Watch a play, go skating, rock climb, feed baby animals or pick a pumpkin. Whether your family is looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors or the kids need to burn off some energy indoors on a cold winter’s day, Collin County and the Metroplex offer a wide variety of family-friendly activities. Following is a sampling of local places to take the kids, or the whole family, for fun.

Allen Public Library

   The Allen Public Library features include: Teen’Scape, a drive-up book drop, a built-in puppet stage and a 400-gallon aquarium in the children’s area, a performance hall which seats 300, a 40-seat meeting room and a coffee shop.

   The Children’s Department offers a variety of story times and special events for our community’s littlest readers. Mommy and Me story time, for ages two and up with an adult, lasts 20 minutes and features two books, songs and finger plays. All by Myself, a 30-minute story time for preschoolers ages 3- 6 features three books, songs, games and puppets relating to a special theme. Family Story Time is also offered.

   For the older set, the library offers the Star Club, an after-school book club for fourth and fifth graders. Older children ages 8-12 can also join Jr. Friends of the Library, a kids’ group that volunteers at the library and meets once a month to review books, do crafts and enjoy snacks. The Allen Public Library also hosts a summer reading club, puppet shows and special events throughout the year. Located at 301 Century Parkway, Allen, 214.509.4900.

Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium

   Allen’s “coolest” attraction is open year round and features an indoor leisure pool with a zero-depth play pool, lazy river, vortex and 210-foot waterslide. For the truly adventurous, the natatorium also offers a climbing wall for kids ages five and older to test their strength and abilities. Instructors are available for those who might need a little assistance. Located at Rivercrest and Exchange, Allen, 214.509.4770.

Allen Bowl

   This hometown bowling center features plenty of lanes for affordable bowling fun, as well as bumper bowling for the youngsters, air hockey and video games. Located at 1011 S. Greenville, Allen, 972.727.9108.

The Edge at Allen Station Park

   The largest skate park in the state of Texas, The Edge features street fixtures such as stairs with handrails, boxes, rails and ledges. The grounds are lighted and also contain a wide variety of bowls and transitions, steel coping throughout for grinding and a large amount of bank slope areas for beginners to practice on. This premier skate park also includes a BMX track, which is 900 feet of twists, turns and fun. Bring the kids and bikes for a track comprised of 10 different jumps and turns. Two in-line hockey rinks with covered spectator seating complete this facility.

   The youth center at the park is operated as a membership-based facility for youth ages 10 to 17. It includes a media room, computer lab, game room and snack bar. Recreation staff supervise the facility. Annual membership fee is $10 for residents and $20 for non-residents. Specific features of the youth center include a computer lab equipped with 12 computers, printers and software. The media room includes one wide screen television for watching movies and four televisions for Play Station and X Box systems. The game room features both ping pong and pool tables. The skate park is located at Allen Station Park, 201 E. St. Mary Drive in Allen, 214.509.4700.

Connemara Conservancy

   In Allen, west of I-75 on McDermott, then south on Tatum, 972.521.4896. City kids can get a taste of the country at this 72-acre nature preserve that features woods, fields and a creek. The conservancy is great for hiking, picnicking and kite flying, and wildflowers put on a spectacular show in the spring and early summer. An annual sculpture show and outdoor concerts are held throughout the spring.

Woodhaven Stable

   Located between Allen and Mckinney, 972.562.6518, www.woodhavenstable.com. For the horse lover who is an experienced rider or for the novice, Woodhaven Stable has something for you. We provide lessons 7 days a week for any age with horses for beginners and of many sizes, breeds and abilities. We offer trail rides, playdays, pleasure riding, summer camps, Parent’s Night Out and birthday parties, and there are two covered arenas so equestrians can ride rain or shine.

Heard Natural Science Museum

   This 289-acre sanctuary has four miles of hiking trails, a two-acre native plant garden, live animals, indoor and outdoor exhibits, classrooms and laboratories. The Heard reaches more than 60,000 people annually, including more than 20,000 children who attend science and hands-on preschool, home school and summer camp programs. Check out the wildlife exhibits in the Miss Bessie Heard Museum, visit the native plant demo garden, and look for plants and wildlife along the nature trail. The museum also sponsors special events and exhibits throughout the year. Located north of Allen off FM 1378, one mile east of Highway 5, 972.562.5566.