Children's Museum

Brrrr...it's cold outside. Keep warm and let the kids burn off some of that energy at the Dallas Children's Museum.

Chugga Chugga Choo-Choo

If your kids are really into trains, as many are. Put them in the car and head downtown to visit the Museum of the American Railroad. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is free for members, $5.00 for adults, $2.50 for children ages 3--12. Under 3 years are free. Guided tours $7.00. You can learn all about the first railroads in Dallas and many other interesting train facts. You can even step inside an old railcar.

NorthPark Center Festivities

What: All kinds of great kid friendly activities

When: Various dates and times in December

Where: NorthPark Center

Need More Info:

The Trains at NorthPark benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas
November 22, 2008 - January 4, 2009 The Trains at NorthPark(TM) is the most elaborate toy train exhibit in Texas, with vintage locomotives whizzing by on a journey across America. More than 40 Lionel-type O-Gauge and larger G-Gauge locomotives chug on 2,500 feet of winding track past miniature national landmarks including San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore, the Southwest's Painted Desert, Dallas' Reunion Tower, the Statue of Liberty and New York City's Times Square.
Located on Level Two next to Neiman Marcus, the exhibit is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 to 6:00 pm. Early closing dates are Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 26th), Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The exhibit is closed on Thanksgiving Day and on Christmas Day but is open on New Year's Day. Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children aged 2-12 years and senior citizens (65 and older). Children under the age of 2 years are admitted free of charge.
In its 27-year history, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas has served as a home-away-from-home for more than 24,000 families of seriously ill children who have traveled to Dallas seeking medical treatment in Dallas area hospitals. For more infomation, please visit http://www.rmhdallas.com/.

Scrooge Puppet Theatre
November 28 - December 24, 2008Celebrating his 32nd year of delighting audiences at NorthPark Center, Scrooge returns with his acerbic wit and humor in his unique NorthPark Center theatre. Enjoy Scrooge's free daily performances of this hilarious interactive puppet show located in EastCourt near Dillard's and Banana Republic. Shows are hourly on the half-your as follows:
Monday - Saturday 11:30 am - 7:30 pm
Sunday 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Christmas Eve 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Storytime with Santa Claus at NorthPark Center in His New Location
November 28 - December 24, 2008Twice daily, Monday through Saturday, and once on Sunday, free of charge, children of all ages gather to hear Santa Claus' tales about life at the North Pole with his elves and reindeer. Santa's Storytime is held in his new traditional-style living room on Level One between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus at 11:00 am and 5:30 pm Monday through Saturday, and at 12:00 noon on Sunday. No Storytime is held on Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus at NorthPark Center Visits and Portraits with Santa
November 28 - December 24, 2008NorthPark Center offers one-on-one visits with Santa Claus in his new location on Level One between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Parents may take their own photographs of their children on Santa's knee or purchase high-quality portraits by Marc Robins Photography available in several different sizes and formats. Tickets are available starting at 9:00 am Monday through Saturday, and starting at 10:00 am on Sunday.
Heralded as "one of the country's premier Santa's" by CBS News, NorthPark Center's Santa Claus is a Dallas favorite. Carl Anderson, Ph.D., has been portraying Santa Claus for 26 years, the last 20 at NorthPark Center. Anderson, who has an uncanny resemblance to Old Saint Nick, is an adjunct professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas in Austin, a counseling psychologist working with families, a distinguished author of many books and an award-winning professional storyteller. He has been featured in "The Wall Street Journal", "People", "USA Today", and other national publications as well as on NPR, CNN, The Movie Channel and MTV.
Times for photos and one-on-one visits with Santa Claus are as follows:
Monday-Saturday 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
5:50 pm - 7:00 pm
Sunday 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
3:50 pm - 5:00 pm
Christmas Eve 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Richardson: Santa's Village

What: The City of Richardson's Santa's Village {photo above does not do the village justice}. We went to this last year and it truly was a blast for infants through kids aged 6 or 7. There are a variety of dwellings that each offer a different activity. There’s everything from taking a picture with Santa, to visiting with Mrs. Claus, to making an ornament, to writing a letter to Santa…and more.
Where: Santa’s Village is located on the lawn at the City Hall/Civic Center Complex, 411 W. Arapaho in Richardson, TX
When: December 6-9pm each of the following nights - {6-7, 11-14, 18-21} -- get there early if you plan on visiting Santa as the line for him shuts down before 9pm
Need More Info: http://www.cor.net/SantasVillage.aspx?id=7970

Disney on Ice - Ft. Worth Collesium

What: Disney on Ice: Disneyland Adventure
Where: Ft. Worth Collesium
When: November 26th - 30th {various times}
Cost: $10 and up
Need More Info: http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/worldoffantasy/index.html

Prestonwood Fall Festival

What: Prestonwood's Annual Fall Festival ~ Inflatables, game booths, candy, food/drinks
Where: Prestonwood - 6801 W. Park Blvd.Plano, Texas 75093
When: Friday 10/31 6:00 - 9:00pm
Cost: Admission is free - but games and inflatables and food are extra
Need More Info: Click Here

Boo @ the Zoo!

What: Boo at the Zoo

Where: The Dallas Zoo or the Ft. Worth Zoo are both having similar events - so pick your favorite!

When:
Ft. Worth ~ October 24 - 29 5:30PM - 8PM
Dallas ~ October 29 - 30 2PM - 5PM

Need More Info:
Ft. Worth ~ That's not the wind howling ... it's all the "spooktacular" fun you'll find at Fort Worth Zoo's 17th Annual Boo at the Zoo. Boo at the Zoo is the city's longest-running family friendly fall event held at the Fort Worth Zoo for six wild nights. Guests take home a bag of treats, but ours is no ordinary Halloween party. At 5:30 p.m., the Zoo grounds turn into a haven of happy trails, pumpkin patches and treats at every turn. Some of the scheduled activities include: Carnival games, Professional pumpkin carvings, Hay maze and hay house, Treat stations throughout the Zoo, Play areas for the little ghouls, More animals than ever before (only until dusk. Some of them might be afraid of the dark!)This year, the Fort Worth Zoo will bring back the popular Drummin' Monkeys show, as well as the musical hit Monster Mash, and most importantly, lots of live animals (after all, this is Boo at the ZOO!) So put on your costumes and come out for a howling good time!

Dallas ~ Come monkey around with the monkeys this halloween and get some get some great treats!