Here at Crème de la Crème of Allen, we know that getting out of the house for a day or two can be a great way to bring the family together and strengthen your bond. That’s why our daycare center in Allen, Texas is providing our favorite day trip destinations you can take from Allen. Explore nature, learn about local Texas history, and have fun with these six day trip locations within a few hours of the Allen, Texas, area.

Fort Worth

“Cattle drive, Fort Worth Stockyard” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by roy.luck

Just an hour-long hop, skip, and jump from Allen is Fort Worth, west of Dallas. Now you can stop after about 40 minutes at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington for some rollercoaster-filled fun, but going all the way into Fort Worth is definitely worth the visit. 

This city refers to itself as “where the West begins,” which makes it a great destination for cowboy fanatics. Go see cattle drives in the Stockyards District every morning and evening. Watch reenactments of legendary Wild West gunfights. Have a blast at an old-fashioned Texas Rodeo. Or, visit the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame to learn about notable cowboys like country musician Lyle Lovett, Nationals Finals Rodeo champions like Rope Meyers, and actors like Tommy Lee Jones.

If cowboys and saloons aren’t your style, you can also visit the Fort Worth Zoo, which is one of the best in the U.S., go shopping in Sundance Square, or discover the history of aviation at the American Airlines C. R. Smith Museum.

Terrell

For a relatively short, one-hour drive, you can head southeast of Allen to Terrell, Texas. Local rumor has it that the town is pretty haunted, making it a great destination for Halloween or if your family loves a good ghost story. Go on spooky adventures like a ghost walk to spot ghouls and hear about the town’s haunted and mysterious past. Or, get a fright at Thrillvania Haunted House Park, which is best for adults and older kids who enjoy a good scare.

If you’re looking for something for the whole family, head to Scuba Ranch, which offers diving excursions for certified divers as well as snorkeling, swimming, and kayaking for all ages. Learn about British aviation training and history at the British Flying Training School Museum. Then, catch a movie, play some games at the arcade, go for a round or two of bowling, and dine on unique creations at Film Alley.

Athens

Drive about 1.5 hours southwest, past Terrell, to visit the bustling town of Athens, Texas. Here you can enjoy Athens Scuba Park, a diving park located just steps from downtown Athens where you can explore multiple wreckages underwater. See the wreckage of a 60-foot Hawker 600 Jet, a DART bus, and even a triple-decker party barge that once catered to Clint Eastwood’s film crew.

You can also visit Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center to see 300,000 gallons of aquariums holding native Texas fish and learn more about local conservation of Texas’s resources and fish populations. The East Texas Arboretum is a gorgeous location for strolling through native and imported trees, plants, flowers, and wildlife. And if you’re looking for a good winery, the Athens area is home to more than a dozen.

Canton

The drive to Canton is nearly 1.5 hours, but you can find some of the best local shopping at the First Monday Canton Flea Market. Purchase antiques, furniture, handmade goods, home decor, clothing, and more. You can also eat your fill of funnel cakes, hot dogs, and other delicious treats you’d find at the state or county fair.

All year round, you can beat the heat at Splash Kingdom Family Waterpark. With slides and tubes of all sizes and heights, floating pools, and splash pads, there’s something for everyone in your family here. Consider getting a season pass to take advantage of awesome discounts and have a reason to keep traveling to this awesome town. 

You can also enjoy the great outdoors farm-style when you visit Yesterland Farm. Visit the petting zoo, ride the carousel, ride a pony, or get a thrill on the Ferris wheel, Fort Coaster, or Silo Slide. This destination also hosts holiday-themed festivals and events during Easter, Christmas, and the fall season.

Granbury

Just about 1.5 hours away from Allen is historic Granbury, a great day trip location for history buffs and newfound history lovers alike. Head around Dallas and Fort Worth to visit the Granbury Historic Railroad Depot to see a glimpse into the frontier days, tour the Hood County Jail Museum to see the remnants of public safety history, and shop in Historic Downtown Granbury, which is Texas’ first downtown square on the National Historic Register.

Go a little outside Granbury to nearby Glen Rose, Texas, to Dinosaur Valley State Park. There you can walk in the fossilized footsteps of the dinos that roamed the land before us, hunt for geocaches, take a hike, go mountain biking, or go kayaking.

Davy Crockett National Forest

If you’re looking to venture out into the great outdoors, one of the best places to do so is in Davy Crockett National Forest in Kennard, Texas. This area is just over 3 hours away from the Allen area, but with all types of camping amenities, you can stay the night (or a few) to get the most of this awesome outdoor experience.

Across 160,000 acres, you can go hiking along short and long trails, including the 20-mile Four C National Recreation Trail that passes an overlook with a stunning panoramic view. You can go horseback riding on the 50-mile-long Piney Creek Horse Trail. You can even go hunting for deer, squirrel, quail, dove, and turkey in many areas of the park.

If watersports are more your thing, visit Ratcliff Lake to go swimming, boating, or fishing. Then, have a relaxing picnic with the family and consider staying at one of the many campsites in the area, either in an RV or tent.Now that you know the top six day trips from Allen, get ready to plan a quick and fun adventure for the whole family. Have we missed any of your favorite day trip destinations from the Allen and DFW area? Let Crème de la Crème of Allen know, and we’ll be sure to add it to our list!