Things to do before kickoff in Frisco, Texas

Get the full fan itinerary at GoRedbirds.com/Frisco.

January doesn’t usually bring to mind images of cattle drives, indoor skydiving, or brisket-stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon, but those are all options for Redbird fans traveling to Frisco, Texas, for Saturday’s FCS national championship game.

Frisco may have been a tiny watering hole in the 1800s, but it’s now the second fastest-growing city in the nation, with a population of nearly 145,000. It’s a short drive from Dallas-Fort Worth, where you can visit places like the Sixth Floor Museum, which chronicles President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Frisco has been recognized by Money magazine as one of the top 100 places to live in the United States. Or visit.

The Dallas Cowboys’ new headquarters and training facility is being built in Frisco, which is home to four professional sports teams. Sports fans can play a little trivia trying to figure out who plays at Toyota Stadium, Dr. Pepper Arena, and Dr. Pepper Ballpark. (Hint: Soccer, baseball, and hockey are popular.)

You can hardly drive a mile in Texas without hearing, seeing or smelling a Texas barbecue grill.

Art is an important part of the culture in Frisco, with more than 150 outdoor sculptures, including bronze sculptures depicting scenes from the historical Shawnee Trail cattle drives. Drive by the Texas Sculpture Garden and see 40 large-scale pieces on display in Hall Office Park at Gaylord and the Dallas North Tollway, with an additional 100 pieces in and around the park.

Train buffs should make a stop at the Museum of the American Railroad, a collection of locomotives, diesel trains, and railroad artifacts. Get an inside look at six cars, from a Pullman sleeping car to a steam locomotive.

For shoppers, Frisco has more than 8 million square feet to browse. Stonebriar Centre has a Nordstrom’s and a 24-screen movie complex with an IMAX theatre. There’s also an IKEA and The Centre at Preston Ridge, an outdoor shopping center with specialty shops, along with Frisco Square and Main Street Shopping, with restaurants featuring Texas-sized steaks and a French Quarter dining experience.

If you want to step outside your comfort zone, try iFLY Indoor Skydiving. A vertical glass wind tunnel with speeds up to 175 mph simulates the experience of free fall skydiving.

As for that jalapeno brisket, look for it at 3 Stacks Smoke and Tap House, a restaurant developed by the “Rib Whisperer,” where you can build your own barbecue.

Visit the Frisco Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information.