Art&Seek Jr. is one mom‘s quest to find activities to end the seemingly endless chorus of the “I’m Bored Blues” while having fun herself. Impossible you say? Check back on Tuesdays for kid-friendly events that are fun for adults, too.

Yep. Summer is definitely winding down. If the wee ones haven’t already started school, they’re definitely going back next week. But don’t worry, there’s still time to get in an adventure or two before the tardy bell rings. Continuing on our things-do-before-summer-is-over theme, here are 6 more ways to make this a summer to remember.

The fountains at the Dallas Arboretum’s Children’s Adventure Garden are a great way to stay cool. (Photo: Therese Powell)

1. Start the last weekend of summer break off right with a movie from your childhood. Catch Back to the Future as part of the Friday Night Flicks Classic Film Series at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. Get there early and take a picture in front of a DeLorean on MPAC’s lawn. Also up for grabs is a special screening of the breathtaking (and sometimes scary) Wizard of Oz. The wonderful 1939 classic will be presented by the Art Deco Society of Dallas at the historic Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff. Be sure to hang around after the film for a performance of  jazz and pop tunes of the 1920s and 1930s by Matt Tolentino and The Singapore Slingers.

2. Let the kids run off all that pent-up energy before school starts at the Dallas Arboretum and do it for pocket change. That’s right, from now until August 31, admission to the Arboretum and the popular Rory Meyer’s Children’s Adventure Garden is just a measly $1.  Kids can peer into the reflecting pools (careful, don’t fall in), play pioneer in the miniature buildings at the Texas Adventure Garden, dodge the water jets at Toad Corner fountains, roll down the big hill near the concert stage, or just run around like banshees amongst the miles of green space.

See Dallas from the clouds at the Geo-Deck in Reunion Tower (Photo: Sheryl Chow Johnson/Reunion Tower)

3. If you’re really hearing the call of the wild, check out Trinity River Adventure Park for some aerial thrills.  You can soar through the 200-year-old Post Oak trees at this aerial park that consists of six individual, elevated courses that include more than 70 elements, such as rope bridges, ladders, cargo nets, zip lines and more. All courses are self-guided and every person moves at their own pace. But hold on, before you start handing out crash helmets to the tiny tikes, kids must be at least 6 years-old and 48 inches tall to participate.

4. Want to go even higher? See a 360-degree view of Dallas from the Geo-Deck atop Reunion Tower. If you haven’t been in a while it’s a whole new experience. The all-new Geo Deck features interactive screens, high definition zoom cameras, and powerful telescopes for indoor/outdoor viewing.

5. Celebrate the last breath of summer with a good old fashion fireworks display. Load up Granny and the kids and head to Lake Grapevine this Friday night for their SummerBlast Fireworks Show. The weekly 12-minute show runs Friday nights until the end of August and can be viewed from the rooftop of the parking garage at Gaylord Texan Resort, as well as parks around Lake Grapevine.

6.  Money doesn’t grow on trees, but it is made in Fort Worth. Take a tour of the money factory, a.k.a. the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Western Currency Facility, where kids can see money being printed from an enclosed walkway above the production floor.  In addition to the tour, there are two floors of interactive exhibits and displays showcasing currency history and the art of currency manufacturing. Reservations are not required; the tours are self-guided and on a first come, first serve basis.  The tour is approximately 45 minutes along an elevated walkway. One last thing, before the tour you should allow 30 minutes to clear WCF security.

Time’s a wastin’! Now get out there and have fun!

Therese Powell is an Art&Seek calendar coordinator and KERA-TV producer. She spends most of her free time seeking out adventures for her 9-year-old daughter, Rose. Tell us about your ideas for quirky kid adventures by leaving a comment. Or e-mail Therese at [email protected].