10 CHEAP and HOT Things to Do In Frisco This Summer

I’ve already shared my list of 10 COOL things to do indoors in Frisco this summer. Now it’s time for 10 HOT, outdoor things to do in Frisco this summer. Because even when it’s an inferno outside, the kids still love to get out, and I guess they need Vitamin D and exercise, and blah blah blah… So try a few of these, try to stay cool, and let me know if you have any unique or interesting outdoor summer activities to add.

1. Park- This is a no-brainer. Parks are the go-to family event of the summer. And Frisco has some great ones! See my parks post for the best ones in Frisco. Don’t forget the sunscreen and the water! Gotta stay hydrated out there, ladies and gents.

2. Splash Pad- Maybe the perfect outdoor summer activity- you’re outside, but the water is cool, and you don’t have to be on super-duper high alert for drownings. Frisco has three official splash pads: Frisco Commons (Hope Park) Spray Park, J.R. Newman Spray Park, and Shepherd’s Glen Spray Park. Please note that only Frisco Commons has restroom facilities, and it is highly recommended that kids wear water shoes at any splash pad. The surrounding areas of McKinney also have several splash pads if you’d like to try those too.

3. Geocaching- My kids love geocaching! Or as they call it, “geo-catching.” Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunt. All you have to do is download the Geocaching app and get going! Most of the treasures are small items, like beads or shiny rocks, so the time spent together on the hunt is the real treasure here.

4. Farmer’s Market- Frisco is lucky enough to have two farmer’s markets now: the original Frisco Rotary Market (Saturdays 8am-noon) and the new Frisco Fresh Market (Saturdays 8am-3pm and Sundays 10am-4pm). I use these markets as a way to get my picky eaters excited about trying new foods. And it’s a great way to support local farmers and small business owners.

5. Frisco Snow Cone Lady- The woman. The myth. The legend. The Frisco Snow Cone lady makes THE BEST snow cones in the world. No exaggeration- she lives up to the hype. And you won’t believe how cheap they are! Order at the walk-up window and eat on the benches outside or take your cones to go. There is no indoor seating or facilities, but oh so worth it. As an independent owner/operator, the Snow Cone Lady often alters her hours based on the weather or her schedule. Be sure to check her Facebook page for open/closed info before you go.

6. Third Sundays at the Frisco Heritage Museum- The historic buildings on the grounds of the Frisco Heritage Museum are open to the public on the third Sunday of each month from 1-4pm. Go enjoy the tours, live animals, crafts, blacksmith demonstration, and Frisco history. My family has gone several times and we’re never disappointed.

7. Frisco Roughriders- Take the kids to enjoy America’s Pastime in their own backyard this summer. Tickets to see Roughriders games are fairly inexpensive ($8 for lawn tickets and up) and it’s always a good time. Especially if they win— FIREWORKS! It’ll be hot, so you might as well grab a hot dog and a cold adult beverage while you watch your kids cheer on their team. And if you go to a promotion game, you’ll come away with some free swag.

8. Frisco Rail Yard- The Rail Yard is a great place for family-friendly fun that all family members will enjoy. Food trucks, picnic tables, lawn games, live music. What more can you ask for??

9. Dive-In Movies- Beat the dang heat and go to a dive-in movie at the Frisco Athletic Center. Tickets are $12/person (kids 2 and under are free), so you’ll end up spending about what you would if you went to the theater. But this comes with an experience your kids won’t soon forget! The FAC offers three movies this summer- one each in June, July, and August. Grab your tube and dive in!

10. Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch- This one is definitely out of the Frisco bubble- it’s in Pilot Point, TX- but is worth the drive. The ranch is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, and it’s just a lot of fun! It’s more of a free-range experience than a traditional zoo, and definitely has a mom-and-pop vibe that makes it feel quaint and personal. You’ll see bears, kangaroos, lemurs, camels, and more. You even get to feed some of these guys!

Stay cool out there, folks! It’s gonna be a scorcher.

10 CHEAP and COOL Things to Do in Frisco This Summer

Deep breath, Mommas. Summer is here. For many parents, this means significantly more face-time with our offspring. While many of us welcome this sacred time of togetherness and slower schedules, it comes with its challenges as well, namely that our kids are up in our faces 24/7 for close to three months. Combine increased down time with the high temperatures we experience in Texas and you have a recipe for the "I'm bored" comments to begin almost immediately. But it doesn't have to be that way! Below are ten ideas of CHEAP and AIR-CONDITIONED things to do with your kids this summer that won't break the bank, but will break the boredom. My kids and I have personally done all of these at some point so you know they’re tried and true by a real Frugal Frisco Momma. Try a few of them out and let me know how they go!

1. WOW Wednesdays!- This summer, the Frisco Public Library is offering WOW Wednesdays! (formerly Mindstretchers Mondays) for kids K-5th grade every week at five times to choose from: 9:30am, 11am, 2:30pm, 4pm, and 7pm. Each week is a different educational theme that’s sure to delight kids of all ages. Just be sure to get there early to get a free ticket and a seat!

2. $1 Movies on the Square- Cinemark Frisco Square is once again doing their Summer Movie Clubhouse on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 9:30 throughout the summer. Each ticket is only $1! Grab some popcorn and enjoy the AC!

3. Legacy Hall Play Dates (Plano)- While not technically in Frisco, it’s close enough… Legacy Hall is offering free Play Dates most Mondays at 10am this summer. Some days they’ll show a movie with a sing-along, other days it might be a magician or puppet show. Kids will love it all! The Play Dates are free but food is not- come prepared to buy lunch if you want. No outside food is allowed.

4. Vacation Bible School- So many churches in our area offer Vacation Bible School throughout the summer. My own kids are already registered to go to THREE of them. It’s the same theme (ROAR!) for each one, but never mind that- they’ll love it! And momma will get a few hours of kid-free time to grab a coffee or get her toes done. Check with local churches for VBS schedules, or send me a message if you’re having trouble finding one- I’ll help you search!

5. Stonebriar Centre- The mall is an awesome place to get some air-conditioned fun in this summer. The mall has become slightly more kid-friendly over the last year as they’ve added giant Connect Four, lounging space, and a shuffleboard table downstairs. Plus you can follow my A Day Out for Under $25 plan for a day at the mall!

6. Volunteer- What better way to teach our kids generosity and kindness than getting them involved with local community volunteer organizations? Frisco has several non-profit organizations that serve the children of our community. Two of these are Frisco Fastpacs and Lovepacs. So have your kids hold a food drive, participate in a pre-pack session, or help deliver the pacs together. You can’t go wrong with either of these organizations.

7. Barnes & Noble Storytime- Every Thursday at 11am, the Barnes & Noble in Stonebriar Centre will have an in-store storytime with a craft! After your kids listen to the story and make their craft, be sure they fill out their Reading Journal (Grades 1-6) or get a sticker for their Storytime Passport (Birth-Kinder) to earn a surprise at the end of the summer!

8. Frisco Library- I know I already mentioned WOW Wednesdays! at the library, but there are so many more cool programs the library offers for kids of all ages, birth through teens. There’s at least a couple of options for different age groups offered each day, so grab your planner as you scroll through the library’s summer events calendar. While you’re at it, be sure to sign up for the Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge to guard against summer brain drain and also to earn free prizes at the end of the summer. You’ll probably see me and my kids at the library at least every other day this summer. Say hi!

9. Kids Bowl Free- Sign your kids up through Kids Bowl Free and they can literally bowl for free at Strikz Entertainment on Lebanon all summer! We did this last summer and loved it. Bowling shoes are required, so you’ll incur a rental fee for those, and Strikz has some rules as to what days and times you can go for free, but they’re reasonable. Just be sure to check the small print when you register.

10. StarCenter Little Rookies- Ice hockey, anyone? In July, your kids ages 4-9 can take four introductory hockey lessons for free, equipment included. My kids are currently participating in the June session and L-O-V-E it! Sign up through the StarCenter and get those kids out on the ice!

A Day Out for Under $25

Sometimes you just have to get the kids out of the house, amiright? But in Texas in the summer, and even spring and fall for that matter, it can be difficult to find an air-conditioned place to go that won't break the bank. Our number one go-to for a cheap day is... Stonebriar Centre. AKA, the mall.

I know. The mall is a very typical place a lot of you mommas already take your kids on a regular basis. But I want to share how my family gets in an entire day's worth of air-conditioned entertainment for less than $25. Here's our plan of attack:

1. Barnes & Noble- My kids love to look at all the educational toys and play with the train table. We always fit in reading a few picture books too.
   SUMMER BONUS: Every Thursday in the summer at 11am, Stonebriar Barnes & Noble has an in-store storytime. After your kids listen to the story and make their craft, be sure they fill out their Reading Log (Grades 1-6) or get a sticker for their Reading Passport (Birth-Kinder) to earn a surprise at the end of the summer!
   Running Total: $0

2. Nordstrom- Our next stop is Nordstrom for one thing, and one thing only: balloons. We head straight to the kids' shoe department and each kid picks out a balloon that I know will hit me in the back of the head for the rest of our time at the mall. If Nordstrom is running a kids' shoe sale, I'll browse if one or both kid is in need of new shoes. Nordstrom is also a great place for a potty break if needed, and they have a great nursing room as well.
   Running Total: $0

3. Lunch- Take your pick of the food court! Popular places in our family include Chick-fil-A, Sonic, and Paradise Bakery. With two kids' meals and a light lunch for me (hello, WeightWatchers), we can usually get away with spending about $15 for lunch. If we have a sweet tooth and no one’s had a meltdown, we'll also get a couple small sugar cookies at Great American Cookies ($3).
   Running Total: $18

4. Carousel- That dang carousel. Sure, it was darling when my 15-month-old lit up with joy and delight while riding the horsies. Now though, my kids are mostly over it and act bored while spinning, but they still beg to go on the carousel every dang time. Some days we do, some days we don't. If you choose to go on the carousel, it'll set you back $3/kid. So in my case, $6.
   Running Total: $24

5. LEGO- Our next stop is the LEGO Store. The kids love looking at all the new sets and then building with the sample sets for a few minutes.
   Running Total: $24

6. Disney Store- This stop is always one of our favorites! It could entertain my kids for an hour if I let it. Be sure to check the sale section as they often have some good deals that you might not be able to pass up.
   Running Total: $24

TOTAL COST: $24

After that, little feet and legs are ready to call it a day! Notice that I didn't put the indoor play area on our plan of attack. That's because I hate it and try to avoid it at all costs. But if that's your jam, add it in or swap it for one of the other kid-friendly stops.

Do you have a favorite mall stop that is kid- and budget-friendly?

What is FFM?

Hi, Frisco Mommas! Thanks for joining me! My name is Amy. I am a wife and stay-at-home mom to two wonderful and challenging kiddos- Gwendoline (6) and Owen (4). We are blessed to live in Frisco, Texas, a city that is currently booming in population, businesses, restaurants, and entertainment. My husband and I moved to Frisco in 2011, pre-kids and before the boom, so it’s been very exciting to see Frisco grow and change alongside our family. A lot of that change has been great! We love all the restaurant options, and there’s always something new and interesting to take the kids to see. But these changes have also come with a cost. Literally. As Frisco continues to grow and evolve, so does the cost of living and raising kids within it.

I created Frugal Frisco Momma (FFM) with the hopes of helping other mommas like myself- those living on a modest income in a high-cost area- make their dollars stretch while providing an exciting and enriching childhood experience for their littles. Let’s work together to share our cost-saving tips and tricks! I’ll share mine here, and I hope you’ll let me know some of yours as we go along.