About 25 minutes north of Dallas, Frisco is a suburban Texas
city shaking things up
. Yes, we know the word suburb usually comes with an eye roll, but not in Frisco. Here, you’ll find family activities, educational museums, nightlife, elevated and casual eateries, plenty of outdoor arts and adventure, endless shopping, and the stunning campus of the Dallas Cowboys. Whether you’re in town for a short airport layover or here for a long weekend of family fun, Frisco spoils visitors with choices galore. Here are our favorite ways to explore Frisco that will leave you coming back for more.
What To Do If You’re A Sports Fan
Tour The Dallas Cowboys Practice Facility
« America’s Team, » the Dallas Cowboys actually have their state-of-the-art practice facility,
The Star
, in Frisco. The 91-acre campus gives Cowboys fans an up-close look at the Dallas Cowboys and includes the Ford Center, a 12,000 seat indoor stadium plus Cowboys operations and practice fields. There’s also the Ring of Honor Walk, an area that honors 22 members of the Dallas Cowboys Football Club who’ve become legends in team history. Members honored include Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach, and infamous head coach for 29 seasons, Tom Landry. Visitors can
tour The Star
and see the Ford Center, Nike Star Walk, the War Room, and more.
One Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX 75034,
thestarinfrisco.com/
Watch Baseball From A Lazy River
Catch Frisco’s hometown baseball team the
RoughRiders
—a Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers—at Riders Field while floating in the ballpark’s
lazy river
, one of the largest water features at a
professional sports venue
. The 3,000-square-foot river overlooks the whole ballpark where fans can cool down in the water on a hot summer day while sipping an ice-cold drink.
Riders Field, 7300 Rough Riders Trl, Frisco, TX 75034,
mlb.com/frisco
Soak Up Some Soccer
Not only is Frisco the home base for Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas, but soccer fans will want to check out the
National Soccer Hall of Fame
, right on the grounds of the team’s Toyota Stadium. The museum celebrates American soccer with an immersive experience where you can build your own team, test your soccer skills, and learn about the sport’s most important moments and figures.
9200 World Cup Way, Ste. 600, Frisco, TX 75033,
nationalsoccerhof.com/
Get On The Golf Course
There are abundant opportunities to golf in Frisco no matter what your ability, whether you have an impressively low handicap or put-putting on a par-3 is more your style. To get out and play, there’s a course for everyone at
PGA Frisco
’s 660-acre campus. Home to PGA Of America, a professional golf association that promotes the game, there are two 18-hole championship golf courses, a 10-hole short course, and a 2-acre putting range, which are adjacent to the
Omni PGA Frisco Resort
.
3255 PGA Parkway Frisco, TX 75033,
pgafrisco.com/
Where To Shop
Browse High-End Shopping Centers
Dallas’ reputation for its high-end shopping centers is spreading into Frisco, as the city has more than 9 million square feet of retail space. Whether you’re into high-end ateliers, boutique finds, vintage treasures, or Texas-inspired novelties, you’ll find it in Frisco.
Stonebriar Centre
is great for your whole family and includes the LEGO store, movie theater, Dave & Buster’s, and shops for men, women, and kids.
Frisco Mercantile
has more than 200 dealers inside 38,000 square feet of retail space and has everything from vintage furniture and modern fashions to home decor
and antiques
. The
Centre at Preston Ridge
has over 100 stores including Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, J. Crew, and more. And while you’re touring the Dallas Cowboys headquarters, don’t miss
The Star District
, nestled in The Star, offering 20 restaurants, plus boutique shops, salons, and wellness services.
Explore The Rail District
Historically, the
Rail District
hosted Frisco’s farmers, ranchers, and city dwellers who would come to Main Street and the surrounding area for shopping, dining, and general social outings. Today, the Rail District is still thriving, and home to an array of merchants selling handcrafted coffee, decor, clothing, and vintage finds. The Rail District is also home to favorited dining spots, making it a must stop along your journey.
Didi’s Downtown
is a live music venue and eatery housed in the third oldest home in Frisco, and the
Depot Cafe
serves comfort classics like burgers and
chicken fried steak
. At
Storied Roots
, find a curated selection of home decor made by craftsman from around the world, and
Bittersweet Ivy Boutique
is great for finding graphic tees, modern clothing, and gifts.
Where To Hit The Trails
If outdoor pursuits are more your speed, Frisco is the perfect suburban escape, with more than 70
miles of trails
to explore. The
Frisco Mountain Bike Trail
is favorited by cyclists and hikers alike, while the
Cottonwood Creek Greenbelt
is awesome for joggers, walkers, and cyclists. Cottonwood Creek Greenbelt also has the scenic Ganzer Road Bridge that dates to 1904, and there’s’ even a fishing platform and picnic tables at the pavilion. Beaver’s Bend Trail, located within
Beaver’s Bend Park
, offers a paved path for exploring, plus two playgrounds, picnic tables and a pavilion, and even a bike repair station.
Where To Find Arts & Culture
Take A Walk To Enjoy Public Art
Frisco has no shortage of art, including art museums, live theater, and one of the largest collections of outdoor public art in Texas. Scattered across the city, you’ll find over 80 pieces of art that are part of the
Public Art Program
. There’s even a
walking tour
of public art pieces found around the Frisco Square. The
Texas Sculpture Garden
‘s sculpture collection is known as the largest private collection of contemporary Texas sculpture ever assembled, and includes walking trails for visitors.
Check Out The Museums
Step back in time to Frisco’s past at the
Frisco Heritage Center
, where exhibits include pioneer items such as a log cabin, schoolhouse, old jail, a steam locomotive and caboose, Gaby’s Blacksmith Shop, the Frisco Railroad Depot, historic homes, and even a windmill. With a nod to Frisco’s railroad past, the
Museum of the American Railroad
celebrates rail history with artifacts, archival materials, and exhibits such as locomotives and rail cars. Don’t miss the Union Pacific « Big Boy » steam locomotive, the world’s largest locomotive that was built in 1942. A more modern experience is the
National Videogame Museum
, where videogame history is preserved. There’s a full ’80s arcade, the world’s largest Pong console, and plenty of vintage and modern games to enjoy. Also in the
Frisco Discovery Center
, the
Black Box Theater
is one of the few black box theaters in North Texas and showcases improv, plays, films, and concerts.
Where To Eat
As the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex continues to grow, so do its suburbs, including Frisco. One great thing about growth though? The incredible dining scene that naturally comes with it. There are far too many great spots in Frisco to name, but
Nerdvana Food + Spirits
, where video and board game pop culture collide with crazy cocktails and delicious « bytes, » is a great place to start. Try the Elven Elixir (gin, wildberry puree, lemon-infused simple syrup, and elderflower liqueur) for a cocktail, and the chicken and shrimp pasta with Sonic Boom sauce on linguine.
The Heritage Table
serves up farm-to-table comfort classics like their Southern Shrimp Boil with shrimp, house sausage, jalapeño hush puppies, and a red pepper remoulade, and
Bottled & Bond Cocktail Parlour and Kitchen
creates elevated modern cocktails and vintage cocktail classics alongside thoughtful menu items such as scallion and cheddar potato beignets, bison meatballs, black-eyed pea hummus.
Where To Stay
Located in the Dallas Cowboys’ entertainment district, the
Omni Frisco at the Star
has 300 modern guest rooms and suites, a sparkling pool with cabanas and a pool bar, an on-site restaurant, and a fitness center. The
Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort and Spa
sits on 400 acres and includes a spa, kids’ club, pool with cabanas, waterslide, and a splash pad; a golf course next door, and a fitness studio. Kids love the new Activity Lawn. Located next to the PGA of America headquarters, the
Omni PGA Frisco Resort
has 500 guest rooms and suites, 10 four-bedroom ranch houses, four pools, a full-service spa, and golf experiences, from championship courses to practice areas, for all ages and abilities.