22 Fun Family-Friendly Things to Do in Fort Worth with Kids
Fort Worth is an excellent place for families. We have plenty of kid-friendly, fun, and educational things to do with your kids. Some attractions include the Fort Worth Zoo and Botanic Garden, the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, Bass Performance Hall and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. There are also several parks in town where you can find free entertainment for the whole family!
- Fort Worth Water Gardens
This Water garden is a great option if you’re looking for a place to visit with your kids. The gardens have a splash pad, playground and cafe (all free). There’s also an outdoor restaurant and gift shop where you can grab some food or souvenirs while they’re waiting in line at one of their many attractions.
If you want to enjoy these amenities without worrying about taking care of the small ones while they play outside, then park yourself in one of their comfortable chairs with a coffee or something tasty from one of their restaurants nearby!
- Fort Worth Zoo
If you want to spend time with your family, Fort Worth Zoo is the place to go. The zoo is fun and home to over 2,000 animals and features everything from an aquarium full of native Texas fish species to a petting zoo where kids can get up close with goats and sheep. You can also see animals from around the world at this giant animal sanctuary—from elephants in Africa to tigers in Asia—so there’s something for everyone!
There are several different exhibits here, so it’s easy for visitors of all ages (or even those who aren’t old enough yet) to find something exciting: from the Asian Plains exhibit featuring elephants that were born on their turf to; African Savannah where guests will see lions stalking prey through tall grasses; Australian Outback where kangaroos hop around freely on hardwood plains below towering eucalyptus trees offering shade during hot summer days, and much more!
- Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Garden is the oldest public garden in Texas and one of the most beautiful. It’s also a splendid place to visit for a picnic or walk, with plenty to explore. The butterfly garden is one of its standout features; it has more than 1,000 species of butterflies worldwide!
This botanical garden has several different gardens, including a greenhouse filled with trees grown on campus during its early days (1875-1892). There are also water gardens full of plants native to North America—and if you get hungry while there, they have plenty of food options nearby too!
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
If you’re looking for something fun, educational and family-friendly, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a great option. This place is one of Fort Worth’s most popular attractions, offering free tours every Monday through Friday at noon and 1 pm (they are also available by appointment). The best part? Groups can book their tour in advance, so they don’t have to wait in line!
If your kids love learning about history while they learn how money works, this is where they should go when visiting Texas!
- Trinity Trails
The Trinity Trails are ideal for getting outside and enjoying nature. They’re also a nature-provided place for kids to learn more about the outdoors, as they help teach them about plants and animals by taking them on walks through the woods. The trails also include lots of stops where you can pick up brochures about local flora and fauna, which helps kids better appreciate their surroundings.
The best part about these trails? They’re free! And if you want something even better than that? You don’t even have to go very far: there’s one near Fort Worth Zoo that starts right on the property!
- Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
The Fort Worth Museum is a great place to go with children, as it’s got over 200 exhibits that cover everything from dinosaurs to space exploration. More than 1 million artefacts are also on display here—including fossils, meteorites, and even an entire Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton!
If you’re interested in something less scientific (but just as fascinating), check out any of the animal exhibits at this museum: they’ve got 6,000 different species, including elephants, lions, and bears, all living together in their natural habitat.
- National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame is a great place to learn about cowgirl history, culture and art. You’ll be able to see exhibits about the history of cowgirls in America from around 1900 through today! Kids will love watching videos about famous cowgirls like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton.
The museum also offers an interactive exhibit where kids can participate in various activities like weaving baskets or making their saddlebags. There are also fun games where you can try out your riding skills on horseback or create a brand new shirt with embroidery work using leather strips (you’ll need an adult’s help). Finally, there are even more ways for children to participate if they’d like!
- Fort Worth Herd
The Fort Worth Herd is a nonprofit organization that travels to schools, festivals and other events. The Herd features bison, elk, deer and goats. The kids see animals up close at the park where their favourite animals are on display!
The Herd also does shows for children where they will be able to meet their favourite animals or learn about them through songs and stories. You can even participate in activities like building this giant haystack out of straws filled with water bottles (it’s fun!). Visiting this place is an excellent way for your family members who aren’t big fans of animals yet still want hands-on learning opportunities while visiting you here in Fort Worth, Texas!
- Stockyards
The Stockyards Station is a fun place to eat, shop and play. They have many restaurants and shops you can visit while you’re there. It’s also a great place to stay with friends because it has lots of things to do!
If you’d like to ride the train inside the Stockyards Station, we recommend taking your child or children on one of their special trains called “The Big Texan.” This train takes kids up into the heart of Fort Worth so they can see all around them from above!
The Big Texan will take you back down into downtown Fort Worth where there are lots more attractions such as The Texas State Fairgrounds (where they have several different areas where concerts happen throughout the year), museums like The Kimbell Art Museum & Renzo Piano Building for Contemporary Art; eating establishments such as Ruth’s Chris Steak House & Publix Supermarket which sells everything needed for cooking dinner at home
- Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show
Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show is a live show featuring Native Americans and cowboys. It’s performed at the Will Rogers Memorial Center and is an exciting way to spend the day with your family.
You can watch this performance in one of two ways: buy tickets ahead of time or pay $15 per person for general admission on the day of the show. If you want more people to see what happens behind closed doors, we recommend buying tickets in advance!
- Sundance Square
Sundance Square is a popular destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment. It’s also a great place to watch people. There are several options to eat in the square—from fast food joints like McDonald’s or Burger King to upscale restaurants like The Capital Grille and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
If you have kids fond of playing outside but don’t want them running around on unfamiliar streets (or if it’s raining), consider heading over to Sundance Square instead! There are several areas where they can run around safely:
The Duck Pond Park on Main Street has fountains that spray water into the air every hour. This park is great because it doesn’t require any walking; sit down at one of its benches and enjoy watching your kids play while they bathe themselves in the sunlight!
- Altitude Trampoline Park Fort Worth
Altitude Trampoline Park Fort Worth is located in the Entertainment District and is within walking distance of several hotels. It has two open jump sessions a day (one at 10:30 am and one at 2 pm), which are $5 for kids under six years old and $7 for older kids and adults. The trampoline park also offers birthday parties with cake!
- Burger’s Lake
Burger’s Lake is an excellent place for the whole family. It is located in Fort Worth and features a fishing pier, restrooms, and picnic shelters. The Lake itself is full of wildlife, including ducks and turtles! You can also do many activities, including swimming or relaxing on the beach.
As a bonus, if you’re looking for something more active, there are tons of things to do at Burger’s Lake, like kayaking (the rental costs $30 per hour), paddle boarding ($27 per hour) or even rafting (from $75 per person).
- Movie Tavern
Movie Tavern is a full-service movie theatre with a restaurant and bar. It’s located in the West 7th development, with plenty of kid-friendly attractions. The theatre is equipped with stadium seating, reclining seats, and 3D glasses if you’d like to bring your device along for the ride!
Movie Tavern also offers special events like family-friendly matinees, screenings at night (with concessions sold), private screenings for groups of up to 50 people or weddings that can be rented out by appointment only!
- Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge
The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge is an impressive, natural playground with more than 3,800 acres of publicly owned land. It’s home to bison, elk, deer and other wildlife that roam free at no charge. The best way to experience this vast space is on foot—many miles of trails are suitable for hiking or biking around the property. You’re also welcome to bring your horse along if you’d like! If your kids are looking for something more active than strolling through nature without having any idea what they’re seeing or smelling (or getting their hands dirty), there are plenty of opportunities here for them, too: about 30 miles worth of activities are offered at the centre including rock climbing wall; bird watching tower; forest walks where visitors can search for mushrooms in their backyards; arts & crafts workshops plus more!
- Bass Performance Hall
Bass Performance Hall is a performance hall that hosts various events, including concerts, plays, and dance performances. It’s located in Fort Worth, TX, and has been around since the early 20th century.
Bass Performance Hall is an excellent place to see shows or enjoy some live music!
- Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
The Modern Art Museum is an ideal place for the whole family to explore art. It’s located in downtown Fort Worth, so you can enjoy the city while exploring this museum. The museum offers exhibits suitable for both young and old alike, including one dedicated entirely to children’s art!
The museum opens from 10 am-5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday; noon-5 p.m., Sundays; closed Mondays (except on Thanksgiving Day). Admission costs $12-$20 per adult or child ($8 each if you buy your tickets online).
- Putt-Putt Fun Center
The Putt-Putt Fun Center is a family-friendly indoor miniature golf course that offers 18 holes of fun for all ages. It’s located in Bedford, Texas and can be found on the campus of Kincaid College. This mini golf course will help you relive your childhood by experiencing all the feelings you had when playing Putt-Putt with your friends or family! If you’re interested in something different than Disney World or Universal Studios Orlando, this might be just what you need!
The Putt-Putt Fun Center offers birthday parties, group rates and more, so if you’re planning an outing with your friends or want some alone time with your mom, then this is where she should go too!
- Hawaiian Falls
Hawaiian Falls is a water park located in Fort Worth, Texas. The park has several attractions for kids and adults alike. You can ride the merry-go-round, climb up the rock wall, or enjoy some time at the kiddie pool alone! If you’re looking for some outdoor activities with your family, plenty of options are available. You can rent kayaks or paddleboards from the Hawaiian Falls rental shop and take them down their beautiful lagoon (which contains no sharks!). Suppose you’re feeling like having some outdoor relaxing snack time while watching your kids play together on their own devices (or even if they don’t). Then, try out Hawaiian Falls’ new art studio, where kids can make crafts such as jewellery boxes or paintings inspired by nature, which will get exhibited around town!
- Acton Nature Center
Acton Nature Center and Refuge is a nature center and refuge located in Fort Worth, TX. It’s a great place to walk and learn about nature! The park has activities for kids, including a playground, pond, nature trails, theatre (I think? I’ve never been there), and programs for adults like kayaking or archery lessons.
The park is free with an admission fee of $5 per person over age 12 ($2 if you have a military ID). If you have one or more kids under the age of 16 attending their first visit, it would be $2 per person after 4 pm during weekends & holidays ($1 after 4 pm on weekdays).
- Pump It Up
Pump It Up is an excellent place for kids to have fun. The interactive play area features an arcade, obstacle course and water slide. Kids will love the climbing wall, trampoline and big foam pit.
You can also get your workout in at Pump It Up! This indoor gym offers a variety of fitness classes such as Zumba®, Piloxing® (a combination of boxing and dance) or cardio kickboxing sessions that focus on building muscle strength while burning calories faster than traditional cardio machines do alone. There’s even a class called Mama Bear Fitness that teaches mothers how to get fit while pregnant or nursing their babies during the first year!
- Bedford Aquatics
If you’re looking for a fun and family-friendly destination, look no further than Bedford Aquatics. This indoor recreational centre has everything from pools, slides, a lazy river and even Lolita’s Pool Room (a giant indoor pool with a bar). The facility is open year-round and features concession stands that offer food options for all ages. Most importantly, though? It’s free! And if you’re looking for some additional activities outside of swimming or playing games inside? You got it—there are also two playgrounds and basketball courts nearby.
All in all, there’s a lot to do in Fort Worth. There are plenty of fun and family-friendly attractions we haven’t mentioned here, so check out the complete list. And if you want more ideas on things to do with kids, check out our post about ten ways for families with kids under 12 years old to save money this summer!