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. This city has endless possibilities of fun for the entire family to enjoy. Wichita Falls is home to many fantastic 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!
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. For a list of upcoming events, go to https://wfmpec.com. 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
Pocket Picassos
They are a creative outlet to inspire! They offer birthday parties, fundraisers, baby/wedding showers, private painting classes, as well as open studio times.
How Great Thou Art/Painting Studio
Celebrate your inner artist whether you are an experienced painter or just starting out! How Great thou Art provides you with a professional instructor, all fine art supplies, and a fun atmosphere for a one of a kind creative experience. With guided step –by- step instruction, painters complete a masterpiece to take home at the end of the night.
Kemp Center for the Arts
Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, young or old, the Kemp Center has educational programming for you.
Board & Brush
A DIY Wood sign workshop. They are your place to build on-trend, farmhouse-classic, inspirational pieces of decor for your home, office, or cottage.