Updated: 06/30/2020
No matter how mild winter is, it’s always nice to look forward to spring and its warmer weather! It’s time to get outside and enjoy the outdoors before the onslaught of 90 degree summer days hit North Texas. We’ve come up with a list of spring adventures here in Plano, so get out, explore, and tag your photos #visitplano.
The Shops at Legacy is a great place to spend a few hours when the weather gets warmer. Walk the urban development featuring a wide variety of upscale shopping from clothing and jewelry to home furnishings and specialty items. You’ll also find the Angelika Film Center & Cafe, a stylish five-screen boutique cinema devoted to independent specialty films. The Shops at Legacy also has some of Dallas’ best restaurants, including Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Jasper’s, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, and Mexican Sugar. History lesson alert: the Plaza includes the popular Trails in Legacy Sculptures, which depict a cattle drive along the Shawnee Trail, a route on which Texas longhorns were driven before and just after the Civil War.
The new $3.2 billion dollar, 255-acre Legacy West development boasts 415,000 dynamic square feet of open-air retail and restaurant space. Shop for stylish home décor items at West Elm and Frontgate; and women and men’s high-end apparel at Bonobos, Fabletics, J.Crew, Johnny Wass, Tommy Bahama, Peter Millar, Pockets, and Suitsupply. On top of all of that, Legacy Hall is a one-of-a-kind artisanal food hall experience with equal parts premium food hall, beer garden, craft brewery and live entertainment. With 15+ chef-driven artisan food stalls and half a dozen bars, each presents its own unique personality. There’s also an on-site brewery and live music stage in the outdoor Box Garden.
The Downtown Plano Arts District holds something for everyone….shopping, dining, nightlife, and culture. Unique and one-of-a-kind stores and boutiques line the brick street. In addition to shopping, you can stop for a bite to eat at one of the many eateries and enjoy the spring air over a cold drink at Urban Crust’s 32 Degrees rooftop bar or on other patios like The Fillmore Pub and Urban Rio.
The Boardwalk at Granite Park is a restaurant destination with a wooden boardwalk overlooking a waterfront with a fire feature, game areas, and beachy deck chairs. There you have a variety of restaurants from homemade biscuit creations to a brewery.
Plano’s live music scene is stronger than ever before. Even locals may be surprised to learn there are more than 25 venues across the city that offer some sort of live music on a regular basis. From hip restaurants to unique venues, you’re bound to find something close by that interests you. Check out our page dedicated live music in Plano for more.
For the Outdoorsman This Spring
Plano has more than 56 miles of recreational trails open to the public. Chances are there’s a trail near you. Get trail information here including downloadable trail maps. Two major parks in Plano offer great opportunities to connect with the outdoors. 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. 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. And now, due to a partnership between the City of Plano, Toyota, American Park Network and Time Warner Cable, free Wi-Fi is now available at some city parks and recreation centers. Also, check out our list of where to see the best bluebonnets in Plano!
With more than 82 miles of trails criss-crossing the city, biking is a great way to see Plano. You can even find the routes on Google! Practice your swing and play a round of golf at Pecan Hollow, Ridgeview Ranch, and the Courses at Watters Creek. If you’d rather take your adventure above ground, check out the new Go Ape Treetop Adventure course at Oak Point Park which is made up of numerous rope ladders and 39 exciting crossings; including the Pirates Crossing, Fisherman’s Trap, Bosun’s Chair, 2 Tarzan swings and five zip lines!
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 see Plano’s largest park from a new perspective, for free!
For the History Buffs This Spring
Explore the Heritage Farmstead Museum as it preserves a way of life during the height of farm prosperity in the early 1900’s. The beautiful Victorian home and 12 outbuildings was the hub of a 360-acre farm operated by local resident, Ammie Wilson. Next head down the street to the Interurban Railway Museum. Plano transportation history is brought back to life with this interesting and free exhibit. Once a vital part of the Texas Electric Railway which stretched from Denison to Waco, the Interurban represents the original electric cars that ran on the tracks through Plano.
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- Credit: Visit Plano
A Must See This Spring
Known as the “world’s most famous ranch,” Southfork Ranch has attracted millions of visitors ever since it became the homestead of the fictional Ewing clan from the hit TV show, “Dallas”. Re-live some of the memorable moments from the show in the “Dallas Legends: Fact to Fantasy” exhibit then take a tram around the property to the famous Ewing Mansion for a guided tour. You can even take a trail ride throughout the property on horseback!
For more events in Plano this spring, view our event calendar.
Cover photo credit: Visit Plano
Go Ape photo credit: Go Ape
Interurban Railway Museum photo credit: Visit Plano
