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Lifestyle – Family

Fun Family Adventure Ahead

When the kids are tired of the same old routine and are ready to get out and play, look no further than Wichita Falls. Find endless options of fun for the entire family to enjoy. Wichita Falls is home to many fascinating playtime options, ranging from water parks and gaming centers to live theatres and unique artistic and educational programs. Whatever your kids’ mood, Wichita Falls guarantees a worthwhile, satisfying experience!

For downtown fun, Maniac's Mansion is an economical option for the whole family. For only eight dollars per person, you will get a wrist band that allows you to come and go for the day!

— Anndrea Harris

Recommendations from a local mom

Anndrea Harris, a local mom of three, has enjoyed the many family options in Wichita Falls and has recommendations for anyone new to the city.
“For downtown fun, Maniac’s Mansion is an economical option for the whole family. For only $8.00 per person, you will get a wrist band that allows you to come and go for the day,” she said. Play all the games (both board and video) unlimitedly, for hours of entertainment.
She recommends that when the family gets hungry, check out the Highlander Public House, a two-minute walk from Maniac’s Mansion, where there are so many kid-friendly favorites. After you finish your meal, you can head back for more play at Maniac’s Mansions.
After playing all the games at Maniacs Mansion,
get creative at CrashWorks, located next door; it’s another place kids can spend hours creating and never get bored. They can paint and embellish a picture, engineer a catapult in the Makerspace, or build a sword in the shop! All of the supplies needed are available, and the best part is that they get to take their creations home as a memento of their visit.
Another suggestion for a fun-filled family day is to start with Urban Air, which is a great place to burn off energy indoors. The Tubes Playground provides a safe environment for little ones under 52″ tall, and for the bigger kids who want to take on the challenge, there is a warrior course, drop zone, and dodge ball.
After working up a hunger, Heff’s Burgers, Jason’s Deli, and Menchis Frozen Yogurt are located in a
complex just down the street from Urban Air. When the bellies are full, wind down with a movie in the comfortable heated reclining seats at the Cinemark Movie Theater, located in the same complex, for an end to a perfect family day. 
The next day, start the fun family outing with a visit to Kiwanas Park, where you can enjoy watching the prairie dogs or play on the sizeable multi-structure playground. Family Fun Zone, located just down the street, is a perfect place to extend the day’s enjoyment well into the afternoon. There you can and play a round of miniature golf, ride the go-karts, hit the batting cages, play laser tag, or arcade games, ride the bumper boats, or roller skate! From there, finish the day by dining on a tasty supper at nearby Chicago Pizza.

Enjoy the great outdoors!

Wichita Falls has everything a family could want to enjoy the great outdoors in a safe, wholesome way. Ready to pack up and have a picnic in the clean, open air? Wichita Falls has 37 parks to choose from; eleven of the city’s parks have large covered pavilions. Lucy Park is a 178-acre park located in the center of the town. It has a large pond area where you can find ducks and geese year-round. There are five first-come, first-serve picnic shelters, 30 individual picnic tables, 34 barbeque grills, four drinking fountains, and 86 benches.
The park has public restrooms available. After enjoying a picnic, guests can get their bodies moving at the park’s large swimming pool, several basketball goals, an 18-hole disc golf course, three modular playgrounds, two sand volleyball courts, and one concrete volleyball court. Jump on the circle trail located in Lucy park to walk to the scenic waterfall for a great photo op.
Kiwanis Park is another excellent choice for those seeking a quality park experience. Located off Southwest Parkway, this sizeable 60-acre park has four lighted baseball fields, two public restrooms, a large playground, three picnic shelters, and three barbeque grills. Kiwanis Park has the only prairie dog town in the park system, a real treat for furry creature lovers, and is also the only area designated exclusively for flying kites.
Lake Wichita Park is a 234-acre park located on the north shore of Lake Wichita. There you will find two lighted baseball fields, two lighted softball fields, three lighted football fields, and an 18-hole disc golf course. It has the only model airplane landing strip in the park system. You can also climb “the hill” and play at the playground or follow the circle trail to fish off the boardwalk. The park is also the location of the city’s only fenced off-leash dog park.
 
Those are just three of the beautiful parks in Wichita Falls. To get the whole park experience in town, walk or bike the Circle Trail. It’s easy to fill a day outdoors along the 20-mile Circle Trail! Read more about the parks in Wichita Falls at https://www.wichitafallstx.gov/67/Parks.
Sleeping under the stars, hiking, and cooking over a campfire all offer ways to reconnect with nature. Coyote Ranch Resort has cabins and RV camping available. More than just a place to camp, they have an 18-hole castle mini-golf course, berg karts, laser tag, paintball, zombie tag, a fishing pond, and swimming. They also have an interactive splash pad, jumping pillows, and a 6000 square foot “Miners Maze” that parents can watch their children play on from the deck that overlooks the maze. Kids and parents also have a blast going gem mining, doing crafts, and watching outdoor movies.

Gripping Gaming Venues!

One of the city’s most popular spots for families is Maniac’s Mansion. Located downtown, this gaming venue offers a day of free-play for only $8.00! Guests can come and go with wrist bands. It’s a gamers paradise with its many arcade games, modern video games, and even board games. The Deep End is another popular gaming venue with 50+ arcades all on free play. Grab a controller and play games on the big screen from Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and more. All ages are welcome until 9:00 PM.
When the weather’s not too friendly, Wichita Falls has plenty of places for families to escape—indoors! Chuck E Cheese, the classic kid-friendly place, is still going strong here with its yummy pizza and rooms full of games. Urban Air is a large indoor trampoline center that hosts open jump, tube playgrounds, a warrior course, dodgeball, and more. Family Fun Zone offers miniature golf, go-karts, batting cages, laser tag, arcade games, bumper boats, and roller skating! And speaking of skating, for only $7.00, if you bring your own skates, families can make some cool memories ice skating at MPEC! The cost is $10.00 with ice skate rentals. For a full schedule of skating events, check out https://wfmpec.com/.

Engaging Live Entertainment!

Wichita Theatre provides year-round shows and events for the entire family to enjoy. Parents and their children alike have witnessed live productions of vibrant family shows on its main stage, such as Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast.
Other live entertainment venues include Kay Yeager Coliseum and Memorial Auditorium, which also have children’s shows throughout the year like Paw Patrol Live, Darci Lynn and Friends, Harlem Globetrotters, Monsters Trucks, and PJ Masks. For a list of upcoming events, visit the events page.
Enjoy the wonder and grace of a ballet performance by the talented Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre.  Find a current schedule for upcoming Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre performances at https://wichitafallsballettheatre.org.

FREE (or budget friendly) Adventures for families

FREE - Museum of North Texas History

The Children’s Exhibit features interactive elements, which tell the story of North Texas History. There are dress-up clothes for children to fit each of the themes: aircraft, Great Western Trail, railroad, and oil & gas. This makes it possible for parents to stage a little photoshoot with cell phones of their children dressed up in historical attire. They can pose as a World War II nurse, a World War I soldier, a cowboy, and more!

FREE - Play Disc Golf

Disc Golf is a fun-filled game of skill and challenge that can be played by the whole family. The City of Wichita Falls has two 18-hole disc golf courses: one in Lucy Park, and one in Lake Wichita Park. For more information visit: http://www.wichitafallstx.gov/260/Disc-Golf

FREE - Circle Trail

Wichita Falls has a trail system that rivals that of much larger metropolitan areas. It presently consists of over 20 miles of concrete off-road trail. They can be used for enjoying nature, walking, jogging, bicycling, and rollerblading. You can access playgrounds, picnic pavilions, fishing, duck ponds, and more!

FREE - Public Library Workshops

The Wichita Falls Public Library has many workshops and craft sessions free of charge. Sessions included are Makers Mondays, Crafts for Toddlers, Teen Photography, and Movie Screening Art Party. ** Due to Covid 19, in-person workshops are postponed until January 2022. In the meantime, they offer online programs that include free take and make crafts.

FREE - Junior Ranger Explorer Packs

Pick up a free Junior Ranger Journal for your child when you visit Lake Arrowhead State Park. Complete a certain number of activities (depending on their age) to earn a Junior Ranger pin. Junior Ranger Explorer Packs are available to borrow at the park headquarters. Each backpack comes with a pair of binoculars and a magnifying glass; an animal tracking key and guides to flowers, birds, butterflies, trees, rocks, wildflowers, and plants; and pencil, crayons, and watercolors along with a journal and sketchbook. Note: Daypacks are temporarily suspended due to the pandemic.

River Bend Nature Center

There is always plenty to see and observe! The Ruby N. Priddy Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art, 7,000 sq. ft. glass structure. It is home to prairie dogs, fish, turtles, and butterflies. The Bryant Edwards Learning Center contains over 30 live exhibits, such as reptiles, turtles, salamanders, insects, and frogs. Tickets are $5 for children 2-17 and $6 for adults.

Maniacs Mansion

$8 a person will buy all the vintage gaming one desires from open to close. All games are set to free play and you can come and go! This arcade and cereal bar offers something for the child in everyone. They also have board games for a little friendly competition.

The Deep End

The deep end is another popular gaming venue with 50+ arcades all on free play. Grab a controller and play games on the big screen from Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and more. $5 Wednesday - Saturday all ages are welcome until 9:00 pm. Adults only 9 pm to close.

Crashworks STEAM studio & Makerspace

Another place kids can spend hours creating and never get bored. They can paint and embellish a picture, engineer a catapult in the makerspace, or build a sword in the shop! All of the supplies needed are available, and the best part is that they get to take their creations home as a memento of their visit. Ages 2+: $9* *One Free Adult per Paid Child Admission. (Family memberships are available)

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