Waco Tourism Information Blog

Fun Family Activities - Especially for Kids

Outdoor Activities
  •  There is always something fun happening at the Cameron Park Zoo! Coming up sometime in summer, 2009, there will be a new Asian Forest exhibit opening with Orangutans and Komodo Dragons. 

     

  • There's lots for kids to do at Cameron Park. Learn about wildflowers during an educational tour through the park. Take a walk through Miss Nellie's Pretty Place. This wildflower preserve has winding paths open all year long, and is as pretty as a picture from March through June. Or play a game of Disc Golf on the 18 hole course. It's free and open year-round.

     

  • At Lion's Park, ride on a miniature train, play putt-putt, or ride on a bumper boat. For more information, call (254) 772-4340.

     

  • Stroll across the wooden slats of Waco's Suspension Bridge and imagine how it was when cowboys drove their cattle across it in 1870.

     

  • See Baylor's bear mascots romp and play at the Bear Plaza on the Baylor University Campus, 1200 S. 5th St.

     

  • Five neighborhood Spray Parks are located throughout Waco that offer a wet splash to anyone willing to press the "water" button. The parks are free and open during daylight hours.

     

  • The Waco Water Park is the coolest place to be this summer for kids of all ages. Two towering water slides and two pools provide a great escape from the summer heat.

     

  •  At Homestead Heritage, kids can see the many homesteading crafts and skills used in daily life - skills that revolve around homestead living in a traditional agrarian culture.

     

    Indoor Activities

     

  • Art Center Waco has fun hands-on activities for the "child in all of us". Art Center Waco takes visitors around the world with Islamic calligraphy, Japanese origami, Turkish paper making, and French valentine making.

     

  • Like sports? The Texas Sports Hall of Fame is a great place to learn about a favorite team or player. Interactive displays provide the opportunity to match stride, height, hand and shoe size to those of an average NBA player. Answers to a sports trivia quiz can be found throughout the Hall of Fame. This is one quiz kids will love!

     

  • Learn about the legendary Pied Piper at the Armstrong Browning Library. Robert Browning composed the popular poem for Willie Macready, a bedridden 10 year-old to read and illustrate. The original pencil sketches drawn by Willie, and the stained glass window depicting the story can be seen at the library.

     

  • The Dr Pepper Museum is the home of the world's oldest major soft drink. The first floor contains a replica of the drug store where Dr Pepper was invented as well as an animatron of pharmacist Dr Charles Alderton telling the story of its invention. The interactive exhibits designed for younger audiences are fun and educational. The computer game "What's your favorite soft drink?" is great fun for those wanting to test their knowledge of Dr Pepper history.

     

  • Kids of all ages will find something to discover at the Mayborn Museum Complex. Themed discovery rooms allow kids to try on clothing from around the world, scrape skins and grind corn like Native Americans, stand inside a beating heart, or work on science experiments.

     

  • Learn how children in the 1880s popped popcorn without a microwave or stove. A tour guide will take you through Earle-Harrison House and show you why children who lived in this house enjoyed spending time in the kitchen.

     

  • Learn what life was like in the late 1800s while visiting one of Waco's five historic homes. Take a guided tour through Earle-Napier-Kinnard House, East Terrace, Fort House, McCulloch House, or Earle-Harrison House, and see the difference in how children played.

     

  • Catch a rodeo or weekend horse show at the Heart of Texas Fair Complex.

    • Comments

    By: Pamela  On: 02/22/2009 18:56:20
    Does anybody know where I can get discount coupons for the Cameron Zoo?
    By: CarlaP  On: 03/20/2009 11:55:13
    Pamela, The Cameron Park Zoo does offer discounts for groups of 21+ individuals. From their website: "Special rates for groups of 21 or more also are available. For tour groups (senior citizens, church, motorcoach, etc.) call (254) 750-8423. For school groups, call (254) 750-8400."

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