Teenagers and their families will find an assortment of exciting activities in Dallas, whether they're looking for some thrills or some fun educational opportunities. Dallas, home to approximately 1.2 million residents, as of the 2010 U.S. Census, is a sophisticated city that draws in travelers from around the world, in part thanks to its entertainment districts, shopping choices and urban arts district.

Head on over to the Dallas Zoo with your teen to spend the day exploring. Make your way through each area, such as Giants of the Savanna where you'll see impalas, zebras, elephants and cheetahs, and Entry Plaza and ZooNorth where visitors can take a ride on a camel or watch a bird show. Attend special events at the zoo with your teen, including Safari Nights and Photo Safari workshops. Alternatively, you could go for a visit to the Dallas World Aquarium to see sharks, octopus, starfish, crabs and tropical fish. In addition to all the sea creatures, an assortment of other animals call this aquarium home, including birds, reptiles and amphibians. While you're there, be sure to catch one of the keeper talks and some animal feedings.

The city of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department has a wide variety of activities to offer teens, ranging from visits to local parks to sports programs. At White Rock Lake, you can hike or bike the trails with your teen, go bird watching, fish off the piers or visit the White Rock Bath House Cultural Center. Your teen can go for a swim at one of the community swimming pools, such as those at Bahama Beach, Lake Highlands, Walnut Hill and Kidd Springs. Sign your teen up for one of the sports offered, including baseball, softball, football, golf or tennis. Teens can also participate in an array of programs at the area recreation centers, including the Janie C. Turner Recreation Center, Bachman Recreation Center and Timberglen Recreation Center.

Check out some of the museums in Dallas with your teen, like the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. This museum features hands-on learning experiences with exhibits halls like the Moody Family Children's Museum, Sports Hall, Being Human Hall and Expanding Universe Hall. Teens can also participate in special programs such as Engineers Week, Lab Remix and Discovery Days. You could also take your teen to the Dallas Museum of Art to view all of the spectacular art exhibits or to take part in a teen workshop, including Urban Armor, Fashion Workshop or the Teen Docent Program.

If you're looking for something a little more exciting to do with your teenager, you could do some go-kart racing at Speed Zone Dallas. Choose from tracks like the Slick Track, Thunder Road or the Turbo Track and then compete in the Electric Alley arcade. Or, you could have some family fun at Zero Gravity. This extreme family fun park features a Skycoaster that lets you glide 100 feet up in the air. You could also do some bungee jumping, or try Texas Blastoff that shoots you 70 mph straight up in the air and a Nothin' but Net 16-story free-fall ride.