Taking a summer trip to Frisco is an ideal budget-friendly getaway for single couples and families alike as the number of unique attractions and experiences make the city a “go-to destination.”

Texas drives the top visitation for Frisco, which is located 25 minutes north of Dallas, with more than half of the city’s overnight visitors driving more than three hours from the Austin and Houston regions to experience the variety of entertainment, retail and dining options the community has to offer.

“The close proximity of our hotels and attractions to each other make it easy to get around Frisco,” Visit Frisco Executive Director Marla Roe said. “There are a variety of family-fun options, but also great places to enjoy live entertainment or a night out.”

One of the most popular attractions during the summer is catching a Frisco RoughRiders game, the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers whose 2022 season runs through Sept. 18. Visitors can purchase tickets starting at $11 for seats on the grassy berm or near the bullpen, along with access to another unique spot to watch the game: a 68,000-gallon Lazy River.

“​​It’s a terrific venue, it sits just beyond the right-field wall and folks tend to belly up to the wall facing the field and watch the game,” said Victor Rojas, president and general manager of the Frisco RoughRiders. “It’s a big party and it’s a unique way, especially in the summer heat of North Texas, to cool off and take in a little baseball action.”

The ballpark also added a new concessionaire this season—Nolan Ryan’s RS3 company—offering a variety of dining options across the length of the field, ranging from barbecue to burgers to chicken to Southwestern dishes to the classic ballpark hotdog.

“We’re here for some fun, family affordable entertainment,” Rojas said. “We have a beautiful venue where you can spend two to three hours and enjoy tomorrow’s stars today.”

For visitors looking for a respite from the Texas summer heat, Frisco offers a variety of indoor museums including the Museum of the American Railroad/TrainTopia, Sci-Tech Discovery Center, Frisco Heritage Museum and the National Videogame Museum. Visitors can even save on admission through the city’s museum pass, which can be purchased for $25 at the Frisco Discovery Center.

One of the most unique options is the National Videogame Museum, which features an interactive component within each exhibit.

“We have a recreation of a 1980s arcade at the end of the museum, which is everyone’s favorite attraction,” museum owner John Hardie said. “[The museum features] a lot of history of the industry, starting with the early days of Pong and some of the first video game consoles. We take you on a journey to different aspects of the industry’s growth like the formation of software companies, joysticks, computers and virtual reality.”

No trip to North Texas in the summer would be complete without a dip in the pool. In addition to the Lazy River at the ballpark, visitors can check out the newly renovated pool at The Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa. The resort recently completed a $30 million renovation and now features a revived outdoor pool and adjacent bar called the Ranch Water, featuring craft cocktails and light bites. The Omni Frisco Hotel also features a rooftop pool, or families can enjoy the outdoor Frisco Water Park through the month of September. Day passes for children are $11, $13 for adults and free for those younger than 2.

If the outdoors or sports isn’t your style, consider a shopping excursion at Stonebriar Centre, the home of more than 180 retailers, or the city’s Rail District, which features a variety of local boutiques and stores on Main Street. Antique lovers can also find something at Frisco Mercantile, featuring 200 dealers and more than 38,000 square feet of shopping space.

“Of course, with more than 9 million square feet of retail in the city, shopping is a pretty popular experience,” Roe said. “From big name brands to local boutiques and antiques, Frisco has it all.”

Hoping to plan a long weekend trip or summer getaway to Frisco? Use this bucket list to kick off your vacation:

• Enjoy a slice of Americana: take in a Frisco RoughRiders baseball game from the Lazy River, which is open to single-game ticket buyers every Thursday and Sunday and larger groups during any other home game.

• Play video games in a recreated ‘80s arcade setting at the National Videogame Museum, and learn all about the history of the industry.

• Sit down for a meal at Nerdvana, an upscale, gaming themed restaurant with fun for the kids at each table, plus a cocktail menu for mom and dad with aptly named drinks like the Super Smash and the Golden Ch-Eye.

• Take a tour at The Star, the 91,000-acre campus where the Dallas Cowboys practice at the 12,000-seat Ford Center and where the team’s world headquarters is located. Afterward, do happy hour or grab a bite to eat at one of the nearby more than dozen restaurants and bars in the entertainment district.

• Visit the Frisco Snow Cone Lady stand during the summer for a sweet treat to beat the Texas heat.

• Let the younger members of the family be independent at KidZania, an interactive role playing museum and learning experience.

• Spend some time outdoors at the Texas Sculpture Garden, or scouring the city for the Instagram-worthy mural artwork. For the more adventurous, spend some time at Frisco’s skate park, the largest in North Texas.

• Visit the National Soccer Hall of Fame, or take in an FC Dallas professional soccer game at Toyota Stadium. The 2022 season runs through October.

• Shop ‘til you drop at Stonebriar Centre, featuring more than 180 national retailers.

• Stop by the Frisco Discovery Center and purchase a Museum Pass to save on admission at a variety of local museums.

• Enjoy all of the local cuisine Frisco has to offer, from fried chicken at Babe’s Chicken Dinner House, a favorite in North Texas, to Didi’s Downtown, featuring Texas favorites like hot honey buttered fried chicken, burgers and seafood, along with a brunch menu.

For a full list of hotels, dining, museum, sporting and entertainment options, visit https://www.visitfrisco.com/thecitythatplays/.

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