Waco, Texas, also known as the heart of Texas, is a fairly small city about a two-hour drive south of Dallas. The city is full of rich history, and while it has some darkness to its past, the city is bright, full of fun activities and delicious food, and, above all, well worth a visit. If you find yourself in Waco, which you should, here are 10 things to do.
1. Take A Tour With Waco Tours
If you don’t know where to start, booking a tour with Waco Tours is a great bet. The most popular option for a tour is the “Classic Tour.” The Classic Tour lasts close to three hours. You’ll stop at SO many places along the way, including but not limited to Magnolia Market, the Brazos River, several of the fixer upper homes from Chip and Joanna Gaines, Heritage Creamery, Baylor University, and better yet, you’ll learn so many things about Waco as you go along that you never would have learned otherwise.
2. Visit Magnolia Market
Perhaps Waco’s most sought after site is the magnificent Magnolia Market. Operated by Joanna and Chip Gaines from the incredibly popular TV Show, Fixer Upper, Magnolia Market is a one-stop-shop for furniture, home decor, cooking supplies and gadgets you never knew you needed, florals, and with plenty of options for on-site eating. The best bite, in my humble opinion, is the chocolatier cupcake from Silos Baking Co., but there is a wide selection of food trucks behind the market with options such as gooey grilled cheeses, sweet tea, tacos, and more. Admission is free, so swinging by is low risk.
- Address: 601 Webster Ave, Waco, TX 76706
3. Dine At Jake’s Texas Tea House
Jake’s Texas Tea House is a funky 50’s-style restaurant/diner that is only open for lunch, so plan accordingly. They’re known for their Texan-sized lunch plates, which are hearty and affordable. They have rotating specials, but their regular menu consists of sandwiches, salads, and plates with two options for sides. I got the grilled chicken with peppers, onions, cheese, and avocado on top, with a side of broccoli slaw and a vermicelli noodle salad. The vermicelli salad had olives throughout, and the broccoli slaw was so good I almost asked for seconds. This place is a must when visiting Waco for a good lunch.
- Address: 613 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701
4. Stay At Hilton Waco
What good is visiting a place if you don’t enjoy where you’re staying? This won’t be an issue in Waco if you choose Hilton Waco. With an on-site bar and restaurant that serves Starbucks coffee (very helpful if you’re a caffeine-addict like myself!), Hilton Waco is centrally located with great amenities. The rooms are spacious with cable TV, and the beds are incredibly comfortable. I can’t recommend this hotel enough, primarily due to its location, but also, its affordable rates.
- Address: 113 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX 76701
5. Visit The Dr. Pepper Museum
Conveniently located right around the corner from Magnolia Market is one of the quirkier museums I’ve seen in my day: The Dr. Pepper Museum! It’s hard to miss with its super colorful exterior. Head on in and learn all about the history of Dr. Pepper, which was once considered medicinal. It’s super fun to go through the years on each floor and learn how this soda became so popular. Of course, you can’t leave without trying a Dr. Pepper, so make sure to grab one on your way out in the gift shop.
- Address: 300 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76701
6. Take In The Brazos River At Cameron Park
The Brazos River cuts through Waco, and is the 11th-longest river in the United States at 1280 miles. It’s likely you’ll stumble upon the Brazos River even accidentally when visiting Waco, but I highly recommend stopping by Cameron Park to take in some nature and incredible views of the Brazos. There are a few scenic overlooks at this park, and you can easily spend as little as 30 minutes to several hours here.
- Address: 2601 N University Parks Dr, Waco, TX 76708
7. Eat Ice Cream at Heritage Creamery
Supporting local businesses is something I try to do on my travels, and places like Heritage Creamery make it incredibly easy. Heritage Creamery is owned by Blake and Kimberly Baston, and their ice cream is seriously to die for. It’s SO creamy, and while they have plenty of flavors to choose from, I opted for the s’mores (because, duh), which had flecks of rich chocolate throughout. I do not say it lightly that it’s some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had, and supporting local business owners makes it that much sweeter.
- Address: 1125 S 8th St, Waco, TX 76706
8. Snap A Photo At The “Cheers From Waco” Mural
When walking around one day close to the Hilton Waco (aka where I was staying), I happened to stumble upon a giant Waco mural. Obviously, I had to prop up my tripod and snap a few photos. This mural is super colorful and makes for a great photo that pops. Snap a few pics to show just how colorful Waco is.
- Address: 112 Mary Ave Suite 1, Waco, TX 76701 (located on the side of Bicycle World)
9. Go Horseback Riding With A Cowboy
When in Rome, err, when in Texas! If you’re looking for something as cliche as it comes, book a tour to go horseback riding with a real cowboy or cowgirl! Get out of the city and into some rugged terrain just outside of Waco to ride horses and learn of cowboy stories while on a true Texan ranch. You’ll also learn how to walk in cowboy/cowgirl boots, both literally and figuratively.
10. Eat A Kolache At Czech Stop On The Way Out (or in!)
Most likely, if you’re visiting Waco and you flew to Texas, you’ll be going to Dallas-Fort Worth international airport, and from there, you’ll drive to Waco. This means, lucky for you, you’ll pass the incredible Czech Stop. Czech Stop is a Czech bakery discretely located inside of a Shell Gas Station. Most famous for their kolaches (a Czech pastry), you can opt for either sweet or savory. My advice? Get both! I got a chocolate chip kolache (pictured above) and a jalapeño cheddar sausage kolache. The dough is very bread-like, reminding me of a dinner roll. The chocolate chip one felt like a cannoli-cream filling. Even better than the kolaches themselves are the prices: for two kolaches, I didn’t even pay $3.
- Address: I-35 Exit 353, West, TX 76691
DISCLAIMER: The City of Waco sponsored my visit to Waco, Texas.
DISCLAIMER II: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!