Category Archives: Local towns

McKinney Historic District

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Searching for a relaxed day trip near home? McKinney offers public art, upscale shopping, and fine dining in its walkable downtown. Established in1849, McKinney has escaped the plight of many Texas-pioneer towns. An infusion of private investment refurbished century-old buildings allowing the area to pivot from a collection of dusty antique malls and empty store fronts to a thriving collection of high-end boutiques and eateries. And, even with newcomers and McKinney’s rapid growth, the historic downtown retains its small town charm.

Western Wear to Handcrafted Décor

birds and words for home decor

The old Collin County Courthouse, now home to the McKinney Performing Arts Center, anchors dozens of surrounding shops. If you seek chic-western, you’ll find it at Orisons. Or visit McKinney Hat Company to be fitted for an iconic Stetson hat. A cluster of women’s boutiques can be found along Virginia Street. My favorite shopping is at the smaller, home décor stores like birds & words. The store sells a mix of new merchandise and items crafted from found objects. Another of my favorites is Petals and Vine where I’m guaranteed to find that perfect gift. And finally, if looking for a vintage item, try the Antique Company Mall and its expansive collection of everything from vinyl records to grandma’s fine china.

McKinney Dining

Portions of the area around the courthouse sport extra-wide sidewalks, allowing outdoor seating areas. Sip a glass of wine at Landon Winery or enjoy Spoons Cafe’s all-day breakfast alfresco. It’s a grand way to relax and do a little people watching. Other casual establishments like Cadillac Pizza Pub and The Yard have limited indoor seating but offer large patio dining.

In addition to relaxed eateries, McKinney is home to a variety of upscale restaurants. Rick’s Chophouse is the type of restaurant reserved for those special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. Rick’s specializes in steaks, but also offers an exceptional selection of seafood. Lunch is a wonderful and a less expensive way to sample Rick’s fare. A new restaurant, Fontina Ristorante, masters Italian cooking with nuanced, house-made sauces, and is well worth a visit. Local Yokel, a long-time McKinney store selling farm fresh meat and eggs, opened a fine dining restaurant a short half-mile from the courthouse. Local Yokel BBQ and Grill elevates barbeque to haute cuisine.

McKinney Arts Community

Unique by Nature is McKinney’s city motto. I might have come up with a different motto—like—Uniquely Artistic. Long before the city’s downtown renovation, visual and musical artists drew people to the historic district with events like Second Saturday art walks. A collective of local artists now manages The Cove. Check their website for local art exhibits. The Millhouse, an all-women creative collective, is located at the old cotton gin and often hosts exhibits.

Van Helton Silo Mural

In 2016, the City of McKinney commissioned its first large mural. Many are found in alleys. One of my favorites is a waist-high, block-long, playful mural depicting Texas flora and fauna by artist Theresa Holmes. It’s a bit like a scavenger hunt finding all the outdoor murals as you walk the area.

The most impressive is the mural painted on old grain silos at the now defunct flour mill. Guido Van Helten, an Australian artist, took over five months to complete the behemoth project. Van Helten is renowned for his large-scale, photorealistic murals.

McKinney City Festivals

McKinney always finds a reason to celebrate. Check the city calendar for events. Three festivals not to be missed are Arts in the Square (April), Oktoberfest (last weekend in September), and Christmas on the Square (Thanksgiving weekend). I’m also a big fan of the McKinney Art Studio Tour. Held on the second weekend of November, local artists open their studios to visitors. It’s fascinating to see the artists at work and gives an appreciation of the breadth and depth of the local creative community.

When you go

Parking is free and abundant around the old courthouse. In addition to ground lots, a parking garage is located at Chestnut and Davis. Store locations: Orisons (102 N Tennessee), McKinney Hat Company (213 N Kentucky), birds and words (100 W Virginia), Petals and Vine (205 N Kentucky), and Antique Company Mall (213 E Virginia). Restaurant locations: Landon Winery (101 N Kentucky), Spoons (100 E Louisiana), Cadillac Pizza (112 S Kentucky), The Yard (107 S Church), Rick’s Chophouse (107 N Kentucky), Fontina Ristorante (216 E Virginia), Local Yokel BBQ and Grill (350 E Louisiana).

Fun Fact: Money magazine named McKinney the best place to live in 2016

McKinney Farmers Market

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McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square is my favorite North Texas farmers market. The vintage buildings of Chestnut Square serve as the perfect backdrop for local producers and artists. Shaded courtyards offer a pleasant respite from scorching Texas heat for both shopper and seller. It’s a little like stepping back in time to what shopping might have been like at the turn of the century — not this one, but the previous century.

Expanded Market

As McKinney grows, so does its farmers market. In addition to sellers nestled among the old buildings, you’ll find tent stalls lining Chestnut Street. The once small market has grown from thirty vendors to almost a hundred. And no more fighting for parking as there’s now a free parking garage kitty-corner to the market on Howell Street.  Despite its growth, it still exudes character with friendly vendors, artists, and street musicians. There is even something for youngsters. The kids will love a chance to ride a pony at T Bar Pony Rides located on the south edge of the market. McKinney Farmers Market vendors map can help newcomers navigate the larger market.

Sustainable Shopping

McKinney Farmers Market is an organic shopper’s nirvana. Buy grass-fed beef from Keeton Beef, fresh mushrooms from Farmboys Fungi, and local honey from numerous sellers. Claiming center stage are multiple fruit and vegetable vendors many of who are Collin County farmers. The produce varies based on the time of year. Expect fresh beets in spring and melon in summer. Some items are sourced from within Texas, like fresh peaches from Pittsburg, Texas.

Yes, it’s a great shopping experience, but markets like McKinney Farmers Market are important to communities and the environment. These markets support local producers and small businesses. Buying local also reduces the carbon footprint (energy cost) associated with transporting and storing goods as they make their way to grocery stores. Finally, the budget conscious shopper will often find high quality, seasonal fruits and vegetables at bargain prices.

To help guide the sustainable shopper, the market cues customers with how much of the product sold … be it food or crafted work … is actually produced by the vendor.

My Market Favorites

Stonebranch MicroFarms. Micro farms are small scale operations, normally on five-acres or less. Stonebranch is a family farm that brings to market what’s ripe in their farm plot. During my visit this week, produce included bok choy and walking onions. I love that every week, they offer flower arrangements in mason jars for $6. And this year, I see they’ve add some beautifully crafted cards to their wares. Visit early as they often sell out.

Yatab Mandazi. A newcomer to the market, Yatab Mandazi sells what is dubbed as African beignets from a tradition passed down from the baker’s grandma. I reheated mine at home and sprinkled them with powdered sugar. The beignet nuggets are a little denser than New Orleans-styled beignets, but truly yummy.

The Tamale Company. If you want to eat at the market, The Tamale Company sells hot, individual tamales. Or buy frozen packages to take home. Varieties include two vegetarian options.

When You Go The McKinney Farmers Market (315 S Chestnut Street, McKinney) runs every Saturday morning, 8 to noon from April through November; and the first and third Saturday December through March. Arrive early for the best selection of farm fresh produce and baked goods.

Big Orange Pumpkin Farm

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Preston Trails Farm

It’s pumpkin time! If you are looking for a Fall family outing, check out The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm at Preston Trail Farms. Located in rural Gunter, a trip to the farm makes for a relaxed, low-key afternoon in the country.

More than a pumpkin patch

The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm has a little something for everyone. Of course, you’ll find the requisite furrowed field with small pumpkins positioned along the rows. Ah, but there is so much more.

Petting zoo

Preston Trails Farm petting zoo

My personal favorite is the petting zoo with its cattle (including longhorns), sheep, and goats. Your admission includes a small sack of feed, all you need to make close friends of the animal kind. Unlike other petting zoos, you don’t go into the livestock enclosures but feed the begging goats at the fence. This worked much better for my younger grandkids. The fence barrier kept the farm critters from surrounding and overwhelming the little kids. If you haven’t seen a longhorn cow up close and personal, here’s your chance.

Hayride and maze

A farm tractor pulls several flatbeds with hay bale seating for you ride. The course is just around the farm perimeter, but there’s more. Be sure to read the whiteboards posted along the track, as they tell a clever little story about Farmer Rick. As you round the last curve of the route you’ll discover the fate of the missing farmer.

The maze, created from bales and rolls of hay was surprisingly difficult. There are enough dead ends and crazy twists to give maze runners a challenge. Not far from the maze are several wooden sawhorses where older kids (and adults) can practice their lasso skills. And on weekends, the kiddos can ride the farm train, a tractor-pulled train of barrel cars.

Photo op

Be sure to bring your camera. Scattered throughout the grounds, family photo opportunities abound. There are hay rolls painted as pigs and pumpkins, great wooden cutouts to stick your face through, and picturesque old farm equipment. And of course … there are pumpkins!

Preston Trail Farms

The whole pumpkin patch experience is behind Preston Trail Farms, a year-round general store. It’s a cross between a feed and hardware store, just like the ones I remember from my youth. The general store even has three different kiddie rides out front, the type that used to be in front of grocery stores, in this case a mechanical horse, longhorn, and two-seater carousel.  

Tender Smokehouse is a small restaurant, is tucked into one corner of the store. The smokehouse has a limited menu serving breakfast tacos and BBQ sandwiches and banana pudding.

Once pumpkin season passes, you can shop the store, grab lunch at Tender Smokehouse, and enjoy the year-round petting zoo out back.

COVID-19 precautions

The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm encourages mask wearing in all places. While we were there, about half the folks wore masks. There are cute signs all throughout encouraging six-foot distancing and the hayride seating also encourages distancing. I’d suggest visiting the farm during the weekdays or early in the morning to avoid crowds.

When you go

Preston Trails Farm (15102 Preston Road) is located in Gunter. Admission to the farm is $10 for all over the age of two. Your admission includes a small bag of food for the petting zoo. On weekdays your admission also includes a small pumpkin. On weekends, you pay for pumpkins in the store. The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm is open seven days a week now until November 25. Hours are 8 am to 8 pm.

History Trivia Fact. Preston Trail Farms and the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm are on the old Shawnee Trail cattle drive route.

Ballpark Fun with Frisco RoughRiders

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For a fun-filled family outing, head to Frisco and an evening with the Frisco RoughRiders. As American as apple pie, baseball is the quintessential family sporting event. The Frisco RoughRiders, a Double-A affiliate to the Texas Rangers, deliver baseball thrills at the fraction of the cost of a Major League Baseball (MLB) game.

The team

A member of the Texas League, the RoughRiders compete against teams from Texas and surrounding states of Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. This is great baseball, with players giving their all for a chance to be called up to the majors. Through the years, over 140 RoughRiders have gone on to careers in the MLB including greats like Nelson Cruz. And if you are a Texas Rangers fan, you still may see your favorite players here, as well. The Rangers use the RoughRiders to rehabilitate players on their injured list.

The venue

Dr. Pepper Ballpark, home to the RoughRiders, received accolades when built in 2003 and again after its 2015 renovation. It’s a modern facility with prime game viewing from its 8,000 seats. Like many other ballparks, its amenities include everything from a playground for little fans to air-conditioned, luxury entertainment suites. Unlike other ballparks, it also sports a lazy river complex out near right field. Yes, you can swim and watch a ballgame. There is even a party area for adults featuring DJ music and Deep Elum brews.

Small ball fun

With four mascots, you can expect between-inning fun. There are prairie dogs Daisy and Deuce to encourage fan participation and cheer the boys on. And Ted E. Bear and Bull Moose, giving a nod to the team’s namesake, Theodore Roosevelt’s Roughriders. From base running relays to absurd dance off contests, the franchise does its best to entertain the whole family with more than just a great ball game.

Keeping it affordable

Frisco RoughRider tickets can be more expensive than other minor league clubs. That said, a family of four can still spend an evening at the ballpark for less than $50. On Thursdays, a Dr. Pepper Fan Pack includes four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for just $44. The grocery store Kroger partners with the ballpark to sell lawn tickets (that include a free hot dog) for just $7. Kroger special pricing is good for games on Sunday through Thursday. While more expensive, Flex Passes provide the option to go to any ten home games and includes food and drink with your ticket.

When you go

Dr. Pepper Ballpark is located at 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco. The 2019 opening day is April 4 against Midland RockHounds. The 2019 season runs from April through August with the last home game on August 25 against Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Paid parking is available on site.

Tip: Stonebriar Mall is a quarter mile away from Dr. Pepper Ballpark. The west shopping mall parking lots offer a free option to stadium parking. The area around the mall is filled with restaurants for pre- and post-game dining.

Frisco Heritage Museum

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Are you looking for a Sunday family outing? Start with a Texas history appetizer at Frisco Heritage Museum and finish with family dining at Babes Chicken Dinner House.

Frisco Heritage Museum

A covered wagon complete with prairie sound effects, a wall mural depicting historic cattle drives, and a section on king cotton are a few of the museum exhibits that walk us through North Texas history. On the second floor a frontier-styled house allow children to play and try their hand at pioneer chores. The museum shares its space with the Museum of the American Railroad who has a railroad section, while small, that provides a glimpse into train travel of yesteryear.

Third Sunday

The Frisco Heritage Center, located behind the museum, offers a collection of structures with their own story to tell. Normally, the buildings are closed, but on the third Sunday of each month, Frisco Heritage Center is open, free to the public. The afternoon includes events in the center’s vintage outbuildings. The North Texas Blacksmiths Association man Gabby’s Blacksmith conducting demonstrations throughout the afternoon. See smiths use forge and anvil to create nails and other objects, a crowd favorite with young scouts visiting the day of my visit. The Crozier-Sickles house, built in 1895, retains fixtures and furniture from the Crozier family. The old icebox in the kitchen and the hand-crank telephone contrast starkly to today’s refrigerators and smart phones. Other buildings include Lebanon Baptist Church (first built in 1883), a train depot, and a one-room schoolhouse replica.

Railways Replace Cattle Trails

In addition to gaining an appreciation of life and lifestyles of long ago, the museum and heritage center offers a look at the effects of progress. A perfect example is the fate of frontier town Lebanon, now just a footnote in Texas history books. At the turn of the twentieth century, railways replaced cattle trails as the center for local commerce. On the old Chisholm Trail, Lebanon found itself a little over four miles from the new railway. Today, that seems a short distance but, back in 1902, it was far enough for folks to leave Lebanon and create Emerson, a new town closer to the railroad. A few years later Emerson would be renamed Frisco in honor of the company, St. Louis – San Francisco Rail Line, that precipitated the city’s birth. In February, the Frisco Heritage Museum will open a temporary exhibit on forgotten towns such as Lebanon.

Babes Chicken Dinner House

When you’ve had your fill of Frisco history, step next door to locally famous Babes Chicken Dinner House. It’s setting, down-home country, is the perfect place to end the afternoon. Babes offers good ol’ comfort food like country fried steak and chicken, with sides served family style.

When you go

Frisco Heritage Museum (6455 Page Street, Frisco) is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and on Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. Admission is $8 for a family, adults $4, and children just $2. The best time to visit the museum is on the third Sunday of each month with free access to the Heritage Center.

Babes Chicken Dinner House (6475 Page Street) is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. A children’s menu is available.

 

Fun Fact: Did you know that a bale of cotton weighs five hundred pounds? Frisco’s last cotton gin closed in 1976.