By Maggie Heyn Richardson

Which ingredients make the perfect summer weekend getaway? Hint: they’re all found in Plano. Great shopping is required, along with relaxing spa treatments and gourmet cuisine. Live music sounds pretty good, too, along with time spent by the pool or at memorable attractions kids and adults will never forget. Offering something for everyone, beautiful Plano is a one-of-a-kind escape that’s jam-packed with summer fun.

Legacy West

Call it a stylish one-stop-shop. Legacy West, Plano’s crown jewel of fashion, flavor and entertainment, is a great place to drop by for an hour—or even a spend a weekend, thanks to the Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel right on site. Find the perfect look at more than 40 retailers, including luxury brands like Gucci, David Yurman, and Louis Vuitton. Book an appointment with a stylist who will create a shopping experience that’s uniquely you. Complete your glow-up by visiting one of the salons offering hair, nail, and skincare services. Tempt your taste buds at more than two dozen bars and restaurants offering artfully scooped gelato, stylish Asian fare, thick juicy steaks, and much more. Foodies will gravitate to Legacy Hall, the onsite food hall featuring more than 20 eclectic culinary finds. Stick around for live music and entertainment performed by regional and national talent in the open-air The Lexus Box Garden at Legacy Hall, Plano's premier outdoor entertainment venue.

Go Ape

Ready to live life adventurously? Set amid the lush green of Oak Point Park, Go Ape makes it its mission to remove you from your comfort zone and place you in the treetops. For real! Experience ropes courses, zip lines, and other challenges that both first-timers and seasoned thrill-seekers will embrace. Start with the beginner’s hour-long journey through a world suspended in the trees, where you navigate rope bridges, obstacles, and ziplines all while soaking up the beauty of nature. Or, go big with the Treetop Adventure, featuring 28-foot-high crossings, a 423-foot-long zipline, and heart-pounding Tarzan swings, all packed into an epic two-to-three-hour experience. Still craving more? Test your axe throwing skills or puzzle your way out of the outdoor escape room. At Go Ape, the adventures are totally tree-mendous.

Crayola Experience

Well, color me….colorful! Your day will burst with every shade and hue at the Crayola Experience. Located inside The Shops at Willow Bend, this engaging family attraction offers 60,000 square feet of hands-on, creative fun that brings out everyone’s inner artist. Bigger, brighter, and bolder than ever, the Crayola Experience invites kids and adults to dive into the world of art and technology through more than two dozen interactive attractions. Design your own crayon in a limited-edition color, create vibrant fashion designs, play arcade games, and let your imagination go wild with crayons in every shape, color, and form. If crayons were the first key to unlock your creativity, you’re not alone. Celebrate them at Crayola Experience.  

The Texas Pool

Only in Texas is there a swimming pool like this. Shaped like the Lone Star State itself, The Texas Pool welcomes swimmers, sun worshippers, and anyone eager for a little refreshment. Built in 1961, the historic pool is a friendly place to cool off in the summer, and you don’t have to be a member to dive in. Guests pay a nominal fee for a day of swimming, sunbathing, and just generally having a splashtastic good time. The 168,000-gallon saltwater pool features a shallow “South Texas” wading area for small children, a 10-foot-deep “Panhandle,” and a “North Texas” island. Swim from Houston to El Paso! Feel free to pack your own picnic or use the gas grills on site to cook up some burgers and dogs. Bring your shades and sunscreen!

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Escape into Plano’s natural beauty this summer at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, a breathtaking 200-acre sanctuary where nature and adventure meet. Located on the city’s western edge, this Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary is a serene getaway for hiking, jogging, biking, and spotting native flora and fauna. Wind your way through shaded woods and enjoy both paved and unpaved pedestrian paths. Off-road cycling enthusiasts will love the rugged 2.8-mile bike trail, and nature lovers can join guided walks to learn more about the preserve’s rich ecosystems. Don’t miss the observation tower. It delivers a panoramic view of the surrounding hills and the Plano skyline that’s nothing short of spectacular. Convenient touches like picnic areas, a playground, and restrooms make it easy to turn your visit into a full-day outing.

Downtown Plano Arts District

Feel the magic of original local art in the Plano Arts District. This historic downtown neighborhood offers a lively blend of fine art, theater, history, dining, and engaging community events.? Everywhere you look there’s something beautiful to see created by the hands of an artist. Public art installations, including several spectacular downtown murals and sculptures, remind you this is a city that embraces art. Everywhere in downtown Plano, you can feel the pulse of history, thanks to red brick streets and architecture dating back to the 1890s. Visitors can take advantage of the self-guided Plano Art Walk, spotting both public art and historic landmarks. An exciting mix of shops and restaurants adds to the fun. And annual events like Plano Arts Week and Dickens in Downtown set an inspiring, anything-can-happen vibe. The arts are alive in downtown Plano!

Lone Star Food Tours

Plano never tasted so good! Embark on a custom culinary adventure with Lone Star Food Tours, which offers a progressive dining experience at three locally owned restaurants in downtown Plano. Groups of 10 or less can savor mouthwatering chef-prepared dishes paired with curated wine or craft cocktails. Explore charming boutiques and specialty shops on the way to the next stop. Tour guides will share fascinating stories about Plano, revealing hidden gems and popular spots in the beautifully preserved historic district. Lone Star Food Tours bring gourmet fun to family trips, bachelorette parties, team-building events, and milestone celebrations. Pull up a chair. It’s the tastiest tour around!

Fowling Warehouse

No, we’re not talking about a warehouse full of chickens. “Fowling” is a zany, can’t-miss pastime combining the fun of football and bowling in an electric atmosphere complete with tasty food and cold beverages. At Fowling Warehouse, you get to hurl a football at 10 bowling pins, with victory claimed by the last player to knock them all down. The game was invented by friends attending a tailgate at the 2001 Indy 500 and it’s become just as addictive as it sounds. Plano’s Fowling Warehouse is a 71,000-square-foot venue decked out with 40 fowling lanes, two 50-foot bars, and an 11,000-square-foot VIP lounge with private lanes and its own bar. The unique venue is an ideal summer diversion for travelers of all ages.

Plano is the perfect place for an unforgettable summer weekend. With a wide variety of hotels to suit every taste and budget, there’s something comfortable and welcoming to make every traveler feel at home. Visit Plano today!

About the Author: A lover of all things Lone Star, Maggie is an award-winning features writer covering the Gulf South and is the author of Hungry for Louisiana, An Omnivore’s Journey.