Why You Should Visit Waco, Texas

Waco, Texas is a small town that sits about halfway between Austin and Dallas. Mostly known for being home to Baylor University, the city has seen a recent revival and huge jump in tourism thanks to the hit HGTV show Fixer Upper. I recently visited Waco to look at an investment property, and while I came away with some nasty poison ivy from roaming around this overgrown building, I had a great time exploring the city. Hopefully these five things will make you want to visit Waco, Texas.

The Magnolia Market and Bakery

Where to stay in Waco, Texas

When I initially booked my tickets to visit Waco, I was under the impression that it was much larger than it is. American Airlines is the only airline to fly to Waco and its only accessible through Dallas. Kind of reminds me of when we would fly from Erie to Pittsburgh when it was a USAirways hub. There aren’t a lot of hotel options in the downtown area, so I chose the Hilton, which was clean and comfortable for my two-night stay. Its location was also ideal since I was within walking distance of just about everything, Baylor, the Magnolia Silos, and most importantly the property I was there to look at.

The Magnolia Market just before sunrise

Another option is to go on Airbnb where you can find several of the houses Chip and Joanna Gaines featured on Fixer Upper. The Airbnb option is a little pricier, but it is pretty cool to stay in a house you saw on TV!

What to do in Waco, Texas

I only had a day to do and see as much as Waco had to offer. What made it even more difficult was a food truck festival that happened to be going on the day I was in Waco exploring. Luckily I had a sidekick join me from Dallas for this exploration, Thad is back!

Visit Waco’s Dr. Pepper Museum

Thad is back! Striking a pose at the Dr. Pepper Museum

If you are one that likes to take in the history of the cities you visit, then the Dr. Pepper museum should be on your list. The Dr. Pepper museum property features two buildings and three floors of Dr. Pepper history. The tour started off a little dark with the first room you enter showing the devastation from a tornado hitting the old factory, but it ended on a high note with a delicious Dr. Pepper float.?

Dr. Pepper float

If prehistory is more your style you can check out the Waco Mammoth National Monument. The prehistoric site has the fossils of 24 Colombian Mammoths and other extinct animals from 67,000 years ago.

Chat with some locals over a craft beer when you visit Waco

I have found that when I’m visiting a new city in the US a great way to get suggestions on what to do and meet cool people is to find a local craft brewery. Waco only has one, although the owners said there has been rumors of another one opening up soon. Bare Arms Brewing had a nice little tasting room, and a great selection of delicious and unique beers. I’d suggest starting with their core 5 flight to get a taste of what they can do and while you’re enjoying it you’ll have a chance to learn about some of their more unique selections.

Balcones Distillery Tasting

If you prefer whisky to beer, then head to Balcones Distillery. Just a short walk from the Magnolia Silos and downtown Balcones have an amazing space with a bar and hightop standing tables. Their tasting is just $10 and you get to sample 3 (or 4 if you’re lucky) different spirits. All 3 were delicious in their own way and I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of whisky they were producing.

Check out the Magnolia Silos as seen on HGTV!

This is the part you have all been waiting for. If your house is anything like ours, the more episodes of Fixer Upper we watch the more rustic chic our house becomes. If you are in Waco, or anywhere nearby and have time to get to Waco, you should visit the Magnolia Silos. When I got back that is all my family wanted to know about. A tip that I happened to do just because I wanted to get some cool pictures as the sun was rising… GET THERE EARLY! The Silo Baking Company opens their doors at about 7:30 and the market opens at 9, but at 7 there were already people lining up to get in the bakery and when I left at 8:15 the line to get in the market was already past the handicap ramp that acts like a roller coaster queue.

A family fun filled afternoon at the silos

The cupcakes and muffins were fantastic and the coffee (Common Grounds Coffee is served at the bakery) was also really good. The Gaines’ have done a great job turning their silo property into a community center where family can gather, kids can play and the wives of guys like me can get their Fixer Upper fix.

Coffee, a muffin, and a camera my morning essentials

Life Update

I need to apologize that it took so long for me to get this post up. I was also supposed to have a vlog to go along with this post, but unfortunately, all of the footage I captured with my camera has these weird gray rings in the middle of the frame, so it’s unusable. I haven’t been posting much on the blog because I haven’t had the chance to do a whole lot of traveling since the beginning of the year. That, however, is about to change! We have some really cool trips coming up and I can wait to create and share my experiences with you all!

Be sure to get to the bakery early to minimize wait time!

I’ve been really trying to focus and learn about improving my photography, video, and editing skills and hopefully that translates into a better reader experience for you! Head over to Instagram and follow me and show me some love!! I promise I won’t go this long without posting again. New exciting content is on its way!! Thank you for all the support! ❤

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