Saturdays · playing · 11

Playing

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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

PlayingLearningMovingExploringJoining

The entrance to the Half Price Books flagship on a clear day, red steps up to the doors and the big red Books Records Magazines sign above them.

LearningHalf Price Books, the flagshipWorth the SaturdayNot a destination on its own, but the best hour you can spend between other things. The kids run first and read second, and both are allowed here.

The Scheels All Sports sign across the front of the building against a blue sky, with a bronze statue of a mountain biker on a plinth below it.

PlayingScheels at GrandscapeWorth the SaturdayWhere we go when we want to take the kids out but not fight a crowd to do it. Kills an hour, costs almost nothing, and they get to go shopping, which has become a novelty.

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.

The Shoo Fly Soda Shop storefront, open sign lit.

JoiningShoo Fly Soda ShopWorth the SaturdayThe best time we had in Glen Rose was exploring the small town, and this was part of it.

The green storefront of Storiebook Cafe in Glen Rose.

JoiningStoriebook CafeWorth the SaturdayThe one we would go back to. A cute place with a play area that actually works, and a free merry-go-round outside.

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.

The Deep Ellum mural on a brick wall - a guitarist in a hat, the Dallas skyline, and the Adam Hats sign above the parked cars

JoiningDeep EllumWorth the SaturdayAini had a lot of fun. Pairs well with the Crow Museum in the morning, which is ten minutes away.

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.

The Stephen G. Terrell Recreation Center building.

MovingStephen G. Terrell Recreation CenterWorth the SaturdayOne of two places we fall back on when the sun makes outdoors impossible. Worth timing against the school calendar rather than the weather.