What to do, what to do? My resume on parenting skills includes wearing the Activity Director’s hat and keeping the family entertained! Here are my top 6 FREE family-friendly things to do in the OC and surrounding areas.
1. Ruffle your feathers at the Trinity River Audubon Center
The Trinity River Audubon Center is located in the 6000-acre Great Trinity Forest. It is the largest urban hardwood forest in the U.S., with a diverse community of plant and animal species. It also rests in a central fly away that supports an abundance of North American migratory birds. Admission is free from 9am to 4 pm on the third Thursday of every month.
Location:
Trinity River Audubon Center
500 great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas, TX 75217
214-398-8722
2. Engage all ages at the DMA
There are a variety of free activities designed for small kiddos, teens, families, and adults like Storytime, Pop-Up Art Spots, Spotlight Tours, Teen Tours, Gallery Talks, and programs and resources for visitors with special needs. Summer activities are coming to a close mid-August, so check out the DMA Calendar for scheduled events. General admission is free every day. Closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Location:
Dallas Museum of Art
1717 N. Harwood Dallas, TX 75201
dma.org
3. Hunt for notorious bank robbers among the tombstones
Go back in time to a chapter on Texas outlaws and visit the gravesite of Clyde Barrow and Buck Barrow (of Bonnie & Clyde and the Barrow gang notoriety) at the Western Heights Cemetery on Fort Worth Avenue. A historical marker will lead you to Clyde’s graveside tombstone. The Bonnie and Clyde duo where famed renegades in the early 1930s. They met their fate on May 23, 1934, at the hands of Texan and Louisiana law makers in Birdville Parish, Louisiana.
Location:
Western Heights Cemetery
1617 Fort Worth Ave., Dallas, TX 7508
4. Take a ride through history on the D-Link
The D-Link is a free gateway to downtown and on in to North Oak Cliff. It loops past the Convention Center, the Sixth Floor Museum, Dealey Plaza, JFK Memorial, the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture, and Union Station. When you arrive in Oak Cliff, the route takes you to Bishop Arts, The Kessler Theater, the Oak Cliff Cultural Center, and the historic Texas Theatre. Maps are available online or onboard the D-Link buses. Times: Monday-Saturday, every 15 minutes from 11am to 11:30pm.
5. Sit in on a book reading at The Wild Detectives Bookstore & Bar
The Wild Detectives Bookstore & Bar is a dream come true for lifelong friends Javier Garcia Del Moral and Paco Vique, who envisioned opening a venue that promotes community-driven cultural conversation. The shop is filled with influences from their travels and the things they love most – books, wine, great coffee and music. Scheduled readings and other events are posted on their website. Check out the impressive food & beverage selections.
Location:
Wild Detectives Bookstore & Bar
314 W. 8th St., Dallas, TX 75208
214-942-0108
6. Take in the sights from a historic pedestrian bridge
Strolling along the historic Ronald Kirk Bridge (formerly the Continental Avenue Pedestrian Bridge), offers a spectacular view of another architectural wonder – the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. This cable-stayed bridge designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatraua, feeds into Singleton Boulevard and is located adjacent to the historic Ronald Kirk Bridge and Trinity Groves. The pedestrian bridge is a perfect setting to enjoy the view, grab a hot dog and drink from one of the food trucks that frequent the area, and take in the sights of the city. See map.
Mark and Cynthia Drennan
Contributor
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