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10 essential things to do with kids in downtown Dallas

A day out in downtown Dallas with the family gives you lots of options for kid-friendly fun, including hopping on board a vintage trolley, a 360-degree view of the city and chances to do some splashing.  We've rounded up 10 great options in Big D, including several freebies.

1. What kid wouldn't want to beat a T-rex in a footrace? Lace up those Nikes and race against a virtual dinosaur in the Sports Hall of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Warning: He's faster than he looks. Another highlight is the toddler play area with a Dallas-themed playground and water tables.

2. Buy a treat at a food truck at Klyde Warren Park, the popular 5.2-acre park with a play area featuring a tree house, a fountain shaped like a butterfly and molecular-looking climbing structures. You'll find free rotating programming there every day, which makes repeat visits even more of a pleasure.

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3. Admission is free during the Nasher Sculpture Center's Target First Saturdays series for families with preschool and elementary-age children. Expect art projects, yoga, artist demos, family tours, stories and more. Don't miss the serene sculpture garden, which offers a beautiful backdrop for busy little ones to explore.

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4. The Dallas Museum of Art is one of the biggest bargains in Dallas, with free general admission every day. Hit the Center for Creative Connections to make an art project and check out the interactive gallery with an artwork and a corresponding activity. If you've got a baby or young toddler and need some time to chill out, stop at Arturo's Nest,  a calm oasis with educational toys.

5. The Reunion Tower observation deck at 470 feet, a.k.a. the GeO-Deck, features 360-degree views of Dallas. The deck features inside (blessedly air-conditioned) and outside viewing areas. The outside area has rails and unobtrusive safety mesh all around. Visitors get a sense of Dallas' layout and learn about local attractions.

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6. Take a free ride aboard the McKinney Avenue Trolley for a nostalgically charming, relaxing way to see Uptown and a bit of downtown Dallas. The air-conditioned vintage trolleys have names, such as  Rosie and the Green Dragon. There are stops close to Klyde Warren Park and the Dallas Arts District, as well as the shopping and dining of Uptown.

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7. Go barefoot for a refreshing splash in the reflecting pool at Sammons Park, which is in front of the Winspear Opera House. It costs you nothing and the reflections and fun things to do make it a pretty amazing photo op, too.

8. Larger-than-life bronze cattle, horses and cowboys are a fun backdrop at Pioneer Plaza. A waterfall, stream and native landscaping make the 4-acre plaza a bucolic spot for a picnic lunch. Or you could just take a selfie.

9. Walk through a 40-foot-long, see-through tunnel where you can watch sharks and rays swim by at the Dallas World Aquarium. That's just part of the fun at this attraction, which includes a wide variety of animals and plants from five continents and three oceans.

10. Crow Collection of Asian Art hosts Adventure Asia on the first Saturdays of most months. Oh, and general admission to the museum, which is dedicated to Asian art and culture, is always free.

Compiled by Ann Pinson and Sara Frederick Burgos, as well as from staff reports.