Saturdays · exploring · 5

Exploring

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Places worth going, with the drive, what it cost us, the window that actually works, and an honest verdict — including the ones we would not do again. Mostly around home; sometimes much further.

Every place we have written down

PlayingExploring

A lawn curving around the pond at the Arboretum, with a stone planter bed and chrome bird sculptures under the trees

ExploringDallas ArboretumWorth the SaturdayThe place we return to most, and the only outdoor option that survives a Texas July. Buy the membership and go in the morning.

The playground at Bonnie Wenk Park, shaded by green canopies.

PlayingBonnie Wenk ParkWorth the SaturdayOne of three parks in our rotation and the one we pick when the boys need to burn something off. Bring lunch.

A young giraffe running alongside a safari vehicle at Fossil Rim.

ExploringFossil Rim Wildlife CenterWorth the SaturdayThe highlight of the whole trip. Costly with a car full of kids, but they are still talking about it weeks later.

ExploringDinosaur Valley State ParkWorth the SaturdayAmazing camping, and cheap. Come for the river and the town, not the tracks, and think about the water before you get in.

Lake Texoma from the shore at Eisenhower State Park.

ExploringEisenhower State ParkWorth the SaturdayA light trip. Not a lot to see, but the breeze off the lake was nice and the Buc-ee's on the way made it festive.