Waco is one of the hidden gems of Texas. I have had the pleasure of visiting there many times and thanks to a local friend, I’ve been introduced to many charming places to shop, eat, and discover. Since Magnolia Market was built by Chip and Joanna Gaines, the area has drawn a lot more interest and visitors. While I am a fan of Magnolia myself, there is so much more that Waco has to offer! You’ll be missing out if you don’t take the time to explore a little more of Waco.
Things to See and Do in Waco
Dr. Pepper Museum
The Dr. Pepper Museum is something I’ve wanted to see for a long time. There is quite a bit you can see just from walking around before you even buy a ticket. The old bottling plant still has an original mural on display along with some old trucks. The soda shop was a really fun experience because you can purchase their special blend of Dr. Pepper and other sodas and get a Dr. Pepper float! What I loved most was the gift shop. My husband is a HUGE Dr. Pepper fan so I got him a shirt, some cups (remember the ones they used to have at Pizza Hut?) and some Dr. Pepper flavored candy. There was so much to look at!
Mayborn Museum
The Mayborn Museum is located on the Baylor University campus in a beautiful building that is easy to access and has dedicated parking. I was blown away at how interactive and immersive the exhibits were. There are many walk-in dioramas focusing on different historical features of Central Texas. My favorites were the Texas Cave exhibit which makes you feel like you are actually inside a limestone cave with stalagtites and stalagmites. The Waco Mammoth National Monument Exhibit features casts of fossils found at sites nearby underneath a glass floor. You can walk over the mammoth fossils and get up close and personal. Upstairs there are two floors of discovery rooms, each with a different theme. The music room and bubble room were big hits!
If your kids complete the Junior Ranger Program at the Waco Mammoth National Monument (see #2), they’ll get free admission to the Mayborn.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is definitely on my list for the next time we go to Waco. We didn’t have enough time to see it, but I’ve heard it’s amazing! You can pay a small fee to see the dig shelter which houses actual mammoth fossils still in their original location.
If you have a National Parks Passport, bring it along so you can collect your stamp. Kids can also complete activities to become a Junior Ranger.
Cameron Park and Zoo
If you need a place to relax and have a picnic, head on over to Cameron Park. This 400 acre park has everything from playgrounds, pavillions, trails, cliffs, river views, and even a zoo! The Cameron Park Zoo is a part of the AZA Reciprocal Admissions Program where you can receive free or discounted admission to all the accredited zoos if you have a membership to one of the zoos on the list. Along with their regular animal exhibits you can also enjoy an aquarium and splash pad.
Waco Suspension Bridge Brazos River
This was closed off when we went, but keep checking back to see if it may be open when you go.
Baylor University Campus
Tour the Baylor campus with a downloadable Walking Audio Tour app. If you search for Baylor University Guidebook and look for “Walking Tour.”
Places to Shop in Waco
Spice Village
Spice Village is a huge space full of booths and shops of home goods, antiques, crafts, boutique clothing, and more! We spent several hours here browsing through everything and found some cute stuff to bring home.
Some other popular places to go antiquing in Waco include LaSalle Shoppes on La Salle Avenue, Savage Finds Antiques & Oddities on 6th Street and Laverty’s Antiques Furnishings.
The Findery
This is a cute shop but also had a few parking spaces we used to park and walk to Magnolia Market. There is a beautiful mural on the side of the building that we just had to take a picture of!
Places to eat in Waco
George’s
George’s is a local favorite to grab lunch or dinner. The burgers are juicy, delicious, and really hit the spot. Their queso is one of my favorite items on the menu. I get it every time I go!
Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant
Another one of my favorite local restaurants is Ninfa’s. I remember visiting my friend who went to Baylor for college and this was one of the spots we always went to.
Address: 220 S 3rd St, Waco, TX 76701. Phone: (254) 757-205
Enjoy your trip to Waco and enjoy all that comes with it! What places would you add to the list?
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