FUN 2022
SPECIAL STRONG allows drop-ins in its summer classes—adaptive and inclusive fitness programs for children (beginning at age 6), adolescents and adults. Current classes are at locations in Collin County. Allen and Frisco, 972/8368463; specialstrong.com
You don’t need to be a resident of Southlake to take part in the city’s SPORTS SATURDAYS programs. Summer activities are set for June 25 and July 23; age 14 and up welcome. Southlake, 817/748-8019; experiencesouthlaketexas.com Nothing is off limits for those with special needs through RISE ADAPTIVE SPORTS. All activities are free and include boating, parasailing, waterskiing, wheelchair skate, rugby and handcycling, among others. The schedule is online. Grapevine (most activities), 469/762-5075; riseadaptivesports.org
Bounce Parks Kids can jump to their heart’s content, use the trampolines to dunk on a basketball hoop or play a bouncy game of dodgeball at ALTITUDE TRAMPOLINE PARK. You can get a pass for as little as an hour of trampoline time. Multiple locations; altitudetrampolinepark.com
iFLY
MORE WAYS TO GET OFF THE GROUND
Indoor Skydiving
Skip the whole jumping out of a plane and try indoor skydiving instead. At iFLY, you float on a column of air in a vertical wind tunnel. Flyers can be as young as 3 years. First-timers will go through a training session before taking off. Frisco, 214/6184359, and Hurst, 817/818-4359; iflyworld.com
Ferris Wheels
Do you ride the Texas Star at the State Fair every year? You’ll get an equally amazing view from atop the 200-foot GRANDSCAPE WHEEL. The ride takes around 15 minutes, and you can even enjoy a drink while you cruise in your fully enclosed gondola. You’ll ride only with your group—up to 8 people per gondola. The Colony, 972/668-2222; grandscapewheel.com Looking for a little less height? Head to the Scheels store (also in Grandscape) to ride the 65-foot indoor Ferris wheel. Riders must be 48 inches to ride alone and 36 inches to ride with an adult. When you’re done, grab a treat at the on-site coffee shop and watch the kids play arcade games. The Colony, 469/8547500; scheels.com
24
Drop-ins are welcome this summer with YOGEES YOGA 4 KIDS. The Summer Studio is a program in partnership with Swimmers by Jessica, and your child can come for lessons in the pool or just to move their body through yoga. They’ll also sing, dance and learn. Dallas, 972/559-9455; yogeesyoga4kids.com YOGI KIDS offers preschool play on Mondays and Fridays during the summer. In addition to yoga, your child will enjoy games, crafts, stories and other activities. Sign up for one session or for all; register 24 hours in advance. Flower Mound, 214/3252547; myyogikids.com
Zip Line Adventures
GO APE provides adventures in the canopy at Oak Point Park for age 10 and up. The original Treetop Adventure includes 28-foot-high tree crossings, super long zip lines (one is 423 feet) and Tarzan-style swings. The Treetop Discovery course is a bit lower and a bit shorter. An Arlington location opens at River Legacy Park in the fall. Plano, 800/971-8271; goape.com There’s an aerial course for everyone at TRINITY FOREST ADVENTURE PARK. In addition to zipping through the treetops, you’ll make your way through wobbly bridges, ladders, cargo nets and more elements in courses of varying difficulty. Littles will love the special course for age 4 and up. The minimum age for the main courses is 6. Dallas; 214/391-1000; trinitytreetops.com
Fly into a foam pit, make your way across an unsteady ladder (with a soft landing), take on the ninja warrior course, enjoy the wall-towall trampolines and more at SKY ZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK. There’s a dedicated section for toddlers. Drop in for sensory hours on Thursday mornings. Irving, 469/499-3100; skyzone. com/irving
sports Pump up the fun at PUMP IT UP, where the indoor, inflatable playground will burn off your child’s excess energy. Check with the location near you for open jump times. Multiple locations; pumpitupparty.com
At YOGA ON MAIN, there’s a class for everyone—even littles as young as age 4. You can purchase drop-in passes for Zen Kids Yoga, a class that explores traditional principles through breathing exercises, games, art activities and more. Frisco, 972/294-5936; yogaonmainst.com
june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD
Typical trampoline play is just the beginning at
URBAN AIR ADVENTURE PARK. There’s also
trampoline dunking, the “drop zone” (bounce on to a huge airbag), a jump area for littles, a tubes playground, climbing walls, battle beam section and a ropes course, among other activities. Multiple locations; urbanair.com
HAPPY TRAILS
Adventures near and far
Around Texas & Beyond Nearly 15,000 years of native history come to life at the CHOCTAW CULTURAL CENTER. You’ll discover a replica of an ancient spiritual mound at the center’s outdoor Living Village, along with traditional dancing and stickball game demonstrations on the field, and an indoor children’s play area with traditional Choctaw houses and a miniature forest. Durant, OK, 833/708-9582; choctawculturalcenter.com Do you have a kid obsessed with trucks and construction equipment? DIG
WORLD is a new family amusement park—the first of its kind—where kids and adults can safely operate heavy construction equipment. Go dig in sand when you control a mini excavator and drive a Caterpillar around on a track. Katy, 346/435-8888; digworldtx.com
trails
Yoga
games will be played June 19; an obstacle course will be set up for July 17; and a yet-to-be named activity will be held August 21. The events are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Dallas, 214/3578431; ymcadallas.org
If you haven’t visited already, head to Glen Rose for a camping trip at DINOSAUR VALLEY STATE PARK. Watch your children’s eyes grow wide in fascination as they hunt for giant dinosaur tracks. The excitement doesn’t end there, as there are different activities scattered around the park. Glen Rose, 254/897-4588; tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/ dinosaur-valley The 284-acre LADY BIRD
JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER, founded in 1982
by its namesake, hosts children’s storytime readings in the garden on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10am. For an evening visit when it’s cooler, come on Thursdays this June for free Nature Nights. Austin, 512/2320100; wildflower.org
Have a kid intrigued by the world of paleontology? Go to MINERAL WELLS FOSSIL PARK for the opportunity to conduct your own fossil dig. You could find a real-life fossil that’s hundreds of millions of years old. Plus, if you find a fossil, you can keep it. Be aware that the park is pretty primitive. Mineral Wells, 940/328-7803; mineralwellsfossilpark.com MORGAN’S WONDERLAND is a theme park
built for people with special needs and disabilities. Visit the Sensory Village , board the Wonderland Express train, engage in pirate make-believe, and create sand sculptures. Don’t forget to take a trip to Morgan’s Inspiration Island for splash
PHOTO COURTESY OF IFLY WORLD
places to go / S U M M E R
