When you consider how much there is to do in and around Plano, Texas, it's no surprise that the city is consistently ranked among the best places to live in America. Whether you're getting together with the ladies to shop for day spa gifts for Christmas, taking a solitary walk to get in touch with nature, or revving up for an action-packed day of sports, Plano has something to suit every taste. Here are some popular things to do in Plano, which you may find useful in planning your first few nights out on the town once you move into your new home.
Shopping
There are seven malls and shopping districts within Plano and far more in nearby Dallas-Fort Worth that are only a few minutes drive away. Some of the more interesting shopping destinations include Historic Downtown Plano, with its brick streets and quaint antique shops, and the Plano Market Square, which is the destination for thrifty shoppers seeking bargains on band name items like Alfred Sung wedding clothes. Colin Creek is the traditional American mall, with stores like J.C. Penny and Macy's while Preston Village caters to the more upscale Pottery Barn crowd and the Shops at Legacy has a more eclectic feel to it.
Festivals
Plano's community calendar is loaded with choice events that make a convenient day out for anyone who likes to experience the out-of-the ordinary without taking the trouble to plan the outing themselves. Seasonal events range from trade shows featuring bridal gowns and a car sweepstakes contest to the hot air balloon festival which is the city's biggest draw. On any given week there's something going on. Sometimes it's as simple as a pancake breakfast or a movie in the park, other times it's a huge celebration of video gaming that attracts convention-goers from across the country, so make sure to bookmark the city's events calendar.
Sports and Parks
High school football is popular all across Texas, and Plano is no exception. So why not sit under the "Friday night lights” and cheer on the local boys? Alternatively, you can attend a top tier tennis match played by teams from Collin College. If communing with nature is more your style, pack up your baby's diaper bag with bamboo diapers and head out to Oak Point Park, which features 800 acres of nature preserve. The city has over 35 miles of trail in total along with dozens of swimming pools, playgrounds, and sporting fields.
Attractions
If you're looking for a day away from the counter at the nursery supply store, consider taking a day trip to one of these Plano attractions: Amazing Jake's theme park, which features go-karts and an arcade, the Plano ArtCenter, which displays the work of local and national artists, the Heritage Farmstead Museum, where you can see how farming was done in the early 1900s, or the Interurban Railway Museum, which shows off original relics of the electric railway. There are also numerous theme parks and museums in the other Dallas suburbs, like Six Flags in Arlington and the zoo in Fort Worth.
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