Explore Like a Local: 8 Things to Do in Plano, Texas

© Courtesy of Visit Plano

Explore Like a Local: 8 Things to Do in Plano, Texas

Plano, Texas, is truly the land of plenty. Blending historic charm with modern luxury, the city brims with amenities and attractions. Plano’s location just north of Dallas offers easy access to the area’s professional sports, famous attractions, and performing arts. But Plano is also a destination in its own right, with more than 1,000 restaurants of every variety, including a three-story European food hall, brewery, entertainment venue, world-class shopping, a lively arts and nightlife scene, four walkable entertainment districts, and abundant natural beauty.

Plano’s most colorful attraction, the Crayola Experience at The Shops at Willow Bend, is a fantastic place where kids and kids at heart can explore 22 hands-on attractions in a 60,000-square-foot space. Or try your arm at fowling, a unique and entertaining game that merges football with bowling. At Fowling Warehouse, adults and teens can have a blast playing this growing sport. It’s as easy as throwing a football at 10 bowling pins until someone knocks them all down.

Ready for an adventure? Glide over the forest canopy at Go Ape Treetop Adventure at Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve. Zip lines, Tarzan swings and suspended obstacles bring out your inner monkey and provide a fun challenge amid 800 acres of natural beauty.

You won’t want to miss Legacy West. This “city within a city” is the largest mixed-use destination in North Texas and the perfect place to play, shop, dine, and stay. Legacy West’s shopping offerings run the gamut from fashion to furnishings to cosmetics and even cars. Its luxury retailers include CHANEL Fragrance & Beauty, Golden Goose, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co. The luxurious Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West is the signature hotel where guests are fully immersed in the West of Zen culture.

Looking for a unique way to wine and dine? Try Legacy Hall, one of the nation’s largest and most unique food halls dedicated to serving the best-of food trends prepared by local premier chefs. The three-story, European-style food hall also includes an onsite brewery and a live music box garden with a dance-worthy music line-up.

Nearby at The Shops at Legacy, the shopping frenzy continues with an upscale retail mix of men’s and women’s clothing, beauty, spa services, and more. This development is home to the Angelika Film Center & Café, some of the area’s best restaurants and nightlife, and the Marriott Dallas/Plano at Legacy Town Center.

Relax at The Boardwalk at Granite Park, which features a variety of restaurants serving burgers, gourmet biscuits, southern California boardwalk-style cuisine, brew pub fare, and more. There are also beachy deck chairs next to fire pits that afford a great view of the park’s inviting water feature and live music stage. The Hilton Dallas/Plano Granite Park is the district’s premier hotel property across the water from The Boardwalk.

Across town, the Downtown Plano Arts District offers a charming setting for a simple stroll, an afternoon of shopping, or an evening’s entertainment. Walk along authentic brick streets to discover an eclectic collection of shops selling everything from handmade jewelry to home décor to pottery. Visit over a dozen restored historic homes and the Interurban Railway Museum, a railroad car turned urban museum offering a microcosm of North Texas railroad history right in Haggard Park. Catch a show or live music at McCall Plaza, the Courtyard Theater, or the Cox Building Playhouse, and see the artists in residence at various art galleries.

For more information on planning your Plano vacation, see how It’s All Here at visitplano.com. Let’s Go!