Whether you are a local, passing through for vacation or work, or are a new resident, there are plenty of things to do in Plano, TX, which is located only 30 minutes from Dallas. Visit the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve to get your fill of outdoor activities, head over to the Heritage Farmstead Museum to see what an active farm looked like in the early 20th century, or explore the many museums and entertainment venues that the Historic Downtown Plano Arts District has to offer. However you decide to fill your time in Plano, there is no shortage of interesting attractions and things to do in Plano, TX for people of all ages.
Top 10 Things to Do in Plano, TX
1. Plano, Texas Shopping District
There is no shortage of top notch shopping and dining experience in Plano, Texas. Between Legacy West, The Shops at Legacy, and The Shops at Willow Bend, Plano is a shopping district in itself! Legacy West, Plano’s latest shopping installment, is a $3.2 billion 255-acre open-air unique retail and restaurant space. One of the more notable attractions at Legacy West is Legacy Food Hall, one of the largest and most unique food halls in the country, hosting over two dozen regional and international artisanal food stalls, a brewery, and an entertainment venue spread across its three-story 55,000-square foot space. Meanwhile, the Shops at Legacy is designed as a town center with tree-lined streets, trendy boutiques, family-friendly restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, and a movie house, and is known for being a popular business-lunch spot by day and an exciting nightlife scene at night. Shop until you drop in Plano, Texas, one of the most beloved things to do in the Dallas area!
2. Historic Downtown Plano Arts District
The brick-lined streets of the Historic Downtown Plano Arts District are the perfect place for an afternoon stroll of sight seeing in Plano, Texas. Window shop in the unique boutiques, admire the restored historic homes and visit the many art galleries and public art pieces. There is a bustling dining scene in downtown Plano housed in the restored and preserved historic buildings. Cap off the night with a show at McCall Plaza, the Courtyard Theater, or the Cox Building Playhouse. The Interurban Railway Museum and the ArtCentre of Plano are both located in the Historic Plano Arts District and are two of the most interesting things to do in Plano, TX!
3. Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve, Plano’s largest park, sits on 800 acres of beautiful woodland, streams and trails. Walk, jog, or bike along the 3.5 miles of paved walkways or 5 miles of unpaved trails along Rowlett Creek. If you want to get on the water, you can bring or rent your own canoe and go off on an adventure. Other amenities of the park are a 1,500-seat amphitheater, pavilions, and restroom facilities. Thrill-seekers head to Oak Point Park to challenge themselves at Go Ape Tree Top Adventure Course, which is suitable for kids and adults alike. The Go Ape tree top canopy course offers 40 different obstacles ranging from zip-lines, rope ladders, pulleys, swinging vines, and more.
4. Heritage Farmstead Museum
The Heritage Farmstead Museum is a preserved heritage site and serves as an interactive living history museum, depicting the daily farm life of its former early 20th-century inhabitants on the Blackland Prairie. Visitors can take a tour of the 1890’s Victorian farmhouse that is home to the museum, which used to be inhabited by Plano settlers, the Farrell family, the old outhouses and single-room schoolhouse, all of which are explained by costumed docents. The active farm, various exhibits, livestock and barn tours and more provide an in-depth look into the sheep and wheat farming that took place in this Texas region from 1890 to 1930. Families can take advantage of Heritage Farmstead’s seasonal events, one of the best things to do together as a family in Plano, Texas.
5. Interurban Railway Museum
Located in the Historic Downtown Plano Arts District, the Interurban Railway Museum is a recognized national heritage site and is housed within the historic Plano Station of the Texas Electric Railway, the city’s first train station that was built in 1908. The Interurban Railway Museum tells the story of Plano’s history, lets visitors explore the original ticket window and get a tour of an old refurbished rail car from 1911. Learn about how the Texas Electric Railway made an impact on Plano, TX and how it was used to shuttle workers around Texas until 1948.
6. Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is located only 25 minutes outside of downtown in Western Plano. The 200-acre park features its own maintained trail system for outdoor activities such as walking, biking or running, with over 2 miles of paved recreational trails and about 2 miles of off-road cycling trails. Other amenities include an expansive playground, multiple pavilions, restrooms facilities, and an observation tower. Whether you visit Arbor Hills to share a picnic, walk the dog, or take in the many viewpoints throughout the back-country winding trails, this wild park can be enjoyed year round.
7. The Boardwalk at Granite Park
The Boardwalk at Granite Park is a wonderful Plano destination for families and adults alike, where one can stroll along the water, eat great food and play fun outdoor games like Corn-Hole and Connect Four! Situated across from the luxurious patio of The Hilton, The Boardwalk offers a multitude of bars, bistros and restaurants that have patio seating available so that you can enjoy a meal by the water. Catch some music on The Boardwalk’s live entertainment stage to cap off the day!
8. Pinstack
Pinstack, Plano’s active entertainment destination, is a huge hot spot for a fay of family-filled fun! This 50,000 square foot indoor family activity venue features a state-of-the-art bowling alley with 28 lanes, a two-story laser tag arena, six-lane LED rock climbing walls, a 20-foot high ropes course, and hundreds of interactive video games. You can spend the entire day at Pinstack without missing a beat by enjoying a meal at their full-service gourmet restaurant featuring local and regional cuisine as well as a full bar. Whether you are looking to host a birthday party in one of their private dining rooms or are looking to make the experience more adult with top-shelf drinks, gourmet coffee and gelato at The Bowl Bar next to the bowling lanes, everyone can have a memorable experience at Pinstack.
9. Crayola Experience
The Crayola Experience at the The Shops at Willow Bend is Plano’s most colorful family destination for creative, interactive play. With over 60,000 square feet of attractions, kids of all ages can explore 22 hands-on unique experiences such as learning how crayons are made in a live manufacturing shows, naming and wrapping their own Crayola crayon, and starring in their own coloring pages. There are so many immersive things to do here that your family could spend an entire afternoon at the Crayola Experience in Plano, TX!
10. Texas Pool
Plano’s historic Texas Pool is a National Landmark in Texas, containing 168,000 gallons of saltwater in a pool the shape of the state of Texas. Plano residents and visitors can enjoy the Texas pool all summer, which features a diving board, two water slides, and an island with a “South Texas” wading area for small children and their parents. Take advantage of their grills and cook up some BBQ for your crew, or enjoy food from the snack bar at the picnic tables. For those who like to work up a sweat before getting in the water, play a friendly game at the beach volleyball court.
Visit Plano, TX Today!
If you are exploring Plano alone, with family or with friends, there are plenty of attractions in this city for all ages and interests. Whether you want to spend the day in the shopping district, check out one of the museums or galleries in the Downtown Plano Arts District, or hike on one of the many trails in and around the city, Plano, TX is an entertaining and worthwhile destination. Visit Plano, TX today!
