{"id":900892,"date":"2026-06-29T13:59:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T13:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/900892\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T13:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T13:59:17","slug":"your-guide-to-plano-things-to-do-and-more-about-the-dallas-suburb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/900892\/","title":{"rendered":"Your guide to Plano: Things to do and more about the Dallas suburb"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/topic\/plano\/\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">Plano<\/a>\u00a0is having a bit of a moment. It has been for a while now.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-channels-pixel.ex.co\/events\/0012000001fxZm9AAE?integrationType=DEFAULT&amp;template=design%2Farticle%2Fplatypus_two_column.tpl\" alt=\"\" class=\"x1px y1px vh abs\" aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dallas\u2019 largest northern suburb was once a small farm town just outside of the big city. Explosive growth in the second half of the 20th century turned it into a bustling city, and earned it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/from-the-archives\/2020\/04\/01\/planos-rise-to-becoming-the-city-of-excellence\/\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">the nickname \u201cThe City of Excellence.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That transformation has even drawn two of Dallas\u2019 biggest names away from downtown: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/business\/real-estate\/2026\/01\/05\/att-building-new-headquarters-plano\/\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">AT&amp;T<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/sports\/stars\/article\/dallas-stars-arena-plano-willow-bend-mall-22204289.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">NHL\u2019s Dallas Stars<\/a>. They join an impressive core of major businesses with presence in the city, including Toyota, Capital One, and PepsiCo Foods. Beyond that, the city has repeatedly been named <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/business\/economy\/article\/north-texas-suburb-named-top-5-city-live-u-s-new-22236491.php\" data-link=\"native\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">one of the best places to live<\/a> in America for its schools, affordability, safety and more.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/business\/economy\/article\/north-texas-suburb-named-top-5-city-live-u-s-new-22236491.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">North Texas suburb named top-5 city to live in U.S. in new ranking<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s your guide to Plano:<\/p>\n<p>Fast facts<\/p>\n<p><strong>Population:<\/strong> 292,615<br \/><strong>Median age:<\/strong> 40.5<br \/><strong>Median income:<\/strong> $115,901<br \/><strong>Unemployment rate:<\/strong> 4.0%<\/p>\n<p>Race \/ ethnicity<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One race, white: 47.5%<\/li>\n<li>One race, Black or African American: 12.6%<\/li>\n<li>One race, American Indian or Alaska Native: 0%<\/li>\n<li>One race, Asian: 24%<\/li>\n<li>One race, Native Hawaiian: 0%<\/li>\n<li>One race, some other race: 3.6%<\/li>\n<li>Two or more races: 11.5%<\/li>\n<li>Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race): 14.1%<\/li>\n<li>White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: 45.5%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>Educational Attainment<\/p>\n<p>For ages 18-24 (roughly 7.1% of the population)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Less than high school degree or equivalent: 10.9%<\/li>\n<li>High school graduates (or equivalent): 41.1%<\/li>\n<li>Some college or associate&#8217;s: 28.2%<\/li>\n<li>Bachelor\u2019s degree or higher: 19.8%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For ages 25+ (roughly 71.9%)<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High school graduates (or equivalent): 10.7%<\/li>\n<li>Bachelor\u2019s degree: 36.7%<\/li>\n<li>Graduate or professional degree: 26.9%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Housing<\/p>\n<p>120,096 units; 115,376 occupied (96%)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>65,561 owner occupied<\/li>\n<li>49,815 renter occupied<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>73,397 1-unit detached<\/li>\n<li>4,600 1-unit attached<\/li>\n<li>41,961 multi-unit<\/li>\n<li>138 mobile homes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Median home value:<\/strong> $541,700<br \/><strong>Median rent:<\/strong> $1,904<\/p>\n<p>Compiled by staff researcher Rachel Friend. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Tables S0601, S1501, S1903, S2301, DP04.<\/p>\n<p>A brief history<\/p>\n<p>Initial attempts to settle the prairie in the 1840s were met with resistance from area Native Americans, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tshaonline.org\/handbook\/entries\/plano-tx\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">Texas State Historical Association<\/a>. Subsequent efforts were more successful as farmers took advantage of land grants in the area. The town was named\u00a0Plano after the Spanish word for \u201cflat\u201d when a post office was established in 1852.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/from-the-archives\/2020\/04\/01\/planos-rise-to-becoming-the-city-of-excellence\/\" data-link=\"native\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Plano&#8217;s rise to becoming &#8216;The City of Excellence&#8217;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Houston and Texas Central Railway connected the town to Dallas in 1872 and it incorporated the following year, according to TSHA. The Shawnee Trail used for cattle drives also helped the area grow in the 1870s as herds went north through Collin County.<\/p>\n<p>A fire in 1881 destroyed most of the buildings in Plano, but the town successfully rebuilt. By 1888, a new railroad arrived and opened the town to further growth. It became an outlet for\u00a0blackland-prairie farmers and, by 1890, the town was home to about 1,200 people.<\/p>\n<p>Plano remained primarily a farming town for much of the next 75 years, adding only about 400 residents every 10 years, according to TSHA. The Plano of today emerged in the 1960s and 1970s when Dallas\u2019 growth and other developments spurred a population boom in the city.<\/p>\n<p>The town\u2019s population more than quadrupled between 1960 and 1970, growing from just under 3,700 to nearly 18,000. The town surpassed 100,000 residents in the 1980s and became home to some major corporate relocations, including Ross Perot\u2019s Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Frito-Lay and JCPenney.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>Today, Plano remains a hub for major corporations and has grown into one of Collin County\u2019s most important cities and Dallas\u2019 most important suburbs. Beyond that, the city has won recognition in recent years for its schooling, affordability, safety and more.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"The Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano seen during an event for Easter.\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-gray200 mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano seen during an event for Easter.<\/p>\n<p>2017 File Photo<\/p>\n<p>Notable landmarks<\/p>\n<p><strong>Heritage Farmstead Museum:<\/strong> One of the few remnants of Plano\u2019s past as a farming community, the museum is located in a restored Victorian-era farmstead.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Legacy District:<\/strong> This northwest Plano hub is a microcosm of the city\u2019s boom over the past few decades. With major business, retail, dining and residential all well-connected to Dallas and the rest of D-FW, this area is hard to beat.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Chicken thighs, roasted vegetables, and smashed croquettes, at Flamant, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 in Plano.\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-gray200 mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Chicken thighs, roasted vegetables, and smashed croquettes, at Flamant, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 in Plano.<\/p>\n<p>Shafkat Anowar\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n<p>Things to do<\/p>\n<p>Bars and restaurants<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bavarian Grill<\/li>\n<li>CraftWay Kitchen<\/li>\n<li>El\u00a0Pueblito<\/li>\n<li>Flamant<\/li>\n<li>Haywire<\/li>\n<li>Legacy Hall<\/li>\n<li>Lockhart Smokehouse<\/li>\n<li>Mudleaf Coffee<\/li>\n<li>Sixty Vines<\/li>\n<li>Uchiko<\/li>\n<li>Urban Crust<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img alt=\"A young resident bikes through Chisholm Trail on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Plano.\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-gray200 mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A young resident bikes through Chisholm Trail on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Plano.<\/p>\n<p>Christine Vo\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n<p>Parks and trails<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Arbor HIlls Nature Preserve<\/li>\n<li>Bluebonnet Trail<\/li>\n<li>Carpenter Park and Recreation Center<\/li>\n<li>Chisholm Trail<\/li>\n<li>Oak Point Park &amp; Nature Reserve<\/li>\n<li>Preston Ridge Trail<\/li>\n<li>Shawnee Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Shopping<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lakeside Market<\/li>\n<li>Legacy District<\/li>\n<li>Preston Park Village<\/li>\n<li>The Shops at Willow Bend<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Museums<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Heritage Farmstead Museum<\/li>\n<li>Interurban Railway Museum<\/li>\n<li>Museum of Contemporary Visual Art<\/li>\n<li>Plano African American Museum<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img alt=\"Hot-air balloons take to the skies at the yearly Plano Balloon Festival.\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-gray200 mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Hot-air balloons take to the skies at the yearly Plano Balloon Festival.<\/p>\n<p>File 2013 &#8211;<br \/>\nStaff Photo<\/p>\n<p>A fun fact<\/p>\n<p>Plano hosts a yearly Balloon Festival at its Oak Point Park where they release dozens of hot-air balloons into the city sky. The event has taken place for nearly 50 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Plano\u00a0is having a bit of a moment. It has been for a while now. Dallas\u2019 largest northern suburb&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":900893,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,326154,1596,990,6415,181758,358,10928,329439,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-900892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-america","tag-arts-entertainment-things-to-do","tag-dallas","tag-food","tag-listicle","tag-newcomer","tag-texas","tag-things-to-know","tag-tp-plano","tag-tx","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116833757887279302","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/900892","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=900892"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/900892\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/900893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=900892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=900892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=900892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}