Exciting Things to Do in Fort Worth with Kids

Welcome to Cowtown, less colorfully known as Fort Worth, Texas, where family fun and adventure await. With its rich cowboy heritage and modern attractions, Fort Worth is the ideal destination for creating lifelong memories with your kids. From exploring the iconic Fort Worth Stockyards to unleashing your inner artist at interactive museums, get ready for a thrilling journey filled with laughter, excitement and unforgettable experiences in this lively Texas city.

Things to Do in Fort Worth with Kids

Forth Worth is located about 30 minutes away from the heart of Dallas and about 20 minutes from Arlington. This city is loaded with family fun things to do and in my opinion has a much more laid back atmosphere than what you’ll find in the city of Dallas. The variety of activities makes it easy to find something that will please everyone in your group. Our visits to Fort Worth are always memorable and here are some of the reasons why.

1. Coyote Drive-in Theatre

Forth Worth is helping to bring back drive-in theaters. Our family loves watching movies together and we think that drive-in theaters are the perfect way to get our family out of the house and not break our entertainment budget. The kids think it’s the “coolest” way to watch movies. The Coyote Drive-in Theatre shows the latest movies and you can check their website for showtimes and which titles are currently playing. They do have an online menu so you can also order dinner and popcorn and have it brought out to your car!

The Coyote Drive-in Theatre also has a skating rink during the winter months.

Little girl feeding a giraffe at the zoo — Gt up close and personal with the animals at the Fort Worth Zoo. Photo credit: FamVeld Getty Images Pro

2. Fort Worth Zoo

Did you know that the Fort Worth Zoo is the oldest continuously operating zoo site in Texas? Yes, and in 2020, USA Today named this zoo No. 1 in North America! If you’re planning a visit to Fort Worth and your kids love animals, this is an experience you’re not going to want to miss–trust us! It’s open year-round, 365 days a year, and admission is 1/2 price on Wednesdays. We love this zoo because in addition to a large variety of animals, they also have a train, carousal, an interactive play area for kids, petting zoo, a 60-foot suspension bridge and much more!

You can pre-purchase tickets online which I recommend doing or if you’re planning to do a variety of activities in Fort Worth consider this Pogo Pass from Groupon.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Photo credit: Hartcreations from Getty Images Pro

3. Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

This museum was created with the goal of providing an extraordinary learning environment to the community. Now, many visitors from all over get to enjoy this science and history museum which is located in the city’s Cultural District. My oldest daughter and I have always found that we learn the most about a new city by visiting their local museum. The children’s museum is both a fun and interactive way to learn about this area of Texas and they have some incredible permanent exhibits. The DinoLabs are commonly kids’ most favorite area of the museum. Also, make sure you explore the Cattle Raisers Museum, Noble Planetarium, Omni theatre and all the interactive exhibits and educational programs.

the stockyard in Forth Worth, Texas — Cattle drive at the Stockyards Station. Photo credit: Visionbyatlee by Getty Images Pro

4. Fort Worth Stockyards Station

Located in the Stockyards National Historic District, this activity is one perfect for the entire family and to me it’s the ultimate Fort Worth experience. The Fort Worth Stockyards Station can be found in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards and it’s where you’ll fine the best shopping, dining and BIG Texas fun! Don’t miss the daily cattle drives and live shows. Many families bring their souvenir money and treat themselves and their kids to a new pair of boots from the Stockyards Station.

5. Pinstripes

This place takes bowling to another level! In addition to bowling lanes and bocce courts, they have an outdoor patio, an Italian-American bistro, s’mores by the fire pit and monthly events. It’s a great place to take the whole family for a night of fun. Highly recommended by the locals.

6. Top Golf

Top Golf is one of our family’s favorite places to visit when in Fort Worth. This is not a place just for the adults. In fact, Top Golf welcomes families of all ages to visit. You can sign up for their KidZone email list so that you can stay up-to-date on any kid events that are taking place. We always order dinner and spend an evening laughing together as we brush up on our rusty golf skills.

7. Log Cabin Village

Ready to be transported back in time? The Log Cabin Village tagline is “Escape the present…experience the past!”. That’s exactly what will happen when you visit. The Log Cabin Village is a living history museum. It’s actually owned and operated by the City of Fort Worth making it a unique and educational experience. They have preserved a 19th century folk architecture and frontier experiences for their guests. This is a popular activity for families with younger kids.

8. Benbrook Stables

Is it really a trip to Texas if you don’t go on a trail ride? Benbrook stables is open 7 days a week and offers trail rides. Kids must be 8 years old to go horseback riding. These guided trail rides are great for beginners!

9. Casa Mañana Broadway & Children’s Theatre

Be sure to check out the schedule at the Casa Mañana Broadway & Children’s Theatre during your visit. There are many kid-friendly plays that would be a treat to see while you’re in town.

10. Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is only 23 days long but it’s worth adding to this list just in case you happen to visit during that time. The rodeo has a ton of kid-friendly activities and has been a staple event in Fort Worth since 1896. Check their website for the latest information regarding schedules and pricing.

View of the Fort Worth Water Gardens — The Fort Worth Water Gardens. Photo credit: Ferrantraite from Getty Images Pro

11. Fort Worth Water Gardens

If you’re looking for a place to walk around with the kids that won’t take much time, then I recommend walking through the Fort Worth Water Gardens to see this architectural and engineering marvel. This incredible oasis is located downtown and we think it’s a great place to take some photos. It’s a popular spot for families with teenagers who are looking for the perfect selfie spot.

12. Kimbell Art Museum

Do you have an art buff in your family? If so, you can take them to see the Kimball Art Museum which has a collection of over 150 art and architecture pieces. This is not an activity that’s always a hit with everyone in the family but if you have any art lovers (like my 12-year-old) then you won’t want to miss it. They also have a virtual tour of their art galleries that you can check out online so you can enjoy them from home too!

13. Sundance Square

If you want to find the hub of family fun in Forth Worth, head down to Sundance Square. You’ll find an AMC Palace 9 Theatre, several restaurants including: Del Frisco’s Grille, Hoya Korean Kitchen, The Flying Saucer, Simply Fondue, The Cheesecake Factory and more. Plus, there are more shopping options at the Sundance Square than can be explored in a day and a fun splash pad for the kids.

14. Altitude Trampoline Park

If you’re visiting Fort Worth and the kids needs to run around, I recommend taking them to the Altitude Trampoline Park. They will spend an afternoon having a great time and it’s almost guaranteed to make sure they sleep well that night. If we’re feeling a little too cooped up in our hotel room, we’ll take the kids to the trampoline park to run off some energy and we’re all happier afterwards! Get a deal on tickets by booking through Groupon.

15. Trinity Trails of Fort Worth

if your family loves outdoor activities like mine does, then you’ll want to plan a visit to Trinity Trails. Why? Because they have 100+ miles of walking, running, and biking trails. The trails are popular and many locals also visit Trinity Park and Trinity River for outdoor activities, fishing and geocaching.

Botanic Gardens in Fort Worth, Texas — Explore the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens when visiting Cowtown. Photo credit: Getty Images Pro

16. Fort Worth Botanic Gardens

I can’t speak for every kid but my three girls love the Botanic Gardens. We can spend hours walking through the beautiful gardens. For many visitors the Japanese garden is a highlight. The Fort Worth Botanic Gardens are open 7 days a week and have all types of events throughout the year. It’s one of my favorites places to visit in Fort Worth.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Get a map of the gardens when you arrive so you can be sure to explore all of the gardens during your visit.

17. Burger’s Lake

If you’re visiting during the summer months skip the water park and head to Burger’s Lake! This 30-acre park is so much fun! Kids love the one-acre spring-fed lake for swimming with sandy beaches. Bring a picnic and take the kids down the 20-foot water slide! This lake is extremely family-friendly and really offers families a great place to enjoy some lake time together. Admission is $15/per person for all ages.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Please note that no alcoholic beverages are allowed inside the park.

18. Fort Worth Phone Guided Scavenger Hunt

Phone guided scavenger hunts have become popular during the pandemic and Fort Worth has a fun scavenger hunt that you can book during your visit. This is a great, affordable way to explore the city at your own pace. These are quickly becoming one of our favorite ways to explore a new city with the kids. You can book this tour through Get Your Guide which has free cancellation up to 24/hrs before your scheduled activity.