• Golf enthusiasts can play on three courses in Rockwall, Texas.Golf cart on golf course image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
  
  Rockwall, Texas, on Lake Ray Hubbard, is a golfer's paradise. Three local courses, The Shores Country Club, Buffalo Creek and Woodbridge, draw duffers from Dallas, which is less than 20 miles away. The man-made Lake Ray Hubbard attracts anglers fishing for striped bass, catfish and white crappie. You have to head a few miles outside of Rockwall to find more activities.
  
  

Rodeo

• The family-friendly Mesquite Champion Rodeo gives visitors and locals a taste of the West. Cowboys (and cowgirls), horses, bulls and clowns all put on a show. The air-conditioned arena has a BBQ Pavilion that serves buffet meals. The Dash for Cash, or calf scramble, is open to children 12 and under; in this event, the participants try to capture a flag from a calf. On Friday and Saturday night, kids ages 4 years and older who weigh 55 pounds and under can sign up for the Mutton Bustin' event, in which they ride a sheep.
  
  

Animals

• The Dallas Zoo, 25 miles away, has a children's zoo with pony rides for kids over age 1 and under 80 pounds. The family-friendly section has interactive exhibits and animals that kids can feed. Kids also can ride the Endangered Species Carousel, then look for endangered animals throughout the zoo. The Giants of the Savannah exhibit, for all ages, features giraffes you can feed. Ride the monorail, walk the Gorilla Trail and see endangered tigers in their rain-forest habitat. A large outdoor, walk-through aviary features exotic birds that you can see up close with telescopes.
  
  

Children's Aquarium at Fair Park

• The family-friendly Children's Aquarium at Fair Park, also about 24 miles from Rockwall, has kid-level viewing areas, so little kids can see the marine life. Each day, you can see a different animal get fed, from sea turtles to sharks. The aquarium opened in December 2010. It has a touch-tank and a tide pool, along with colorful sea life exhibits. Just outside the aquarium, ride the Texas Star Ferris wheel. The interactive Museum of Nature and Science and the Texas Discovery Garden are both within walking distance of the aquarium, so families can spend the whole day.