Cheap but Fun Things to Do in Fort Worth

I agree with Valerie. The botanical gardens are on University drive and the mini train is right outside the zoo on the same street. The gardens are free and the train like, $3 a person. It stops at the trinity river park where you can get popcorn and a soda for $1 to eat on the way back to the station. My kids love it!
The zoo has a new rock climbing wall that's $3 to do.
The parks mall in Arlington does have an ice skating rink and a carousel. I have a coupon for a free carousel ride and another one for 1/2 price ice skating if you want them. :)
If she took her daughter to the Museum of science and history, it would be $14 for adults and $10 for kids.

The Fort Worth stock yards are fun. They have a mini cattle drive through the streets twice a day.

The FW Botanic Garden is having a Spring Festival in the Japanese Garden this weekend. We went a couple of years ago and had a blast. There are Japanese dances, music, art and craft demonstrations. And the gardens are beautiful. www.fwbg.com

The Artisan Center Theater in Hurst is performing Sleeping Beauty this month. They always put on a great show. www.artisanct.com

The National Cowgirl Museum currently has some of Georgia O'Keefe's works on exhibit, and there are some kids' events going on this weekend there. www.cowgirl.net

My brother's family and I recently spent a few hours walking around the FW Water Gardens with all our kids. Everyone had a great time, and we got some awesome pictures of the kids.

Have a great weekend with your friends!

I'm not sure if 10 year olds still like the zoo, but Ft. Worth has one of the nicest zoos I've ever been to. We moved to Houston about 3 years ago and I still miss that zoo! I think there is an ice skating rink in one of the malls there (maybe in Arlington??). I don't remember which one, but you could probably Google it. There is also a nice Botanical Garden in Ft. Worth if it's a nice day outside, that could be fun to walk around. There is a little restaurant/tea room in the middle of it that you could have lunch at or bring a picnic. There used to be a train that ran near there too, so you could go for a train ride.

If it were summer, there are a couple of water parks there, but I doubt they are open for the season yet. My kids are younger and I haven't lived there for 3 years, so that's about all I can think of. There are also several museums, so you may be able to look up and see if there is a Children's Museum. Those are really fun and educational! Hope that helps. Have a great weekend with your friend!