We spent the morning at the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve in Southlake. I just learned about this place last night at a Parks Board meeting I was attending and obviously I couldn’t wait to check it out!
There are several different trails near the nature center but we took the main trail that starts at the center, next to this cool old barn. I just love pictures of old barns!
Nicholas loved watching bugs run around on the trail…
He pointed out critters crawling around on this old fallen tree. We walked up to the tree and spent a lot of time here just studying all the life that was living on the dead tree. It was a good way to show Nicholas that everything in nature can have a purpose even if it isn’t apparent at first glance.
Nicholas is definitely in his element when we are outdoors. He absolutely loves a good nature trail and was all smiles the whole time!
Using the bug vac to study bugs. He caught an ant carrying what looked like it might be a piece of food, a spider, and some kind of little beetle. Of course, we released them all after studying them under the magnifying glass.
There were several bluebird houses along a part of the trail (aptly called the Blue Bird Trail!). We saw a door on one of the houses was mostly open so we peeked inside and found a nest! I was too short to see if there were any eggs in the nest but we closed the door so as not to disturb any possible tenants. We did see a blue bird in a tree nearby. Perhaps he was watching us to see if we were up to no good.
Chasing butterflies…
Playing with “twirly” weeds…
I was amazed that these wildflowers were taller than Nicholas…
until we walked a little farther and saw more of the same wildflowers that were actually taller than me! I’m not sure what they are but they look sort of like Bull Thistle but not quite. The leaves were very thorny and scary looking. The butterflies and bees just loved the flowers though!
On our way back to the nature center, we found a small patch of wild berries.
Back at the nature center, we took a little rest on this cool butterfly bench. We drank some water and talked about our favorite parts of the hike.
Look at the leaf inlays in the patio! I love this idea but it would be even better if there was also an identifying name with each leaf to help little ones learn which leaf goes with which tree.
The Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve is a great place to visit for a nature walk and it’s free! But they also offer some great nature classes for adults as well as preschoolers. I somehow got snookered into being the Environmental Chairman for our Early Childhood PTA next year and I’m definitely going to plan a children’s outing here!
After our hike, we stopped by Rainforest Cafe for some lunch to cool off. Nicholas loves the life size animated animals there plus we had a coupon for a free kid’s meal (can’t beat that!). I wasn’t sure how Rachel would do once the show started because the lights flicker and the animal start making all of their noises. She seemed a little surprised at first…
but after I finished eating, I took her out of the stroller and walked her around and she just loved watching all the action.
Nicholas enjoyed the special glass he got with the special compartment at the bottom where the toy is hidden.
We played in the backyard later in the day and Nicholas found these things. I guess they are seed pods of some type but I don’t know where they came from.
Any ideas??
Burb Mom LOVES following Kim around the metroplex. She finds the best places to explore with kids! She is a stay at home mom (well, it is obvious that she doesn’t stay at home MUCH) of two kids who writes Savor the Days.
The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens has an amazing boardwalk learning trail for children.
It is tucked inside the first Botanical Garden exit (the one closest to 30).
When you see the big log, you are close.
The “log” is actually made of concrete and large enough for a whole group of children to play.
Just beyond the log is the entrance to the boardwalk.
All along the raised trail are learning stations where kids can learn about plants, animals, insects, birds and whether trees poop.
Because the entire trail is high, children can peek through the wire rails at everything below.
Just beyond the boardwalk is a really pretty Lilly pond. I am happy to report that no one ended up in the middle of it on this trip.
We saved the water fun for this action-initiated fountain in one of the prettiest corners of the Botanical Gardens.
Everyone goes home wet, worn out and happy.
The amazing thing is that we have only scratched the surface of things to see at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, but that is all we needed today. We will save the rest for another adventure.
You aimed to rent a beach house the Big Island this summer for your family, but alas, the economy has downsized your plans to include only cold showers at home.
That said, you and your kids can substitute a costly vacation with a smashing “staycation” here in Texas. All it takes is a little imagination and perhaps some phone calls. And just think: You’ll have the luxury of your own washing machine, which, when enjoyed with a frosty margarita, is a beautiful thing.
Here are ten things you can do locally when the weather heats up.
Send your children to “Mom Camp.” Invite four or five parents to form a co-op for a week-long “camp.” Each adult takes one day then plans and oversees a themed play date for a four-hour block of time. Each day includes a craft using recycled household goods, traditional games like hide-and-seek, outdoor free play, a story borrowed from the library and a snack. Consider themes like “the ocean,” “outer space,” “circus,” or “summer.” For inspiration on crafts and games, see www.familyfun.com. Budget: $30 per kid.
Spend a week rating ice cream parlors. Take your kids to sample the wares of our community’s ice cream shops. Have your children draw up a chart then assign points to each shop for their store’s variety, product quality, atmosphere, etc. Then, have your foodies write a review of the stores. (If they don’t have the endurance to write yet, you can play secretary for them.) Budget: $25 per kid.
Host a spontaneous bike parade. Invite the neighborhood clan over to decorate their bikes and trikes then peddle the creations through the streets for their adoring fans (ie. parents). Use recycled Christmas ribbon, latex balloons, old toilet paper rolls, streamers and other craft box floatsome and jetsome to personalize every ride. Designate one child to carry the boom box to broadcast summer tunes. Non-riders can carry pom-poms, twirl batons or march. Budget: $1 per kid.
Design a puppet show. Put all those lonesome socks hanging out in the laundry room to use by making hand puppets. Use paper, pompoms, yard, etc. to decorate each character. No puppet stage? No worries: Have your children stand on the couch and raise their hands above their heads to display their puppets. Take the show further by making tickets and selling popcorn. Budget: Free.
Create an outdoor kids’ museum. String an old sheet up on a laundry line and fill spray bottles with watered down tempra paint. Have your children spray the sheet to make innovative designs. Warning: The paint will sprinkle the kids, so be sure to have everyone wear old clothing. Bonus: When the project is done, have everyone run through the hose then leap into the swimming pool or a warm mid-day bath. Budget: $5 per kid.
Take advantage of free trials. Sample classes at local gyms like WinKids, Gymboree, the Little Gym and Excite as well as dance studios all of which offer complimentary trials. Your kids will get exercise in an air-conditioned environment, you’ll get an hour off duty, the hosts will receive free publicity when you tell your pals how much fun you all had. Budget: Free.
Help lost animals. Many of the area’s shelters welcome children who can gently pet wayward dogs and cats in an attempt to keep them socialized. This is a great opportunity to discuss the idea of “home” with children, the concept of adoption and the importance of volunteering. Be careful, though. If you get too involved in the project you might bring home a beagle. Budget: Free, but donation recommended.
Strive for a strike. Even three-year-olds get a kick out of pushing a big, black bowling ball down the wooden lane if there are bumpers to help guide it. Older kids will enjoy putting their Wii skills to use in a real-world adventure. You will get a kick out of remembering high school as Belinda Carlisle and the Go-Gos sing “Vacation” while you slide across the floors in those killer sueded shoes. We like AMF in Lewisville for their less-expensive rates and retro feel. Budget: $10 per kid.
Roll with it. Once you’ve mastered bowling, your ready for roller skating. At Interskate Roller Rink in Lewisville, your little ones can get their sea legs atop four-wheeled skates in a special tyke rink that includes guard rails. This hidden gem even offers a live DJ who takes requests. They might even play “Fruit Salad” by The Wiggles if you bring your own CD. Budget: $3 per kid on Bargain Night plus skate rental. Check www.interskate.net for coupons and free skate nights.
Request a tour. It is amazing how many local businesses provide educational tours of their facilities if you simply ask nicely and/or beg. Pull together a group of five playmates and visit the city’s recycling plant, the Great Harvest Bread Company, a local shoe cobbler, Grapevine’s glass blowing studio or the DFW airport where gearheads will enjoy riding the trams from terminal to terminal. Most intriguing is a trip to Flower Mound’s lone alpaca farm called Nana’s Pacas where Nana and her husband will teach you about on the cousin of the llama. They’ll let you pet the animals and show samples of the goodies that alpaca fur makes. Budget: Treasures or treats cost up to $20 per kid.
Julie Blair is a freelance journalist based in the Dallas area. She loves to roller skate with her four-year-old twins. Her personal blog can be found at: www.chocolatecoveredpajamas.blogspot.com.
What is YOUR favorite staycation activity?
Tags: activities, children, Dallas, DFW, family activities, Fort Worth, free activities outdoors in DFW, kids, motherhood, North Texas, parenting, staycation, things to do with kids, vacation
Reese & I welcomed in Spring Monday with our friends & took a hike!
It was a perfect morning with great buddies…
Reese checks out the map to find our trail…
Gotta have a good walking stick!
OK, so behind this picture is a really nasty story.
But you don’t really want to know, right?
It’s seriously gross.
OK, well…
We kept finding these great owl pellets along the path.
What is an owl pellet you ask?
Owls swallow their food but cannot process the fur & bones,
So they “vomit” these leftovers formed into tight pellets.
Science supply companies sell owl pellets, and as a middle school student I got to pick an owl pellet apart. Inside are tons of bones, teeth, a skull or two. It truly is fascinating stuff to see what the owl ate!
So imagine my excitement when WE found owl pellets on our hike!
I began picking at them with two sticks…
but that was hard to pick out the bones to show the kids.
Besides, what’s a little regurgitated fur & bones on your fingers before your picnic, right?
So I started picking through them with my bare fingers.
We had antibacterial wipes. We had antibac gel.
I figured I’d be clean enough to eat later.
There were certainly neat things in the owl pellets.
We found part of a skull, perhaps a mouse? It had a row of tiny teeth along the jaw.
Really neat!
We also found front teeth that maybe belonged to a rat…
some vertebrae…
I had some extra ziplock baggies with us, so I started putting the owl pellets into the bag for us to take home and pull apart more.
I could not get over how many owl pellets we were finding!
When we got home, I emailed the educational director of our hike location to ask about what kinds of owls live in the area we were hiking.
The email I got back turned my stomach.
Apparently, while there are owls around the area, what I was digging through…
with my bare fingers, right before I ate lunch…
was
COYOTE SCAT!!!!!!!!
Yes, dear friends,
Yours truly was digging into coyote crap. And I carried a bag of coyote crap home, and I split said bag of coyote crap with our friends to take home!
Owl pellets really ARE cool,
Coyote scat looks a LOT like owl pellets and are certainly
NOT COOL.
Moving on….
There were tons of footprints along the path…
A raccoon (below), deer, coyote (duh), dogs….
There were also little bones scattered here & there,
Which I did not have to dig through feces to find…
Ribs…
Our keen-eyed buddy, ER, even found some beaver teeth!
About 2/3 through our hike, we stopped by the creek for lunch….
It was a spectacular day….Except once we got home.
Then I was just completely GROSSED out…
I won’t be leading any nature hikes any time soon!
Both of our children love watching airplanes. Well actually Rachel doesn’t understand much about them but she does point to them in the sky and grunts as they fly overhead. But we all had a good time visiting Founders’ Plaza at DFW International Airport. It is a great observation area for watching the planes take off and land but what’s really cool is that you can also hear live radio transmissions between the control tower and the planes.
Nicholas especially loved watching the planes through the onsight binoculars. I love this picture of him standing on his tip toes.
Of course, it doesn’t take much for him to have fun. He and Rachel seemed to have a blast playing under this information station!
There was a lot of information on display to help you get to know more about this huge airport. It was opened in 1974. At the time it was built, it was the largest and most expensive airport in the world. It is larger than the island of Manhattan and cost $700 million. It is the only airport in the world with three FAA control towers. It was also the first commercial airport to host a space shuttle landing which occurred in 1989 with the NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis.
There are cute statues of three children pretending to fly like airplanes.
Nicholas had to tickle the foot of one of them!
It was a bit chilly so we didn’t stay as long as we would have liked. There are picnic tables out there so I look forward to going back when it’s a little warmer and staying for a while. It is so close and so easy to find that we plan to go back often. Check out this map for specifics on how to find it.
“Summer Blast” City of Grapevine Firework Fridays
Summer nights at Gaylord Texan will sparkle with spectacular firework shows presented by the City of Grapevine! Fireworks can be viewed on top of Gaylord Texan’s garage or on their outdoor grounds. However, the best viewing spot will be from the outdoor decks of the hotel’s Glass Cactus nightclub overlooking Lake Grapevine (21 and up only).
Dates and Times: Every Friday (including July 3) at 9:30 p.m.
Details: The City of Grapevine will host a fireworks show shot over Lake Grapevine.
Glass Cactus Viewing: Fireworks can be viewed from the decks of Glass Cactus (ages 21 and older). Standard cover charge applies.
Resort Garage Viewing: (This is where BlahBlahBlogger will be with her family despite the strong pull for her to go into the Glass Cactus!) The Resort Garage will host a Fireworks Viewing Party on Level 5 of the Resort Garage every Friday from 8:30-10:00 p.m. This viewing area is for all ages and will have a DJ, games for kids, and food and beverage for purchase. Both local and hotel guests can attend.
Admission is FREE!
You can find more details on events at the Gaylord Texan here!
Our family enjoys spending time with our three little boys every chance we get. Sometimes we go out to eat (only at places with play areas), sometimes we go for a stroll around the neighborhood, and sometimes swimming at the lake. Occasionally we will go hiking with the kiddos and have found a couple favorites that are kid friendly.
The best place so far that our kids really seem to enjoy going to is the Elm Fork Trail off of Old Alton Road near the Copper Canyon, Texas area. A feature to this location is the Old Alton Bridge which some claim as haunted and the area is actually maintained by a paranormal investigative group. The bridge also lies near the site of a famous shoot out in the summer of 1878 with legendary outlaw Sam Bass and the bridge was posted to the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1988.
The trails are fairly easy for children and are accessible to horse riders. You can also fish here and it is a popular fishing spot on the weekends. We have caught many a sand bass in the waters and have even seen alligator gar here. If you hike the trail to the left, it will take you approximately 1.5 miles through open and wooded areas passing by a ranch until the trail becomes nearly impassable—especially in wet conditions.
If you take the trail to the right which is actually the Pilot Knoll Trail (walk over the Old Alton Bridge), you will pass another ranch. Our kids especially like the donkeys and we have even seen a couple wild turkeys. Soon you will cross a dry creek bed (at least when there hasn’t been recent wet weather) and the trail will turn sandy and will rise in elevation. This is where you should stop (at the creek bed that is) if you have small children. We made the mistake of going further and ended up with three very upset children. There is lamb’s ear in this area, and that was neat to show the boys. We haven’t gone much further than this on the trail, however if any of y’all make it further, I am curious to know what is ahead. We don’t usually get very far on hikes with our three small boys, but I believe we went approximately four miles that way (round trip).
I recommend taking a small lunch and lots of water. Please pack out what you pack in and most of all have fun!
Allie is a mother, author and writes Fresh Confessions of a Screwed Up Texan. If she isn’t out hiking with her boys, you might be able to find her on twitter.
I’m always on the lookout for unique things to do in Dallas, and it’s even better if they’re low-cost or free, right? Especially in a city known for its shopping – hey, it’s not like we have beaches or mountains here. Or even rolling hills. Or decent camping without driving a few hours. And for whatever reason, big D continues to tear down its few remaining historical buildings, favoring a concrete jungle instead. Don’t even get me started on my issue against the city’s actionable stance on historical preservation – finding new things to do is FUN to me.
I get excited about children’s parades and Chinese New Year celebrations and international festivals and local performing arts and outdoor moving screenings. So when I saw an article in the DMN highlighting free things to do in Dallas this summer, I knew I had to share:
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS
Allen USA Celebration – For more than a decade, Allen USA Celebration has always been held the final weekend of June – a great way to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA! a week early. Entertainment includes: regional/national acts, including Smash Mouth (a California rock band) and children’s entertainers. Other highlights include a children’s area with bounce houses, festival food and a fireworks finale. TIP: free shuttle service is offered to/from the event. Cost: FREE.
Celebrate Freedom – A huge (and when I say “huge,” I mean HUGE) outdoor musicfest, featuring Christian musicians Kirk Franklin, Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Selah, and more. Other highlights include children’s area, festival food, fireworks. Cost: FREE (tickets required, get info here)
OTHER FUN THINGS TO DO!
Dallas Museum of Art – Admission to the museum will be free each Wednesday in July from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. That’s in addition to the usual free days: each Thursday evening from 5 to 9 and the first Tuesday of each month. Cost: FREE. Also, it’s worth noting my favorite DMA event: Late Nights. On the third Friday of each month, the DMA stays open until midnight. Highlights include: art scavenger hunts (so fun!), karaoke and dancing, tours, performances, and more. Cost: $10.
Belmont Hotel Poolside Movie Nights – Every other Wednesday night, the Belmont screens a poolside movie at sundown, with the Dallas skyline as a backdrop. The last movie of the summer, Airplane!, is on Wednesday, July 1st. Bring a blanket, no lawn chairs or coolers permitted. Cost: FREE.
Grapevine’s Friday Fireworks – Not just for Fourth of July, every Friday the city of Grapevine hosts weekly fireworks shows at Grapevine Lake through September 4th. Cost: FREE. (Be sure to visit the link to view all the fun summer events in Grapevine – there’s tons to do!)
Summers at the Nasher Sculpture Center – The Nasher sculpture garden in downtown Dallas is worth checking out, if you haven’t been there already. But rather than pay the admission fee, go for free on Thursday evenings (usually 5 to 9, but they’re open ’til 10 p.m. through July 30th). You can even do yoga in the garden at 6pm on Thursdays, and watch films on first Thursdays of each month the center (with pre- and post-film chats, if you’re so inclined). Plus, now through July 17th the Nasher is showing films on Friday nights, too (think: Sleepless in Seattle, Top Gun, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, etc.). If you’re thinking about bringing the whole family, head to the Nasher on the first Saturdays (through August) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for children’s activities and more. Cost: FREE, FREE, FREE!
And, of course, don’t forget to check out GuideLive.com – Dallas’ best resource for events, restaurants, films and more. It’s my go-to site when I’m looking for something new to do. Which is almost always.
—————
Jes Ferris, the blogger behind Chirky.com, fervently believes that the best things in life are free: like puppies (well, some of them anyway), and Saturday samples at Costco, and kissing babies’ heads (especially when they smell so goooooodddddd!), and those tiny little hotel bottles of peppermint shampoo (though I suppose I *technically* pay for those, but whatever, I’m totally claiming it anyway). And then there’s all the best things in life that AREN’T free, but that’s not the point, is it?
When searching for things to do with my kids, I often overlook the simple. I get caught up in events and attractions that are marketed as family fun which frequently include crowds, high admission and over commercialization. Sometimes in the middle of all that tailor-made fun, the fun gets lost in the shuffle.
This week we went off the beaten track and found some good old fashioned FUN. Fun unfettered by crowds, admission or commercialization.
We went to our local regional airport and met some friends for lunch – The Blue Hangar Cafe at Northwest Regional Airport.
As this outing was loosely planned (by Deb), we all kept mentioning to friends where we were going. Each friend responded, “Oh, I want to go!” And when we finally counted, lunch with friends was a table for 30.
A table for 30?
We better call ahead!
The call was placed and picked up by the owner of Northwest Regional Airport. He encouraged us to come on over and enjoy the day. He surprised us by relating that Northwest Regional Airport is the largest privately owned airport in North America. There are over 500 planes on the ground. He mentioned that if he was available while we were there he would show us around.
When my minivan full of children arrived at the airport, I was taken aback by the fact that an airplane was driving on the road toward me! Once inside the airport, the cars and the planes share the roads surrounding the runway. The cars are expected to yield – which I did. We found the Blue Hangar Cafe and sat down on the patio to wait for our friends. The Blue Hangar was buzzing with lunch activity and just outside the runway was buzzing with airplanes taking off and landing. We saw 7 in the first 5 minutes we were there. My boys were thrilled.
While waiting for our friends to arrived we noticed this really cool plane pull out of a nearby hangar. We walked over to see if we could get our picture in front of the plane.
The pilot/owner was so friendly and helpful and suggested that he could show the kids some of the different parts of his 1941 plane – if they wanted to see…
Did they want to see?
They were so excited to be up close.
No touching! Fingerprints will show on this shiny plane.
The kids listened attentively while they were shown how the wings worked. This particular plane has places on the wings where you can look through to the ground near the front. I am sure if I had listened better I would know what that was called, but it was something I had never seen before.
After the plane anatomy lesson and a tour through his hangar which included some really cool old cars in various stages of restoration, the pilot suggested a place where we could safely stand to watch him take off.
The plane passed by the children and took a corner to the end of the runway…
…then up, up and away. It was easy to see the sun reflect off the plane even when it was in the air. The pilot even flew the plane back by the airport so the kids could wave again.
We then descended on The Blue Hangar Cafe and took up their entire back room with tables full of moms and kids. I had a chipotle chicken wrap and the boys all had burgers. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cafe had a children’s menu. Food for myself and my three boys was under $20. Mid-meal the table of older boys I was supervising decided they couldn’t handle eating INSIDE when planes were taking off like crazy OUTSIDE. So, despite 100 degree temps they picked up their plates and went out to the patio. Being a responsible adult…ugh…I went to.
BUT it IS amazing. You sit right next to the gas pumps that are alongside the runway.
Planes come in, fill up with gas, park for awhile, load, unload, taxi, take off and land all within a few feet.
After lunch we caught up with the Northwest Regional Airport owner. He took us down to a hangar where he was restoring this amphibious aircraft that easily seats over 30 people:
Inside we could see the work in progress and how the interior of the plane is under construction. Outside we could see the tail sticking out of the hangar. A perfect place to find some shade.
We then went down to what all the kids agreed was the coolest thing we saw all day…this Marine Helicopter.
They were able to get inside and sit and “fly”…
Overall it was one of the most amazing adventures we have had. Everyone we met at Northwest Regional Airport was friendly, nice and went out of their way to make our visit special.
We also visited the Pilot’s Shop which has some flying collectibles and toys. There were allowance-friendly toys starting at 50 cents.
The Blue Hangar Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 to 2:00 for lunch. They open on Saturday at 7:00 for breakfast and boasted that they have the best pancakes in town.
Not wanting to let perfectly good pancakes sit uneaten, I returned on Saturday with my husband and boys to test them out.
The verdict?
Pretty amazing pancakes.
Pretty amazing view since the airport is even busier on Saturday morning.
Oh, and we ran into 3 other families from our initial adventure trip…I guess we weren’t the only one who think Northwest Regional Airport is a cool place to visit.
Northwest Regional Airport is located 1/2 mile east of I-35W on 1171 just North of Texas Motor Speedway. The Blue Hangar Cafe can be reached by phone (817) 490-5146.
Kid’s Kastle at Unity Park in Highland Village is one of those parks that has it all.
It is a huge open area with multiple ball fields, practice fields, track, pond, sand volleyball, multiple play equipment sets, fitness course, multiple picnic tables – some covered, restrooms and a train.
A train?
Yes, one of the fun things about Kid’s Kastle is the frequent freight train that runs along the tracks that border the park. I have been there when 50+ kids playing nearby hear the train whistle and pour out of the wooden play structure to wave at the train engineer.
But even if you miss the train there is plenty to do.
I like that there is adequate shade in several areas of the park – both within the large fenced wooden play structure and around the picnic area. My kids are often a little short attention span when it comes to play equipment so it is nice that there are multiple places to play at Kid’s Kastle.
There always seems to be families fishing and picnicking on blankets under shade trees next to the pond.
These pictures were taken in February so the full effect of summer foliage cannot be appreciated, but it really is a pretty place to spend a morning with your children.
The park was named for the Unity Tree which is located there. It is one of the largest pecan trees in Texas and is around 150 years old.
Unity Park with Kids Kastle is next to Briarhill Middle School in Highland Village, Texas.
There are several different trails near the nature center but we took the main trail that starts at the center, next to this cool old barn. I just love pictures of old barns!
