Top 25 Thrilling Things to Do in Waco, TX

If you are passing through or making a special trip to Waco, Texas you are in for a fun-filled adventure. Waco offers museums, incredible historical sites, and relaxing indoor and outdoor stores and restaurants. You won’t run out of things to see and do in day or weekend trip. The following are our top 25 thrilling things to do in Waco based on our many trips to the city.

Must See Stores in Waco, TX

Magnolia Market is one of the big reasons most people visit Waco. The store is owned by Chip & Joanna Gaines of the HGTV show, Fixer Upper, and is a tourist hot spot with fans coming from all over to see the store in person. There’s shopping for charming farmhouse inspired decor, delicious food trucks that serve everything from crepes to Korean BBQ, a gorgeous garden with a supply shop, and a huge area for families to come and play outdoors and more.

601 Webster Ave., Waco, TX Spice Village is a 30,000-square-foot store built inside the historic Waco Hardware building. You can take the trolley from Magnolia Market to get to the store. Ninety vendors sell home décor, gifts, women’s and children’s clothing, and furniture such as desks, dressers, and tables. This store has a nice big parking area.

213 Mary Ave., Waco, TX The Findery opened in 2010 in the Percy Medicine Building built in 1908 and is a collection of furniture, home accessories, and gift vendors.

501 South 8th St., Waco, TX – An easy walk from Magnolia Market Junque in the Trunk is a cute antique and vintage store located on the other side of Interstate 35 near the Baylor University campus.

901 LaSalle Ave., Waco, TX Harp Design Co. has been made famous by the show Fixer Upper. Clint was building tables while Kelly went to graduate school in Waco. Clint ended up meeting Chip at a gas station and soon, Hart started making tables from reclaimed wood for Fixer Upper. The rest is history and the Harps now have their own DIY Network show Against the Grain, which we hear was picked up and should air January 2017. The store is small, but if you are making the rounds its worth the stop.

808 N. 15th St., Waco, TX Shades of Shabby – Cute antique store that offers a variety of re-purposed, vintage, antique and shabby furniture, home decor and more.

926 La Salle Ave, Waco, TX

Fun Places to Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Common Grounds: The coffee shop made famous in season one of Fixer Upper. This locally owned coffee shop serves up excellent coffee and a great atmosphere and cool backyard area.

1123 S 8th St., Waco, TX Hey Sugar: If you are a fan of sweets you won’t want to miss Hey Sugar candy shop. The retro theme and verity of candy are sure to delight. Don’t miss their in-house made chocolates!

808 Austin Ave., Waco, TX George’s is the Waco favorite for food. George’s is always packed so you might have to wait a bit, but everything on the menu is good! They have chicken fried steak (my favorite), fajitas, fried catfish and more. George’s also has daily food and drink specials that you can find on the website.

1925 Speight Waco, TX Health Camp is a local favorite known for its old-fashioned burger and fries. It’s been around since 1948, and there’s a reason it’s still open. The burgers are delicious, and the chili cheese hot dogs are yummy. It might be small, but it’s worth squeezing into!

2601 Circle Rd., Waco, TX Viteks: Barbecue and Texas go together like gravy and bisquits. It’s a staple in our Texas household. Viteks is a great local joint with delicious brisket and is home to the Gut Pak. Get it if you dare! Chip took the kids here on this episode of Fixer Upper.

1600 Speight Ave., Waco, TX Manny’s On The River

1620 N M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Waco, TX Poppa Rollo’s Pizza is a family-run landmark in Waco, serving pizza since 1969! Get your fill of delicious pizza and let the kids play classic arcade games.

703 N Valley Mills Dr, Waco, TX Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ was established in 1989 near San Antonio and now operates in 5 states. Don’t miss the famous Sissy Sauce and Rudy’s Rub while you’re there.

2510 Circle Rd, Waco, TX Cafe Homestead: I heard this is one of Joanna’s favorite places to eat. Cafe Homestead serves American dishes using local and organic sourced ingredients.

608 Dry Creek Rd, Waco, TX 76705

Exciting Waco Attractions

Dr. Pepper Museum: Housed in the building of the company created in 1906 to distribute the soft drink, it features historical exhibits, including a vintage soda fountain and a replica bottling assembly line. We had fun looking at the artifacts from our favorite soft drink!

300 S 5th St, Waco, TX – An easy walk from Magnolia Market BSR Cable Park is a state of the art water sports facility where riders and skiers are pulled around a 12-acre lake with a cable! It is home to the world’s longest lazy river, the royal flush (who doesn’t want to be catapulted into the air do backflips and land in the water?) as well as a surf ranch, which slated to open in 2017.

5347 Old Mexia Rd, Waco, TX Mayborn Museum includes hands-on discovery rooms and interactive natural science and cultural history galleries, including outdoor exhibits that kids are sure to enjoy. This small but delightful museum offers great activities for kids and adults. The Natural and Cultural History exhibits are well executed. Check the website for special exhibits.

1300 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX Mammoth National Monument offers guided walking tours of a dig where fossils of 24 Columbian mammoths and other mammals from the Pleistocene Epoch have been uncovered and are “in situ.” It is the largest concentration of a single herd of mammoths dying from the same event, which is believed to be a flash flood about 67,000 years ago.

6220 Steinbeck Bend Drive Waco, TX Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum is not about the Rangers baseball team. It is the official museum, hall of fame and repository of the famed Texas Rangers law enforcement agency. The museum features displays relating to the American West, law enforcement, Southern Plains Indian history and ethnography, firearms history and technology.

100 Texas Ranger Trail, Waco, TX Texas Sports Hall of Fame: The Hall of Fame features exhibits on Texas athletes and sports, ranging from scholastic to professional teams.

1108 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX Suspension Bridge: The single-span suspension bridge opened in 1870 over the Brazos River with Indian Spring Park on the west end and Martin Luther King Jr. Park on the east. Seven-mile long Riverwalk winds under the bridge on both sides of the river. It’s only open to foot traffic. Balcones Distillery: The award-winning homegrown whiskey distillery is open for tours by reservation.

225 S 11th St, Waco, TX Texas Sports Hall of Fame: More than 300 Texas sports greats like Troy Aikman, Mike Singletary, Willie Shoemaker, Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, and lots more are recognized.

1108 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX Homestead Heritage: This small community of around 1,000 folks is an agrarian- and craft-based intentional Christian community. If you want to take a tour and join in on craft shops as well as dine here, the village is open year-round Monday through Saturday.

608 Dry Creek Rd. Waco, TX 76705

Looking for coupons? This site has a ton of coupons for activities in Waco

Places to Stay in Waco, Texas

Hotel Indigo – Baylor: Walking distance to Magnolia Market!

La Quinta Inn: If you’re on a budget this is the best hotel you can get. Other hotels do not have good reviews that are in cheaper. About 1.5 miles from Magnolia.

Magnolia House: Of course, if you want the full Magnolia Market experience you will want to stay here. Go in with a couple of people because it’s a whopping $695.00 a night and a 2-night minimum!

For more information on Magnolia Market check out Ultimate Tips for a Trip to Magnolia Market. Make sure to follow us socially to ask questions and get more information!







