Updated: 6/11/24
Welcome to Plano, Texas, where the charm of a small town meets the excitement of a vibrant city! Nestled in the heart of the Lone Star State, Plano offers a plethora of adventures that won’t break the bank. Whether you’re a local looking for budget-friendly adventures or a visitor eager to explore, there’s something for everyone to enjoy for under $25. From cultural experiences to outdoor adventures, culinary delights, and more, Plano invites you to discover its hidden gems without spending a fortune. So, pack your bags, grab your wallet, and get ready to explore all that Plano has to offer on a budget!






Under $25 Plano ADVENTURES
Crayola Experience
Plano’s newest and most colorful attraction, the Crayola Experience at The Shops at Willow Bend, is an amazing place where visitors can explore the 60,000 square foot attraction that Parents Magazine calls one of the “Top 10 Trips to Take Before Your Kid Turns 10.” Experience 22 hands-on attractions inspired by Crayola products and their technologies. Visitors can name and wrap their own Crayola crayon, star in a coloring page, create melted wax spin-art, and learn how crayons are made in a live factory show. There are also two new attractions that debuted in Texas: Silly Selfies and Kaleidoscope. General admission is $25.99 if purchased online. Purchase discounted tickets here.
Children’s Health StarCenter – Plano: Public Ice Skating
Ice skate year-round at the Children’s Health StarCenter – Plano! Public ice skating sessions are available most days out of the week. Check their schedules here. General admission is $15. Ages 3 and under are free. Skate rental is just $5. nhl.com
Heritage Farmstead Museum
This four-acre museum preserves a way of life during the height of farm prosperity in the early 1900s. The beautiful Victorian home and 12 outbuildings were the hub of a 360-acre farm operated by a colorful local resident, Ammie Wilson. Tickets are available at the museum entrance for $5 per person. Tour of the historic 1891 Wilson House are an additional $5 per person (10am-12pm). Wagon rides are $2 per person (10am-12pm). Chicken scratch may be purchased for $1 per bag. heritagefarmstead.org
Jack Carter Pool
For a small daily fee, visitors can enjoy Jack Carter Pool during the summer months. Jack Carter Pool has a dual rider tube slide, body slide, lazy river, deep water pool with platform diving and a climbing wall, Flow Rider surf simulator, tot pool, leisure pool with some lap lanes, wet deck areas, spray features, rentable party areas and concessions. Check facility fees and hours at plano.gov.
Plano Super Bowl
The newly renovated Plano Super Bowl is open a whopping 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Monday through Friday you can bowl by the game for $8 or by the hour for $22.95. Shoe rental is an additional $5. Check out their bowling specials! planosuperbowl.com
The Texas Pool
The historic Texas Pool is 168 thousand gallons of saltwater shaped like the great State of Texas. The Texas Pool is supported by a membership base, but offers a tourist pass for visitors and hosts a number of free and public events each season. An all-day visitor pass is $10 per person. texaspool.org
Thunderbird Roller Rink
Lace up the roller skates, turn up the jams, and be a kid again! Check their website for public skate sessions. Skating admission is $8 per person. Skate rentals are $10-$13. Spectator admission is $2. thunderbirdrink.com
Southfork Ranch
Known as the “world’s most famous ranch,” Southfork Ranch is best known from the television series “Dallas,” offering visitors the opportunity to relive memorable moments from the fictional Ewing clan. The “Dallas Legends: Fact to Fantasy” exhibit features the gun that shot J.R., Lucy’s wedding dress, video clips from the series and other memorabilia. Located in nearby Parker, Southfork has attracted millions of visitors and is open daily year-round. Guided tour pricing: adults – $20, senior citizens (60+) – $16, children (6-12) – $12, and children 5 and under are free. They also offer a 10% military and first responder discount. *Pricing does not include tax. southforkranch.com
Here’s what’s Free
Art Centre of Plano
Browse through the art galleries for displays of local artists, as well as national shows. artcentreofplano.org
Box Garden at Legacy Hall
The Box Garden at Legacy Hall is Plano’s newest venue for hosting live music and events. The best part is many of their live music events and other happenings are completely free! Be sure to check their event calendar to see what’s playing.
Interurban Railway Museum
North Texas transportation history is brought back to life with this interesting exhibit. Once a vital part of the Texas Electric Railway that stretched from Denison to Waco, the Interurban is one of the original electric cars that ran on the tracks through Plano. Also on site is car 360, which carried mail as well as passengers. planoconservancy.org
McCall Plaza Events
McCall Plaza is a newly renovated performance stage in the heart of the Downtown Plano Arts District surrounded by one-of-a-kind restaurants and unique boutiques. Plano Stages hosts free monthly events and concerts at McCall Plaza. We post events to our event calendar as they are released. planostages.com
Parks & Recreation
Take a walk in a Plano park! Plano features more than 4,337 acres of public parks, offering more than 82 miles of recreation trails, six recreation centers, 133 public tennis courts including a 21-court tennis center, nine public swimming pools and more. Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve is 800 acres and has 3.5 miles of concrete trails and 5 miles of soft trails along Rowlett Creek. The lake at Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve is open for kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddle boarding from dawn to dusk. Bring your own canoe, kayak, or stand up paddle board and see Plano’s largest park from a new perspective, for free! Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is a 200-acre park with hike and bike trails, a 2-mile walking trail and stunning views of the prairie and forest. planoparks.org
Carpenter Skate Park
The new Carpenter Park Skate Park combines popular street-style skating and bowl skating features making it one of the most extensive and unique skate parks in all of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Skaters will enjoy one of the largest bowls in the area as well as various sized ramps, rails, stair sets, and ledges. You will also notice the fitting design of the skate park in a “P” shape resembling the official Plano logo. View hours here.
Find more things to do, places to eat, and places to stay on our website.
Pricing is subject to change without notice. Please check with each attraction before going on your adventure.