right up my alley. And Dallas is on our hit list so I will be stowing away this info.

    Reply
  • Angelica
    June 24, 2013 at 10:30 am

    I highly recommend The Dallas World Aquarium (not the same aquarium Casey mentioned). It is a bit pricey, but it is worth every penny. http://www.dwazoo.com/

    In the summer, Shakespeare in the Park is wonderful and kids 12 and under are FREE! Pack a picnic (and some wine for the parents) and bring a blanket. http://www.shakespearedallas.org/in-the-park

    The Dallas Arboretum is beautiful all on its own, but they also have summer concerts and other seasonal festivals. http://www.dallasarboretum.org

    There’s Klyde Warren Park, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the IMAX, the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens (large areas are free so you can bring a picnic and just let the kids run around), Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park, and lots of splash pads, bounce houses, and pools.

    Reply
  • Regina
    June 24, 2013 at 10:32 am

    Ooooooh! Great suggestions, Casey! The new Perot Museum is at the top of our list lately. It is jam packed with science to explore and the playroom in the basement is so fun! My little guy really loves the tiny version of the city skyline where the kids can use a pulley to move blocks up and down the skyline. My older kids really love the sports exhibits too.

    Reply
  • MamaE
    June 24, 2013 at 11:30 am

    So many more!!!
    *klyde warren park – downtown
    *dallas museum of art (free all summer!!)
    *perot museum of science & nature
    (Includes children’s museum)
    *dallas arboretum
    *Hope park in Frisco – handicap accessible!

    Reply
  • PARIS BEE kids blog
    June 24, 2013 at 3:33 pm

    Love this series!!! Can’t wait for more!

    xoxo PARIS BEE kids blog

    Reply
  • Lizzie
    June 24, 2013 at 4:55 pm

    I love Casey! Great tips. My husband is from the Dallas area so we will definitely use these tips on our next trip. Thanks, Casey!

    Reply
  • Christine
    June 24, 2013 at 9:28 pm

    Love this idea for a series!! Looking forward to reading more (maybe some stops over here in Canada too!)

    Reply
    • Small Fry
      June 24, 2013 at 10:17 pm

      You got it!

      Reply
  • Tysha
    June 25, 2013 at 1:57 pm

    We moved to Austin last fall (after 15 years in Seattle – if you need help with Seattle, let me know, I nannied 10 years before having my own kiddos there – know it and love it so well!) Anyway, for Thanksgiving we went to the Dallas area to visit some family and they took us to The HEARD Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s in Mckinney, just (north?) of Dallas. There is a traveling Dino exhibit that comes each fall called “Dinosaurs Alive!” and my kids were beyond thrilled. They really enjoyed the whole place, and my favorite thing were the trails and garden area – specifically that we found colored leaves in Texas (there weren’t any in Austin). 🙂 Happy Travels! And great series, ladies!

    Reply
  • Tonya {The Traveling Praters}
    June 29, 2013 at 5:09 pm

    I’m not from Dallas or even a Texan, but my son and I visited the area last year and loved it. There is so much to see and Dallas is a beautiful city.

    I have a teenager so we spent our time in the Galleria (teens love to shop- yes, even boys), exploring the 6th Floor Museum, the aquarium (not the one in Fair Park) & the Dallas Botanical Garden were both great but my son really loved our trip to Wild Bill’s where he was custom fitted for a cowboy hat!

    We stayed at The Magnolia a boutique hotel downtown that welcomes families, have rooms with kitchens and have cookies for the guests in the evenings.

    Reply
  • shelby
    July 5, 2013 at 1:21 pm

    We visit Dallas every so often to see family so this is great! love this series what a fun idea!! Also, if you are looking for a tiny Tourist in Boston I would love to help.. lots to do here! 🙂

    Shelby Osmond
    brandonandshelby.blogspot.com

    Reply
  • Janssen
    July 6, 2013 at 8:44 pm

    This is so fun! I love mini-travel guides like this (I do a six-stop guide on my blog every weekend for different cities around the world).

    And who isn’t in awe of Casey?

    Reply
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