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Get out! Here are 10 ways to not waste this beautiful weekend

It's the last weekend of January, and the forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-70s. What are you doing inside? Go. Scram. Git. Just kidding. Stay a minute and keep reading. We have some ideas for how to take advantage of this crazy good weather.

Discounted admission

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The Dallas Zoo and the Dallas Arboretum both traditionally drop their ticket prices to $5 per person during the winter in order to entice people to pay them visit when there are colder temperatures. While both discounts will be offered through late February, don't expect the weather to be this nice again. After all, next weekend is the Super Bowl. Remember what happened here when it was played at AT&T Stadium? Winter is coming.

Some things to remember: The arboretum's discount is at the gate only; tickets purchased online are full price. Arboretum parking is the opposite: It's discounted online and full-price at the gate. Zoo parking can sell out, but DART has a Red Line rail station right on the zoo grounds. And — here's the big one — pack your patience along with your sunscreen. Both parks are bound to be crowded.

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More family fun

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The weather is typically terrible for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. While the rodeo action takes place inside, there's a whole lot more to this 120th annual show — and this year, all of it can be fully enjoyed. Check out animal exhibits, a petting zoo, a 6-acre carnival midway with rides and games, fair foods, commercial exhibits, an art contest and vendors.

Or find a different kind of wildlife in Collin County. At the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, go stare up in awe at a 46-foot tall T-rex and watch life-size animatronic dinosaurs roar at Dinosaurs Live!. The ninth annual dino display is located along the Heard's outdoor walking trails. Kids can learn about the dinosaurs, then drop by the dinosaur play area for some fun and games.

Make a run for doughnuts

Put on your running shoes and stretchy pants — and maybe a pool floatie shaped like a...
Put on your running shoes and stretchy pants — and maybe a pool floatie shaped like a doughnut — for the annual Donut Dash through Fair Park.(Ian C. Bates / The Dallas Morning News)

Even couch potatoes could love this running event, especially in this weather. There are three — three! — stops on the 5K route through Fair Park at which you can stuff your face with scrumptious doughnut holes from Hypnotic Donuts (the one-mile "fun run" is, in our opinion, less fun, since it only has one measly doughnut stop). The run begins and ends at the Grand Place building in Fair Park, where a DJ will keep the crowd entertained. You'll want to be there at 9:30 for the Chubby Bunny Contest, in which hardy souls will stuff their faces with doughnut holes and keep them in their mouths as they try to speak intelligibly to the crowd. Runners get a T-shirt and medal with their registration fee. Spectators get to laugh at it all.

Even more things to do

Patio party: Just want to bask in the warmth of the winter sun? Here are the best patios where you can soak it in — and eat and drink.

Sunday fun day: Hit the Lower Greenville area to visit these five brunch places. And while you're parked and the weather's good, take stroll to visit these five other spots in the area.

Park it at the park: Here are 5 fun things to do any day at Klyde Warren Park. There is something for everyone, including Fido and Rover. And the ice cream sandwich food truck Coolhaus will be parked on-site Saturday and Sunday.

Take the kids: Our list of 10 essential things to do with kids in downtown Dallas features several places to let the little ones run free, including the reflecting pool at Sammons Park, which is in front of the Winspear Opera House, and the larger-than-life bronze cattle, horses and cowboys at Pioneer Plaza.

Say cheese: Here are our favorite places to take a selfie in Dallas, including Continental Avenue Bridge pedestrian park, Deep Ellum and Fort Worth Water Gardens. Only the time and date stamp will remind you it's almost February.

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Sara Frederick Burgos and Ann Pinson contributed to this story, along with staff reports.

The Continental Avenue Bridge pedestrian park is a great spot to take a selfie with the...
The Continental Avenue Bridge pedestrian park is a great spot to take a selfie with the Dallas skyline.(Ron Baselice / The Dallas Morning News)