15 Other Things To Do in Waco During Your Magnolia Market Road Trip

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Updated: April 2, 2018.

HGTV’s hit show “Fixer Upper” has been a game changer for Waco. Chip and Joanna Gaines have created so much buzz in the town that people from all over the state (and country) are making their way to Waco, Texas to visit their store, Magnolia Market.

We make the trek to Magnolia once or twice a year and always have a wonderful time! The store at the Silos is always jam-packed with people, even on weekdays. The big green lawn is the perfect place for our toddler and preschooler to run around and make new friends. And we always love grabbing a bite to eat from the food trucks.

For more information on Magnolia Market at the Silos, check out this post: The Ultimate Guide to Magnolia Market at the Silos.

They have seriously done an amazing job with it all. Most recently, they opened their new restaurant in town, Magnolia Table, which is in the former Elite Cafe building. We had breakfast there and enjoyed it so much! It will be fun to continue to see all the wonderful things that they bring to the town.

If you’re planning on adding Waco, Texas to your travel bucket list, I have compiled a list of other fun things to do while you’re in town visiting Magnolia Market.

Things To Do in Waco, Texas

Dine at Magnolia Table

We had breakfast at Magnolia Table the day after the Fixer Upper aired that showcased the restaurant, so we weren’t sure if we would even be able to get a table. We arrived around 8:30am on a Wednesday and were able to get a table within about 20 minutes! The service was wonderful, and of course, the food was amazing. It’s definitely worth a visit. Magnolia Table serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch.

Find Deals at the Little Shop on Bosque

If you love a good scratch and dent sale, check out the Little Shop on Bosque at the original Magnolia location on Bosque Blvd. The last time I checked (on 2/25/19), it’s open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm. I went on a Thursday around 9:45am, and there was a short, five-minute wait to get into the store. Call (833) 843-0590 before you go to make sure they’re open.

Shop at Spice Waco

I love this place! It’s a collection of shops full of home decor, apparel, fun finds, and accessories. Located conveniently in downtown Waco, it’s a great place to stop by and shop at before or after a trip to Magnolia Market.

Visit Cameron Park Zoo

We went to the Cameron Park Natural Habitat Zoo a few years back and again on our last trip with our daughters and had a great time! It’s huge at 52 acres and is home to over 1700 animals. It’s beautiful and one of Waco’s best kept secrets.

Meet the Bears at Baylor University

Baylor has a bear habitat on campus home to their mascots, Lady and Joy. You can see both bears right there on Baylor’s campus anytime between 9:30am to 8:00pm. It’s a fun, easy, and free place to stop right off of I-35.

Dine at George’s

Being a Pat Green fan, I had to check out George’s Restaurant and Bar. I figured it must be pretty good if he named a song after it. My husband and I have had dinner at the original location right off of I-35 and the Hewitt location. Both were great, and both were packed! The atmosphere is fun and lively, and the food is delicious.

Shop at Harp Design Co.

I love to hear how companies get their start. An article on www.WacoTrib.com discussed how Harp Design Co.’s Clint Harp overcame obstacles to start his business and how he ended up on the pilot episode of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper.” It’s a great story. Harp Design Co. is located about a mile from Magnolia and features high-quality products and furniture with unique finishes. It’s a small shop, worth a visit.

Enjoy Local Coffee at Common Grounds

My husband loves coffee. So, anytime we hear about a good, local coffee shop, we have to stop by. We went to Common Grounds on 8th Street and loved the atmosphere and eclectic decor. It’s the kind of relaxing coffee shop you want to grab a seat and stay a while. My husband’s favorite drink there is the Cowboy Coffee.

Shop at the Findery

Located down the street from Magnolia Market, the Findery is another great place to find unique and beautiful farmhouse decor, clothing, chalk paint, and antique furniture. Make sure you check out the upstairs area too!

Visit Homestead Heritage

An intentional Christian community, this agricultural settlement is a unique and educational place to visit. Within the Homestead Craft Village, there is a blacksmith shop, pottery house, cheese-making house, woodworking shop, and more. You can make your way around the village to each stop and talk with the craftsmen inside. They are open year round. There’s also a restaurant on site called Café Homestead that has amazing food! They use high-quality, local and organic ingredients, and everything we tried was absolutely delicious.

Tour the Dr Pepper Museum

Check out the exhibits and enjoy a treat at Frosty’s Soda Shop. For the best deal on admission, head over to Groupon to purchase your tickets. Or you can just look around the gift shop and order a tasty treat at Frosty’s Soda Shop without an admission ticket. Best of all, it’s walking distance from the Silos.

More Fun Places to Visit

Balcones Distilling
Waco Mammoth National Monument
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
McLane Stadium

Where to Stay

We stayed at the Hilton Waco during one of our visits to Magnolia Market, and it worked out well. The hotel is conveniently located in downtown Waco, less than a mile away from Magnolia Market. Spice Waco, one of my other favorite places to shop in town, is just across the street. There is also a Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant within walking distance and a couple of other restaurants. Click here for more information on Hilton Waco.

Another great way to travel is to book a home through Airbnb. During our last trip to Waco, we stayed in a tiny house in a relaxing country setting in Crawford, Texas. It was such a fun, little Airbnb adventure, and the property was beautiful! The property has four tiny houses, a luxury two-room casita, a two-bedroom cottage, king and queen suites, and a large Gathering House. It’s perfect for individuals, families, or large groups. Our daughters loved the playground and going on hikes each day. The property is only about 20 minutes from Magnolia Market. To learn more about this and other Waco-area properties, you can sign up for a free Airbnb account here and get $40 toward your first trip. Search Gathering Oaks Retreat in the Airbnb search box.

Another option is to stay at one of the homes featured on Fixer Upper! How fun is that?! When you click on the link, just search for Waco, TX, and look through the listing descriptions for ones that mention Fixer Upper. This referral link will give you $40 towards your first trip!

Related post: 3 Easy Ways to Save Money on Travel – Great for Families!

Helpful Links:

Looking for more Texas travel destinations? Check out this post on one of my favorite little towns in Texas.

Have you been to Waco? Leave a comment with your favorite places to visit!

Going on a road trip soon? Check out this post: What to Pack for your Next Family Road Trip

Resources That I Love

Below are my top recommendations for saving money, making money, and more!

Ebates – Ebates is a free and easy way to earn cash back when shopping online. Some of my favorite places to shop through Ebates include: Amazon, Target, Etsy, Old Navy, Lowe’s, Walmart, and more! Ebates earns a commission on referrals, and they share that commission with you. I talk about it in depth in my post here: How To Earn Cash with Ebates. It’s super easy (and free) to join. You just provide your email address, and choose a password. You can get a $10 cash bonus after your first $25 purchase by signing up through my link here.

Ibotta – Ibotta is another free way to earn cash back. It’s like using coupons without the hassle of clipping coupons. You simply sign up for a free account and then after you shop, scan your products that have coupons in the app, scan your receipt, and watch the cash fall into your Ibotta account. I use the app when I shop at Target and Kroger, but there are a lot of places you can use the service. You can receive a $10 welcome bonus by signing up through my link here.

VIPKID – Do you have a bachelor’s degree and want to teach English online? With VIPKID, you can apply to be a teacher with a flexible schedule, working out of the comfort of your home, teaching English virtually to children between the ages 4-12 in China. And, VIPKID provides all lesson plans!

Free Blogging Resources – There are so many amazing free blogging resources available that I listed all of my favorites in one place. From learning how to start a blog to learning how to increase page views… even a free Pinterest course! You can access the full list in this blog post here.