Few topics fascinate kids more than animals. And lions, tigers and bears are just the beginning. Take a walk on the wild side at these 30 North Texas destinations—zoos, drive-thru safaris, aquariums, petting zoos and more—where you can see, interact with, and even feed them by hand.
RELATED: The Best Zoos in North Texas
Aquariums
1. Children’s Aquarium Dallas
First opened in 1936 as part of the Texas Centennial Exposition, the Children’s Aquarium Dallas at Fair Park is the oldest such attraction in the state. Today you can see all sorts of fish and sea life from oceans, rivers and lakes through eye-level exhibits. At Stingray Bay in the outdoor pavilion, guests can feed and interact with cownose rays in a touch pool.
Location: 1462 First Avenue, Dallas, Texas
Contact: 469/554-7340
Website: childrensaquarium.com
RELATED: A Guide to the Children’s Aquarium Dallas
2. Dallas World Aquarium
Trek through a cloud forest, wave to a friendly manatee, see sharks and sawfishes swimming all around as you traverse a clear tunnel—it’s all possible at this massive collection of aquarium and zoo animals located in the Historic West End District. An octopus, an ocelot, leafy sea dragons, miniature seahorses, sloths, colorful birds, a gigantic croc and a huge anaconda: They’re all there, and that’s just the beginning.
Location: 1801 North Griffin St., Dallas, Texas
Contact: 214/720-2224
Website: dwazoo.com
RELATED: A Guide to Dallas World Aquarium
3. Sea Life Grapevine
This aquarium inside Grapevine Mills mall houses some 3,000 creatures and gives you the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with a number of them. Check out the interactive touchpools, where you can touch sea stars and anemones, then head to the Sea Turtle Rescue Center. Your budding wildlife biologists will also enjoy Stingray Bay, the Rainforest Adventure and other exhibits. You can even take a behind-the-scenes tour. Make a day of your visit by stopping into Legoland Discovery Center or Peppa Pig World of Play, also inside Grapevine Mills.
Location: 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, Texas
Contact: 469/444-3050
Website: visitsealife.com/grapevine
Horseback Riding
4. River Ranch Educational Charities at Texas Horse Park
Saddle up and experience the sights and sounds of Dallas’ Trinity Forest on horseback. Trail rides are for age 12 and up; younger kids can enjoy pony rides or lessons that will get them ready for the trail.
Location: 811 Pemberton Hill Road, Dallas, Texas
Contact: 469/804-2660
Website: riverranch.org
5. Benbrook Stables
Guided trail rides on miles of scenic trails around Lake Benbrook are available for age 8 and up; younger kiddos can get a ride on the property with a lead line.
Location: 10001 Benbrook Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas
Contact: 817/249-1001
Website: benbrookstables.com
6. Stockyards Stables
Meander down the Old Chisholm Trail on horseback (if you’re 11 or older). Little ones age 3 and up can take an arena horseback ride during the week. The family will also enjoy stagecoach and carriage rides.
Location: 157 E. Exchange Avenue at the Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas
Contact: 817/247-2510
Website: fortworthstockyardsstables.com
7. YMCA Camp Carter Trail Rides
Starting at age 8, kiddos can take an on-property trail ride at the YMCA Camp Carter Equestrian Center, which features a hardwood forest, grasslands and one of the highest points in Fort Worth.
Location: 5800 Meandering Road, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact: 817/738-9241; horses@ymcafw.org
Website: ymcafw.org/horseback-riding
8. Paws for Reflection Ranch
This ranch about a half hour southwest of downtown Dallas offers therapeutic horseback riding, including for children with special needs. The site has a covered arena, nature trail and sensory trail. Be sure to make the drive out for the ranch’s annual Easter and Christmas festivals.
Location: 5431 Montgomery Road, Midlothian, Texas
Contact: 972/775-8966
Website: pawsforreflectionranch.org
9. Southfork Ranch Trail Rides
This Collin County ranch—home of the Ewing Mansion featured in the television series Dallas—is a great spot for horseback riding. Trail rides are open to age 8 and up.
Location: 3700 Hogge Road, Parker, Texas
Contact: 972/442-7800
Website: southforkranch.com
10. Marshall Creek Ranch
Take a trail ride through wooded acreage and across creeks surrounding Lake Grapevine. Rides are open to age 7 and up.
Location: 4401 T W King Road, Southlake, Texas
Contact: 817/490-8796
Website: marshallcreekranch.com
Petting Zoos
11. The Dunham Farm
This family-owned farm is worth visiting for lots of reasons, but including for its cuddly capybaras but also for its menagerie of giant tortoises, exotic birds, peacocks and many more types of farm and exotic animals. Be sure to call before you go to make sure the owners can host your visit.
Location: 3501 East FM 1187, Burleson, Texas
Contact: 817/627-4789
Website: thedunhamfarm.com
12. Country Critters Farm
During the summer, you can book a party here (about 10 minutes south of Mansfield) and let the kids enjoy goats, sheep, pigs, a donkey, a cow and a rabbit in the petting zoo—there’s even the occasional praying mantis. Other activities include a bounce house, playground areas, a pony ride, barrel train, a hayride and a wooden maze and games. The petting zoo and pony rides can also travel to you.
Location: 3709 County Road 617, Alvarado, Texas
Contact: 682/593-1866
Website: countrycrittersfarm.com
13. Preston Trail Farms
You’ll find this petting farm just north of Prosper in Grayson County. Your family can get up-close-and-personal with about 40 farm animals—including goats, sheep, cows and even longhorn cattle.
Location: 15102 TX-289, Gunter, Texas
Contact: 972/382-4995
Website: prestontrailfarms.com
14. Stockyard Stables Petting Zoo
Head to the Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District to see, touch and feed farm animals, the usual and some more unexpected. Entry is $5 per person, all ages and $3 per cup of feed.
Location: 157 E. Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact: 817/247-2510
Website: fortworthstockyardsstables.com
15. Cathy’s Critters
From frolicking mini horses and fuzzy alpacas to piglets, kangaroos, peacocks and iguanas, what can’t you see here? This Collin County destination is a petting farm (a mobile petting zoo is available too) that also offers pony rides. Trail rides are available on Saturdays for age 8 and up.
Location: 7422 County Road 466, Princeton, Texas
Contact: 972/562-0583
Website: cathyscritters.com
16. Hochatown Rescue Center & Petting Zoo
Take a road trip up to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, where you’ll meet Alfalfa the alpaca, Blakey the kangaroo, Pixie the flying squirrel, Queen Ruby the raccoon and more rescued animals.
Location: 9177 US 259 North, Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Contact: 580/494-7387
Website: facebook.com/hochatownpettingzoo
Wildlife Experiences
17. Texas Zoofari Park
Want to plan an epic animal adventure with your kids? Head toward Kaufman County to this safari park, opened in March 2023. What sets this park apart from other zoos in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is how up close and personal visitors can get with the 85 species of animals that call the park home.
Location: 9773 FM 429, Kaufman, Texas
Contact: 469/966-4608
Website: texaszoofaripark.com
RELATED: A Guide to Texas Zoofari Park
18. Sharkarosa Zoo
The name is wild and so are the creatures who live there! Sharkarosa, near Lake Ray Roberts, is home to alpacas, beefalo (yep, that’s a thing), a zorse (and that’s a thing), a zedonkey (and that’s a thing), black bears, macaw, wallabies and too many other animals to list. About the only things you won’t see at Sharkarosa are, well, sharks.
Location: 11670 Massey Road, Pilot Point, Texas
Contact: 940/686-4600
Website: sharkarosa.com
RELATED: A Guide to Sharkarosa
19. John Bunker Sands Wetlands Center
This unique habitat will give you a unique wildlife experience. About 25 minutes southeast of downtown Dallas, the wetlands are home to more than 250 species of birds, including American bald eagles, plus rabbits, deer, snakes, native green tree frogs, dragonflies, turtles and other creatures. Join guided bird tours every first Saturday of the month and boardwalk tours every third Saturday monthly.
Location: 655 Martin Lane, Combine, Texas
Contact: 972/474-9100
Website: wetlandcenter.com
20. In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue & Educational Center
If your kiddo loves the family cat, visit In-Sync to really blow their mind. You’ll see tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, bobcats, lynx, servals and ocelots—plus the honorary cats, the coatimundi (a raccoon-like omnivore) and lemurs. The Big Cat Birthday Bash (one for all the residents) is set each June, with many more special events throughout the year such as pancake breakfasts, movie nights, and holiday events on Easter and Thanksgiving.
Location: 3430 Skyview Drive, Wylie, Texas
Contact: 972/442-6888
Website: insyncexotics.org
RELATED: A Guide to In-Sync Exotics
21. Texas Safari
Africa isn’t the only place to go on safari. Texas Safari is the state’s oldest wildlife park and home to more than 700 exotic animals. There are even 15 species that are extinct or nearly extinct in the wild. Sadly, it’s no longer open to daytrippers, but you can still visit if you want to stay overnight for a family getaway. Book a two-night stay in a luxe cabin on the 1,000-acre ranch in the northern Hill Country, and maybe you’ll even get a wakeup call from Marsha the camel. Go online for a live feed of the giraffe house.
Location: 192 Private Road 4293, Clifton, Texas
Contact: harvard@texassafari.com
Website: texassafari.com
22. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
You barely have to leave your car to experience the animals. Drive through the park and see animals such as the addax, the African spurred tortoise, black-tailed jackrabbits, gazelle, southern white rhinos, ostriches, giraffes and the greater kudu. Some you’ll gaze at from afar, while other animals will be really close—eager to get some of the food pellets you’ll toss their way. Stay for the night at the lodge or in a cabin.
Location: 2299 County Road 2008, Glen Rose, Texas
Contact: 254/897-2960
Website: fossilrim.org
RELATED: A Guide to Fossil Rim
23. Arbuckle Wilderness Park
At this drive-through wildlife experience in Oklahoma, hundreds of exotic animals—American bison, aoudads, antelope, camels, donkeys, markhors, nilgai and others—roam free across more than 200 acres in the Arbuckle Mountains. And yes, you can feed these animals from your car too.
Location: 6132 Kay Starr Trail, Davis, Oklahoma
Contact: 800/738-7275
Website: arbucklewildernesspark.com
Zoos
24. Dallas Zoo
Check out more than 2,000 awe-inspiring animals across 106 acres at the Dallas Zoo. Your family can take part in the Backstage Safari to find out how zookeepers care for the animals, then enjoy a spin on the carousel or catch a train ride for the grand tour.
Location: 650 South R.L. Thronton Freeway, Dallas, Texas
Contact: 469/554-7500
Website: dallaszoo.com
RELATED: A Guide to Dallas Zoo
25. Fort Worth Zoo
Often ranked as No. 1 in the nation, the Fort Worth Zoo is home to 542 species, including the herd at the new Elephant Springs habitat. Your kiddo can also be a junior conductor on the zoo train, ride the carousel and get wet at Safari Splash, which opens during the summer season.
Location: 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact: 817/759-7555
Website: fortworthzoo.org
RELATED: A Guide to Fort Worth Zoo
26. Cameron Park Zoo
Tripping through Texas? Make a stop at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco to see rhinos, tigers, greater kudus, a Komodo dragon, and orangutans (including one who likes to splash guests). There’s no shortage of animals to discover, and the kiddos will be delighted to find the zoo’s playground and splash pad.
Location: 1701 N. Fourth St., Waco
Contact: 254/750-8400
Website: cameronparkzoo.com
RELATED: A Guide to Cameron Park Zoo
27. Frank Buck Zoo
The Frank Buck Zoo isn’t big in size, but it’s not short on experiences. Feed a giraffe or a flamingo and meet other animals at this zoo north of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Location: 1000 W. California St., Gainesville, Texas
Contact: 940/668-4539
Website: frankbuckzoo.com
RELATED: A Guide to Frank Buck Zoo
Llama Farms
Whether you have a Fortnite fan at home or just want to check out these very social animals, there are some places tailor-made for you.
28. ShangriLlama Castle
A herd of pedigreed llamas resides at this replica Irish castle northeast of Rockwall. This summer, book Llama Lesson—a photo session and learning opportunity inside the castle barn for age 4 and up. Barack O’Llama, the Dalai Llama, Bahama Llama, Pajama Llama and the others await the honor of your presence.
Location: Royse City, Texas, exact address provided after you make a reservation
Contact: 972/632-9385
Website: shangrillama.com
29. Laughing Llama Farm
Book a Laughing Llama Farm Experience to meet Bruce, Callie, Bunny Pearl and the rest of the hard at this farm between Waco and Temple. Enjoy other farm activities and stay in the on-site Silo House for an eclectic getaway.
Location: 4011 Deer Creek Road, Troy, Texas
Contact: 254/723-0747
Website: thesilohouseatlaughingllamafarm.com
30. TX-Ture Farm
At the TX-Ture (pronounced “texture”—get it?) Farm, come see the herd of gentle alpacas up-close on a private Walk-a-Paca experience available year-round or come back during special events throughout the year, including Shearing Fest in April, Lavender Festival in June, and National Alpaca Farm Days in September. That’s the usual schedule, but this alpaca farm is temporarily closed, so check back on their website for when they’ll reopen.
Location: 1833 Dr. Sanders Road, Aubrey, Texas
Contact: 940/343-5054
Website: tx-ture.farm
Photo courtesy of TX-Ture Farm
