The little sister of Dallas, Plano boasts everything from mouthwatering BBQ joints and smokehouses to fascinating heritage museums that reveal the most intimate secrets of the railroad and tell agricultural stories of this section of Texas. 

Add to that a multicultural medley of attractive eateries that craft beers and tout crusty Italian pizzas, walking trails, great art-house cinemas, and top-quality shopping, and you will see there is no shortage of things to do in Plano TX. In this detailed guide, we will help you figure out what to do in Plano. 

Top-Rated Things to do in Plano

1. Urban Crust

Though Plano is not that far from Dallas – a 30-minute Dallas limo service ride should get you there – one might need to start their adventure with a portion of the local cuisine to replenish their energy levels. There is no better place to get a good taste of Plano’s cuisine than the Urban Crust. 

Its main menu carries mouthwatering platters of Tuscan cold cuts, truffle-topped carpaccios, Texan-influenced Cowboy ribeye, and Caesar salads. However, it is the pizzas that take the center stage, with the chewy and crusty pies mimicking the flavors of trattorias that line the Bay of Naples. Urban Crust also has a wide selection of wines from various parts of the US, Argentina, France, and Piedmont.

2. Heritage Farmstead Museum 

Often called a “living museum” for its dedication to preserving each minutia of the daily lives of the early 20th-century inhabitants, Heritage Farmstead Museum reveals the ins and outs of wheat and sheep farming in backcountry Texas between 1890 and 1930. 

Today, visitors and locals alike get to see the single-room schoolhouse that once taught Northern Texas’ country children, explore the old outhouses raised by the Farrell family, and unravel stories of local firefighters, scouts, and much more in the exhibits available in the museum. 

3. Go Ape Zip Line 

Set over the canopies of the Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve, the high-energy action Go Ape Zip Line makes the most of Plano’s wilderness. If you are wondering what to do in Plano TX, you can challenge yourself by scaling a series of swinging Tarzan vines, the soaring series of ziplines, tenuous rope ladders, and a wide range of other adrenaline-inducing sports. 

With the whole region being awash with beautiful sections of trekking paths, streams, and woodland, Oak Point Park, is an ideal choice for anyone eager to escape the city streets of Plano. 

4. Plano Station 

A top heritage site, Plano Station was completed in 1908 and is still one of the finest examples of Spanish revivalist architecture in the region. Today, it has been transformed into an informative Interurban Railway Museum showcasing restored carriages from when the Texas Electric Rail first became operational. 

One of the fun things to do in Plano this weekend, the station puts you on a network of tracks that once joined Plano city to a web of rails going from Waco to Dallas and then beyond. 

5. Angelika Film Center 

If you are wondering what to do in Plano with a group of friends, taking a Plano Limo service ride to Angelika Film Center might answer your question. Done out in the medley of 1930s Art Deco styles, the film center is home to 5 individual silver screens. 

The repertoire has made a name for itself by offering interesting art house pieces and thought-provoking cinema. Inside, you will find a great eatery and café where you can enjoy cocktails, bubbling champagne, fantastic coffees, and cheese sarnies. 

6. Arbor Hills Nature Preserve 

Sprawled out in swaying grass plains, a patchwork of wildflower meadows, poison ivy thickets, and buckthorn trees, Arbor Hills is an ideal place to sample the wild and less-explored corners of Northern Texas. 

The area features a well-maintained trail system with walkable paths that weave more than 3.8 miles through the backcountry. The nature preserve also has playgrounds for your kids, plenty of picnic spots, and a dedicated mountain biking track. 

7. Shops at Legacy 

If you like shopping, retail therapy should be on your list of what to do in Plano. A colossal conglomeration of high street boutiques, coffee shops, family-friendly eateries, and cinemas, Shops at Legacy is the undisputed destination for shoppers. 

Visitors can expect high fashion outfits, stylish jewelry, bespoke cutlery, the best tableware, top-quality olive products, and much more. Whenever you need a refill, you can retire to one of the chain restaurants for a plate of Tex-Mex or All-American food. 

8. Dallas Vintage Shop 

A vast emporium of everything vintage, Dallas Vintage Shop carries elegant 1920 suits, bombastic corsets, top hats, smoking jackets, retro petticoats, multi-colored umbrella dresses, and much more. The sprawling boutique close to downtown Plano has rail upon rail of bespoke goodies on offer. 

The vintage shop also carries oodles of accessories, with visitors getting to view and purchase purses, ties, and even pocket watches. 

9. Bob Woodruff Park

Forming just one section of the Plano trail system, Bob Woodruff Park weaves through urban districts offering glimpses of forestry and greenery, with connections to the Santa Fe Trail and Oak Point Reserve. 

The park features pretty lakes, piers for fly fishing, picnic spots, open lawns, and running tracks, along with 2 individual pavilions that are extremely popular with event organizers. If you bring your kids along, their entertainment in Plano TX will include a great playground, complete with swings, climbing frames, and slides. 

10. Nine Band Brewing 

Featuring a regularly changing menu that is imbued with the likes of trademark Kolsch and the in-house honey blonde, Nine Band Brewing is an ideal place for beer lovers. Use a Texas limo service to get there on Tuesdays for the $2 beer deals that allow visitors to drink to their fill. 

The tasting room features an open-air feel and a stripped-down simplicity that makes it an ideal place to sip a craft ale or two, courtesy of the overly welcoming Northern Texans. 

11. Lockhart Smokehouse 

Located in central Plano, Lockhart Smokehouse is the place to go for flavor-packed Texan barbeque meats. Boasting a casual, laid-back feel, the joint utilizes counter service and sells its prime meats by half a pound, allowing the customers to sample the cuts before making the purchase. 

The meats range from the classic Texan brisket to the legendary lean Shoulder Clod, all oozing with slow-cooked smokiness and saltiness. The on-site bar, complete with American beer labels and happy hours every week should keep thirst away. 

12. Los Rios Golf Club 

Featuring a premier 18-hole golf course, the Los Rios Golf Club was designed back in the 1970s with all the makings of a truly beautiful and challenging golfing destination. At a whopping 6,507 yards, the golf club ensures that you are not running out of things to do in Plano Texas. 

The club is cut through by water features and complete with immaculately manicured fairway and rough sections. The golf course is open to the public at affordable rates. 

13. Lewisville Lake 

Spreading out to the north-western part of Plano, Lewisville Lake carries Plano TX attractions that are a perfect fit for people who love walking, camping, boating, or simply kicking back and relaxing in the heat of a Texan summer. 

One of the best places to visit in Plano Texas, crowds flock the lake’s shore all eager to catch a tan on its grassy banks, rent yachts, glide across its surface on sail dinghies, jet skis, or enjoy fly fishing. Oodles of campgrounds and lodges pepper the area, along with series of lively marinas that go all the way from the sleepy Eagle Point to the bars of Pier 121. 

14. Shawnee Park 

A charming swathe of greenery, Shawnee Park is home to one of the most popular disc golf courses, where visitors and locals can try out their hand at the Frisbee version. 

The park has numerous free things to do in Plano, with welcoming lawns to relax on, a playground for the younger ones, maintained picnic spots, and a babbling fountain. Strolling the Shawnee Park Trail is an ideal way to enjoy all these Plano attractions in a single day. 

15. Mutual Cemetery 

A more off-the-beaten-track site, Plano Mutual Cemetery is steeped in Plano’s history. Still, in use, the cemetery is the place where the graves of the first settlers that made Plano their home can be found. 

Take some of your time to wander the cemetery, seeking out the names belonging to the people that came to Plano in the middle of the 19th Century. The first burial was conducted back in 1852, with Dr. Lillie being raid to rest. 

16. Historic Downtown Plano 

Still comprised of many of Plano’s earliest buildings, the Historic Downtown is the place to see buildings that have survived more than a century, with the oldest buildings dating back to 1896. 

Appearing on most lists of things to do in Plano today, the historic area covers 6 city blocks, is an urbanized space, and has various shops, restaurants, cafes, offices, bars, and more, all housed in restored and preserved buildings. The lively region is the epicenter of Plano’s cultural events, frequently hosting block parties, art festivals, street events, and a wide range of other exciting activities. 

17. ArtCenter of Plano 

A non-profit art exhibition center, the ArtCenter of Plano is housed in a grand 20th-century Victorian mansion that once harbored the Harrington Furniture Store. One of the top-rated places to visit in Plano, the ArtCenter hosts a variety of exhibits throughout the year and is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of emerging and independent artists within the community. 

For visitors looking for stuff to do in Plano, the center offers various classes, including visual and performing art classes along with music lessons. With its cultural events, meetings, and lectures being accessible from the Center’s online calendar, planning your trip should be easy. 

18. Pinstack 

Pinstack offers 50,000 square feet of fun, with visitors getting to spend their time in a state-of-the-art bowling alley with 28 lanes, a well-stocked bar, a gourmet restaurant, a laser tag arena on 2 levels, a high rope course 20 feet up in the air, a climbing wall, a wide variety of video games, and much more. 

Whether you are an adrenaline junkie, you prefer chatting over drinks, or you enjoy competing to see who will win a video game, Pinstack has some of the best Plano things to do. 

19. Whiskey Cake 

Doubling as one of the fun places to go in Plano and a premier destination for drinks and cocktails, Whiskey Cake is open for lunch and into the late-night hours, serving a variety of creative, thoughtful bar food and drinks. When it comes to drinks, the destination carries a wide range of wines, diverse whiskeys, and beers. 

The menu is equally tempting, with the spot providing a variety of updated bar staples along with diverse salads, exotic snacks, and numerous entrees. The space at Whiskey Cake’s is casual and trendy, with an industrial and youthful vibe. 

Related Post: Plano Nightlife

20. Plano Balloon Festival 

The sky over Plano offers a spectacular show every September when more than 45 colorful and fun-shaped balloons ascend high into the air, taking the curious and brave along on a magical ride. 

The Plano Balloon Festival is a popular 3-day event that offers more than just balloon rides – you can also enjoy parachute jumping, inflatable rides for the younger ones, live music by the local bands, martial arts show, dance groups, and plenty of drinks and food vendors to suit your taste. 

FAQs

Q: What is Plano Famous for?

A: Plano boasts strong education, great neighborhoods, and various nature preserves. However, one of the things that make it stand out for most people – especially visitors – is the authentic and iconic Texas cuisine served in its restaurants. 

Q: Is Plano Expensive?

A: Compared to the average national cost of living, Plano’s cost of living is 7% higher. However, considering that the cost of living is only compared to the national average, Plano is more affordable than other cities in the US. 

Q: What is There to Do in Plano for the Weekend?

A: For a weekend in Plano, you can: 

• Shop at the Legacy mall 
• Swim in the famous Texas Pool 
• Visit Downtown Plano Arts District 
• Visit Heritage Farmstead museum 

Limo Find Overview

Offering a compelling mix of outdoor and indoor activities, Plano can keep even the most adventurous individuals occupied. If you have been trying to figure out what to do in Plano, this list of things to do in Plano is designed for you. Explore the museums to learn the city’s history, visit the restaurants to enjoy nice cuisine paired with drinks, and visit nature preserves to relax away from the city.