When you hear the word “Texas” it usually brings visions of wide-open spaces and numerous activities. For your next outing, consider spending the day at one of these exciting area destinations.
Southfork Ranch
Southfork Ranch is an iconic landmark that made a name for itself as the setting for the television show, “Dallas,” and the legendary Ewing family. The sprawling homestead offers glimpses into the life of the Ewing family with tours of the mansion, exhibits and memorabilia from the series, the vintage Lincoln Continental, along with a tour of the grounds.
Pick up a souvenir at two retail shops then head to Miss Ellie’s Deli for a bite to eat. Tours begin at 10:15 a.m. and end at 4:15 p.m.
Cavanaugh Flight Museum
History and aviation enthusiasts won’t want to miss a visit to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. The museum is home to an impressive list of vintage aircraft from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the 1950s, Vietnam and the 60s, plus several civilian aircraft. Tour the museum where you’ll see restored planes that are used for visual display. You can also book a ride on one of the available vintage warbird aircraft that take guests over scenic north Dallas.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Interurban Railway Museum
Make your way to downtown Plano and the Interurban Railway Museum for an enjoyable and educational day learning about the rail system. At the museum, you’ll have access to interactive exhibits covering Plano’s history, science, and electricity, along with pictures and memorabilia. Two historic cars reside at the railway station that you’ll also get to tour. Every Friday, the Children’s Storytime at 10:30 a.m. provides engaging stories for preschoolers.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Heritage Farmstead Museum
Built in 1861, the Heritage Farmstead Museum takes you back in a time in history and what it was like to live on the Blackland Prairie. The 4.5-acre homestead is a living history site with exhibition galleries, both enclosed and open-air, where you’ll see examples of life on the prairie perusing 10,000 objects covering a period from 1890 to 1920.
The landscaped grounds are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Guided tours of the Farrell-Wilson homestead are available Tuesday-Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve
Enjoy an outdoor oasis at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve where you’ll have access to 800 acres. It’s the perfect place to hike 3.5 miles of hard concrete surfaced trails and 5 miles over soft trails. The park features a nature and retreat center, an amphitheater, pavilion space, Wi-Fi, and restroom facilities. For a relaxing experience on the pond, bring along your canoe, stand-up paddleboard, or kayak.
Oak Point is open daily from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. The nature trails open at sunrise and close at sunset.
Whether you prefer indoor activities, enjoy the big blue skies of Texas, or a combination of the two, Plano’s menu of fun activities has a variety of things to do for all ages.
Cavanaugh Flight Museum – 2008-10-29-043 via Flickr by Perry Quan. Used with permission via CC BY- SA 2.0 / cropped from original
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