As a mom, I rarely have time for a girls’ getaway, but when the opportunity popped up I thought Waco, Texas would be such a fun trip. Great shopping, coffee, cocktails and home decor inspiration leads to the perfect girls’ getaway!
About Waco
Waco, Texas is best known from the TV show Fixer Upper, which featured Chip and Joanna Gaines’ home renovations and their revitalization of an entire block (actually several blocks)! The Magnolia Market and Silo’s popularity brings in an impressive one million visitors a year and the increase in tourists within the city has helped other fun coffee shops, restaurants, and stores to open. Besides all things Fixer Upper, the city is home to Baylor University, the Brazos river, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the birthplace of Dr Pepper.
Location
Waco, Texas is a city with soul located in the heartland of Texas, making it an easy destination to get to! It is just a 1.5 hour drive from either Dallas or Austin and under 3 hours from San Antonio or Houston.
We chose to fly into Dallas and pick up a rental car to make the drive to Waco. There is also a local airport, Waco Regional Airport, but prices were substantially higher to fly into it.
Where to Stay
Hilton Waco – We chose to stay at the Hilton Waco. While it didn’t offer the charm of a bed and breakfast, it had a great location for everything, and I am always excited to collect Hilton points! The hotel had a pool, fitness center, and lobby bar. There was also a breakfast buffet that will fill you up for the day’s adventures.
If points and a budget aren’t an issue for you and you want a true Chip and Jo experience, I would recommend:
Magnolia House – several vacation homes renovated by Joanna in her signature style, and all featured on episodes of Fixer Upper. These are full home rentals that will be pricier. Check-ins are only available Monday, Wednesday or Friday, and a 2- night rental is required.
A Fixer Upper Airbnb – another popular option while in Waco is to stay the night at a home that has been featured on the show. Be sure to book in advance if you choose this option, as some book out months in advance!
Things to Do
Magnolia has shops, restaurants, and events all designed by the Gaines family. It is amazing to see their design elements and vision come to life! The Silos themselves are a well-known site if you’re a fan of the show. The field is perfect for kids to play games and is the gathering spot when events are held. You will also find shops such as Magnolia Home, for all things home decor ,and Magnolia Market where you can find curated collections and souvenirs. There are also the Shops at the Silos, which are six shops where you can find things from bath products, paper products, clothing and more.
Don’t show up to the Silos with a full belly, because you will definitely want to try some incredible sweets at the Silos Baking Co. and grab a signature 1905 coffee from Magnolia Press. There are also some food trucks on site with a variety of meal options.
If you take your kids to Magnolia and they aren’t interested in shopping, the Katy Ballpark on site is a cute wiffle ball field your kids can play in. Long ago, Katy Park was a baseball field where legends like Babe Ruth played. After being closed in 1965, this cute, smaller version was made in its honor.
Lastly, if you want to attend a tour or event, plan ahead as things book quickly. We opted to take a Silos Tour . The Silos Tour was a 45 minute tour that started with a coffee from Magnolia Press. We walked the grounds and got a detailed history behind different aspects of Magnolia and the sentimental background of different items on the grounds. The tour ended on the roof of Magnolia Market for a great view of the grounds. I enjoyed the tour, but unless you are a fan of the Gaines’ and want to know Magnolia’s unique history you could access everything on the tour yourself except for the rooftop.
An unexpected pleasant surprise on our trip was Bike the Brazos! I had never ridden an electric bike and was shocked at how fun it was! The bike went around 25 mph and made it so easy to get around the city. Despite the hot weather, the bike provided a nice breeze and didn’t require too much physical effort.
You can pick a bike up in front of the @socalwaco shop, which is only a block from Magnolia. From there we rode to see the Brazos River and then stopped by @spicevillage and @thefinderywaco for some shopping. We also loved driving around the city to see different artwork on the buildings and explore without an agenda.
This was my highlight of the trip, but unfortunately is a limited-time-only experience with tours ending on October 29, 2022. Cottonland Castle is a century old castle in Waco that had fallen into ruin. Chip and Joanna Gaines decided to renovate the castle and is their newest Fixer Upper that is set to debut on their show this fall. It is the only Fixer Upper that has been opened to the public to walk through and it was beautiful to see, especially before it aired on their show. Each room was perfectly decorated and styled while preserving the historical elements. It was also fun to see locals on the tour with us who had always dreamt of seeing inside the castle.
Shopping
Harp Design Co is well known due to being featured on Fixer Upper and later having a show of their own (Wood Work). This shop is small but consists of beautiful wood work such as furniture, candles, and cutting boards as well as home decor items. I personally was excited to take home some small cutting boards with the company logo branded into each.
The Findery is walking distance from Magnolia and has so many beautiful home items inside. They say they have a blend of antique and modern, and I would have to agree with that statement. If I didn’t have to fly home, I would have wanted to buy so many things to decorate my home.
The Spice Village is a 30,000 square foot shopping center with a collection of different shops that has a wide variety of items. You can find everything from clothes, toys, jewelry, candles, souvenirs and more. It is all indoors and a fun place to look around.
Dining/Drinks
Moroso Pizzeria – Just a 15-minute drive from downtown you will find the most delicious Italian food! Their items are made from scratch with the finest ingredients and everything we had tasted amazing.
Magnolia Table – Another Chip and Jo location in Waco features breakfast and lunch with homegrown ingredients. This restaurant can get crowded so I definitely recommend that you make a reservation. Also if you head for breakfast try their French Toast Crunch – I am still dreaming about it!
Milo All Day This restaurant was a favorite of mine! They offer Southern food made from scratch with a little twist. Their lemonade flight was delicious with large portions, so be sure to take a friend to share with. For fried chicken lovers, the fried chicken sando was AMAZING!
Union Hall – If you are in a group and want to make sure everyone leaves happy, Union Hall is the perfect stop. It is open daily from 7am to 10pm and has 15 plus places to choose from! Whether you are hungry for burgers or tacos or just a dessert you will be sure to find something in their fun food hall concept.
Conclusion
Overall we had the best weekend in Waco, Texas and hope this guide helps you have a wonderful one too! If you have any questions always feel free to message us on Instagram at @thejetsettingfamily! Safe Travels!
XOXO
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