Consider the Arboretum too. The Rory Meyers Childrens Garden is incredible-way more than flowers. Pack a couple of sandwiches from a nearby deli or grocery store and have a picnic there. Allow 4 hrs. Weather in April can be beautiful here. I have a 5 yr old and a 16 yr old. We've done most every DFW attraction given we live here. The Arboretum/Childrens Garden, the Perot Museum, and the Dallas World Aquarium are very high on the list. Staying at the Gaylord Texan (a Marriott property) can be fun since it looks like a mini indoor riverwalk but Grapevine is at least a half hour to Dallas attractions without traffic. With traffic, double or triple. Close to airport though. My kids were very underwhelmed by Fort Worth Stockyards. Any attraction at Grapevine Mills (like Legoland) is really nothing special, when compared to your list of things to see and do.

Given the ages of your children, I think the Perot Museum and the Aquarium would be top spots in Dallas. We just took our 3-year-old granddaughter to both and she loved them. Of course, this is the child who got off the plane and immediately asked, "Does Dallas have any museums?"

We have stayed at the Residence Inn Central Expressway (on Highway 75 north) and found it to be well located for restaurants. It is just north of the upscale Northpark Mall.

Klyde Warren park has a small children's area. I don't think it's worth going to (you have parks where you live) unless they have something special going on. Check the schedule:
http://www.klydewarrenpark.org/Thing...activties.html

I also think the Stockyards are not worth a trip. The Children's Adventure Garden at the Dallas Arboretum is a good place for them to run off some energy. Also, it's just a beautiful place at that time of year.

Totally agree the Arboretum is a must do if weather is nice! You can pick up picnic supplies at Whole Foods or Fresh Market on the way there.

You could combine a trip to Klyde Warren with a lap on the free trolley, which will give you a nice overview of uptown with lots of restaurants/shops along the way.

>?

Do you mean Central Market? That's the closest Texas-only comparative to Whole Foods.

There are also various Sprouts locations, which are less expensive than Whole Foods.

We decided to cut back on some of the Dallas time to be able to include San Antonio. Our plan is to visit Klyde Warren, mostly to have lunch and then go to Perot for the afternoon. The next day we will visit the Stockyards and then head south. We will have three days in San Antonio. My husband and brother in law have both been to Dallas and wanted to see someplace new. I started a new thread for the new plans.

Thanks!

Good plan! When I lived in Dallas we headed down to the hill country every chance we got.

Fresh Market has just opened in Dallas near White Rock Lake. Great chain. . . similar to Whole Foods but smaller and cheaper.

We have Fresh Market here in NH and it's very expensive.