Spring break can be stressful — an entire week entertaining kids and keeping them out of trouble is no joke! — or it can be a fun, educational and even (somewhat) relaxing mini-vacation. Plano makes it easy to have a great time with the whole family, as there are many events, activities and places to take kids of all ages. Keep reading for our recommendations for keeping your kids, and your sanity, in check the week of March 12-16.
Dark Hour Haunted House
St. Patrick’s Day falls on spring break this year, so daredevil older kids (it is recommended for ages 10 and up) can enjoy a weekend filled with scary leprechauns, witches, trolls, faeries and goblins at Dark Hour Haunted House. Tickets to the St. Patrick’s Slay weekend are available for Fri and Sat from 8–11pm, starting at $28.
Escape Expert
Solving clues has never been more fun! At Escape Expert, billed as the largest escape room in America, families have one hour to uncover clues and solve the mystery to break free. There are eight different rooms available (and more coming soon) — including escaping a vault, passing an initiation test for a secret society and recovering an important artifact — that offer exciting challenges sure to stump even the best sleuths. Kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, and kids under 12 must be booked in a private room with an adult. Prices start at $30.31 per person, and rooms are available to book from 7–11pm Fri, noon–11:20pm Sat and noon–8pm Sun.
Heritage Farmstead Museum
Go back to a time before cell phones (and running water!) at the Heritage Farmstead Museum from 10am–1pm Tues. The whole family will enjoy living like pioneers for a day, where they can feed chickens, ride in a tractor, play games from the past, plow, plant, visit a schoolhouse, milk the cow and more. Register in advance for the experience, which is $5 per person.
Jumpstreet
Do your kids hate sitting still? Take them to Jumpstreet in West Plano, where bouncing off the walls is encouraged! This indoor trampoline spot is open 10am–8pm Sun–Thurs and 10am–10pm Fri and Sat. Kids five and older can take advantage of the Mon–Thurs special that allows them to jump for $13.99 for the first hour and get the second hour free. Or come in Fri–Sun for $14.99 for the first hour and $7.99 for each additional hour. Kids ages four and under can jump every day, all day for just $4.99 (although they are not allowed on the main trampoline courts).
Pinstack
Hours of entertainment can be had at Pinstack, where bowling is just one of the many activities available for families to enjoy. When you’ve finishing hitting pins at the lanes, head over to the game room to try out the LED rock-climbing wall, high ropes course, two-level glowing laser tag, laser maze, bumper cars, classic and new arcade games, 16-person foosball table and more. Afterward, adults will appreciate kicking back with drinks from the full bar or taking everyone to fill up on delicious American cuisine. Prices vary depending on which activities you want to do; hours are 11am–midnight Sun–Thurs, 11am–2am Fri and 10am – 2am Sat.
Plano Children’s Theatre Camp
Dressing up like princesses, acting out adventures, creating art and more can all be done at the Plano Children’s Theatre spring break camp for kids ages Kindergarten through fifth grade. Kids can go from 9am–5pm Mon–Fri this week (or just the morning or afternoon sessions) to learn about theater through popular children’s stories like Moana and superheroes. Prices range from $150 for just the morning sessions to $300 for the full day, all week.
Plano Public Libraries
Crafts, stories, movies and other activities are taking place in all five of the Plano Public Library System libraries this week for kids of all ages—and most of the events are free! Family friendly events include a attending a cartoon characters workshop, building-your-own balloon vehicle to race, meeting Pancake Pig or Maisy the Mouse, listening to family story time with puppets and songs, learning about money, watching a puppet show with Henny Penny, singing karaoke, taking a 3-D printing class, building robots, conducting science experiments, watching Captain Underpants or Despicable Me 3 and making a craft, creating your own digital animation, experiencing story time with Plano Symphony Orchestra featuring princesses and knights, and so much more. There are also baby and toddler play and learn classes throughout the week. Times, days and more information can be found online.
Plano Parks and Recreation
Plano Parks and Recreation is hosting spring break camps for kids of different age groups starting at 4, who are interested in everything from dance to science. One-week camps include the Abrakadoodle Let’s Go Camping, Artful Explorations Fine Art Camp, Brainopolis SpongeBob Gaming Camp, Challenge Island Camp, Cheer and Dance Workshop, Digital Photography Camp, Film Making Camp, Hip-Hop Dance Workshop, Mad Science Bubbles…Smoke…Explosions!, Mad Science Eureka! Masterminds, Play-Well LEGO Batman Gotham’s Gadgets, Princess Ballet Dance Workshop and TMC’s Spring Break Camp. These range from $55–$185 and run Mon–Fri at various times. More information about these, as well as one-day adventures and various fitness and activity classes, can be found on the Parks department’s Winter Spring 2018 brochure.
Sip-n-Doodle
Channel your inner Picasso at Sip-n-Doodle Plano, where the entire family can create their own beautiful paintings with the help of an experienced artist. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own snacks and drinks—parents are even welcome to bring wine and beer!—and can choose any design they want to recreate. Every Tues at 7pm, admission is only $17 per person. Other times are available Wed–Sun for $27 per person.
Texas Archery Academy
Learn how to correctly shoot a bow and arrow at the Texas Archery Academy anytime from 3–8pm Tues–Fri, and 9am–6pm Sat and Sun. Bring kids of any age to the academy (no reservations required) for a 30-minute Discover Archery session for $10. You will get to shoot real arrows in a safe environment—perfect for letting off steam or fulfilling a dream of being like Katniss Everdeen. For kids who are really interested, parents can purchase longer sessions, book private lessons or sign up for group classes.
