When trying to decide another Texan city to visit that was close to Dallas, I stumbled upon a city I had never quite heard of before: Frisco, Texas. I was told it was the safest city in the US, making it one of the best U.S. destinations for a solo female traveler like myself. I was surprised by how much there was to do here, and how different the vibe was compared to other Texan cities I had visited. Frisco is incredibly clean, diverse, and filled with friendly folks. I spent two days in Frisco, and here were my 8 favorite things I did.
1. Eat Barbecue from Hutchin’s BBQ
When in Texas, it’s a requirement to eat barbecue. Hey, I don’t make the rules. I’ve never been too keen on barbecue food, maybe because I’m from New York where finding good big slabs of meat that are not from a New York steakhouse is pretty much impossible, so when I visited Dallas, Waco, Port Aransas, and Frisco in Texas, I knew I needed to try to redeem my subpar taste for barbecue. I had some good bites all around, but nothing that blew me away. Then? I found Hutchin’s BBQ in Frisco. I got there around 11:45am which was a good call, because by noon, the line forming behind me was easily at an hour wait. I was lucky to only wait about 5 minutes, and when I got to the front of the line, it was a counter-service-style barbecue spot, where you simply tell a pitmaster how much meat you want and of what kind. I said a quarter pound of brisket and a jalapeño sausage link. I then moved onward to the side station, where I piled cheesy potatoes high and helped myself to a heaping serving of broccoli slaw. The portion I helped myself to was astronomical, and at $26, I thought, “There’s no way I’ll finish this.”
I sat down and dug in. This, my friends, is real Texan barbecue. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth, no knife required. The sausage had a nice snap to the outer-casing and a kick inside from the jalapeño. The potatoes were so creamy that I tried to make sure others didn’t witness me lick the container clean, though, if they did, I’d hope they’d be encouraged to do the same. I managed to eat every last bite on the plate.
2. Get Shiner Boch Pizza & A S’mores Board From Eight11
Shiner Boch is a true Texan beer, and trendy pizzeria Eight11 Place has found a way to utilize leftover Shiner Boch; by incorporating it into their pizza dough! As I bit into the “Meaty Texan style” pizza, I wondered why it had a brown hue and a sweet aftertaste. “Is this a whole wheat pizza dough?” I asked my server. “No, it’s made with Shiner Boch!” they replied. This made much more sense in a Texan style setting, and the pizza was delicious (that’s coming from a New Yorker!).
Even better than the pizza, though, was the s’mores board. Each table outside at eight11 has a built-in fire pit, making it perfect for roasting those marshmallows. The s’mores board comes with four graham crackers, four marshmallows, and four pieces of chocolate, so clearly meant for sharing, but if you’re a solo traveler like me, feel no shame in eating the whole thing by yourself.
3. Stay At A Hotel Connected To A Mall
Looking for unique accommodation? Head to Hyatt Regency Frisco-Dallas, which is connected to a shopping mall! If nostalgia gets you the way it gets me, then this hotel is perfect. Walk down the hallway from the main lobby, and in minutes, you’ll be in the mall’s food court, where, yes, they sell wine and beer that can be consumed while you shop (only in Texas, I tell ya!). There’s also a carousel, and all of your favorite fast-food chains. If you don’t want mall food, the bar at Hyatt-Regency Frisco-Dallas is incredible; get a spicy marg and an oversized pretzel with queso.
Mall and bar aside, Hyatt Regency Frisco-Dallas has an outdoor pool on the fourth floor, and the rooms were so comfortable that I got the latest checkout possible (3PM- though, they cannot always guarantee a checkout that late) simply so I could stay in the cozy bed and take advantage of the cable TV.
By the way, if you’re not convinced that having a mall connected to your hotel is convenient, imagine losing something of value and needing to replace it quickly. When I was in Frisco, I managed to misplace my cell phone charging cord, and replacing it took a total of 10 minutes thanks to easy access to the mall!
4. Snap A Shot At One Of The Murals
Frisco has many murals, and you’ll want to get some snapshots of them while you’re visiting. My favorite is the It’s better in Frisco sign with their signature red-capped water tower, located on Main and Fourth Street in the Rail District. I found the majority of the city’s murals to be in this neighborhood.
- Pro-tip: Traveling alone? Don’t forget to pack a tripod.
5. Shop Mom & Pop Shops Of The Rail District
Speaking of the rail district, this neighborhood is one of my favorites in Frisco. The Rail District is filled with cafes, boutiques, and cute eateries. One of my favorite spots in The Rail District is Tumbleweed Texstyles for t-shirts, stickers, and more, opened by two teachers who are local to Frisco. I also love Willow House (formerly called Sunny Paige) for their girly aesthetics; it’s a perfect spot for bachelorettes, weddings, mother’s day or baby showers, or just for a nice dress or blouse (the inside kind of reminded me of a Betsey Johnson store). Bittersweet Ivy Boutique is another boutique in The Rail District, selling tons of t-shirts, youthful dresses and rompers, and accessories; I bought an amazing pair of sunglasses there.
6. Sip Libations At Snowbird Cocktail Lounge & Kitchen
Fancy a cocktail? Newly opened Snowbird Cocktail Lounge & Kitchen is a great spot to sip a cocktail that will make you feel like you’re in a big city like New York or even nearby Dallas. The waitstaff was incredibly friendly, and when I was there, a small tornado started to hit (when in Texas), so I stayed until the rain let up and chatted away with my waitress! Snowbird also has some great bites, like charred Shishito peppers, beef Wellington, and even Kimchi Calamari.
7. Visit The National Videogame Museum
I love a good quirky museum, and I think the museum that tops that list out of all of the ones I’ve ever been to is the National Videogame Museum in Frisco. The museum is fairly small, but it’s packed with history and nostalgia. You can walk through and see how video games have evolved over the years. The coolest part is you can actually play on some old consoles. There’s an ’80s room that looks straight out of a living room from the 1980s, and the museum is decked out with characters from all of your favorite classics, including Mario, Crash Bandicoot, Pacman, DigDug, Sonic the Hedgehog, Spyro the Dragon, and more. At the end of the museum, there’s an arcade with 20+ games to choose from. It’s SO fun, and I cannot recommend it enough.
8. Take in The Texas Sculpture Garden
If the weather is nice, which, it probably will be (you’re in Texas, after all!), enjoy the sunshine at the Texas Sculpture Garden. It’s a free outdoor activity with a bunch of bridges over a small river. There are plenty of benches to sit down and chill, and there are huge butterfly sculptures all over that make for both great photos and great viewing.
DISCLAIMER: Visit Frisco sponsored my visit to Frisco, Texas.
DISCLAIMER II: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!