Things to Do in Plano Texas
Plano may be a modern business city, but its historical roots remain evident and visitors can discover many hidden treasures here – one being the Interurban Railway Museum – an informative historical exhibit located inside an antique train car!
Legacy West provides an unforgettable shopping experience in Legacy City, boasting over 100 restaurants and bars that cater to both luxury brands as well as budget options.
The Farmstead
Plano began life as a small farming community. Though now transformed into a vibrant business center, its origins still stand out today. One such manifestation is The Farmstead: an historic village offering visitors a look back into life on Blackland Prairie during the 1800s. Comprised of multiple historic structures including an 1840 farmhouse as well as special events hosted therein – visitors will gain an intimate view into life on Blackland Prairie back then! This 4.5-acre living museum also includes other historical structures as well as special activities!
The Farmstead offers birthday parties, camps and other special events perfect for family celebrations and picnics alike. Grab lunch from one of their restaurants located on site before relaxing under an expansive shaded patio with your meal: choose from burgers, fried chicken sandwiches or even hot biscuits!
Legacy West is an upscale outdoor mall known for both shopping and dining. This bustling destination includes well-known retailers, like Sur La Table, alongside independent boutiques and bars. There are also several restaurants here such as Mediterranean eateries serving contemporary Asian fare; you’ll even be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth at Sprinkles Cupcakes!
If you want to know the history of Chicago, make sure to stop by the Interurban Railway Museum – a restored train station opened in 1908. The exhibit recounts how electric railway systems helped form this great city while offering visitors the chance to ride a restored car!
Downtown Plano is an exciting hub of dining and shopping, and home to colorful murals that adorn several buildings. Plus, its street art provides some great street art pieces as well. Additionally, Downtown Plano makes for a fun afternoon with children thanks to a children’s museum as well as multiple parks such as Haggard Park which features The Texas Pool (in its state shape and listed on the National Register of Historic Places) for exploration by youngsters.
Historic Downtown Plano
Plano’s historic downtown district is at the core of everything that this vibrant city has to offer, where residents and visitors alike enjoy shopping and dining at boutiques, coffee shops and antique malls. Visitors can indulge in fine dining at one of Plano’s acclaimed restaurants or grab quick bites on-the-go from local eateries offering Mexican to Austrian cuisine – not forgetting major cultural attractions such as Plano Museum of Art and Saigling House!
Plano offers many unique attractions, and one of the most distinctive is Texas Pool: an expansive 168,000-gallon saltwater pool designed to resemble Texas. Open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Texas Pool offers diving boards and two water slides for visitors looking to cool off in the water, along with an island located within its swimming area that is great for kids as well as adults looking for ways to unwind in water. Tourist passes are available, while BBQ grills and snack bars are nearby should anyone get hungry while lounging around this unique pool!
Plano offers nature enthusiasts an abundance of green spaces for walking or bicycling adventures, including Arbor Hills Nature Preserve and Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve as popular hiking spots where visitors can discover wildlife species in their natural environments while taking in the stunning forest landscape. Plus, Plano boasts numerous lakes and reservoirs where paddle boarders can test out their skills!
Legacy West is the ultimate shopping complex, boasting high-end brands as well as family-oriented options. Browse cosmopolitan fashions at Brooklyn + West; unique home furnishings and jewellery at Elaine Turner; or find premium olive oil products at Culinary Connection.
Legacy West
Legacy West, Plano’s premier retail and restaurant complex, features over 20 eateries. Luxury retailers such as CHANEL Fragrance & Beauty, Golden Goose, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton can be found here too! Additionally, this lively location hosts many events throughout the year such as their popular Balloon Festival with hot air balloons and food vendors!
Plano offers plenty of exciting things to do, with one being visiting the Heritage Farmstead Museum. This vintage farm gives visitors an intimate look into life before modern conveniences; with its Victorian farmhouse and 365 acres of land. Plus, take a walk down its nature trails or attend one of their live concerts in their 1,500-seat amphitheater.
Legacy West offers plenty of adventure with Go Ape, its high-ropes course that makes use of North Texas forest’s towering canopies and takes full advantage of them to offer visitors an exhilarating high ropes course experience involving swinging Tarzan vines, tenuous rope ladders and zip lines – an experience not to be missed!
Plano offers many other enjoyable activities, including playing Fowling Warehouse Football – known locally as Fowl-on – an exciting hybrid between American football and bowling that makes for great family fun. Perfect for families of children of all ages.
Relax and unwind by taking a dip in the Texas Pool, designed to mimic its namesake state of Texas. This massive 168,000-gallon saltwater pool is an extremely popular spot during the hotter summer months when temperatures soar. In addition to featuring hot tubs and chaises for lounging around on, this swimming oasis also features hot tubs and cabanas on its third-floor amenity deck; in addition to hosting numerous special events and performances throughout summer.
Haggard Park
Plano offers unique outdoor activities for anyone interested in experiencing lush greenery of oak and mesquite trees or taking to the skies in an open-air helicopter ride, from hiking through lush grasses to riding an open-air helicopter; those seeking relaxation while sipping craft beers or sampling chef-inspired cuisine should definitely give Plano’s outdoor adventures a try.
Plano’s arts scene is an integral component of its culture, offering many ways for its residents to experience them. Music performances at McCall Plaza or Haggard Park during summer nights can be enjoyed live, while there’s also an expanding muralist community who have transformed seemingly mundane walls into canvases for artistic expression.
If art is what excites you, consider visiting the collections at the Museum of Science and Industry or Downtown Plano art galleries; Legacy West boasts an emerging arts center; or visit the Interurban Railway Museum as a must-visit spot if you love trainspotting; it is housed in an historic train station building and features restored carriages from Texas Electric Railway which connected Plano to Dallas in the early 1900s.
Plano offers many trendy bars and restaurants for an enjoyable girls night out, offering wines or craft beers of varying varieties. If you prefer casual meals, Legacy Hall’s Box Garden restaurant made of recycled shipping containers offers delicious classic barbeque as well as farm-to-table fare, perfect for satisfying even picky eaters!
Plano Antique Mall
Plano offers visitors plenty of culinary and cultural delights, as well as other attractions that attract travelers of all kinds. Additionally, this Texas city serves as an incredible shopping mecca that features both high-end boutiques and local flea markets.
The Shops at Legacy is an upscale outdoor mall boasting major brands and family-friendly eateries. This sprawling complex features shops such as Brooklyn + West for handcrafted clothing and accessories, Elaine Turner for trendy clothing and jewellery, Culinary Connection for handcrafted wrought iron furnishings and Oil & Vinegar for gourmet olive oils – along with sculptures of longhorns and historical markers to give this complex its Texas heritage while remaining part of Plano’s modern business district.
Downtown Plano is at the epicenter of Plano’s artistic community and home to an abundance of unique independent shops and galleries. Don’t miss Lyla’s Clothing, Decor & More with vintage goods for sale as well as Curious Interiors selling handmade artisanal pieces before dining out at one of Plano’s many local restaurants.
Canoeing at Granite Park Preserve is an enjoyable way to get some exercise on the water while having some relaxing fun on land. Plus, this area boasts several trails perfect for walking, bicycling and running!
The Interurban Railway Museum in Plano is an ideal spot to learn more about Plano’s rich history while viewing Car 360, an historic train car restored by museum staff. This exhibit can be found within an old railway station at Haggard Park and admission is free; plus there are other interactive and learning displays onsite including tours of Car 360!
