Long Read
plano vs my bank account: a survival story
okay so i literally just got off a bus and my phone says it's 13.7 degrees which feels like 13.3 and i'm standing here in plano, texas thinking why did i only pack one hoodie, honestly the humidity is at 83% which doesn't sound like a lot until you're just... damp. everywhere. constantly. my hair has given up. anyway here's what i figured out in about 48 hours of being here.
quick answers
q: is plano worth visiting?
a: if you're into suburbs that feel like the matrix but with better brunch, sure. it's not a destination city but if you're already in dallas it's a solid day trip. the legacy west area is actually pretty cool if you ignore the price tags.
q: is it expensive?
a: compared to actual dallas? slightly less. compared to anywhere a budget student should be? yeah pretty brutal. i found a taco truck that saved my life though - more on that later.
q: who would hate it here?
a: anyone who wants actual culture or non-chain restaurants without driving 20 minutes. also if you need public transit good luck, the bus system exists but it exists like a ghost.
q: best time to visit?
a: spring or fall when it's not this weird damp cold situation. honestly winter is fine if you have layers. summer would kill me personally.
so the weather right now is doing this thing where it's cold but not cold enough to snow, just grey and wet and the high is supposed to hit 15 which is basically nothing, and the pressure is 1013 which someone told me is normal but it feels oppressive somehow. i don't know i'm not a meteorologist. i just know my jacket is not cutting it and i regret every decision that led to me being here without a proper coat.
the actual vibe check
let me be honest - i came here because my friend said there was good food and cheap thrifts and i believed her, which is a classic mistake. the food situation is... mixed. there's this outdoor mall area called legacy west and it's very pretty in a way that makes me feel poor, like everything costs $40 for a salad and the salads have edible flowers which i don't think is necessary. but i found a food hall nearby where i got three tacos for $8 so we're winning somewhere.
someone told me to check out the arbor hills nature preserve and honestly that was the highlight so far. there's these waterfalls and trails and it's free which is the only way i'm doing anything right now. i sat by the water for like an hour just breathing because i needed to remember that nature exists outside of parking lots. the humidity made it feel like the forest was breathing back which is either poetic or just gross, i haven't decided.
local insights you actually need
if you're driving here from dallas it's like 30 minutes depending on traffic, and traffic on the toll roads will make you question your life choices. i heard the tolls are cheaper after 9am but i haven't verified this because i don't have a car and i'm living dangerously on the dart bus system which takes forever but costs $3 so.
the sea level is listed as 1013 which apparently means nothing to me but a local warned me that this area can flood weirdly even in winter because of the humidity + rain combo, so maybe don't park in low areas? just a thought. ground level is 993 which i guess is relevant for something? i'm not a scientist.
things nobody tells you
i asked a barista where actual local people go and she laughed at me which was rude but then pointed me toward downtown plano which is way more chill than legacy west. there's vintage shops and a record store and this one coffee place that doesn't have pumpkin spice in the name so it gets my approval. i spent $6 on coffee which is still too much but whatever.
a local warned me that the 'cool' areas change depending on what day it is, like friday night everyone is at legacy west and saturday they migrate to some other place i can't remember. i think there was a farmers market? my brain is full.
honestly the best part was just walking around noticing how flat everything is. you can see the whole sky. coming from anywhere with actual topography it's kind of jarring but in a nice way? like you can see weather coming at you from miles away which is either comforting or terrifying depending on your relationship with storms.
the verdict after 48 hours
would i come back? maybe. would i pay for accommodation here? absolutely not. would i recommend it as a destination? only if you have a car and friends to split uber costs with. as a budget student this was fine as a day trip but staying overnight really exposed the 'everything is far from everything' issue. the humidity right now at 83% is making my everything feel sticky and i miss actual weather.
there's this thing about plano that i can't quite name - it's not boring exactly, it's just... content? like it's fine with being fine. that's either annoying or admirable. still deciding.
practical stuff since i know you want it
the temperature right now is 13.72 celsius and it's going to max out at 15.12 which is not enough to feel warm but too much to justify staying inside. wear layers. bring an umbrella even if the forecast doesn't call for rain because the humidity will find a way. if you're cheap like me, the arbor hills preserve is your best friend and it's free and there's actual water features which is rare in texas honestly.
i'm writing this from a coffee shop that has good wifi and doesn't card people which is all i need in life honestly. my bank account hates me slightly less than yesterday. that's a win.
if you need me i'll be here, underdressed, eating cheap tacos, questioning why i didn't go to austin instead.
here's some links if you want to verify i'm not completely making this up:
- tripadvisor plano guide - honestly not super helpful but exists
- yelp plano - better for finding the food spots
- r/plano - actual locals complaining about stuff, very useful
- dallas city news plano - for events and whatnot
- d magazine plano - more 'here's why plano is actually cool' energy
- only in your state texas - for the touristy stuff