A Family-Friendly 3-Day Adventure in Fort Worth, Texas
(Learning Through Play on the Road with TPOP)
One of the joys of homeschooling is discovering that learning doesn’t have to look like “school at home.” Every trip becomes a chance to learn together through play, exploration, and shared experiences. For our family, Two Plus One (TPO) is about using travel as a way to spark curiosity, nurture creativity, and turn the world into our classroom.
On a recent trip to Fort Worth, Texas, we found endless ways to blend fun and learning. Here’s how our 3-day adventure unfolded, packed with kid-approved attractions, play-filled moments, and homeschooling on the road.
Day 1: Cowboy Play at the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards
The Stockyards are more than a tourist attraction—they’re a living history lesson where the Old West comes alive. For our kids, it was a giant outdoor classroom filled with hands-on fun.
5 Family-Friendly Things to Do at the Stockyards:
Watch the Cattle Drive – Twice daily (11:30 AM and 4:00 PM), real Texas longhorns march down East Exchange Avenue. It’s free, it’s short, and it feels like stepping back in time.
Pony Rides & Petting Zoo – Perfect for younger kids who love animals and need a more tactile experience.
Cowtown Cattlepen Maze – A playful way to let kids burn energy while also working on problem-solving and navigation skills.
Longhorn Photo Op – Snap a family photo with one of these Texas icons (a keepsake for both memory-making and history lessons later).
Second Rodeo Brewing – Parents can relax with live music while kids enjoy delicious food and the lively atmosphere.
Learning Through Play
Counting the cattle, sketching longhorns, and pretending to be cowhands turned history into hands-on learning.
The maze became a math and strategy lesson, as the twins figured out how to get out faster than last time.
Storytelling filled the day: “If we lived here 100 years ago, what would we do?” These imaginative conversations became history lessons without ever opening a textbook.
👉 Homeschool Hack: Bring a small notebook so the kids can draw something they saw (cowboy hat, longhorn, or horse) and label it. It’s simple vocabulary practice wrapped in art.
Day 2: Peppa Pig Adventures & City Fun at Sundance Square
Peppa Pig Theme Park
This park is tailor-made for little ones, and it’s just the right size to explore without feeling overwhelming. Our kids lit up as they met Peppa and friends, splashed in water play zones, and rode attractions designed just for their age.
Highlights included:
Grandad Dog’s Pirate Boat Ride (the twins loved steering).
Muddy Puddles Splash Pad (perfect for cooling down).
Meet-and-Greets with Peppa & Family (the baby squealed at seeing George up close).
Pretend play turned into storytelling practice. The girls narrated their own Peppa adventures, while our son worked on bravery by trying new rides. It was language arts, social-emotional growth, and confidence-building all rolled into play.
👉 Homeschool Hack: On the ride home, ask kids to retell their day in story order (first, next, last). This builds sequencing skills while helping them reflect.
Sundance Square
After the theme park, we headed into Sundance Square, one of the cleanest, safest, and most walkable urban centers in the nation.
Fountains & Open Space – The kids raced through the water fountains while we enjoyed the lively atmosphere.
Downtown Exploration – We spotted shapes in buildings, counted floors, and marveled at murals.
Live Music – A chance for the kids to hear new sounds and rhythms, a natural entry point into art and culture.
👉 Homeschool Hack: Create a simple scavenger hunt: find 3 shapes in buildings, 2 colors in murals, and 1 sound you hear. Keeps kids engaged and observant.
Day 3: Creativity at the Crayola Experience (Plano)
Our final day was a road trip to Plano, about an hour away, to immerse ourselves in the Crayola Experience—a colorful wonderland of creativity.
Highlights included:
Design Your Own Crayon – Each child made and named their own unique color (language arts + creativity).
Digital Art Stations – The kids watched their drawings come to life on screen, blending tech with imagination.
Giant Play Zones & Sensory Areas – Perfect for our toddler, who loved touching, climbing, and exploring at his own pace.
This day was pure creative flow. The twins collaborated on projects, shared supplies, and encouraged each other’s designs—building not only art skills but also teamwork. The baby explored textures and colors, soaking up his own sensory learning.
👉 Homeschool Hack: Save their creations and make a Travel Journal Page with their artwork, photos, and one sentence about the day. It doubles as writing practice and a keepsake.
Final Thoughts: When Play Becomes School
Our Fort Worth adventure reminded us that homeschooling doesn’t need to look like traditional school—it’s about learning through life.
At the Stockyards, play turned into history. At Peppa Pig Theme Park, pretend play became storytelling. At Sundance Square, fountains and music became math and art lessons. At the Crayola Experience, creativity was the curriculum.
That’s the heart of Two Plus One (TPO): seeing playtime as the bridge to learning, especially in new and exciting places. When kids learn this way, travel becomes more than a getaway—it becomes a lifelong love for discovery.