Category: Places to go

McKinney · Places to go · Review · Texas Life

The Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney

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The other weekend I stumbled upon the prettiest little park in McKinney, TX. The park is 7.2 acres and located at 6452 Collin McKinney Pkwy. There is a small parking lot and a gorgeous entry sign to the paved trails that take you through many different varieties of Crape Myrtles.

It isn’t exactly peek season for the blooms but even with that it was beautiful. There are great signs that explain what you are looking at and more about the plants/trees. There are picnic tables and benches for families and people to take a seat and enjoy the view.

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To me this is a hidden gem of McKinney that everyone needs to see, not to mention the photo opportunities that are available here! Enjoy some time just enjoying nature and learning more about these wonderful trees.

There is also a Crape Myrtle Trails Foundations that has partnered with the City of McKinney to plant thousands of Crape Myrtles in the median and more. I get to enjoy these year round because I live just off Eldorado Parkway and that is where a majority are planted.

Fitness · Health · McKinney · Places to go · Review · Texas Life

Town Lake Recreation Area

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I don’t know why it took us so long to go check out Town Lake Recreation Area, it’s just down the road and we have driven by so many times saying we need to check it out. So finally, we made it. It is just across from the high school and easily accessible off of 75.

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The lake is large with fountains, fishing pier, countless ducks, pavilions, restrooms, water fountains, grills, lighted trails, 18 hole frisbee golf course, volley ball courts, horse shoe pitching courts and playgrounds. I mean what more could you want! Its a great family park with something to do for everyone.

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We walked over 3 miles enjoying all of the scenery and wildlife. I definitely recommend planning a trip to check it out. The pavilions can be reserved ahead of time for parties.

I will absolutely be adding this to my list of places to walk and recommend to others! Check it out.

Fitness · McKinney · Places to go · Review · Texas Life

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

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I was so excited to go see the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. From McKinney the drive was pretty easy and we went on a Sunday. The parking can be tricky so just pay attention as you get closer. I also recommend buying your tickets and parking pass prior to arrival. It made it so easy. You can go to the website and purchase everything you need and doing this gives you a parking discount. You have a large window of time to use the tickets as well if plans change last minute.

It was a gorgeous day and we walked the entire property. There is so much to see and as the seasons change so do the gardens. There are great spaces for picnics, photos along with restaurants and food stands for a lunch or evening date. We saw many families playing with kids and relaxing in the open grass fields. Very family friendly.

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They also have events that go on year round with live music, food tastings, holiday celebrations and more. We were there on Mother’s Day and they had a band and gave out roses to the first so many moms who entered.

I cannot wait to go back.

Fitness · McKinney · Places to go · Review

Addison Circle

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We have continued to explore the area around us and try new places. We love to walk and hike at new parks so we went to Addison Circle to see what it was all about. It is a beautiful park but really not for walking. It is small, maybe a city block, but would be a great place for events. They have a calendar posted and put on events all through the year including concerts, food tastings and more.

It is very clean with lots of seating available, perfect for the people who work near by to have a nice lunch break.

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Just off the park itself are cute streets that have businesses and we had lunch at a small little bistro. It was a nice afternoon. Again not many shops and limited restaurants so if you head to this area I would recommend making sure an event is going on of your have a plan of where to eat prior to.

It’s a gorgeous area and I think in the future will offer many more restaurants and shops.

Fitness · Health · McKinney · Places to go · Review · Texas Life

R&G Fitness

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I love to try new workouts and gyms well, R&G Fitness was really outside of my comfort zone. It is group fitness that focuses on weights and dynamic movements with cardio mixed it. The focus of form and pushing your limits is amazing. I enjoy what the coach’s give me form critiques or edits because I can’t always see what I am doing and form only enhances the benefits of working out.

I don’t always push myself on my own as hard as I should with the amount of weight I use but R&G sure does and I love it. It gave me that boost of confidence that I can lift that 25lb weight. Maybe not for many reps but I can do it.

The class has a warm up and then breaks into groups to rotate though different stations and then you come back together at the end for a stretch. I love that it is different every time focusing on all muscle groups and pushing you forward. Every person I met was welcoming, kind and supportive of each other weather it was a first time or a seasoned vet at the gym. Everyone cheers for each other and really helps to motivate you to do more.

You can download their app and get a free trial but trust me you are going to want to stay a member! I can’t wait to go back for more, even if I can’t feel my arms! 🙂

http://rngfitness.com/ 

Food · Frisco · McKinney · Places to go · Texas Life

Celebrating February

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February is a month of celebrating for us; Valentine’s Day, Anniversary and my Birthday. I love it but I am not sure what my husband thinks lol. I enjoy taking time to celebrate the relationships in my life and ours is one I treasure.

For Valentine’s Day we went to Randy’s Steakhouse. It is located in Historic Downtown Frisco is a historic home built in 1869. There are private dining rooms for parties and a lounge perfect for any happy hour. Our service was great and the food delicious, it is a great spot for any celebration or date night. Make your Reservation at https://randyssteakhouse.com/ 

Celebrating our Anniversary we went to Perry’s Steakhouse also located in Frisco near Stonebriar Mall. We love Perry’s their food is amazing and the service is always outstanding. For our Anniversary they made us feel extra special with rose petals on the table and a sweet desert. Another great place to celebrate any occasion or just a night out. Make your reservation at a location near you https://perryssteakhouse.com/ 

My Birthday dinner was another amazing treat planned by my sweet husband. We headed over to Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, located in Plano, and the food was so good I really can’t explain. We had a bacon appetizer that was mouthwatering, literally a large piece of bacon in a glaze sauce that I would eat everyday if I could. The service is unmatched with personal touch from the birthday card they gave me, signed by the staff, to each person introducing themselves and ensuring your experience is perfect from beginning to end. This is a must for anyone so make your reservation today https://delfriscos.com/

I do NOT need all these fancy dinners by any means but once in a while it is fun to celebrate us and enjoy some delicious food. Which is your favorite?

Fitness · Health · McKinney · Places to go · Review · Texas Life

SunStone Fit – Eldorado Crossing

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SunStone Fit is a great place for anyone looking for a workout studio. They offer a variety of classes and are open to all fitness levels. The welcoming team and pristine atmosphere offer an inclusive place for everyone.

Their Eldorado location is perfect for me, basically across the street from my neighborhood. BUT if that isn’t good for you they have so many options:

  • Uptown
  • Preston Forest
  • Lakewood
  • Rockwall
  • Addison
  • Plano
  • Frisco
  • McKinney (location I mentioned)
  • Las Colinas
  • Flower Mound
  • Southlake
  • Keller
  • Fort Worth
  • Austin

I mean really there is no excuse not to try them, there is a location near you!

I tried the hot yoga and it was amazing. The stretch, heat, strength and so much more are a perfect fit for any workout routine. I do not sweat much and these classes really get it going which I love. I highly recommend them and your first class is FREE!

  • Yoga
  • Barre
  • Pilates
  • HIIT
  • CardioFIT
  • CoreFIT

There is something for everyone and I can’t wait to hear what you think. Head on over today to sign up. https://www.sunstonefit.com/programs

Fitness · Health · McKinney · Places to go · Products · Review · Texas Life

Erwin Park

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We have continued to explore the parks and trails near us and we recently visited Erwin Park a couple times. It is very natural and offers lots of trains and picnic areas with plenty of parking. We tried out several different trails and really enjoyed them all. I will say they are not really marked so be careful when you start some of them they don’t loop around and go for a couple miles.

This hills offer a great workout and beautiful views.

I use the Endomondo App so luckily I can see on a map where we went and are able to decide what we want to do. I recommend using something like this on trails you don’t know.

I was also able to try out some new workout gear from Just Strong. I really liked the fabric and the quality while hiking. I didn’t have to pull up or readjust my leggings or sports bra (which can be very annoying while trying to be active) I would recommend giving them a try and use the code WYNNSPARKS10 for a discount at checkout. http://www.juststrong.com

I love the writing and the look. Give them a try!

Food · Frisco · Places to go · Texas Life

The Nest – Frisco, TX

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We went to breakfast with some friends one Saturday morning to try out The Nest in Frisco. We chose them purely based on their Instagram pics, yes we do that! We had a great experience. I will say that it is a small space with limited seating, especially at peak times.

We were able to get a table after a nice family left. We enjoyed lattes and all had different breakfast options. My fried egg sandwich was delicious and the lavender honey latte was to die for. I will be back for sure. Each of our plates looked beautiful and the options were unique making it even more fun. The adorable atmosphere and convenient location made for an easy trip too.

What are you favorite coffee shops or cafes?

Fitness · Health · Places to go · Texas Life

Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve

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We went for a family hike at Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The area offers many different trails, some paved and some more natural. This allows for different levels to enjoy, bikes and dogs welcome. The Sunday we went it had recently rained and several trails were flooded, so keep that in mind if you are planning a trip. There is plenty of parking, restrooms and trashcans. Since it was a nice weekend afternoon there were quit a few people there and it didn’t feel crowded. There are so many different options that you can enjoy your time and not be in a crowd.

 

The area also has a team building ropes course, which I would love to do! If anyone in the area is interested you can find it online to book your time. There is also an amphitheater where they do some great shows. (schedule also online)

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We will definitely go back and explore more, we walked about 3 miles and the dogs had a blast. There are creeks, hills, trees galore and so much to see. It is a must for anyone who loves to hike or walk. I can’t wait to see the area in the summer with all of the trees filled in and plants full.