McKinney
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McKinney

McKinney

Collin County seat with a historic town square, Victorian homes, and tree-covered rolling hills.

McKinney is the county seat of Collin County. It is characterized by rolling hills, mostly covered with trees, unlike the more southern cities in the county.

Even though it is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, it still maintains a small-town feel, from the historic town square to the Victorian homes in the central part of the city. The square is ringed with independent shops and restaurants, with the Old Collin County Courthouse at its centre.

Two highlights stand out. Towne Lake Park is a city park built around a 22-acre lake encircled by a hike-and-bike trail. The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, south of town, combines a small museum with 289 acres of native habitat and nature trails. The Heard-Craig House, just off the square, is a well-preserved 1900 family home now run as a museum.

Guide

Getting There

McKinney sits about 50 km north of downtown Dallas along US-75 (Central Expressway). Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the main entry point at around 60 km away — Dallas Love Field is closer in distance but no easier in traffic. There is no commuter rail to McKinney; the Dallas DART rail terminates at Parker Road in Plano, about 25 km south, with regular buses connecting on to McKinney. McKinney National Airport (TKI) handles general aviation only.

Guide

Things to Do

McKinney's draw is its historic downtown square and its parks. The Old Collin County Courthouse anchors a square ringed by Victorian storefronts now full of independent shops and restaurants. A few blocks east, the Heard-Craig House preserves the look of late-19th-century life. South of town the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary is the area's main outdoor draw.