![\"Horses](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Lone_Star_Park_horse_race.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen you take a vacation in Texas, go big or go home.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the second-largest state in the US, and it\u2019s the perfect place for a terrific outsized vacation for the whole family.<\/p>\n
You can visit any city in Texas to go all out, but you might want to take a second look at Grand Prairie.<\/p>\n
If you want Texas-sized family fun, Grand Prairie is where to go.<\/p>\n
You can find this city deep in the heart of the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex, where it has a little bit of everything you need for a fun trip.<\/p>\n
In 2008, Money Magazine also named Grand Prairie one of the best cities in Texas, so the place warrants a visit.<\/p>\n
Convenience is also not an issue since Grand Prairie is just a few minutes\u2019 drive from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.<\/p>\n
Grand Prairie offers plenty of accommodation options near Dallas\u2019 tourist hotspots, like Cowboys Stadium.<\/p>\n
Do you want to know more about Grand Prairie, TX? Here\u2019s a list of the best things to do in town.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
R Hensley<\/a>, CC BY 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n Every year, the Lone Star Park hosts two thrilling horse racing seasons, which everyone in the family can enjoy.<\/p>\n The park has become so popular in the region that over 700,000 people flock there every year, trying out each wonderful amenities.<\/p>\n For example, you can visit the enormous seven-level Grandstand, enclosed in shimmering glass, or grab a meal at the spacious Silks Dining Room that can seat 1,200 people.<\/p>\n Xtremest \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n You can also book a stay at the Penthouse Suites, offering 48 rooms that overlook the newest race track in Texas.<\/p>\n Next to the Grandstand lies the 36,000-square-foot world-class Racebook and simulcast facility, called the Bar & Book.<\/p>\n You can place bets on your favorite horses from anywhere in the world, seven days a week.<\/p>\n Visit the Lone Star Park at 1000 Lone Star Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.<\/p>\n Xtremest \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n If you want a little Eastern flavor in your Texas trip, pop in the Asia Times Square & Hong Kong Market.<\/p>\n This place lets you explore a mini-Hong Kong, complete with authentic Asian goods, services, and festivals.<\/p>\n The best time to visit this place is the Lunar New Year, where you can join the Flower Festival.<\/p>\n Enjoy the festival\u2019s warm and cozy atmosphere as everyone celebrates the new year’s coming.<\/p>\n If you visit another time, you can also shop at the biggest Asian grocery stores in the Dallas\/Fort Worth Metroplex.<\/p>\n Likewise, the Hong Kong Market sells various merchandise, including meat and seafood, from every corner of Asia.<\/p>\n You can browse their selections of items imported from China, Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore.<\/p>\n Visit the Asia Times Square & Hong Kong Market at 2625 W Pioneer Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75051.<\/p>\n Ripley\u2019s Believe It or Not! has showcased the world\u2019s strangeness through its book series and TV shows.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a fan, you should go to Grand Prairie and visit Ripley\u2019s Odditorium to delight in the weird once again.<\/p>\n Entering the odditorium is like stepping into Ripley\u2019s book come to life.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find all sorts of delightful, interesting, and mind-blowing oddities from all over the world.<\/p>\n After that, you can bring your friends and try solving Ripley\u2019s Enchanted Mirror Maze.<\/p>\n Pit your skills against your friends at Ripley\u2019s Impossible LaseRace, or sit back and marvel at the 7D moving theater.<\/p>\n Visit Ripley\u2019s Believe It or Not! Odditorium at 601 E Palace Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.<\/p>\n Get your feet wet at this 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark in Grand Prairie, Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark.<\/p>\n It\u2019s open year-round for splashy adventures that every member of your family will surely enjoy.<\/p>\n What rides can you take to this park?<\/p>\n This place offers various attractions, like the Lasso Loop, the death-defying Yellowjacket Drop, the thrilling Texas Twist, and the family-friendly Wave Pool.<\/p>\n Rain or shine, you\u2019ll still have great fun at Epic Waters.<\/p>\n Its retractable roof means you\u2019ll never have to worry about the rain or heat.<\/p>\n Likewise, three of the 11 waterslides in this park are unique in the entire waterpark industry.<\/p>\n The place also hosts events like birthday parties, and you can also rent it for yourself.<\/p>\n Visit the Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark at 2970 Epic Place, Grand Prairie, Texas 75052.<\/p>\n W. Scott McGill \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n Since 1973, the Traders Village has attracted customers from Grand Prairie and the country to the open-air bonanza of nearly every product you could need.<\/p>\n Go there to buy items like auto accessories, clothes, toys, furniture, and even jewelry.<\/p>\n If you feel your kids getting bored, bring them to the village\u2019s amusement park.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also ample seating in case your folks get tired from browsing.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just the shops that attract people to Traders Village.<\/p>\n W. Scott McGill \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n You might not expect it, but the village offers some of the best food in the city.<\/p>\n You can try state fair favorites, authentic street tacos, and Thai food.<\/p>\n Otherwise, you can go to Gary\u2019s Grill for classic meals and then head to the funnel cake stand for dessert.<\/p>\n Visit Traders Village at 2602 Mayfield Rd, Grand Prairie, TX 75052.<\/p>\n Not far from the Dallas\/Fort Worth Metroplex lies Loyd Park on Joe Pool Lake, a one-of-a-kind nature getaway for the whole family.<\/p>\n You can find it on the lake’s western shore, covering roughly 791 acres of unspoiled Texas landscape.<\/p>\n You can set up camp there without worrying about the distance to DFW attractions.<\/p>\n On the other hand, the surrounding nature should provide enough enjoyment for guests who want to relax.<\/p>\n The campsites are all sizable, too, averaging 1,000 square feet.<\/p>\n Each campsite has a grill, pavilion, and picnic table, so you don\u2019t need to worry about meals.<\/p>\n Visit Loyd Park at 3401 Ragland Rd, Grand Prairie, TX 75052.<\/p>\n Relive your pro skater dreams at the Action Park in Grand Prairie, a world-class skate park for competitive skating, biking, and skateboarding. <\/p>\n Bring your kids, too, if you share the same passion for extreme sports.<\/p>\n This outdoor skate park\u2019s main attraction is The Hangar, a covered skate park spanning 17,000 square feet, with a roll-in foam pit.<\/p>\n You could spend an entire day skating around there.<\/p>\n Plus, you have The Trails, featuring two-acre dirt jumps.<\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re a beginner, you can still enjoy this feature because it offers tracks for all skill levels.<\/p>\n Finally, you have The Pro Course, a skating area spanning 20,000 square feet.<\/p>\n This course has everything, too, from mini ramps to box jumps.<\/p>\n Don’t worry if you don\u2019t have a bike, for Action Park also provides BMX rentals.<\/p>\n Visit Action Park Grand Prairie at 1002 Lone Star Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.<\/p>\n Gp user<\/a>, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n You might not expect a historic building in Grand Prairie, but downtown has the Uptown Theater, restored to its 1950s glamor.<\/p>\n The place was a movie hall before it closed down.<\/p>\n After buying the place, the city of Grand Prairie transformed it into a multi-use arts center, opening in 2008.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re in town, catch a performance from the local Grand Prairie Arts Council or attend concerts from bands on tour.<\/p>\n Otherwise, you can also buy tickets to dance shows or theatrical performances.<\/p>\n Visit the Uptown Theater at 210 E Main St., Grand Prairie, TX 75050.<\/p>\n Sometimes, a ride through a road full of lights is the best way to end a night on the town.<\/p>\n So, before you go back to your lodgings, you might want to go to the Prairie Lights Drive-Through Holiday Light Park.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a dazzling showcase of four million lights arranged along two miles of driving path.<\/p>\n Look up, and you\u2019ll see new light displays arranged along an arched above the road in all shapes.<\/p>\n You can make a pit stop at the Holiday Village if you stop halfway.<\/p>\n Grab some snacks, go on the carnival rides, and add to your stockpile of memories.<\/p>\n Bring your kids to see Santa, too, and bring your significant other to the Lighted Walk-Through Forest.<\/p>\n The park\u2019s main event is the world\u2019s largest light tunnel, so don\u2019t miss out.<\/p>\n Visit the Prairie Lights at 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75052.<\/p>\n You might not be able to shake your favorite celebrity\u2019s hand anytime soon, but you can visit them at Louis Tussaud\u2019s Palace of Wax.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the next best thing.<\/p>\n You can find this palace inside the same building as Ripley\u2019s Odditorium, so you won\u2019t need to go far.<\/p>\n The wax figures in the Palace of Wax are incredibly lifelike and look like the real people as though they\u2019re moving when you look away.<\/p>\n You can see famous musicians like Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, and Johnny Cash himself.<\/p>\n Other celebrities and famous figures also come from the movies and history.<\/p>\n Explore the Hall of Presidents and the Wild West in their special halls.<\/p>\n Prepare to be scared at the Wax Museum of Fear, too.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a nice show at Grand Prairie, you can check out the Texas Trust CU theatre, a 6,350-seat performance hall that sells out shows consistently.<\/p>\n For example, popular bands play concerts there.<\/p>\n Otherwise, the theater hosts comedy, magic shows, and corporate events.<\/p>\n Moreover, the Texas Trust CU Theatre can boast the most technologically advanced indoor theater in America.<\/p>\n Visit the Texas Trust CU Theatre at 1001 Texas Trust Way, Grand Prairie, TX, 75050.<\/p>\n Michael Barera<\/a>, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n Twelve minutes away from Grand Prairie and across the street from Six Flags Over Texas, you\u2019ll find the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in Arlington.<\/p>\n If you want to visit a museum with an original flavor, this is your place.<\/p>\n When you enter the museum, you\u2019ll find several rare memorabilia showing the sport’s history.<\/p>\n Michael Barera<\/a>, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n You\u2019ll see life-size replicas of famous bowlers, rare footage of important matches, exhibits, and displays.<\/p>\n Moreover, the museum allows you to track the history of bowling.<\/p>\n Start from its roots in ancient Egypt, pass through the present, and look forward to its rosy future.<\/p>\n Likewise, you might also want to check out the Bowling Hall of Fame.<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael Barera<\/a>, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n Check out the greatest bowlers of all time and see where your favorite ranks.<\/p>\n After that, try to see where your skills stack up by bowling on the Highway 66 mini-lanes.<\/p>\n Visit the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame at 621 Six Flags Dr, Arlington, TX 76011.<\/p>\n Michael Barera<\/a>, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n During your visit to the Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center, you should check out the J.O. Davis House.<\/p>\n The house\u2019s namesake is an important figure in Bear Creek, having taught and mentored the children in the African-American enclave.<\/p>\n The house contains several rooms, with authentic furniture taken from the period.<\/p>\n Likewise, the house features historical artifacts that tell you why J.O. Davis is a celebrated person in Bear Creek history.<\/p>\n This time, drive fourteen minutes away from Grand Prairie to the city of Irving, Texas, and look for the Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center.<\/p>\n The center hosts three separate museums that tell important aspects of African-American history and heritage in the United States.<\/p>\n If you want to know more about American history, do yourself a favor and visit the Jackie Townsell center.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll go on a fascinating ride through American history, from emancipation to the tumultuous civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s.<\/p>\n Visit the Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center at 500 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious about how African-Americans lived in the 20s, visit The Green House at the Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center.<\/p>\n This house takes its name from Sam Green, a Bear Creek community leader in the 1920s.<\/p>\n Inside the house, you\u2019ll find many rooms that look the same as hundreds of years ago.<\/p>\n The house contains various period-accurate artifacts, such as the old stove, dining table, and other furniture.<\/p>\n Catch a glimpse of how Sam Green lived, together with family and friends, during the early 20th century.<\/p>\n Only in Texas can you take a Texas-sized vacation, and the city of Grand Prairie should be one of your stops.<\/p>\n The city offers grand activity choices, from enormous skate parks, water parks to world-class racetracks.<\/p>\n Thanks to Asia Times Square and Hong Kong Market, you can also go on a global culinary trip in the city.<\/p>\n Why wait?<\/p>\n Book your Grand Prairie trip today!<\/p>\n Things to Do in Addison, TX<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in Garland, TX<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in Cedar Hill, TX<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in Irving, TX<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in Duncanville, TX<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in Rowlett, TX<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in DeSoto, TX<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in Carrollton, TX<\/a><\/p>\n Things to Do in Mesquite, TX<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Horses](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/shutterstock_33235060.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Horses](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/shutterstock_33235066.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGo Halfway across the World at the Asia Times Square & Hong Kong Market<\/h2>\n
Revel in the Weird at the Ripley\u2019s Believe It or Not! Odditorium<\/h2>\n
Splash around at the Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark<\/h2>\n
Grab Unique Gifts at Traders Village<\/h2>\n
![\"Traders](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/shutterstock_721109956-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Traders](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/shutterstock_721110013.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
Relish the Company of Nature at Loyd Park on Joe Pool Lake<\/h2>\n
Practice Your Stunts at Action Park Grand Prairie<\/h2>\n
See a Show at the Uptown Theater<\/h2>\n
![\"Uptown](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1024px-Uptown_Theatre_@_Night.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLet the Lights Dazzle at the Prairie Lights Drive-Through Holiday Light Park<\/h2>\n
Meet Your Heroes at Louis Tussaud\u2019s Palace of Wax<\/h2>\n
Catch a Concert at the Texas Trust CU Theatre<\/h2>\n
Other Things to Do Nearby<\/h2>\n
Learn Sports History at the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame<\/h2>\n
![\"International](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/International_Bowling_Museum_and_Hall_of_Fame_April_2019_01.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"International](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/International_Bowling_Museum_and_Hall_of_Fame_April_2019_37_-Hall_of_Fame.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"International](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/International_Bowling_Museum_and_Hall_of_Fame_April_2019_35_-Highway_66_Bowling_Lanes.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"International](\"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/International_Bowling_Museum_and_Hall_of_Fame_April_2019_26_-International_Bowling.jpg\")
<\/p>\nExplore Bear Creek History at the J.O. Davis House<\/h2>\n
Learn History at the Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center<\/h2>\n
Revisit 1920s African-American Life at The Green House<\/h2>\n
Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Discover More of Dallas County, TX<\/strong><\/h2>\n