Things to Do in Arlington

>> Cheap airline tickets >> Arlington things to do

It would be unfair to call Arlington, Texas a suburb of Fort Worth. The city has grown from small town to suburb to its own independent urban area in the past 50 years. Its recent history as a suburban boomtown might not make it seem like a tourist haven, but it is arguably one of the most user-friendly and pleasant cities in the massive Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. Arlington has a decent collection of amusement parks and malls, as well as a pro baseball team (the Texas Rangers), a few unique museums, and a respectable culinary scene.

Here are the best activities in Arlington:

Budget

Putt-Putt Golf (near Parks Mall in South Arlington) is a typical suburban family entertainment complex with a Texas-sized interior. In addition to a large miniature golf course with 54 holes, there are batting cages, a 70-game arcade room and a bowling alley featuring kid-sized bowling lanes.

Arlington Skatium is another suburban specialty that is impressively large. The roller skating schedule includes times for adults in the evenings. The rink itself is quite spacious, with enough floor space to accommodate hundreds of people at a time.

Value

Arlington is full of malls. Many of these can be reached via shuttle from the city's hotels. Some of the more popular retail venues include Parks at Arlington (3811 South Cooper St.) and Arlington Highlands (I-20 and Matlock Road). Those looking to do some bargain hunting might be better off in Dallas or Fort Worth, though the Festival Discount Mall (2900 E. Pioneer Parkway) is very reasonable in terms of price.

Legends of the Game Baseball Museum and Children's Learning Center (located at Ranger's Ballpark) is an interactive, kid-friendly museum dedicated to the game of baseball. Aside from memorabilia and exhibits on the history of the game, there are educational, kid-friendly activities that teach things like using math to figure out a batting average and what a baseball is made of.

Splurge

The famous amusement park franchise, Six Flags, was born in Arlington. The first park opened in what is now known as Six Flags over Texas in 1961. The park has, of course, been updated since then. The collection of roller coasters and rides for all ages makes this a good attraction for everyone from thrill seekers to families. The adjacent Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is an expansive water park with speed slides, tube slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and plenty of shopping.