Your day in the summer sun doesn’t have to be hot — or pricey. Pack swimsuits or sneakers (or both) and follow our lead to entertain the fam for $25, $50 or $75. (Note: These totals were estimated using a family-of-four model.)
The Colony
GO: Splash into your Saturday at The Colony Aquatic Park’s outdoor sprayground, from 1–4:50pm. Cool off at the leisure lagoon and wading pool and try to dodge the water geysers. $4 for ages 7 and older; $3 for ages 6 and younger accompanied by an adult.
DO: Dry off at Kids Colony 2, just a two-minute drive along North Colony Boulevard. Kids venture through the sensory garden and play on the forest-themed forts and slides while you relax under a covered pavilion.
EAT: Whet your palates at OMG Tacos at the newly opened restaurants of the Shacks at Austin Ranch. Tacos are 50 cents off after 3pm. Tacos from $1.49; drinks from $1.99.
East Allen
DO: Golf with the family at Topgolf. Giant targets on the green make it easy for players of all ages. Bays cost $20 per hour for 1–6 people before noon plus $5 membership cards for each family member. In the free game room, families play giant Jenga, pingpong and more.
EAT: You and the kids create personal pizzas at Crazy Tomato eight minutes southeast of Topgolf. Layer an original or thin-crust pie with meats and veggies. Personal pizzas from $6.99.
GO: Before heading home, let the kids run around at Celebration Park just 2 miles east. Change the kids into their swimsuits, and let them splash around at the sprayground. They can dry off on the accessible playground with slides and swings after. Free.
Around Frisco Square
EAT: Enjoy an afternoon starting with lunch at Tomo Sushi before 2:30pm. The bento boxes are popular for family-style dining, but they offer kids’ meals too. Boxes from $12; $6 kids’ meals.
GO: Run the gamut of games at the National Videogame Museum, 4 miles up the Tollway, on Saturdays from 10am–8pm. Admission includes four tokens to redeem in the vintage arcade with Centipede, Pac-Man and more, plus everyone can play computers and consoles at no extra cost throughout the museum. Tickets: $12 adults; $10 ages 10 and younger; free for ages 3 and younger.
DO: At Frisco Square, a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk north, set your family loose at Frisco Public Library. Let elementary-age kids fiddle with exploration kits and Magna- Tiles while preschoolers put on puppet shows and read inside the interactive Ready-To-Read Railroad play space. No library card required to play, but you will need to show another Collin County library card or purchase a $50 nonresident card to borrow books and videos.
