What to do after tiger shoot?

[LoungeLizard]

OK...I'll be going up for the tiger shoot on 2/26 and this will be my first visit to the Dallas area (don't laugh!) I'll be taking my wife and kids along and am looking for things to do the day before, right after the shoot, and the day after.

I saw Abel's hotel recommendation and will consider it, but I'd like ideas on other things to do (kid friendly, ages from 6-13) so I can find a centrally located hotel.

Thanks in advance.

[kennyt]

The Dallas Autorama is that same weekend. I think I am going there that Friday during the day. Usually some great show cars to be seen

Edited to after reading the dates correctly. The Autorama is the 12th sorry

[jeffkohn]

If you think you'll be in the mood to see more animals people on this board have been giving high marks to the Ft Worth Zoo.

My wife and I will be there on the 26th as well. My brother and his family are in Lewisville so we'll probably just hang with them the rest of the weekend.

[Trey Neal]

As has already been mentioned, the Ft Worth Zoo is known as one of the best zoos in the country. The Dallas World Aquarium is outstanding as well. It's located near downtown and is much more than an aquarium - open air aviary where you can see numerous different species of birds. The newest area has hummingbirds with strategically placed feeders so you can see them up close. There are also crocodiles, river otters, monkeys and oh yeah - penguins - among other things that are much more accessible than you'll see in the typical zoo. Take along your camera, flash and tripod if you want to spend some time catching some nice images.

[RandySmith]

Something that I might suggest doing, is that the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) railway station is located off of Parker Road (approx 5-10 miles south of McKinney) you and your family can hop on the train and ride to downtown Dallas and walk-about very easily to see all the sites. Parking in downtown is more expensive than riding the train, and the "train is a good experience in itself" avoid the traffic, etc. I believe it can drop you in the west-end which has alot of restaurants, night life.

RandySmith

[lscottpht]

I agree with Randy. I live in Dallas and have 3 kids, and we like to ride the DART from Forest down to the West End. From there, you can go to the Aquarium which is very nice, but expensive. We've been there at least 6 times, and they have recently redone it. You can go there in the morning, eat at the West End, then take the DART to the Dallas Zoo, not as nice as the Ft. Worth Zoo, but it's on the DART route. You can also take the trolley at the City Place get off which is several stops before the West End. The trolley is not that exciting, but the kids seem to like it, mostly the young kids. If you have older kids, in Mckinney is the Heard Nature Museum or something. It's an outdoor thing, nature hike and all. I haven't been there, but I have heard good things about it. I will be on the Feb. 26 tiger shoot, as well.

[Abel]

both lisa and i really enjoyed the Ft Worth Zoo. i defintiely recommend making a trip there after the zoo shoot.

its a good little drive from mckinney but i think it was well worth it

[srwatters]

If you have any weather issues, which I hope we don't (I'm on for that day's shoot too), your kids might like the Science Place down at Fair Park. My six year old loves all the interactive exhibits.

[jeffkohn]

Yeah no kidding, I hope we get a break from this cold rainy weather that weekend.

[Bill Huber]

I will be there on the same shoot, look forward to meeting you. There are a lot of nice things to do in the area and people have mentioned a lot of them.
One of my favorites is the Dallas World Aquarium. The kids will like it, you can take a lot of pictures and if the weather is bad you will be inside.

http://www.dwazoo.com/default.html

This is a little gallery from my last trip, all were taken though the glass.
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/though_the_glass

If the weather is good then as been stated the Fort Worth Zoo, very nice and fun of all. The thing you have to watch for is that you don't spend all your time watching the Meerkat.... LOL
http://www.fortworthzoo.org/
Gallery from the Fort Worth Zoo.
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/e1and_50200

[LoungeLizard]

Thank you all...great ideas so far.

Is the Ft. Worth Stockyard area worth going to? While I'm sure the zoo is nice as is the aquarium, I'd rather see something I can't see in the Houston area.

My daughter came up with the Movie Studios at las Colinas or the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza.[/list]

[Bill Huber]

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

Thank you all...great ideas so far.

Is the Ft. Worth Stockyard area worth going to? While I'm sure the zoo is nice as is the aquarium, I'd rather see something I can't see in the Houston area.

My daughter came up with the Movie Studios at las Colinas or the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza.[/list]

The stock yards are ok, if you like to shop or bar hop, they do have a rodeo and Billy Bobs but that is about it. Most of the action gets going at night.

The sixth floor is really good if you like history, I might also add a quick stop in Las Colinas at the mustang fountain is a really good photo op.

I have never been to the movie studio, so I really can tell you much about it.

[T1ckT0ck]

I went to the movie studio years ago in school and from what I can remember it was nice, but I don't know how the photo ops are. The mustangs are cool, also the large sundial is nice most of the year but who knows with this weather (lots of flowers). If I'm not mistaken the sundial is right down the street from the mustangs.

[Manny]

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

Thank you all...great ideas so far.

Is the Ft. Worth Stockyard area worth going to? While I'm sure the zoo is nice as is the aquarium, I'd rather see something I can't see in the Houston area.

My daughter came up with the Movie Studios at las Colinas or the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza.[/list]

Ya know I almost worked in the building adjascent to the las colinas studios. I never got the chance to visit the studio but I'd like to just for general purpose.

[RandySmith]

I take visiting folks from other states to the stock yard district a lot ... here's a couple of links you might be interested in, depending on your schedule.

http://www.tarantulatrain.com/

http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/

Also, you might remember a movie called "Logans Run" ? The final scene of that movie was shot at the Fort Worth water gardens ... there was an accident there last year so not sure if it has reopened or not, but worthwile to see what an architect can do with concrete & water !

Take care.
RandySmith