# Visiting Dallas–Fort Worth with toddlers and little kids: the plan > Downtown Dallas holds the Perot Museum and the Central Library, the Arboretum sits on White Rock Lake, and the Fort Worth Zoo, Botanic Garden and Science and History museum are all on Fort Worth’s west side. Here’s a day on each side, with nap time built in. - Last checked: 2026-10-26 - One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/visiting/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/index.md - City guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/guide/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/llms.txt ## Top 2 can’t-miss spots - **Perot Museum of Nature and Science** (Victory Park, 2201 N. Field St.): Closed Tuesdays through April 7, 2027. Cost: $17 kids, $27 adults. Site: https://www.perotmuseum.org/visit/hours/ - **Fort Worth Zoo** (Forest Park, 1989 Colonial Pkwy.): Opens at 10. Cost: $18 kids, $22 adults. Site: https://www.fortworthzoo.org/plan-a-visit ## If you have one day 1. **MORNING**: Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Opens at 10 (11 on Sunday) · Victory Park, 2201 N. Field St. · $17 kids, $27 adults). https://www.perotmuseum.org/visit/hours/ 2. **LUNCH**: Dallas Farmers Market (Food hall downtown · Farmers Market District). https://dallasfarmersmarket.org/ 3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop. 4. **AFTER NAP**: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (Gardens until 5 · White Rock Lake, 8525 Garland Rd. · $17.95 Mon–Thu; $21.95 Fri–Sun kids, $21.95 Mon–Thu; $25.95 Fri–Sun adults). https://www.dallasarboretum.org/autumn-at-the-arboretum/ ## If you have two days Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2: 1. **MORNING**: Fort Worth Zoo (Opens at 10 · Forest Park, 1989 Colonial Pkwy. · $18 kids, $22 adults). https://www.fortworthzoo.org/plan-a-visit 2. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop. 3. **AFTER NAP**: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Science in the Cultural District · Cultural District, 1600 Gendy St.). https://www.fwmuseum.org/visit/ ## Where to stay - **Cultural District** (fort worth): The Science and History museum and the Botanic Garden are a short drive apart, and the zoo is 10 minutes south. Near Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and Fort Worth Zoo. - **Downtown and Uptown Dallas** (dallas): The Perot Museum and Klyde Warren Park are side by side, and the Central Library is downtown. Near Perot Museum of Nature and Science and J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. - **Hillcrest and Arapaho** (north dallas): Near Kids Empire Hillcrest, with easy highway access to the northern suburbs. Near Kids Empire Dallas Hillcrest. ## Easy restaurants near the big stops - **Dallas Farmers Market** (Food hall, Farmers Market District): A food hall with many counters at the edge of downtown. https://dallasfarmersmarket.org/ - **Joe T. Garcia’s** (Mexican, Fort Worth Northside): Open every day; weekday lunch ends at 2:30pm. https://www.joetgarcias.com/ - **Klyde Warren Park food trucks** (Food trucks, Downtown Dallas): Trucks every day from 11am, next to the Perot Museum. https://www.klydewarrenpark.org/dining ## Rainy-day backup plan - **Perot Museum of Nature and Science**: Indoors. - **Fort Worth Museum of Science and History**: Indoors. - **J. Erik Jonsson Central Library**: Indoors. - **Kids Empire Dallas Hillcrest**: Indoors. - **bb piñata**: Indoors. ## Practical tips - Distance: Downtown Dallas to downtown Fort Worth is about 35 miles, so do one side per day. - Tuesdays: The Perot Museum is closed Tuesdays through April 7, 2027. - Food trucks: Klyde Warren Park’s food trucks run 11am to 2:30pm on weekdays and until 7:30pm on weekends. - All-day pass: bb piñata’s day pass is good all day. ## Free and cheap wins - **J. Erik Jonsson Central Library**: Free. All free things to do in Dallas–Fort Worth: https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/guide/#free ## Happening this week - **Trick or Treat on Downtown Streets** (Sat 4–7pm) at Main Street Garden. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/#e-downtown_dallas_trick_or_treat - **BOO on The Boardwalk** (Sat 5:30–8:30pm) at The Boardwalk at Granite Park. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/#e-boo_on_the_boardwalk - **Autumn at the Arboretum: last week of the Pumpkin Village** (9am–5pm) at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Mon–Thu $21.95 adults, $17.95 kids 3–12; Fri–Sun $25.95 / $21.95; under 3 free; parking $15. https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/#e-autumn_at_the_arboretum - **Halloween Sensory Play and Kids’ Costume Contest at The Shops at Park Lane** (Sat 11am–1pm) at The Shops at Park Lane. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/#e-park_lane_halloween_sensory_play - **Tricks & Treats at Arlington Highlands** (Sat 11am–2pm) at Arlington Highlands. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/#e-arlington_highlands_tricks_treats Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in Dallas–Fort Worth: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in Dallas–Fort Worth for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/christmas-lights/index.md) ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## FAQ ### Is Dallas–Fort Worth kid-friendly? For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Dallas–Fort Worth guide lists 14 places we checked for little kids, plus 1 free place and 7 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 3 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 3 library systems. This week’s list has 45 dated outings for ages 0–6. See [free things to do in Dallas–Fort Worth](https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/). ### How many days do you need in Dallas–Fort Worth with a toddler? Two: one in Dallas for the Perot Museum and the zoo or the Arboretum, and one in Fort Worth for the zoo and the museum district. ### Where should we eat near the Perot Museum? Klyde Warren Park is next door, with food trucks at lunch every day. ### Where should we stay in Dallas–Fort Worth with a toddler? Pick the side you’ll spend more time on. Downtown Dallas is close to the Perot Museum, and Fort Worth’s Cultural District is close to its museum and the zoo.