Trekaroo is proud to launch our new series: One Tank Road Trips!  This year we invite you to hop in the car, bust out some fun traveling tunes, and drive to a new family vacation spot:  close enough not to break the bank, and yet still overflowing with family fun!

Photo by: flickr/Chovee

The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex is not only one of the largest and most visited cities in the nation, but it’s rich in cultural history, inundated with several large lakes, filled with museums of all types, and is a mecca for family entertainment.  Below are a few of the best places for families to visit from the DFW Metroplex on a tank of gas.

North Of The Metroplex

Lake Murray State Park, Ardmore, OK
From Denton to the S. Entrance: 63 miles or 1 Hour, 12 minutes one way.
Get out of the city and surround yourself in lush greenery for a weekend!  Lake Murray State Park has activities for all ages including boating, children’s programs, golf, mini-golf, tennis courts, swimming, picnicking, a playground, camping, and more.  If camping’s not your style, cozy up in one of their vintage hotel rooms or a remodeled historic cabin, and grab a meal at The Apple Bin Restaurant.  Be sure to head to the marina and feed the fish, hike on the maintained trails, and visit Tucker Tower for some incredible photo ops!

Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch   Pilot Point, TX
From Denton, TX: 21 miles or a 30 minute drive one way.  $10/adults; $8/kids
Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch is a relatively inexpensive, hands-on wildlife experience that everyone must do!  On the tram ride, they hang feed buckets on the outside of the tram and allow you to pet the baby camel and zebras as they’re eating.  Near the entrance, they have a hands-on show and tell with the smaller animals like lemurs and kangaroos.  There is also a small bucket train ride for kids and many other educational experiences!

In The Heart Of Dallas

Dallas Arts District
-Crow Collection of Asian Art  (Admission is Free)  Get immersed in Asian culture past and present through The Crow’s contemporary and historic art collections.  For families, the 1st Saturday of the month is children’s day from 10am-2pm where kids can have their face painted, listen to stories, watch relevant performances, and participate in art activities.

-Nasher Sculpture Center  Kid’s will love running on the manicured lawns, walking along the garden’s paths, and gazing at the towering steel sculptures in front of them.  One of my favorites is Jonathan Borofsky’s Walking To The Sky, a steel and painted sculpture that stands 100 feet tall!  The 1st Saturday of each month Target Sponsor’s a free day from 10am-2pm, where kids can participate in an art scavenger hunt, do an art activity, watch a demonstration, or take a family tour.

-Texas Discovery Gardens & Butterfly House    The Texas Discovery Garden is the first public garden in the state of Texas to be certified as 100% organic and boasts a large 7.5 acres in the popular Fair Park Complex.  Be sure to walk through the scent garden, especially with kids, as well as the native wildlife pond.  The Butterfly House is another favorite with butterfly releases at noon, and an insect collection in the lobby.  Family events are offered throughout the year, but our favorite time to visit is on Tuesday when the gardens are free (butterfly house is regular admission)!

Central

Irving Art’s Center
Irving Art’s Center is centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, which makes for an easy commute from anywhere within the DFW Metroplex.  A meca for performing and fine arts, Irving Art’s Center offers free and low cost family programs throughout the year.  Because it’s an affiliate of the Smithsonian, the Art’s Center can borrow artifacts from the Smithsonian’s 136 million object collection for future installments.  Be sure to check the calendar and plan on spending a day exploring the museum and taking part in the free classes, workshops, storytimes, and fundays.

Near Fort Worth

Grapevine, TX
Grapevine is one of my favorite cities in the DFW Metroplex!  Not only is there a gigantic mall (Grapevine Mills) that houses Legoland, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and the Rainforest Cafe, but the city is situated beside Grapevine Lake, has it’s own Vintage Railroad, and some of the best family hotels in the Metroplex!  If you’re on a budget, spend the morning hiking under the trees along Grapevine Lake, or fishing next to the shore.  Then, take the kiddos over to Bass Pro Shop and identify the various fish inside their aquarium.  Grab a bite to eat at the food court in the mall and walk the indoor mile-long path past the interesting retailers and activities.  My kids loved walking inside the giant bubble on water and watching the “alligator” outside of the Rainforest Cafe!

Fort Worth Stockyards
Giddyup Cowboys and Cowgirls and head on over to the Fort Worth Stockyards for a day of historical fun.  Ride the Vintage Railroad, take a walk through the Cattlepen Maze, watch the Texas Cowhands drive a herd of Longhorn Cattle down the road (11:30am & 4pm daily), visit the petting zoo, and watch a real rodeo (Friday and Saturday at 8pm).  Different activities cost different prices, so be sure to check in advance before moseying on over.

West Of The Metroplex

Granbury, TX

From Fort Worth, it’s approximately 41 miles or 50 minutes.

According to Granbury’s Convention & Visitor’s Bureau website, Granbury is rich in Texas History, with a few of it’s famous and infamous guests or residences including Davy Crockett, John Wilkes-Booth, and Jesse James.  For a fun family day in Granbury, start your morning off at Windmill Farms and drive or walk past the 40+ windmills that have been restored and are proudly displayed on the property.  Then, head on over to the U.S. Veteran’s Museum with real airplane displays outside, reenactments, and artifacts from every war up to date.  To satisfy those rumbling tummies, families will love grabbing lunch at the Groggy Dawg Grill and Marina, a floating restaurant right on Lake Granbury.  At City Beach, families can make large sand sculptures with the fine white sand found on Lake Granbury’s shores and then head over to The Art of Chocolate Shoppe for a quick treat.  Before settling in for the night, be sure to catch a movie at Brazo’s Drive-In Theater, an authentic 1950’s theater for only $18 a carload!

*All mileage and times are based on a Mapquest search

Be on the lookout for more “One  Tank Road Trips” heading your way as we launch this fun series across the US.

We would LOVE to hear from you!  If you’ve been to  someplace family friendly in Dallas/Ft. Worth  and have something to share about it,  please visit Trekaroo.com, sign up for a free account, and write a review!  We’d love to hear about your family’s favorite places.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

I remember my first snowy Christmas.  It was when my husband and I first moved to Colorado Springs just after our wedding 10 years ago.  We visited a local hotel there and were amazed at the ice sculptures and train displays.  I couldn’t imagine anything better… until now!   My family and I were blessed to spend a few days at the Gaylord Texan and experience a resort that does so much more than decorate for Christmas; it brings fantasy, theatrics, and whimsy together to create the ultimate family getaway!

The moment my family and I stepped into the lobby of the Gaylord Texan, we knew we were going to have a good time.   The lobby opened up into a massive atrium filled with giant soldiers, over 52 rotating Christmas trees, several train displays, toy soldier stilt walkers, balloon makers, over 1.5 million Christmas lights, and so much more.  We loved walking inside the giant gingerbread house which smelled oh, so sweet, visiting Santa, and shaking hands with Dreamworks characters like Shrek, Puss & Boots, and King Julien!   The atrium’s winding riverwalks were each unique and my children loved looking at the fish and spurting fountains.

The very friendly bell led my family and I to our adjoining rooms which had amazing views into the atrium.  We opened the balcony doors and instantly felt connected with the energy and excitement of our surroundings!  The rooms themselves were large and immaculate, one with a king bed and one with two queens, but each with a flat screen tv, dark wood, light walls, and upscale Texan décor.  Altogether, it was breathtaking!

Each year, the Gaylord Texan puts on a spectacular display called ICE!, and this year they joined Dreamworks Animation for an unforgettable attraction!  With special artisans flown in from Harbin, China, 2 million pounds of ice, and a temperature of only 9 degrees, it took a month to put together this wintery wonderland in which Shrek learns the true meaning of Christmas.  The ICE! tent also includes giant ice slides, a Christmas light display put to music, a video about the making of ICE! and a breathtaking nativity scene made of crystal clear ice.

In the room next to where ICE! takes place, join Kung Fu Panda’s Po for indoor snow tubing with occasional Po sightings.  I had as much fun as my children did grabbing an inner tube and sliding down the snow covered slopes!   Next to the slides and past the gift shop, you can meet Shrek in his home or get a piping hot cup of cocoa.

The Gaylord Texan is such a unique and fun experience, you’ll want to make this visit an annual tradition…I know we do!  From the immaculate cleanliness of the resort as a whole and the overwhelming displays and creations, you will never be bored and will never want to leave.  Start making those plans for Christmas 2012!

Do you remember the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation with Clark and his eccentric family?  I do.  Having the maiden name Griswold myself, I couldn’t have escaped them if I wanted to!  Maybe it’s the last name or perhaps the way Clark goes overboard trying to win his family into the holiday spirit, either way, I have always felt akin to them.  I am fascinated and amazed at the elegance and extravagance this season brings forth and I hope my family will fall in love with the traditions we create and someday pass them on to their own children.

Here in Texas, everything’s bigger!  It’s not only the state’s motto, it’s its creed.   This time of the year, that means spectacular light displays, over-the-top Christmas programming, and the best family memories ever!  If you want a chance to discover a Texas size holiday yourself, be sure to visit at least one of the outstanding resorts or hotels listed below!

Gaylord Texan, Grapevine

I can’t even begin to describe how thrilling the Gaylord Texan is at Christmas time without shivering in excitement.  The entire resort is transformed into a magical land of enchantment from their 52 rotating Christmas trees to their 1.5 million lights, life-size gingerbread house, 12,000 ornaments, and Santa Claus too.  Their very popular attraction, ICE!, features Dream Works’ Shrek The Halls, and includes colorful ice sculptures carved from 2 million pounds of ice!  A few other activities are Kung Fu Panda’s Awesome Snow Tubing, Gingy’s Gingerbread Decorating, Character Meet & Greets (Shrek, Alex the Lion, King Julien and the Penguins, and Po) and Santa Land with stilt walkers, singing cowboys, electric trains, and more!  If you can’t make it this year, put this resort on your bucket list!

Read what a few of our readers had to say about Gaylord Texan.

Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin

Barton Creek Resort & Spa is one of my all-time favorite family-friendly resorts!  My family and I planned a trip to Austin to explore and sight-see, but with the hiking trail, scavenger hunt, mini golf, swimming pool and Barton Kid’s Club, we never left the resort!  It wasn’t until we checked out of the hotel that we actually explored the city.  At Christmas time, Barton Creek adds a giant 3,800 square foot ice skating rink surrounded by 200,000 twinkling lights… doesn’t that sound magical?!  And if that’s not enough, Barton Creek donates a portion of the ice skating proceeds to Make A Wish Foundation; helping to grant dreams to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Read my complete review of Barton Creek Resort & Spa, and review of Barton Kid’s Club.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio

Want to visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves?  How about reindeer?  At JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country, you can see them all and even join them for breakfast!  Plan the day with your family making keepsake ornaments, taking a hayride, working on a gingerbread craft, taking the polar plunge, writing a letter to Santa, and participating in the resort art walk.  The adults (no, they haven’t forgotten about you) can tee-up at the 36-hole TPC golf course and then get pampered with a sugar cookie body scrub or chocolate candy cane pedicure.  And just before the elves tuck your little ones in, stop by a restaurant for a special off their special holiday menu- like the Rudolphtini (little red nose at bottom of glass)- sorry Rudolph!

To find out more about JW Marriott, read reviews on Trekaroo.  Be sure to also read reviews of their Kid’s Club.

Moody Garden’s Hotel, Houston

If you’re looking for a mile long trail with more than a million lights in 100 sound-enhanced and animated displays, next to a four diamond hotel overlooking the gulf coast, then look no further than Moody Garden’s Hotel.  Guests will be enchanted by the live entertainment, a large outdoor ice skating rink, holiday films, and pictures with Santa; not to mention the 10-story 4D rainforest pyramid, with sloths and monkeys (to name a few) or the equally large 3D aquarium with touch tanks, sharks, sea turtles, eels and more.  Plan on spending a week there, you’re going to need it!

Share the scoop about Moody’s Garden Hotel.

The Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio

Mix a little Texas culture into your Christmas during the Legendary Holidays program at the Westin La Cantera Resort!  The Bandera Cowboy sings and tells holiday stories while introducing the lore and legends of La Cantera. The program concludes with “snow” magically falling from the sky as the choir begins to sing a holiday song at the top of Plaza San Saba.  Families can also take a trip to the North Pole to create arts and crafts, take a photo with Santa, skate on the 1,200-square-foot synthetic iceless skating rink, and visit The Magik Theatre’s performance of “A Pirates Holiday” based on the classic holiday story T’was the Night Before Christmas.

Been there?  Share your thoughts with other trekaroo users.

Great Wolf Lodge, Grapevine

 It’s snowing…indoors!!  At Great Wolf Lodge, there isn’t only a water park indoors. During the holiday’s, it snows in the lobby!  Great Wolf Lodge will impress you the moment you step out of your car with its enormous wolf statues at the entrance of the hotel, but its grandeur doesn’t end there.  The lobby is a giant forest complete with a tree house and large picture windows looking down into the water park.  My children loved the wolf walk, where they learned how to howl like wolves, and the pajama story time.  In addition to the normal activities, children can walk inside the life-size gingerbread house, race a polar bear down a waterslide, meet Santa, and attend the North Pole University!  Be prepared though, your children will be talking about this trip for years to come!

To learn more about Great Wolf Lodge, read the full review.

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines, Austin

For a bird’s eye view of Christmas, the New York Audubon Society joins the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines to introduce the Christmas Bird Count!  Bird lovers of all ages can enjoy keynote speakers, crafts, activities, and excursions.  Then at night, snuggle up to your special someone (which could be a pajama clad kiddo), and enjoy an evening campfire with complimentary s’mores!

Been there?  Write a review for the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines.

Looking for more holiday-fun activities?  Check out your neighborhood below.

California:  San Diego | Orange County | LA & Environs | Bay Area |  Lake Tahoe | Sacramento

Other US cities:  Dallas | NYC/NJ | Philadelphia | Salt Lake City |  Seattle

Don’t see your city??  Make a list of fun activities in your neck of the woods to share with Trekaroo users.

 Heather Reed is Trekaroo’s Texas Destination Guroo

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Can you imagine your children growing up  in a world without books? I certainly can’t imagine my kids living a life devoid of Eric Carle, Margaret Wise Brown, and Dr. Suess. Sadly, millions of children around the world go their entire childhood without ever experiencing the joys of being read to, let alone ever learning to read themselves. Passports with Purpose is aiming to improve the lives and opportunities of children in Zambia by raising money to build two libraries.

What is Passports with Purpose? It is the  annual Travel Bloggers’ fundraiser founded by Pam Mandel, Debbie Dubrow, Michelle Duffy, and Beth Whitman, who happen to all be great travel bloggers themselves. In 2009, travel bloggers raised almost $30,000 to build a school in rural Cambodia. In 2010, we  raised $64000 and built a village in southern India.  Now in 2011, 100 travel bloggers have been given an even bigger goal- raise $80,000 and build two libraries in Zambia. With fabulous readers like you, I know we can do it!

To do our part Trekaroo has teamed up with the posh Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas to give one lucky winner a one night stay at Barton Creek Resort & Spa and a round of golf for two on either the Crenshaw Cliffside or Palmer Lakeside course. Imagine what a gift this would make for the golf lover on your holiday list! Want to know more about this amazing resort? Then read Texas Destination Guroo Heather Reed’s own firsthand take on the property:

At Barton Creek Resort & Spa you can expect the finest in luxury from the hand crafted wood and stone décor, to Texas’s top rated golf course, tranquil spa, luxurious rooms, and fine dining, all delivered with unbeatable Texas hospitality and customer service. Barton Creek caters to every type of venue including romantic vacation destinations for couples,  golfing enthusiasts, and family retreats. The resort’s hillside location boasts incredible floor to ceiling views of the rolling hills, large oak trees, and winding rivers. It’s staff exudes professionalism, is pleasant, knowledgeable, and quick to offer help or advice. The rooms are luxurious and elegant with hardwood entries, granite countertops, an oversize desk, and the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept on.

Barton Creek has 4 distinctly different 18-hole golf courses that have been rated as #1 in Texas by Golfer’s Digest. Fazio Foothills is Barton Creek Resort & Spa’s signature golf course, designed with cliff-side fairways, natural limestone caves, waterfalls, and superb TiffEagle Bermuda grass. Fazio Canyons is a 7,153-yard, par-72 course with it’s own pro shop and practice area. Crenshaw Cliffside’s course takes advantage of the natural terrain and is woven between native vegetation and plateaus. Last, but definitely not least, Palmer Lakeside, designed by Arnold Palmer, is located 25 minutes away from Barton Creek on a secluded hilltop overlooking Lake Travis. At Palmer Lakeside, there is also a spectacular clubhouse retreat that takes advantage of the lakeside and golf course views.

After taking your turn on one of their famed courses, hit the tennis courts or take a stroll on their nature trail. If relaxing is more your style, make a reservation at 3 Springs Spa or lounge in a chair by the pool. If you have kids in your group, check them into Barton Kid’s Club, visit the putt-putt course, play giant chess, and take a scavenger hunt through the resort. No matter what your reason is for visiting, I can guarantee you one thing…you’ll want to stay forever.

Read Heather’s full review of Barton Creek Resort.

How to enter

Go to the Passports with Purpose donate page  and donate!  For every $10 you donate, you will be given a “raffle ticket” to apply to any prizes listed on the donate page.  We think our prize is pretty great but feel free to apply your $10 to any of the dozens of  AMAZING prizes being given away.  After you have entered the raffle, be sure to spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, or Carrier Pigeon so Passports with Purpose can reach their goal of raising $80,000 and permanently changing the lives of children.

The last day for donations is Friday, December 16, 2011.

Sharlene Earnshaw is the blog editor  for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

My family and I love adventure of any kind, so we knew we would love Austin.  Its city’s moniker, “Keep Austin Weird” sets it apart from many, but the giant parks, rich Texas history, luxury accommodations, and unique eateries, all combine making Austin a one-of-a-kind city.

Zilker Park

I’ve never been to a park quite like Zilker Park!  You can easily spend a day here getting lost in the botanical gardens, spend  hours in the Nature and Science Center unearthing a dinosaur, meeting a bobcat, and observing particles that make up insect wings, or visit one of the playgrounds and have a picnic beneath the large trees with the cityscape as your backdrop.

The Botanical Gardens are breathtaking and the perfect spot for your kids to run along the paths and peer in the ponds to get an up close look at turtles or water snakes.  The gardens are themed, so you’ll find a rose garden, a Japanese garden, Hartman’s Prehistoric Garden (with dinosaurs), an herb garden, and more.  Use the garden’s classification lists and go on a plant hunt- your kids won’t even realize they’re learning, it’s that much fun!

The Nature & Science Center is an adventure in and of itself!  In the main building, you’ll find a large room with a wide lens telescope perfect for viewing small critters and easy enough for young kids to use.  My 3 year old, a budding scientist,  found it fascinating to look at insect wings and bug parts through the telescope.  Both of my kids, ages 7 and 3, also really enjoyed running through the large cave and pretending to be bobcats and mountain lions.

Outside,  a live animal section allows guests to get up close to a bobcat or a coyote and a  Small Wonder’s Exhibit  features snakes, fish, tarantulas, and some of the tiniest critters found in Austin.  The Dino Dig area transforms kids into  archeologists where they can and unearth dinosaur fossils, follow dinosaur tracks, and find actual replicas of fossils found in Texas under the sand.  My son, Austin, found the only toy truck in the whole sandbox and rode that over the fossil replicas pretending he was being chased by a T-Rex!   With all of this excitement, our tummies were starting to grumble, it was time to head for a yummy snack!

Hey Cupcake!

As one of Austin’s unique eateries, Hey Cupcake!, sells cupcakes out of a polished airstream trailer with a huge cupcake on top!  They charge $3 for unique cupcake confections with names like Michael Jackson, Vanilla Dream, and Red Velvet.  I was told in advance that this is a dessert stop we had to make and that Vanilla Dream was to die for!

Texas State Capitol

Texas is a state rich in history, that if you’re in Austin, you have to visit the Texas State Capitol Building!  The building is an almost exact replica of the United States White House, so you will definitely feel a strong sense of pride in being an American citizen!  When we visited, the Senate was in session, so we took our kids in, sat in the upper balcony, and watched for a few minutes.  Austin, our 3 year old, was born with springs instead of feet, so naturally, he couldn’t sit for long and we got kicked out.  Still, it was fun to see a branch of government in action.  Caleb, 7 years, enjoyed looking at the artwork and statues inside the building.  We all enjoyed riding up the elevator and looking down at the rotunda room from the 4^th floor!

The State Capitol has a visitor’s center that’s not attached to the building and has displays and information for guests wanting a more in-depth look at the history of the building.  For the kids, there’s the Bob Bullock State History Museum which houses an interactive display and an IMAX theater with hands on activities and fun videos for kids of all ages.

Barton Creek Resort & Spa

Barton Creek Resort and Spa took my breath away as I entered their marble and hardwood lobby.   The friendly bell hops held the door open for me and I felt my cares melt away as I was transported into a world of opulence.  In the lobby, the floor to ceiling windows took advantage of the breathtaking hill country scenery with its green forests, winding rivers, and Barton Creek’s extensive and well groomed golf courses.

I originally thought that there wasn’t going to be much for families to do at this exclusive resort, but boy was I wrong!  We started our day with the family scavenger hunt which led us through the entire resort checking in at a majority of sites and familiarizing us with the grounds.  We laughed a lot while trying to play Putt-Putt golf on the miniature course that was mostly shaded (our 3 year old won!) and had a water jug and cups-a must for keeping hydrated during Texas summers.  The Putt-Putt course was also the start of the nature trail that wound about a ½ mile through the hill country wilderness.  Along the path there was an old teepee that we explored along with a fort that my kids climbed into and played on.  I liked the bridges going over a few water crossings, and was told that occasionally the deer will come up and stand close to you, allowing for excellent photo ops!  The day packed so much fun, it was nice to sink into the large, comfortable beds –the perfect end to our day!

Read Heather’s full review of the Barton Creek Resort and Spa.

When it was time to leave, our entire family was a little sad.  The staff made our experience unforgettable and the resort in its entirety was unforgettable.  Plus, the idea of going back home to doing dishes, preparing meals and cleaning up after our family of 6, made me want to run back inside and pay for a few more weeks!

Disclosure: The author received a complimentary stay at Barton Creek Resort in order to complete an unbiased review.  The resort did not request that she share any particular point of view and all opinions stated are entirely those of the author.

Heather Reed (aka slofamilylife) is the Texas Destination Guroo for Trekaroo.  Her passion for travel stems from adventures she took growing up with her family.  She and her husband are thrilled to be exploring the globe with their four children and incorporating their love of learning into every adventure!

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Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA