restaurant patio

Explore majestic mesquite and oak forests on nature trails. Discover Instagrammable public art displays. Soak up the sunshine as you sip a craft beer and enjoy alfresco dining. Plano, Texas, offers these inviting outdoor activities and more for locals and visitors to enjoy. Learn about some of the best outdoor attractions and experiences you shouldn’t pass up in Plano.

Dine Outdoors on Plano’s Patios

Sunny spring days and cool summer evenings beckon people to take their meals outside. Pleasant weather calls for enjoying a meal on one of Plano’s many outdoor patios. You’ll find several restaurants offering patio seating with attractive waterfront views along The Boardwalk at Granite Park.

The Biscuit Bar at The Boardwalk at Granite Park serves its signature biscuits with savory accompaniments, such as grilled chicken, pulled pork, and burgers. At Blue Mesa Grill, you’ll be delighted by brunch and Southwestern-inspired dishes ranging from enchiladas and tacos to burrito bowls and carne asada. The Golden Boy Coffee & Wine Bar offers all the liquid refreshment you need with its comforting lattes, plus signature coffee and tea drinks.

To celebrate a special occasion, make your reservations at Mignon Plano. Dedicated to delivering “love on a plate,” this contemporary steakhouse with a French flair serves some of the best prime steaks, seafood, and cocktails you could ask for in Plano. The large, temperature-controlled La Garage with its waterfront views creates an attractive setting for outdoor dining.

Discover Downtown Plano’s Public Art Installations

Witness Plano’s arts and culture when you explore the community’s murals and public art installations. Take a walking tour through the Historic Downtown Plano Arts District. You’ll find eye-catching murals on the side of Georgia’s Farmers Market and along a wall at Vickery Park. Legacy Central is home to the mural work of international artist Adrian Torres. 

In addition to this colorful collection of murals, you’ll discover sculptures depicting diverse elements of the local arts scene along a stretch of 15th Street between Central Expressway and G Avenue. Boulder, Colorado, artist Joshua Wiener displays his creative talents that welcome guests to the Historic Downtown Plano Arts District.

Go online for information for self-guided driving and walking Plano Art Walk tours.

Experience Living History and Life on the Blackland Prairie

Explore Plano’s farm in the city: the Heritage Farmstead Museum. This premier living history site preserves and interprets the heritage of the people who called the Texas Blackland Prairie region of North Texas their home.

Permanent exhibitions present topics related to North Texas history. Tour a replica of an 1895 North Texas one-room schoolhouse that still stands today in Ponder, Denton County, Texas. Visit the various outbuildings and structures on the Heritage Farmstead Museum property to learn more about farming culture and history in North Texas during the late 19th and 20th centuries.

With education at the heart of its mission, the Heritage Farmstead Museum offers year-round events and programs for adult and youth visitors. Parents and children can find inviting ways to explore North Texas history, from story times and teddy bear picnics to playtimes with farm pals and wagon rides. Visit the museum at 1900 West 15th Street.

Swim Your Way Across Texas

No matter where you go in Texas, you’re bound to find something intriguing and unusual that captures your attention. The Texas Pool certainly fits this description. 

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Texas Pool is literally a 168,000-gallon saltwater pool shaped like the Lone Star State. For more than 60 years, this Plano attraction has kept residents and visitors cool as they enjoy fun in the sun. 

Take a plunge off the diving board. Ride your way down two waterslides. Relax with your children at the shallow South Texas wading area.  

If you’re a Plano local and want to get in on the wet and wild fun, you can become a member at $150 for an individual membership or $250 for a family membership. Visitors to The Texas Pool can pay $10 per person (adults and children). Children 2 and younger swim free. Find this iconic pool at 901 Springbrook Drive.

Take a Hike Through the Treetops

Witness nature from high above the forest floor. The Go Ape Treetop Adventure course delivers adrenaline-rushing thrills through the canopy of a forest in Plano’s Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. Ascend 28 feet to the woodland canopy, and you’ll see nature from new heights. The tree-to-tree crossings, zip lines, and Tarzan-style swings offer an outdoor adventure like no other in Plano. 

Don’t think that Go Ape is your typical aerial ropes or canopy course. More than 40 crossings with various suspended obstacles are part of the experience on this three-hour tour. Did you know the longest zip line for the Go Ape Treetop Adventure course measures 423 feet in length? 

The costs to participate are $59.95 for adults ages 16 and older and $49.95 for children ages 10 to 15. Full finger gloves and face coverings are required for all participants. The park is located at 5901 Los Rios Boulevard.

Walk the Trails at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Take a walk, go for a jog, or head out on a hike at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. This 200-acre park and trail system offers inviting recreation opportunities that encourage you to explore the outdoors. An off-road biking trail extends about 2.8 miles through the nature preserve, while a 3-mile unpaved trail caters to walkers only. Pets on leashes are welcome at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. Guests also have access to restrooms, a covered pavilion, and a playground. Access the park at 6701 West Parker Road.

No matter how you choose to spend your leisure time, the experiences listed above offer great ways to get to know the Plano, TX area. There are plenty of activities you can find in the area that will make an empty day, an adventure-filled one. What did you think about our list? Did we miss one of your favorite outdoor activities? Send us a message and tell us about it. We at Huffines Chevrolet Plano are always eager to share what we love about the Plano community with residents and visitors.

Image via Pixabay by Skitterphoto


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