• Dallas has attractions for the whole family.dallas skyline image by buckwheat from Fotolia.com
  
  Dallas has no shortage of attractions for children, regardless of the weather. On rainy days, you will find a choice of museums to visit; while parks provide outdoor fun when the sun shines. The Art Institute of Dallas recommends the Dallas Zoo, White Rock Lake Park and the Age of Steam Railroad Museum. If you manage to exhaust Dallas' attractions, you can head 30 minutes west of Dallas to Arlington to Six Flags Over Texas for thrilling rides.
  
  

Children's Aquarium at Fair Park

• The Children's Aquarium exhibits six different zones: Intertidal, Shore, Near Shore, Offshore, Stingray Bay and Freshwater. Each zone represents a particular area of water and the creatures that live there. The Stingray Bay zone focuses on stingrays. Here children can look at and even touch different types of stingrays, such as the zebra shark, southern stingray and cownose ray. The Shore Zone displays animals that live where water touches land, such as the hermit crab and spiny lobster. The aquarium is open every day of the year, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  
  

Dallas Zoo

• The Dallas Zoo first opened in 1888 and covers 95 acres. The zoo has three separate areas for families to enjoy, the Children's Zoo, Zoo North and Wilds of Africa. Zoo North is home to kangaroos, reptiles, birds, rare tigers, cheetahs, rhinos and the zoo's food court. Wilds of Africa houses penguins, chimpanzees and gorillas. You can observe the animals by walking around the nature trail or taking a guided train tour. The Children's Zoo provides pony rides and a playground. Besides a family day out, the zoo also offers educational activities for children. The zoo's kid's camp provides hands-on activities that teach children about the various animals that live at the zoo. Other programs include a twilight safari and an overnight stay. The zoo opens everyday except for Christmas.
  
  

Museum of Nature and Science

• The Dallas Museum of Nature and Science covers millions of years of history. Children will find the dinosaur exhibit of particular interest. Part of the dinosaur exhibit consists of a fossil dig where children can unearth fossils for themselves. The museum also has and outdoor nature walk where children can see and learn about plants and birds. The farm exhibit teaches children how food grows and has hand-on activities. The museum regularly hosts educational programs such as camps, discovery days and museum sleepovers. In addition to the main museum exhibits, you will also find an IMAX theater and planetarium on site.