Sneak Peek: Arboretum’s New Children’s Adventure Garden

I was recently given a sneak peek at the Dallas Arboretum’s new Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.

My first thought was: “Oh no! This place is too good. Just like the Perot Museum was too good. And you know what that means? Everyone is going to get on the bandwagon and this urban oasis is going to be very crowded very soon.”

Dallas Moms:  Drop what you are doing and plan a trip to the Arboretum stat (before it gets nutty over there).

The new Children’s Adventure Garden opens to the public this Saturday, September 21st.  

Also, be sure to check out the grand opening concert tomorrow night, September 17th featuring Disney star Sterling Knight and local American Idol and The Voice contestants.  

We all know how crazy the Arboretum gets once the temperatures cool and the famed pumpkins come out. After you take your child’s annual pumpkin snaps, keep on walking a little further to the Children’s Garden.

The Arboretum has done a fantastic job of keeping the entire area entertaining and educational for a wide variety of age levels.

When we visited, we loved The Skywalk, an elevated pathway that keeps children at the trees canopy so they can observe the natural wonder of birds, squirrels, and other life from way up high.

The Skywalk leads to a wonderful and whimsical treehouse complete with nets around the top where kids can bounce on netted trampolines and pretend they are experiencing life in the clouds.

Make sure to check out the T. Boone Pickens Pure Energy section where families can explore water, wind, and solar energy concepts. My preschooler had a ball with water energy in the form of some awesome water cannons. However, I saw elementary and middle school children exploring the energy concepts on a much higher level with interactive exhibits.

Speaking of interactive exhibits, consider the garden a “museum without walls.” Indoor and outdoor exhibits are everywhere tucked amidst the beautiful flora and fauna. Children can dive into concepts ranging from erosion to cave exploration to plant cycles. The garden is one of those places where you will pick up something new with each visit.

 A few IMPORTANT things to note:

1. Entrance to the Children’s Adventure Garden is separate from your general Arboretum admission.  For non-members, entrance is an additional $3.  For members, you get between 4-12 free tickets per membership year (depending on your membership level).

2. All tickets must be reserved in advance online and space is limited and staggered to avoid over-crowding throughout the day.

3.  Strollers are allowed, but wagons need to be checked at the children’s garden entrance gate (they are too cumbersome for some of the tight pathways.)

4.  Special valet parking is allowed in a new parking lot right outside the children’s area.  For those of you that would rather self-park, you can catch a designated children’s garden tram from the main entrance over to the new area. These trams are first come, first serve.

We can’t wait to hear about your experience with the new Arboretum Children’s Garden.  I think you’re going to be impressed.

Need more fun things to do with kids in Dallas? Don’t miss our monthly event guides, full of family-friendly events and activities right in your area!