Best Free Summer Activities For Kids In DFW

Looking for a way to keep the kiddos entertained this summer? You may be surprised to know that DFW is jam packed with things to do for free. From free museums to splash pads and indoor playscapes, these DFW activities are sure to keep the kids captivated without you ever having to open your wallet. For more cheap summertime activities, check out this link here.

Dallas Museum Of Art
1717 N. Harwood
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 922-1200
www.dma.org

No longer do you need to pay admission to explore one of the largest art museums in America. And with over 23,000 works ranging from paintings and sculptures to jewelry and artifacts, a visit here will be anything but dull. Kids will especially enjoy the Wendy and Emory Reves' collection, which includes a 15,000-square-foot replica of their villa on the French Riviera. Beyond the galleries, the museum houses a kids creative zone that provides hands-on activities and an area to crawl, climb and play. As well, there's a host of free programs to take advantage of, including art-making activities the first Tuesdays of the month, family-friendly late nights on the third Friday of each month and jazz concerts on Thursday evenings. Stretch your budget even further by bringing a sack lunch to enjoy in the museum's sculpture garden.

Kimball Art Museum
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 332-8451
www.kimballart.org

The family can also get free dose of culture at Fort Worth's stunning Kimball Art Museum. Here, you'll find a small, but spectacular collection that covers everything from Egyptian antiquities from the 3rd century B.C. to 20th century masterpieces by heavy hitters like Picasso and Matisse. Speaking of Picasso, kids can hone in on their artistic abilities in the Piano Pavilion's children's area, as well as at Kimball Kids Drop-in Studio on select Saturdays. A great way to delve in is to borrow one of the museum's picture guides and use it in conjunction with the family-friendly audio tour. Be sure not to miss the free festival at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. Along with live entertainment and art activities, festival goers can score free entry to the summer exhibition of Botticelli to Braque: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland.

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National Scouting Museum
1329 W. Walnut Hill Lane
Irving, TX 75038
(972) 580-2100
www.bsamuseum.org

This gem of a museum does a solid job of presenting an impressive and entertaining history of the Boy Scouts of America. The museum's collections range from scouting illustrations by famous artists like Norman Rockwell and Joseph Csatari to more than 600,000 historical artifacts, including the first Eagle medal ever awarded to a scout. But the museum isn't just a visual experience, it's also an interactive one. Here, kids can explore campsites, race pinewood derby cars, identify animal tracks, practice tying knots and even try out their marksmanship skills on a laser rifle shooting range. Better yet, admission to the museum is free on Sundays and Mondays.

Celebration Park
701 Angel Parkway
Allen, TX 75002
(214) 509-4700
www.cityofallen.org

Got an active tot? A romp in the park usually does the trick, especially a park with a splash pad. Celebration Park has that and more. Its massive-sized spray-ground features everything from ground fountains, spray rings and loading buckets to water cannons and shooters. There's also an all-accessible playground filled with climbing structures, walkways, slides and swings. In addition to play areas, the park offers an awesome hike and bike trail.

The Tubes
Irving Bible Church
2435 Kinwest Parkway
Irving, TX 75063
(972) 560-4600
www.irvingbible.org

Sometimes, even splash pads don't offer enough relief from the heat. Fortunately, your tot can run off his pent up energy indoors at the Tubes, a massive play structure where kids, 52-inches and below, can climb, slide and throw balls until their heart's content. The Tubes, as well as the church's outdoor playground are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.— seven days a week. There's also a cafe onsite offering snacks, coffee and free WiFi.

Monnig Meteorite Gallery
Texas Christian University
2950 W. Bowie St.
Fort Worth, TX 76109
(817) 257-6277
www.monnigmuseum.tcu.edu

It's not often that you get a chance to see or touch part of Mars. The Monnig Meteorite Gallery not only houses meteorites from Mars, but it also boasts a stockpile of over 1,700 cosmic rocks from all over the galaxy, many of which are on display in an interactive gallery. The museum is free to visit and open Monday through Saturday.

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Ilene Jacobs is a freelance writer living in Dallas, Texas. Ilene enjoys writing about a variety of topics, ranging from food, fitness and travel, to kids, pets and senior care. You can find some of her work at Examiner.com.