Summer Vacation Activities in Dallas

A great alternative to being outside during the middle of the day -- especially in the midst of a sweltering Texas summer -- the Dallas World Aquarium features a rain forest, aquarium and a variety of interactive educational activities and experiences. Exhibits at the Dallas World Aquarium include the Mundo Maya, which features a 400,000 gallon tank displaying marine life of the Yucatan Peninsula; Orinoco, featuring the wildlife indicative of a South American rain forest; South Africa, which features animals from Madagascar; and Borneo, which features animals and marine life from the Australian continent.

Open year-round, Six Flags Over Texas offers rides, shows, and more to Dallas area visitors. With a variety of rides geared to visitors of all ages, Six Flags is a fun destination for the whole family. Small children can enjoy rides such as the Bugs Bunny Spirit of St. Louie, where they can ride in airplanes and "fly" in a circle and will be amazed during the 'Meet the Looney Tunes Pals' show, while older kids can ride the Acme Rock-N-Rocket and other more fast-paced rides. 'Wet' rides, such as the Aquaman Splashdown, are a great way to cool down during the summer heat.

Founded in 1888, the Dallas Zoo is the oldest zoo in Texas (actually, the Dallas Zoo was the first zoo in the Southwest United States). In addition to its history as Texas' longest running zoo, the Dallas Zoo has grown to be one of the most impressive zoos in the Lone Star State. And, although it is only one of the many things to do in Dallas, it is certainly a big 'to-do' and an attraction that takes an entire day to fully take in. Encompassing over 100 acres, the Dallas Zoo is now the largest zoo in Texas in terms of area, making it a great place to spend a full day. The zoo features a wide variety of popular exhibits, including the Giants of the Savannah display which features elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras and more.

Located just north of downtown Dallas, White Rock Lake is a 1,000-acre oasis in the middle of one of the nation's largest cities. Boasting 9 miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as fishing piers and bird watching areas, White Rock Lake is a great place to spend a summer day unwinding and getting away from the hustle and bustle of urban life (and vacation).

The Zero Gravity Thrill Park is a one-of-a-kind theme park. At Zero Gravity, the rides are really "falls" - bungee jumps, six-story free-falls into a safety net, etc. Families who are looking for an adrenaline rush on their summer vacation must visit Zero Gravity Thrill Park while in Dallas.

Dallas' McKinny Trolley is a historical trolley system, which recreates how a real trolley system of the early to mid-20th century looked and operated. Also known as the M-Line, the McKinney Avenue Trolley picks up and drops off passengers near a number of places of interest, including Magnolia Theater, Cityplace Tower, Hotel ZaZa, Shops at the Crescent, Dallas Museum of Art and the Crow Collection of Asian Art. Each of the four trolleys -- Rosie, The Green Dragon, Matilda and Petunia -- has a long and interesting history.