Frisco was practically engineered for families. The school district is one of the best in Texas, the parks are big, the streets are wide, and almost every restaurant has a kids' menu. As short-term rental hosts here, we get the same questions from family guests every week, so we built this guide to answer them once.
This is organized by what your kids are into. Skip ahead to the section that matches your group and you'll be in good shape.
Indoor (for hot summer days, World Cup viewing breaks, or rainy spring afternoons)
KidZania at Stonebriar Centre
The single best indoor activity in Frisco for kids ages 4–14. KidZania is a four-acre indoor "city" where children try real-world careers — pilot, firefighter, baker, dentist, news anchor — earning the in-park currency (kidZos) and spending it on activities. Plan at least four hours; the kids will want more. Adults can sit in cafes throughout the park while kids rotate through experiences with staff.
Tickets: ~$30 children, $20 adults. Cheaper bundles available. Pre-booking weekend slots strongly recommended.
The National Videogame Museum
In the same complex as Sci-Tech Discovery Center, the only museum of its kind in North America. Walk through the history of gaming from Pong to current consoles, play classics on original hardware, see a working Atari arcade. Adults who grew up in the '80s and '90s get more nostalgic than the kids do — be warned. About 2 hours.
Sci-Tech Discovery Center
A small-but-mighty children's science museum next door to the Videogame Museum. Best for elementary-aged kids; younger ones get overwhelmed and older ones outgrow it. Combine with the Videogame Museum and a meal in the Rail District for a full half-day.
The Frisco Skate Park & Indoor Ice Rink at Stonebriar
Two unrelated venues that bookend a day well — skate park outside in the morning when it's cooler, ice rink in the afternoon when it's not. Both rent gear. The ice rink is right inside the mall, which has the unusual side effect that kids voluntarily walk through retail to get there.
K1 Speed indoor go-karts
Real electric go-karts on a real indoor track. The minimum height requirement is 48" (drivers around 8+ usually clear it). Cadet karts are available for younger kids on a separate track. Pricier than mini-golf but the memory is worth it.
Outdoor (when the weather cooperates — generally March-May and October-November)
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Three miles of paved hiking trails through restored tallgrass prairie, with an observation tower at the top of a small hill. Free. Bring water, hats, and bug spray in summer. Wheelchair- and stroller-accessible.
Frisco Commons Park
The big city park — a 50-acre municipal park with a 1.5-mile trail loop, a sprawling playground (with shade!), a splash pad in summer, and a lake with a path around it. Holiday lights in December are a regional draw.
Frisco Athletic Center pools
A city-run aquatic center with a kids' pool, a lazy river, slides, a wave-feature, and a separate lap pool. About $10 per non-resident. Less crowded than the resort pools but no cabanas — bring a tent if you're staying past 11 AM.
Bonnie Wenk Park (just over the border in McKinney)
Frisco's best-kept secret for kids is technically in McKinney: a 105-acre park with a creek for wading, a treehouse-style playground, and a remote-control airplane field nearby. Free. About 15 minutes from our properties.
For sports-loving kids
FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium
MLS soccer in a stadium that holds 19,000 — never feels too big, family-friendly pricing, World Cup-relevant. Home matches run March–October. The National Soccer Hall of Fame is on-site for a pre-match visit.
Dallas Cowboys tour at The Star
A 90-minute tour of the Cowboys' headquarters, including a walk onto the practice field (when the team isn't using it). Even non-football kids ask thoughtful questions. ~$30 adults, $20 children. Combine with a meal at one of The Star's restaurants.
Frisco RoughRiders (minor league baseball)
The RoughRiders are the AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Riders Field is intimate, the tickets are cheap, the kids can usually get autographs on the concourse before the first pitch, and there's a kids' play area in the outfield. Summer evenings only.
Dr Pepper Ballpark and the Frisco StarCenter
The StarCenter (an ice rink also home to a Dallas Stars affiliate) sometimes opens for public skating. Worth checking the schedule.
For toddlers and pre-K
Honestly, this is the age group where staying at a property with a private pool and yard pays off the most. Our four homes — The Palmera, Dreamscape, Frisco Waves & Fairways, and The Indigo Oasis — all have heated pools, hot tubs, fenced yards, and game rooms that work well for the under-5 crowd. Less driving, less coordinating with naps, more time actually relaxing.
For when you do venture out:
- Frisco Public Library has a dedicated children's wing with weekly story times.
- Children's Learning Adventure indoor play center (good for under-4s).
- The splash pad at Frisco Commons in summer.
- The Frisco Discovery Center for short, age-appropriate exhibits.
Eating with kids
Most Frisco restaurants are kid-friendly almost by default — see our best restaurants guide — but a few favorites of guests with kids:
- Hat Creek Burger has a fenced playground inside the restaurant.
- The Yard has communal tables and a kids' menu that doesn't insult either party.
- Hutchins BBQ is loud, fast, and serves food kids actually eat.
- La Hacienda Ranch has a separate "small Texans" menu and a patio when weather permits.
Holiday-season specials
If you're visiting around Thanksgiving or December:
- The Lights at Frisco Commons — drive-through holiday lights, free.
- Stonebriar's tree-lighting in late November.
- Frisco Square's holiday market — three weekends in December.
- Holiday on the Square — ice rink (real ice, in Texas), Santa visits, free.
What to skip with kids
- Stonebriar Mall as a destination — except for KidZania and the ice rink.
- The Omni PGA resort if your kids aren't golfers — pretty but not designed for them.
- Most of the Rail District in the evening — that's grown-up date-night territory.