Toddler Toddler Activities

The best sprayground or toddler friendly waterpark -
Celebration Park in Allen ( just S of McKinney) has a great spray ground AND a fantastic playground. Frisco Commons park is also great b/c it only has one entrance. Hawaiian Falls in the Colony is a fun water park and they do have a section that's toddler friendly.

The best Chuck E Cheese or like type of entertainment center- I think Gattitown in Frisco is better than Chuck E Cheese. Better food and more games. Peter Piper Pizza is always a hit too. There are 2 location in McKinney. My daughter is almost 7 and she still loves going there.

The best toddler friendly playground- See above

The best toddler friendly mall- I think for toddlers Collin Creek Mall in Plano is good ( there's also a little train in that mall) and Stonebriar Mall in Frisco are the best. Stonebriar just got completely re-done about a year or so ago, so it's not too beat up yet and there's also a carousel in that mall.

We don't really go to McD often, so I can't help you w/ that.

And as for 4th of July- Boomtown in Addison is pretty good, but if you don't want to drive that far, McKinney has a pretty decent show too.

HTH!

Welcome to McKinney! I agree with Michelle that Celebration Park in Allen is the best! You take I75 (Central) and go east of Exchange. go all the way down and it deadends into a street called Angel (make a right). The park will about a 1/2 mile down on the right - you can't miss it. It is free and a blast! I am going to the Celina Baloon Festival this year on 6/27. They are also doing a free firework show. Hours are 7a - 11p
Old Celina Park: 12670 FM 428 Celina

I moved to McKinney about 5 years ago and I have a 28 month old.

McKinney has a really nice 4th of July celebration called Red, White & BOOM!. It's held in two locations -- the first half of the day in historic downtown McKinney with the premier event being the Killis Melton Ice Cream Crank-Off, and over at the Craig Ranch Soccer Complex beginning late afternoon through to the fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Go to wwww.mckinneytexas.org or www.visitmckinney.com for more information.

As for parks with splash pads, there are actually several in McKinney but they aren't well publicized, not even on the McKinney website. There is a fairly new one adjacent to Minshew Elementary. Finch Park has one but it's kind of old. There is a great, kid/toddler friendly pool called Old Settler's Aquatic Center which costs $1.75 for kids under 9 and everyone else is $2. You can find operating hours on McKinney website. And I agree that Celebration Park is Allen is also great! Take a look at this for more things to do with kids in McKinney: http://visitmckinney.com/adminnm/articlefiles/5-kid%20act...

Hawaiin Falls in The Colony is also a great water park because it is small and family oriented. We were just there this weekend. http://www.hfalls.com/colony/index.html

The coolest looking McDonald's is in Dallas but I've never been in it. It looks like a kids happy meal box from the outside, http://www.durangotexas.com/eyesontexas/dallas/mcdonalds.htm, http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/18716.

There is a Chuck E. Cheese in Allen, but take the recommendation from others to go to Gatti Town in Frisco, http://www.gattispizza.net/location/frisco.

There is also the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, http://www.heardmuseum.org/maps/directions.asp

Both Stonebriar and Collin Creek Malls have kid play areas. Collin Creek is a smaller, somewhat older mall but is still decent and usually less crowded.

Sprayground-Celebration Park in Allen
Chuck E Cheese like entertainment -Wiggles Play Center in Frisco
Mall-Stonebriar in Frisco, Galleria in Dallas
4th of July- Red,White and Boom in McKinney at Craig Ranch
(homeade ice cream in downtown McKinney early in the day, Parade in downtown McKinney early day, and Bounce Houses, Petting Zoo, all kinds of goodies, flyover, bands, and fireworks at Craig Ranch for the evening)

Ft worth Zoo is great but a bit of a drive (a little over an hour)
Galleria Mall has a Puppet show too (Slappys Playhouse) check their schedule
Also in Allen is the Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium (indoor beach entry swimming pool, water sprayers, small slides, lazy river etc)
McKinney and Allen both have free story times at their libraries during the week

My daughter is no longer a toddler but we have been going to the Plano 4th of July parade for years. For the last 2 years we have been participants.

It starts about 9:30 and lasts a good hour or so. Have PLENTY of water and a bag to grab the goodies that are passed out to the little ones. It gets hot but it is fun.

Parade begins at Plano Sr High School at Independence/Parker and ends at St Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church at Independence/Spring Creek.

Plano has fireworks at Oakpoint Park that are great and to music. That is to my best knowledge...I do know know of schedule changes this year on that one. We go elsewhere for fireworks which is at a private location in West Plano.

Enjoy your visit.

Kaboom Town on July 3 is fun.

Allen has Celebration Station an public spray ground and huge playground. My kids just love.
They also will have 4th of july, but not actually on the furth. Look up city of allen recreation department for public pool and other info.

Allen is just a few minutes south of McKinney.

Also think they have summer music festival but that may be over by then.

have fun

Forget Chuck E Cheese and hit Gatti Town in Frisco - AWESOME and so much better! :)

Best fireworks are DEFINATELY Kaboom Town in Addison - they'll be on the 3rd this year I believe - they've been ranked as top 5 in the nation - and it's free! :)

Enjoy your time in Tejas!

For 4th of July, McKinney has a really nice family oriented event. There is a kids play area with bounce houses, food, live music, and a fantastic fireworks show set to music. Bring a blanket or portable chairs to sit on it is held at Craig Ranch Soccer complex. There are events during the day as well. Here is the city website: www.mckinneytexas.org

The Plano 4th of July parade is here: http://www.planoparade.com/

I think the play area at Collin Creek is more for the under 2 set. If you don't mind the drive, I think the Galleria's play area would be more entertaining for a 4 and 2 yr old. There is also covered parking at the Galleria.

There is Dollar Day at the Dallas Zoo on July 2:
http://www.dallaszoo.com/events/ev3_events.htm

Welcome to McKinney!! A great source for this info is AroundTownKids' McKinney site at http://www.aroundtownkidsmckinney.com/. Since I moved here 3 years ago, this has been my go-to resource for all things kid-related!

Allen's Celebration Park is pretty good for spray parks!