Kids got the January blahs? The Christmas toys have lost their zing, summer break is eons away, and with the exception of a possible snow day, the tinies have nothing to look forward to. How about shaking things up with an exotic vacation? A journey where magical destinations are explored but no plane ticket is required. It’s easy. Just pull your imagination out of the mothballs and take it out for a spin with one of these picks from the Junior.

Take a tropical trip at Texas Discovery Gardens. Photo: TDG

Since Mother nature has been teasing us with springlike weather it seems only fitting that you and the kiddos should break out your Hawaiian shirts and hightail it down to Texas Discovery Gardens for Travel to the Tropics. Not only will there be butterflies galore in the butterfly house, but kids can “visit” the countries where the butterflies come from with a special passport. The passport is stamped at various displays as kids explore tropical cultures and enjoy themed activities.

Dance to the beat of your own drum. Photo: South Dallas Cultural Center

Join the South Dallas Cultural Center Saturday morning for Bandan Kora: West African Dance and Drumming.  Kids will learn all about African Dance and the Djembe drum, an instrument used in healing ceremonies, rites of passage, ancestral tributes, warrior rituals, as well as social dances. Bring your own drum, if you don’t have one, don’t worry, the the center will provide you with one.

Take part in some winter outdoor dining this weekend at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center.

Come explore the Milky Way, listen the owls, and enjoy the smell of a campfire this Saturday evening at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center’s  Stars and S’Mores event. Highlights include a guided night hike into the canyon, stargazing, and of course,  s’mores around the campfire. Telescopes will be available for viewing the night sky.

KidFilm has something for everyone–including the classic ‘Benji.’

How about a trip to Hollywood? Okay, maybe not Hollywood, but the next best thing, a film festival just for kids. Lucky for you, it just so happens that KidFilm is going on this weekend at the Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Station. This annual event, now in its 33rd year, is put on by USA Film Festival and is chocked full of movies and movie fun for you and the kiddos. This year kids can meet authors and illustrators, and receive a free book. The line-up of movies includes films that celebrate diversity, tolerance, and environmental awareness. You can also catch the kids’ classic ‘Benji,’ or the animated fairy tale ‘The Snow Queen.’ The best part? It’s all free!

Step into a favorite book–literally, at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s latest exhibit.

Remember how you said you were going to travel and read more in 2017? Well, the newest exhibit at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is a chance to do both. In Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites books like “If You Give a Mouse A Cookie,” “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” and “The Snowy Day” come to life into three-dimensional learning environments. Besides being an awesome place to explore, these larger-than-life book environments also encourage learning through play. The exhibit opens Saturday and runs through May 7.