Frisco, Texas is the City that Plays

By Jack Dunphy
Staff Writer
 
Frisco’s slogan is “The City that Plays.” Their motto originally highlighted the abundance of sports opportunities for spectators and players in their city. But “The City that Plays” now is perfect as a brag about the growing list of choices for kids to play, explore, learn and have fun.

Fun is everywhere in Frisco—no kidding. Let’s look at some of the children-friendly highlights of Frisco: The Carousel at Stonebriar Centre, near KidZania ($3 per child). The Carousel is a fun way to start at Stonebriar Center Mall before heading into KidZania. It’s open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

KidZania: 

This place is special. I wish I could have visited an establishment like it when I was young. I have never seen or heard of a similar place. Adults will find it enchanting as well. 

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” We all heard that question as children.  I, like most children, defaulted to “teacher” and “President” as I knew of so few options.
KidZania opens a child’s imagination for their limitless future work adventure.

Children here role play in over 100 hands-on activities. Firefighter- they got that. Vet, eye doctor, ER Doctor, TV broadcaster, dentist, police officer, banker, construction worker, pizza maker…the list goes on and on.

Does anybody dream of being an airline pilot? Here, kids climb into the cockpit of a real Boeing 747. Looking out the cockpit windshield and with the help of the simulator, the new “pilot” controls the takeoff, flying, and landing of the jet airplane. Any child, or adult watching their child’s excitement, will never forget that flight.

In the Vet Clinic

In the Vet Clinic, the adult attendant teaches children how to care for an injured animal. At the hospital emergency room, kids jump in the child-sized ambulance and race off on a rescue mission.  Everything at KidZania is interactive and hands-on. Everything is scaled down to kid size. It is not like a classroom. At each place, the kids do things together and learn as a team.

Mr. Enrique Mena, Chief of Staff at Kidzania, told me on my tour with him, “The ages for getting the most out of KidZania are 4 to 14. The average stay is 5 hours. In that time a child can visit 6 to 9 establishments.” Enrique said,

“We are always talking to the kids about what they would like to see and add to KidZania. The most popular establishment is the fire station,” Enrique said. The kids get training, they get outfitted in a hat and coat.

An alert comes in and onto the fire truck, they go. Upon arriving at the emergency multilevel engulfed building, it is now all hands on deck. The team extinguishes the simulated fire with real water shot from real water cannons.  

A Day at KidZania jump-starts a child’s journey to discover their career identity. But more than that, it plants seeds of wonder, excitement, and future possibilities to live their best life. ($49.95 fee for children 4-14, $16.95 for under 4).  

Frisco Public Library

This library boasts a 22’ high 42’ long (Texas-size) Tyrannosaurus Rex model. “Rexy,” as she is known, is just the start of what makes this library attractive to kids. Before you even enter the library, a former rocket factory, try the “whisper dish.”

Speak softly into the curved dish, and your friend across the field can hear you. Stepping inside, you are greeted with 42 famous quotes attached to the ceiling. The library center is a visual feast with 40-foot-tall ceilings.

Do not forget to look down, too, because embedded in the floors are real dinosaur tracks. This $62 million library at 158,000 sq ft. is the sixth largest in Texas. Kids love the whole back section of the library devoted to them, called Tiny Town. There, they climb onto a wooden train, play all sorts of games, make imaginary meals in the kid-size kitchen, and so much more.  

Thomas Finley was kind enough to give me a tour of the library. Although his title is Adult Services Manager, he enthusiastically showed me Tiny Town, the kid’s “infinity mirror,” and the puppet play area on the caboose.

Mr. Finley told me he was involved in the layout of the library as he visited libraries around Texas and gathered their best ideas to bring back to Frisco. So, the library includes a robotic center, a demonstration kitchen (for adults), and private study and conference rooms. “We are so much more than books,” he said. 

Next door to the library, you will find the National Video Game Museum. Here, I learned the rich history of video games, and I tried several. The Giant Pong Game was the easiest and the most fun for me. The museum guide says it is “a Place that exudes FUN.”  

Hike and Bike: Frisco boasts over 70 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and paved trail biking. Many of the trails start at public parks, which provide ample parking. Three popular ones are Beavers Bend Trail, Cato Trail, and Big Blue Stem Trail. For the more serious bicyclist, three local cycling clubs would love to include you in their group rides. Several highly rated bicycle repair stores also rent bikes.

Frisco RoughRiders

Who does not enjoy watching a professional baseball game? The minor league Frisco RoughRiders play top-tier baseball with a unique twist. Enjoy the game from the bleachers or for an excellent view of the ballfield, climb into the “Lazy River.” A waist-high long and narrow pool winds its way along the edge of the outfield. What a great idea and a fun way to cool off! 

Golf in Frisco 

Frisco is golf crazy. Two championship golf courses proudly call Frisco home. I toured the Omni PGA Resort and Spa, where no expense was spared in its creation. Kids especially like the Swing, a lit 10-hole par three course. For more fun, try the Dance Floor, a 2-acre putting green! I hit balls at their simulated golf course onto an imaginary fairway.

Immediate feedback shows how far I drove the ball and, for me, if I even landed on the fairway. A Junior Golf Camp for the more serious youngsters is an option. Restaurants and pools in the 500-room Omni Hotel abound. 

Universal Kids Resort  

This is a big deal in the works. Owned by NBC Universal, this 32-acre entertainment resort is all about fun for families. The resort will be sectioned into parts displaying Jurassic World, Despicable Me, Shrek, and SpongeBob. Universal says their resort “will invigorate the imagination of young visitors.” With 300 on-site hotel rooms and a $550 million investment, it will be worth a visit. Expected opening June 2026. 

With all that is offered to children (and adults), Frisco earns their well-deserved slogan, “The City that Plays.” 

As if all the above is not enough, more Frisco fun ideas include:

National Soccer Hall of Fame
Sci-tech Discovery Center
IFly (indoor\hover above a cushion of air)
Museum of the American Railroad
The Star (Dallas Cowboys 91-acre practice training center)