Collin County mom Buena Paz Montero—also known as BonBon—is a travel consultant and blogger who runs Bon-Bon Voyage. (You can get her advice on kid-friendly travel as well as local fun at bon-bonvoyage.com; follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @bonbonmontero.) But as many places as Montero, husband Paul, 11-year-old son Nicholas and 10-year-old daughter Arianna have been, they love their home: “We’re so lucky to live in Plano,” Montero says.
Favorite Family Restaurant: My family loves good pizza, pasta and salad. Some of our favorites are Urban Crust and Little Rome, but Bellagreen is on top with their nothing-but-fresh ingredients and delicious healthy meals. We also love to support restaurants that are committed to sustainability, and Bellagreen is a 3-Star Certified Green Restaurant. Urban Crust, 1006 E. 15th St., Plano, 972/509-1400; Little Rome, 2707 W. 15th St., Suite B, Plano; 972/449-7071; Bellagreen, 2408 Preston Road, Suite A, Plano; 972/975-9033
Best Park: Hard to pick. In Plano, there is probably a park in every neighborhood and many miles of trails to explore. We love the Chisholm Trail near us. We bike, rollerblade and take our dog for walks on it. The trail follows a creek through central Plano and has several parks along with it; Big Lake Park with its recently renovated embankments is beautiful! Haggard Park in downtown Plano is also a favorite; lots of shade, historic buildings nearby, a gazebo, a playground and a small lake with a bridge. It is absolutely charming. Chisholm Trail, Legacy Drive to Alma Road, Plano; 972/941-7250; Haggard Park, 901 E. 15th St., Plano; 972/941-7250
Favorite Family Outing: My family loves the outdoors, and we try to get out as much as we can before the weather gets too hot during summer or cold in winter. For an indoor activity, we love to watch live theater shows and support local performing arts. We love Shine children’s and youth theater; they have fantastic productions. 3035 W. 15th St., Plano; 972/519-1622
Go-To for Going Out: One thing is for sure—my husband and I love our date nights. We love good drinks, good food and a chill ambiance. We both love Japanese cuisine, and we couldn’t be happier with Ebesu Robata & Sushi in the Historic Downtown Plano area. 1007 E. 15th St., Plano; 972/212-4564
Self-Care Spot: My girl and I go for chiropractic adjustments every other week, and we just love Whole Body Chiropractic. Dr. Brent and Dr. Al are the most caring people; they make us feel at home, and we always feel great after a session. I go to My Med Spa for facial treatments. They have great people who take care of your needs. Nicole, the owner, is always there to answer any questions. Whole Body Chiropractic, 2233 W. 15th St., Plano; 469/931-2226; My Med Spa, 5940 W. Parker Road, Suite 103, Plano; 972/378-0993
Where She Gets Active: The gym has been part of my lifestyle since I moved to Plano in 2009. Equinox Plano, located at The Shops at Willow Bend, is my favorite fitness club so far. Everyone is so nice and accommodating, and they have the best group fitness classes. The eucalyptus steam room is a bonus. 6109 W. Park Blvd., Plano; 214/919-7409
For Cooling Off: During summer, my kids spend most of their days in our pool and cool off with some shaved ice from Sugar Mountain. Away from home, we go to the nearby lake. We love Lake Ray Hubbard for boating. Sapphire Bay Marina is a great place for boat rental; they have a new rental fleet of pontoons, deck boats and wake surf boats. You can easily dock at The Harbor Rockwall, have some food and drinks, then hop back on the boat. Sugar Mountain Sweets, 909 W. Parker Road, Plano; 214/436-1294; Lake Ray Hubbard; Sapphire Bay Marina; 9051 Marina Vista, Rowlett; 972/412-1977; The Harbor Rockwall, 2059 Summer Lee Drive, Rockwall; 469/428-7995
How They Give Back: As a travel and lifestyle blogger, my profession allows me to help small businesses in Plano and neighboring cities. I love discovering new places, and I’ve helped promote them, paid or not. During these challenging times, my family always makes sure to shop and eat locally.
Why Plano is Great for Families: We have beautiful neighborhoods with outstanding parks and recreation centers. Schools are highly rated, and the city offers affordable living with tons of opportunities for its residents and businesses. Plano’s food scene has grown tremendously. We have an excellent variety of cuisines from around the world, thanks to the diverse, multicultural community we have.
How She Met Her Mom Friends: The Plano Moms community is your go-to. This is a group of moms you can reach out to find new friendships, get answers to any questions you may have and give recommendations for almost anything local. I have made great friends through the group, and I love the community we are building together.
Featured photo courtesy of Buena Paz Montero.
