Originally published by: Ana Garcia, The Bucket List Latina – @thebucketlistlatina
I recently spent an amazing weekend exploring the wonderful Plano, Texas! It is located about 19 miles north of Downtown Dallas and is considered the “Balloon Capital of Texas”. Plano hosts a popular hot-air balloon festival each September you can’t miss so save the date! I’ll be sharing all the amazing things to do in Plano ranging from the outdoors, and adventure, to some amazing restaurants, where to stay and so much more!
What To Do
Interurban Railway Museum – Visit the free Interurban Railway Museum located in the historic downtown Plano. Fun fact, you can step inside the railcar and even sit in the motorman’s chair! Learn all about the history of the electric railway line in Plano. Fun fact, the building is actually an old train station! The perfect stop for kids and adults too.
The Texas Pool – You have to swim in the iconic Texas Pool! It is a saltwater pool with a shallow “South Texas”, a 10-foot-deep “Panhandle” and a “North Texas” island. Swim from Houston to El Paso in about 3 to 4 feet of water! The Texas pool is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and opens for the season on Memorial Day and stays open through Labor day! Make sure you save the date! Also note, it is open for rentals such as birthdays, parties, and any other special event. How cool is that?
Mural hopping – Go mural hopping in Plano! Start at the beautiful Kelsey Montague butterfly wings next to Francescas at Shops at Legacy. You have to get that perfect Insta-worthy photo! For more murals to check out in Plano click here.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve – Hike to the Observation Tower at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. It is about a 10-minute walk from the parking lot and totally worth the view. This area is not only perfect for hiking, or biking, but also for photos! We saw so many wildflowers on the trail and several photographers.
Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park Plano – If you love adventure, this one’s for you! Head to Go Ape Plano for ziplines and treetop adventures. Just note to leave all your belongings in the car and purchase a phone holder from them to capture all the fun! We had so much fun and it was such a good workout! We felt so accomplished afterwards!
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve – If you want to get outdoors more, hit the trails at the Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. It’s where Go Ape Plano is located and has some beautiful trails and lots of shade. Bonus, there is a beautiful small lake and over 13 miles of trails! Happy exploring!
Legacy West Plano – Shop, dine, and check out the photo ops at Legacy West Plano. They currently have the cutest flower photo ops right across Free People and Nike. These are changed every season so stay tuned for the next photo op! While you are there check out Legacy Food hall which has over 20+ eateries and bars.
Where to Eat
Urban Crust – The perfect spot for rooftop views & pizza is Urban Crust. I highly recommend the Urban Amore with fig preserves, prosciutto di parma, goat cheese, aged balsamic, and arugula. It was SO good and we also couldn’t get over the complimentary bread they brought out.
The Biscuit Bar – For brunch, you have to head to The Biscuit Bar! I got a classic sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit and the cheese/house-made sauce was amazing! We also got the breakfast style tots and highly recommend getting those as well!
Where to Get Coffee – Head to 1418 Coffeehouse. It is conveniently located in downtown Plano. Make sure to walk around and explore downtown Plano as it is super cute and historic!
Bavette Grill – For dinner head to this hidden gem, Bavette Grill. It is absolutely beautiful inside and the service and the food were amazing. I highly recommend getting the deviled eggs and the passionfruit cheesecake for dessert. My friend got the crispy chicken in her salad and it was delicious!! It is also located at the Boardwalk at Granite Park.
Haywire – Another option for dinner is Haywire. It is located at Legacy West and is known for their comfort food. First floor has a whiskey bar, a dining room on the second floor, and a rooftop patio. We loved all the different dining options including teepees, and airstreams!
Legacy Hall – Also at Legacy West, is Legacy Hall. It has over 20+ eateries & bars. It is three stories with more than four full-service craft bars and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy your meal. There’s definitely something for everyone including desserts, a wine bar, and more. The perfect place for groups that can’t decide what to eat!
Where to Stay
I had the pleasure of staying at the beautiful Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center. I stayed in the Executive Suite which had plenty of space and a balcony overlooking Legacy Town Center. Not to mention the bed was super comfortable!
I loved the location as it made it super easy to explore all of Plano. A bonus was that there’s a Starbucks conveniently located in the lobby of the hotel but make sure to head to brunch at Copper Creek at least once during your stay. I highly recommend getting the cutest Texas-shaped waffle there for brunch, it’s a must!
