The City That Plays

Plan an unforgettable family 'play-cation' in Frisco this spring

Looking to have a ball on vacation? Be a good sport and head to Frisco, just half an hour away from Dallas. Frisco is the go-to place for fun, whether you're a single player, spectator, or team member — no matter your travel style, there's a play-cation there for you.

For the fam
Entertain kids and adults at the National Videogame Museum, the only museum in America dedicated to the history of the video game industry. Marvel at dozens of one-of-a-kind artifacts and more than 100,000 pieces of video game hardware, software, documentation, and memorabilia.

The Museum of the American Railroad also boasts an impressive collection, with artifacts and archival material that interpret the railroad industry's significance in American life and culture. Also stop by TrainTopia, a miniature model of the American Southwest woven together by seven operating rail lines.

Frisco is the only America location for KidZania, a working city designed just for kids. From fighting fires to acting in a play, kids earn a "salary" that can be redeemed for experiences and prizes. Thanks to GPS bands and top-notch adult supervision and security, kiddos can run wild (while parents take a break, if they want to).

Feeling sporty
The Star is a football fan's fantasy as well as the Dallas Cowboys' headquarters and practice facility. Throughout the 91-acre campus you'll find 20 restaurants, a concentrated version of AT&T Stadium, and each of the team's five Lombardi trophies. You might even spot a few players as they work out in the state-of-the-art fitness facilities!

Soccer fans can find their own nirvana at the National Soccer Hall of Fame, founded by Texas legend Lamar Hunt and showcasing memorabilia, history, and stories of the sport in America.

See soccer in action at a FC Dallas game, or watch the Frisco RoughRiders play at Dr Pepper Ballpark from your spot in the Choctaw Lazy River — yes, the largest swimming pool in pro sports is in a minor league baseball stadium.

Outdoor adventures
From hiking and biking to strolling and picnicking, there's no shortage of spots in which to take in the fresh Frisco air. Leave time to visit the skate park at Northeast Community Park or take a dip in the swimming hole at Limestone Quarry Park.

Wander the four landscaped acres of the Texas Sculpture Garden, the country's largest privately owned collection of sculpture that's free to the public. Download the free audio guide onto your phone to learn the history and context of the pieces.

Pull up a seat on the patio with an ice-cold margarita or some smokey barbecue at any of Frisco's many eateries. Spring in Texas is the perfect time to sit outside while you dine, so take advantage of the wonderful weather while you can.

Book your stay
Many hotels offering great rates and deals — check them out here and reserve your room.

There's fun for the whole family in Frisco.

Photo courtesy of Visit Frisco

There's fun for the whole family in Frisco.

sports kids vacation promoted families

Pack Your Patience

DFW declared No. 2 worst airport for flight delays and cancellations

Photo by Izyan Sultanali on Unsplash

DFW International also ranks as the second-worst airport for flight disruptions over the holiday travel season.

Ahead of the busy holiday season, North Texans should budget extra time into their travel plans before flying out of the metro's bustling Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

DFW was just declared the No. 2 worst airport in the nation for flight disruptions by consumer review platform ConsumerAffairs, which analyzed the rates of moderate and severe delays, diversions, and cancellations at the 29 biggest U.S. airports. DFW also appeared as the No. 2 worst airport where holiday travel causes the biggest disruptions.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia led the nation as the No. 1 worst airport overall — the only airport deemed more disruptive than DFW.

Unlike many other airports on the list that experience high cancellation rates, the report revealed DFW's biggest issue is its high volume of flight delays. DFW has the No. 1 highest moderate delay rate out of all the airports examined, with more than a quarter of all flights (25.18 percent) delayed by 15 minutes and up to three hours.

"It’s the kind of delay that eats into your day without necessarily blowing up your whole trip," the report's author wrote.

Nearly two percent of all flights are delayed over three hours, making DFW the fifth worst airport for severe delays. However, the study says there is a silver lining for travelers saddled with severe disruptions.

"DFW offered more scheduled backup flights to the same destination than many of the other airports on this list, giving travelers a decent shot at rebooking if a flight fell through," the report said.

These are the cancellation and diversion rates at DFW, per the report:

Cancellation rate: 2.31 percent
Diversion rate: 0.29 percent
Average same-day flights to the same destination: 3.95
Cancellations that were the last flight of the day to that destination: 24.88 percent

Flying at DFW will be even more stressful during the holidays, as 30 percent of flights will suffer from disruptions during the Thanksgiving and winter holiday travel periods — starting the Tuesday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after, and again from December 18 to January 5.

DFW has the eighth highest holiday disruption rate out of the biggest airports, and the fifth highest holiday severe delay rate. Put some padding on your itinerary, because about 2.5 percent of all flights will be delayed more than three hours during the holidays.

In ConsumerAffairs' separate list of the worst medium-sized airports, Dallas Love Field landed as the 15th worst out of 32 U.S. airports. About 22 percent of all flights at DAL experience moderate delays — the No. 1 highest rate in this category — and 1.07 percent are severely delayed.

Additionally, over 26 percent of all DAL flights will be disrupted during the holiday travel season, and two percent of flights will experience severe delays.

The top 10 worst U.S. airports for delays and cancellations are:

No. 1 – Ronald Reagan Washington National
No. 2 – Dallas Fort Worth International
No. 3 – Newark Liberty International
No. 4 – Miami International
No. 5 – Philadelphia International
No. 6 – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
No. 7 – LaGuardia
No. 8 – Tampa International
No. 9 – Washington Dulles International
No. 10 – George Bush Intercontinental

Surprisingly, Los Angeles International Airport landed as the best major U.S. airport for avoiding travel disruptions. Phoenix Sky Harbor International (No. 2) and Seattle-Tacoma International (No. 3) round out the top three best airports for on-time travel.

The report offers the following suggestions to help anxious travelers avoid flight disruptions: look into travel insurance to protect against delays or cancellations; look for nonstop flights; or book flights with earlier departure times on an airline with multiple departures to your destination.

For flights that do get delayed or cancelled, travelers need to "act fast" to rectify their situation, says Jennifer Rykaczewski, the CEO of nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Affordable Skies.

"In the first 10 minutes, open the airline app, see whether you have already been rebooked and search for acceptable alternatives," Rykaczewski said. "Throughout the process, save any documentation of the delay or cancellation, plus receipts for meals or hotels, in case you need it for an insurance claim later."

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