What are the best local places to enjoy spring in Fort Worth, TX

There’s nothing more beautiful than springtime in Texas. The bluebonnets are blooming, the birds are singing, and everyone is out and about, enjoying the wonderful weather. Here in Fort Worth, there are lots of great springtime activities for residents of all ages. Whether you’re looking for date ideas or family-friendly activities, we’ve got you covered. Here are our top places to enjoy springtime in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Image via Flickr by Sharon Mollerus | CC BY 2.0

For almost 90 years, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden has given Fort Worth and Dallas residents an opportunity to experience beautiful flowers and other plants. During the spring, their perennial and annual flowers begin to bloom, creating a festival of colors and smells that can enchant the entire family. Some of the garden’s permanent exhibitions are at their best in the spring, like the Rose Garden, with its fragrant beds of multiple rose species, and the Japanese Garden, which is a 7.5-acre space with traditional Japanese plants and koi ponds.

You might choose to attend a special event at the Botanic Gardens, like a yoga class or family workshop. In partnership with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, the Botanic Gardens hosts a wide range of educational courses about the plant and animal species living in the area. You may also want to choose a sunny day and wander through the gardens at your own pace, which you can do every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Here are the ticket prices for general admission:

• $12 for adults aged 16 to 64.
• $10 for seniors 65 and older.
• $6 for children aged six to 15.
• Free admission for children under age six.

Fort Worth Zoo

Another great way to spend a sunny day is by visiting the Fort Worth Zoo, which originally opened in 1909. At present, the zoo is home to over 540 animal species, including endangered animals. You can stroll through the bird exhibits and see bald eagles, African penguins, flamingos, macaws, toucans, and many other feathered species. If you’re a mammal fan, you can see Asian elephants, rhinos, zebras, and jaguars. The zoo also has a wide range of snakes and other reptiles. In addition, the zoo has lots of attractions, like the Yellow Rose Express Train and the Country Carousel.

Along with its permanent exhibitions and attractions, the Fort Worth Zoo has some special spring events, like the 5K Zoo Run, a family-friendly race through the zoo grounds. You can also choose a day and take your family for an exciting self-guided tour. From the beginning of March until the end of May, the Fort Worth Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. On Wednesday, admission is half off for all visitors. Here’s information about ticket prices:

• $18 for adults aged 13 to 64.
• $14 for seniors aged 65 and older.
• $14 for children aged three to 12.
• Free admission for children under age three.

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is a wildlife preserve that covers 3,621 acres of undisturbed natural beauty. The preserve includes Texas prairie, forest, and wetland habitats for a wide range of native animals, including deer, beavers, snakes, and the only herd of American bison in Northern Texas. Visitors can hike on over 20 miles of trails, ranging from easy, level walks for all ages to more challenging climbs for experts. From September to April, the refuge is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, and from May to August, it opens at 7:00 a.m.

During the spring, the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is a fantastic place to see Texas bluebonnets, which bloom from March to May. The Nature Center also offers a wide range of events for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Popular events include the Bison Feeding Hayride, where children and adults can feed members of the bison herd. These programs have their own admission fees and require pre-registration. Here are the general admission ticket prices for the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge:

• $6 for adults aged 13 to 64.
• $3 for seniors aged 65 and older.
• $2 for children aged three to 12.
• Free admission for children under age three.
• $1 per dog.

Dallas World Aquarium

While springtime in Texas is full of sunny days and flowers blooming, we do get the occasional April shower. There’s no better way to spend a rainy day than at the Dallas World Aquarium, just forty minutes from Fort Worth. This world-class aquarium is full of freshwater and seawater creatures, as well as some land animals. In the marine life exhibits, visitors can see a wide range of animals, including tropical fish, coral, jellyfish, eels, and starfish. The land animals live in special habitats, like the Orinoco exhibit for rainforest animals like sloths and parrots.

Visitors can come for self-guided tours, where they can ask aquarium employees about the different animals and exhibits. Depending on your speed, it might take you from 60 to 90 minutes to walk through the exhibits. From Monday through Friday, the aquarium is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last admittance at 3:30 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, it’s open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the last admittance at 4 p.m. The aquarium’s website recommends you buy tickets beforehand. Here are the ticket prices for general admission at the Dallas World Aquarium:

• $26.95 for adults aged 13 to 64.
• $22.95 for seniors aged 65 and older.
• $18.95 for children aged three to 12.
• Free admission for children under age three.

These are just a few of the great activities you can do to welcome spring in the Fort Worth area. Whether you’re planning to hit the highway and go to the aquarium or take a drive in the country to spot bluebells, we’re here to set you up with your perfect vehicle. Take a look at our inventory of new vehicles and pre-owned cars, trucks, and SUVs  or visit our lot for a test-drive.