Frisco was just a tiny spot on the Texas map when we visited family a few years ago.  Settled during the days of cattle drives and booming when the railroads arrived, the town settled into a quiet existence, content to let nearby Dallas define urban sprawl.  In the past few years Frisco has redefined itself and become a destination in its own right.

Shopping and Dining at Frisco Square

Capped on one end by Pizza Hut Park and on the other by City Hall, Frisco Square has a small-town charm.  This open air district is a great destination for an afternoon of shopping, dinner before a game or a snack after visiting the library.  We were drawn in to Dimples Cupcake Factory- even though we had eaten wedding cake not 2 hours earlier!- and walked out with Pumpkin Spice for the hubby and Rose for my girls.  The incredible daily flavors would make this a daily visit if we were local!

We strolled past Thai, Italian and Mexican restaurants, a dance studio and a bank before wandering into The Marketplace at Frisco Square, an incredible selection of boutique shops under one roof.

The Market Place at Frisco Square

We found dozens of treasures- inspirational paintings, unique clothing, sparkling jewelry, beautiful bags and funky decor.  Laden with bags and tummies content we wandered back to our car.

Frisco Heritage

A Nod to the heritage of Frisco, Texas

Wandering toward the beautiful City Hall building- which also houses the incredible Frisco Library- you can’t help but notice the sculptures in the immaculate park.  The farmer welcoming the first train to Frisco and the woman pumping water from the well are a nod to Frisco’s history.  Not even a mile away you’ll find the Frisco Heritage Museum where you can easily spend a few hours spinning wool, manning a printing press or imaging yourself living a pioneer life.  To take a step back in time wander through the buildings that make up the Heritage Center.  Local homes and businesses, even an historic church, take you on a walking tour of Frisco’s past.

Finish With Ice Cream

For my family no vacation is complete without at least one stop for ice cream.  The best ice cream in Frisco is actually Frozen Custard and it is found at Double Dip.

The Dirty Bear at Double Dip

Late on a Saturday afternoon front garage-style doors were wide open as peewee sports teams and cheerleaders crowded the windows.  We stood back, taking in the menu of caliches (frozen custard blended with toppings) and sundaes.  After watching kids around us the girls decided on the “dirty bear”, frozen custard topped with crushed Oreas and gummy bears.  Doug and I shared an incredible pumpkin pie caliche- an entire slice of pumpkin pie blended into frozen custard.  With the huge chunks of pie crust, it was, quite easily, one of the best desserts I have ever had.

This quick afternoon spent in Frisco helped me understand why our relatives say, “Why go to Dallas, we have everything we need in Frisco.”  I can’t wait for a return visit.

Hocking Hills in Southeast Ohio is an ideal vacation destination for outdoor lovers. The scenery is beautiful, crowds non-existent, and there are plenty of things to do in the Great Outdoors. If you love horseback riding — or have always wanted to try it — stop by The Spotted Horse Ranch in Laurelville, Ohio.

Experienced riders over the age of 8 can take a trail ride up and down the nearby hill. Less experienced riders can take shorter trail rides in the same hills, but may want to stick to shorter rides. The horses are very docile and follow along the lead horse with very little guidance needed from the rider. Trail rides are $60 per hour per person.

Riders under the age of 8 aren’t allowed on trail rides regardless of previous experience. Visitors with small children can pay $15 for 15 minutes of a ride around in an enclosed pen.

All riders will be outfitted with proper safety equipment, including helmets.

The staff at The Spotted Horse Ranch is knowledgeable and patient with all skill levels. Riders will get a short lesson on handling the horse, including how to turn and how to shift in the saddle when going up and down the steep slopes of the trail rides. It’s a great place to introduce new riders to horseback riding.

Photo Britt Reints

These were my 11 favorite things at Legoland Florida:

1. The historic carousel.  I love carousels and have been on many, but never a double-decker one before.
2. The Dragon roller coaster.  Even for coaster wimps like me, it’s a fun ride, and the relaxing indoor ride through Lego creations is equal to the thrill portion when the dragon escapes outside.
3. Technicycle.  The interactivity in this ride is terrific–if you want your cycle to soar, you must pedal it throughout the ride.  Stop pedaling, and it sinks close to the ground.
4. Lost Kingdom Adventure.  It doesn’t matter if you’re an adult or a kid, shooting the lit targets will make you want to challenge your friends over and over again.
5. Granny’s Apple Fries.  Like apple pie in a french fry container.  Yum!
6. Southern Belles.  A nod to Cypress Gardens’ old days, these lovely Lego ladies greet visitors to the park and botanical gardens.
7. The Banyan Tree.  It’s a huge tree and the focal point of the historic Cypress Gardens botanical gardens.  Walk through the gardens and teach your kids about the Banyan tree and cypress knees and you can claim an educational element to your trip.
8. Driving School.  I was disappointed that adults couldn’t drive the little Lego cars one the miniature streets complete with roundabouts and stop lights.
9. Battle for Brickbeard’s Bounty Waterski Show.  Seeing a foam Lego character on waterskis is remarkable; kids will love the story and alerting the princess to PIRATES!
10. Miniland.  Thirty million bricks formed into familiar sights make this the core of Legoland Florida.   Can you find all of the minilanders (tiny Lego people)?
11. Legos.  They’re everywhere–in miniland, hanging around the park, and as the perfect souvenirs for your little Lego builder.

Legoland Florida, central Florida‘s newest theme park, is designed for families with children ages 2-12, and is located less than an hour from Orlando and Tampa, Florida.

Photo credits: the author.

Linda (minnemom) writes about family travel at Travels with Children, where her popular 11 Things series includes locations big and small, such as Walt Disney World; Decorah, Iowa; and Golden, Colorado.  Her expenses to visit Legoland Florida were paid by the park.

Sunset at Sandia Peak

To the east of Albuquerque, New Mexico lie the beautiful Sandia Mountains, named for the watermelon color the rocks turn when bathed in the light of the setting sun. Hikers and rock climbers can work their muscles and their skills in these rocky hills, while the rest of us can take an easy ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway.

The tram, which takes visitors up and down the mountain side every 15-20 minutes, provides thrilling panoramic views of the landscape as it takes guest over 10,000 feet to an observation deckk at Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest. To put that in perspective, you can turn your electronic devices back on when your airplane reaches a cruising altitude of 10,000 feet.

Once at the top, the High Finance restaurant offers dinner with a view a few steps from the tram. The restaurant actually relies on the tramway to bring all of its supplies and employees up the mountain every day. A more casual meal can be enjoyed at Sandiago’s Mexican Grill located in the same building as the tram lobby at the bottom of the hill.

Rountrip tickets for the tram are $20 for adults, $17 for teens, and $12 for children. The tram runs 9am to 9pm during the summer and 9am to 8pm during the fall and winter months.