FUN 2022
an extra dose of family fun. Rusk and Palestine, 855/6327729; texasstaterailroad.net
Fall 2022
Westwood is very excited to announce that we are expanding our 3 to 5-Year-Old Program in the 2022–23 school year! We are opening a fourth Primary Classroom to better serve our current families and those in the community around us. Join our growing program this Fall and learn how the Montessori experience can help your child develop the skills and knowledge to succeed. Visit westwoodschool.org or call 972-239-8598 for more information! THE WESTWOOD SCHOOL WestwoodSchool.org TODDLER–GRADE 12
SKY HIGH
Take the glass elevator 470 feet up to the REUNION TOWER GEO-DECK to experience panoramic views of the Dallas skyline from the city’s own iconic landmark. You’ll be able to peer over all of downtown and beyond from their indoor and outdoor observation decks. Look online for their latest Summer Heights event series, including craft fun with Crayola Experience. Dallas, 214/712-7040; reuniontower.com
MCKINNEY AVENUE TRANSIT AUTHORITY,
Principal and Private School
SERVING STUDENTS WITH LEARNING CHALLENGES SUCH AS DYSLEXIA, DYSCALCULIA, ANXIETY AND ADD/ADHD
All children are unique and marvelously made by God.
55 Main St., Suite 290 Colleyville InspireAcademyTX.com 817.803.5010 InspireAcademyTX
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Principal Dana Judd, M.S. In Special Education
june/july 2022 | DFWCHILD
Take a day trip and hop aboard TRINITY METRO TEXRAIL to explore more of Tarrant County or to catch a flight at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. This speedy train is a quiet, smooth ride. Fort Worth, 817/215-8600; ridetrinitymetro.org
trails
Open Enrollment Now Available Summer Camp Options
aka MATA, is home of the vintage M-Line Trolley. Each car has a bell, or string that rings a bell, that you can ring to let the driver know you want off. Dallas, 214/8550006; mata.org
Step away from modern technology and take a ride through the piney woods of East Texas on the TEXAS STATE RAILROAD. This 25-mile track stretches from Rusk to Palestine. The Rusk depot has a vintage movie theater and overnight camping accommodations for
TRAINTOPIA is a miniature exhibit inside Frisco Discovery Center and part of the Museum of the American Railroad. Immerse yourself in the history of the locomotives during open hours Wednesdays through Sundays or join a scheduled walking tour of the vintage locomotives out back. Frisco, 214/428-0101; historictrains.org TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS is a convenient,
accessible option for travel from Dallas to Fort Worth, including all the stops in between. Multiple locations, 817/215-8600; trinityrailwayexpress.org
NATURAL WONDERS
Learning to love Mother Nature
Butterfly Houses Explore the beauty of the butterflies at the NATIVE
TEXAS BUTTERFLY HOUSE & GARDEN, on the grounds
of the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. McKinney, 972/5625566; heardmuseum.org Walk into a world of wonder at the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium at TEXAS DISCOVERY GARDENS at Fair Park. This two-story, glass enclosure transports you into a tropical landscape with exotic plant species and daily butterfly releases. There’s even an emergence chamber for you to observe butterfly chrysalises and moth cocoons. Dallas, 214/428-7476; txdg.org
Fishing Holes For a shot at luring catfish, bass or bluegill, cast your
line in the pond at CARUTH PARK, a destination with many more opportunities for family fun, like soccer and T-ball fields, a double tennis court and two playgrounds. Note that a valid freshwater fishing license is required for all anglers over 16 to fish in public water. University Park, 214/9875488; uptexas.org CEDAR HILL STATE PARK, which sits on the shores of Joe Pool Lake, has its own perch pond for kids, as well as its namesake 7,500-squarefoot lake containing largemouth black bass, catfish and crappie. Cedar Hill, 972/291-3900; tpwd.texas. gov/state-parks/cedar-hill
Cast a line and you might catch a big one at KELLER TOWN HALL POND. Visit in June for a pond stocked with catfish. Keller, 817/743-4000; cityofkeller.com Go get your line wet at RUSSELL CREEK PARK, a community park in Plano that offers solid fishing, especially considering the smaller size of the lake. Plano, 972/9417250; plano.gov The south pond at SOUTH LAKES PARK in Denton is regularly stocked with fish that are fun and fairly easy to catch. Denton, 940/3497275; cityofdenton.com The urban fishing initiative was created by the TARRANT REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT to restore and protect
the natural species and educate the community. Anglers will find an array of fish from the banks or kayaking down the Trinity River. Fort Worth, 817/335-2491; trwd.com Try out the pond and hiking trails at WILLIAM BLAIR JR. PARK, on 900 acres not far from Fair Park. The fishing pond is part of the park’s front section, which also includes a pavilion, fishing pier, and picnic areas. Dallas, 214/670-4100; dallasparks.org
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAUDIA COKER
places to go / S U M M E R
