Summer Bucket List: The A-Z Guide to Summer in Collin County

We are officially entering summer here in Collin County! Before the initial excitement and anticipation of long days with loose schedules wears off, be sure you stockpile ideas to keep the kids entertained.

No need to worry, we’re here to help. This A-Z guide offers something for everyone: fun things to do with kids inside and out, quick excursions and day-long commitments, activities within Collin County borders and beyond, all guaranteed to bring the fun!

A   Arbor Hills Nature Preserve – Pack a picnic, enjoy the unique playground, and take a hike while observing the natural beauty of your surroundings.

B   Bahama Bucks – Dine in and play a board game with your littles while you cool off with a sweet treat!

C   Crayola Experience – Color their world with a creative experience they won’t soon forget! If you’ve never been, you can read a CCM review here.

D   Dinosaur Valley State Park – Load up the car for a day trip to explore dinosaur tracks, observe wildlife, camp, picnic, hike, bike, swim and fish! Approximately two hours from DFW.

E   Edge Skate Park – For bigger kids who like extreme sports, Edge Outdoor Skate Park in Allen offers a wide variety of skating elements.

F   Frisco Fire Safety Town (or any local fire station!) – Pay your local heroes a visit and ask for a tour while you’re there.

G   GeO-Deck – Head to the top of Reunion Tower for stunning views of Dallas and scheduled activities for children during the summer.

H   Ham Orchards – About an hour from Collin County, this delightful orchard in Terrell sells sweet Texas peaches grown on site, goods from their farm-to-market store, delicious homemade peach ice cream, and more.

I   iFly – Take your adventurous children ages three and older to try indoor skydiving!

J   Jack Carter Pool – If you grew up in Plano like I did, this is not the pool you remember! It’s revamped with a lazy river, water slides, climbing wall, spray features, and more for the whole family can enjoy.

K  Klyde Warren Park – Slap on the sunscreen, pack some water bottles, and spend the day on the playground (kids can cool off at the water feature), renting games to play on the lawn, eating from the food trucks, and taking a (free) ride through Uptown on the trolley!

L   Library – Have some quiet time at your local library. Check the schedule to see what children’s activities are offered each week.

M   Movies – A dark and cool movie theater is a great way to beat the Texas heat! Treat your kids to a fun experience at Camp Cinemark at Cinemark Allen, a uniquely-designed kid-friendly auditorium.

N   In-Sync Exotics – Located in Wylie, this non-profit is dedicated to rescuing neglected, abused, and unwanted exotic felines. It’s a fun way to get up close to big cats while also supporting a great cause!

O   Obstacle Warrior Kids – Let your lil’ ninjas challenge themselves on a variety of obstacles inspired by American Ninja Warrior.

P   Playgrounds – Even in the heat of summer, sometimes you just need to let your kids get their energy out at a playground. Check out our list of unique playgrounds in Collin County. Moms of toddlers should check out the best parks for toddlers in the area. If staying inside on a hot day is more your style, you can’t go wrong with Play Street Museum.

Q   EQ Kids Club – EQ Kids Club moved out to a farm west of Prosper, but they still host occasional special events for kids. We’ll share in our monthly guides when they do!

R   RoughRiders Game – It’s a fun experience to support our local minor league team no matter how you do it, but watching the game from the unique Lazy River really makes for a memorable time!

S   Splash Park – Beat the heat at a splash park! Check out our splash park guide to see some of our favorites.

T   Topgolf – A fun and easy outing that the whole family can enjoy! Check out our CCM Topgolf review here.

U   Urban Air Adventure Park – Bounce the day away at this thrilling indoor adventure park.

V   Vacation Bible School – If you’re looking for an inexpensive, week-long day camp, there are still a lot of VBS options into August! Check out our guide to VBS in Plano, McKinney, Frisco, and more.

W   Watters Creek – Do some shopping, grab a bite, and let your kids play in the giant treehouse or on the perfectly manicured lawn. Check their website for upcoming family friendly events!

X  eXperience Texas – What better way to experience Texas than by going to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo? Takes place every Saturday night from June–August.

Y   YouTube Yoga – Enable mindfulness and relaxation in your children with kids’ yoga! Cosmic Kids Yoga is a fun, peaceful, and FREE way to spend some time together in the comfort of your home.

Z  Dallas Zoo – Get there when they open to avoid the afternoon heat and see the animals when they’re most active!

I hope you found some new ideas in and around Collin County to help get you through these summer days!