Looking for the perfect way to celebrate the special bond with your mom in McKinney? Whether you're planning a Mother's Day outing or simply want to treat her to a memorable day any time of year, McKinney offers a plethora of activities you can enjoy together. From fun experiences in our city's charming historic downtown to outings in our scenic parks and delightful culinary experiences, you'll no doubt discover the perfect experience for you and your mom or grandmom to cherish in this vibrant North Texas city.
In this blog post, we've listed the top five types of activities perfect for outings with Mom... with examples of each thing or place to enjoy an unforgettable experience filled with laughter, love, and cherished memories. Regardless of what you choose to do for her - a wrapped gift or an experience you can enjoy together - your mom will love that you found a way to make her feel special.
1) Make something together.
- Painting with a Twist - Choose a fun painting or other project, bring wine or other beverage and your favorite snack, then relax and follow along with your instructor for the night!
- Walls of Clay - Paint a decorative item like a mug, plate, or figurine, or try your hand at a glass fusing project. And if you have a baby in your life, you may want to choose a hand and/or footprint project to capture this too-soon-past moment.
- Native McKinney - Native is a mindfulness, holistic wellness, and DIY botanical (shown) studio that hosts a wide range of intriguing classes where you can also relax during meditation sessions and even certification classes.
- Jump Into Art Studios, Last Art Gallery, MillHouse McKinney, and Glaze Ceramic Studios - The artists at these four studios offer an incredible range of classes including pottery, kiln, jewelry, painting, journaling, textiles, and so much more. Check out their websites for all the creative opportunities they offer.
- Expressive Aromas - Sign up for one of the perfume-making classes offered at Expressive Aromas where you'll discover your own signature scent(s).
Insider Tip: If you don't feel like being creative, enjoy the creativity of others by finding the roughly 80 Tiny Doors art installation or taking photos with the many vibrantly-colored murals and sculptures located throughout the downtown square.
2) Do something healthy.
- Commune with Nature by taking a long walk at a city park, strolling among the research gardens at Myers Park or the vast variety of crape myrtles at the Crape Myrtle Trails World Collection Park, or along the trails through multiple habitats at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Walk among the free-flying native butterflies at the Heard Museum's Native Texas Butterfly House and Garden, open annually June-September.
- Pick berries at Sunset Trail Farm (shown).
- Take a yoga,exercise, or dance class (ballroom and ladies Latin style or other forms of dance).
Insider Tip: Look for free yoga classes from North Texas Yoga once a month at TUPPS Brewery as well as additional classes including goat yoga, for a fee!
3) Enjoy a girls' night out.
- Live music at one of McKinney's music-friendly restaurants or venues, or entertainment districts including Downtown McKinney, TUPPS Brewery, Hub 121, District 121, and Adriatica.
- Play vintage video games through e-sports games at Arcade 92 where you can also enjoy yummy snacks and a variety of beverages (non-alcoholic and alcoholic). After 9 p.m., the arcade is open to ages 18 and up only. One admission gets you free play on all the machines as long as you want to stay!
- Challenge Mom to a night of axe throwing at The Horse's Axe (shown).
- Share some laughs with Mom at Downtown McKinney's comedy club, The Comedy Arena. From open mic nights and improv shows to full-blown comedy acts featuring touring comics, there's never a shortage of a good time with these funny folks!
- TUPPS Brewery is not just a place to enjoy locally-brewed craft beer. The next facility is an all-ages entertainment venue with live music, outdoor play areas, and the Grain Room where you can enjoy food made on-site.
Insider Tip:Two of McKinney's newer entertainment districts, Hub 121 and District 121, feature multiple restaurants, wine rooms, and other great places to dine indoors or on sizeable and comfy patios where you can enjoy live music in the amphitheater and lawn areas most weekends!
4) Attend one of McKinney's exciting annual, monthly, or weekly events.
There is a wealth of special event activity taking place all year long in McKinney, providing great opportunities for fun experiences with Mom! Here are just a few:
- Arts in Bloom (second weekend in April)
- Texas Music Revolution (June)
- Juneteenth (June)
- Red White & Boom (July)
- Drum Corps International Marching Music Competition (July)
- Oktoberfest (September)
- Dinosaurs Live at the Heard Museum (September-February)
- Dia de los Muertos (October)
- McKinney Wine & Music Festival (October, shown)
- Home for the Holidays ... A McKinney Christmas (November)
- Holiday Tour of Historic Home (December)
- Sip & Stroll Series of events
Insider Tip: Check out the Heard-Craig Center's regular tea and tours as well as other art education and display events.
5) Explore McKinney's incredible culinary and coffee scenes.
McKinney is known for its cuisine and chef-driven menus, primarily in Downtown McKinney, many of which are sourced by local farmers and food producers. Peruse our website restaurant listings to discover the cuisine that best suits your cravings at the time.
Insider Tip: If you're a coffee aficionado, check out Downtown McKinney's quarterly Coffee Crawls. (Shown, moms and babies at Collective Coffee.)
Bonus Experience: Retail Therapy!
Downtown McKinney is filled with specialty shops and boutiques where you and Mom can easily spend a full day or two discovering all sorts of one-of-a-kind treasures. Other special shopping opportunities take place several times a year at MillHouse McKinney at the Cotton Mill (Makers Markets and Art Fests) and Vintage Market Days at Myers Park (held each November and sometimes in May).
Plan Your Experience with Mom Now
No matter what you choose to enjoy with your mom, McKinney is here to offer you memorable experiences. Check out our Visitors Guide to learn more about what our community has in store for you. And think about making it a mini-getaway by choosing one of our special overnight accommodations, perhaps a bed and breakfast near the downtown square!
We know you'll want to grab a fun souvenir to remember your stay here or to pick up a gift for someone who wasn't able to come with you. Stop by our Visitor Experience Center and Shop, located one block west of the Downtown Square. We look forward to seeing you soon!