Frankly Traveled

From the moment Fixer Upper debuted on HGTV in 2013, Chip and Joanna Gaines won the hearts of America. To that point, it’s no surprise thousands are making the pilgrimage to Waco each year to get a taste of the beauty (and delicious goods) the power couple have created.

From the iconic Silos cupcakes to shiplap inspired tees, explore my city guide for how to spend a couple of days in Waco, TX – even beyond magnificent Magnolia. And be prepared, Magnolia Market, the Silos, and Magnolia Table are all closed on Sunday, so if you’re planning a long weekend, aim for a Thursday – Saturday trip instead.

Finally, take note that this is a fun extended stay for those visiting Dallas or Austin, as Waco is just a short drive from each of these cities. Austin’s one of my personal favorites, and I’ll be sharing a city guide specifically for Austin in the coming weeks – now let’s dive into Waco!

{things to do}

One of my first discoveries when I began planning this trip was how many people who have been on Fixer Upper AirBnB their house out for guests. Ideally suited for groups of six or more, my parents and I opted for the Hilton downtown, which is across the street from Waco’s beautiful Suspension Bridge crossing the Brazos River. You’ll definitely want to snap a photo here. Mine was actually taken as I was exiting the city, after a crazy, passing storm!

One of the perks of the Hilton property is its location on the Waco trolley route. Waco offers both free trolley and bus services to visitors. The trolley route serves the downtown area, while the bus route extends beyond the immediate, walkable route through to Magnolia Table and the Baylor campus. Be sure to bring a tip for the wildly entertaining bus driver who occupies the route and will treat you to some of Waco’s history during your ride. I highly recommend taking it one full lap from Magnolia Market to become further acquainted for your stay.

Magnolia Market and Silos Bakery can get packed quickly on any day – exceptionally so on Fridays and Saturdays, so it’s best to arrive as early as possible to enjoy this gorgeous property. Morning light and fewer crowds also provide the best atmosphere for your photos! My recommendation is to take a quick lap of the property and then explore the store(s) first – Magnolia Market and Magnolia Seed & Supply.

Magnolia Market is set up like rooms – you’ll find kitchen décor in “the kitchen,” and so on and so forth. The front of the store’s décor changes fairly often from what I hear. I loved the umbrellas in anticipation of the Spring at the Silos event that followed the weekend of my stay.

To no one’s surprise, this store is stunning and set up exactly as you would imagine – meticulously by Joanna. My favorite purchase from the store is my Magnolia Apolis “lunch bag.” They sell both the market bag and lunch bag sizes in the Market, and it’s not only a handy way to tote around the other items you’re picking up, but a reusable waterproof bag for every day that empowers its employees to “determine a better future.” You can even source the exact location of manufacture on the back of the bag!

Seed & Supply is a tinier store with some exclusive items you don’t want to miss out on, so be sure to check it out, too.

Once you’ve filled your shopping bags (and worked up an appetite), grab something from the food trucks (I’ll elaborate more on these later) and a spot on the lawn for a picnic. Lawn games and soccer balls are available for use – and a great hangout spot if your husband and/or kids are tagging along, but my favorite spot were the swings, just in back of the lawn. I could have spent my entire day just lounging in the sun, surrounded by all of the hustle.

A short drive away, find the original Magnolia store, affectionately known as the Little Shop on Bosque, which serves as a shop housing slightly damaged and last season items at a discount. And no, there’s no shipping available anywhere on property so you may want to bring an extra bag for all your findings, or you’ll be off to a FedEx to ship everything home.

Stepping away from some of the Fixer Upper fanfare, do not miss out on the opportunity to visit Baylor University’s beautiful campus while you’re in the neighborhood. We’re in the midst of March Madness right now, and growing up I remember seeing the Baylor basketball team on TV. It’s worth trying to catch a game during the season, but don’t miss out on the museums and libraries Baylor has to offer, too. During my visit, I checked out the Mayborn Museum, known for science and history.

The Armstrong Browning Library is the true hidden gem on campus. Known to be home to one of the largest collections of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the stained glass collection in this building is breath taking!

A short walk/drive from Baylor is the student-loved coffee shop, Common Grounds. A little eclectic and a lot cozy, the spot doubles as a live music venue. This time, I was only able to grab an “Iced No Bull” coffee for my drive back to Austin, but this spot deserves some time on your list.

{food}

Do. Not. Miss the food trucks available on the Magnolia Market property. From grilled cheese and gourmet popcorn to pizza and BBQ, there is no shortage of food to discover – you may want to visit a few each day. My first choice on the day I arrived was the H.O.T. (heart of Texas) Dog House, opting for the “South Waco” dog. If toppings aren’t your thing, there are standard hot dogs as well, but I personally can’t resist a specialty hot dog.

My other food truck MVP was Alabama Sweet Tea, serving up 4 different kinds of iced tea in massive and I mean MASSIVE mason jars you can take home with you for $8. You can also get right back in line when you finish for a $2 refill. My mom and I wandered the property one day while my dad was taking a nap and she was able to bring a full jar back. Super refreshing!

I cannot emphasize enough – the hype for Silos Baking Co. is real. I pride myself on being a cupcake connoisseur, and I really wish I could have transported more of these back home with me. Of the three I ordered – the classic, the lemon lavender, and seasonal specialty carrot cake – the classic was my favorite, simple, but done so perfectly. More easily transportable, I also picked up a few of the Silo Cookies, which I will likely continue to dream about. It is the perfect cookie.

Newest, and highest sought is Magnolia Table, where the breakfast prices look like I haven’t left Boston. What’s different? The portions are huge. Magnolia Table doesn’t take reservations and the average wait time expected is three hours (they can take your phone number and let you know when to come back), but breakfast was really the meal I wanted to enjoy here, so we drove over around 6:30 a.m. {note the trolley/bus route does not begin until 9 a.m. and the restaurant opens at 6:00 a.m.).

We were seated right away, served amazing coffee drinks and the hospitality you’d expect from Chip and Joanna themselves. My blueberry lemon pancakes did not disappoint and were accompanied by tots meets hashbrown homefries, salad, and fruit subbed for meat. This place is exceptional and worth the crack of dawn wake up call.

Since the Magnolia family properties close by dinner time, my family and I were able to enjoy two local dinner spots:

First up, Twisted Root Burger Co., which initially scared me regarding their “big game” specialties – this week’s special – Camel! But they offer typical beef patties as well, with some really cool options. This is an order at the counter, deliver to your table type restaurant with really big screen projectors for sports and music. I loved this spot.

Friday night, we opted for a local-recommended BYOB Italian restaurant, Baris, which was so cheap I thought I’d be getting a kids meal-sized portion. Instead, the three of us received a mountain of garlic bread, house-made sauces, family-sized salad, and three adult entrees – for $30. Seriously this place is unbeatable; I don’t know how they stay open/profitable, but it’s worth a try.

{shopping}

If you haven’t exhausted yourself shopping at Magnolia Market, The Findery and Jimmy Don’s are both walking distance from the Silos. The Findery boasts a number of home furnishings similar to Joanna’s style, at a slightly lesser price point. Jimmy Don – who you might recognize from Fixer Upper, has a trailer just a block or so from the Silos featuring a number of his well-known crafted metal signs with quotes and custom options available.

Spice Village is like Etsy meets the Paper Store and it’s HUGE – and full of local artists, which I love. You can literally spend hours navigating this store and all its details, and one where you can find some affordable unique options.

Everywhere we went, it seemed like more and more out-of-towners were relocating to Waco, and we met some of the nicest people ever on this trip. This city has such an interesting history, and I love that people all over the country are flocking to this small town to experience it. If you find yourself nearby, let me know about your visit!

{bonus – murals!}

I always think of Austin as “mural” city, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised at the number of murals I found in Waco. Some of these are seriously postcard-worthy, so don’t miss out on checking out a few while you’re here.

· City with a Soul @ the Findery 501 8th Street

· Dear Waco 910 La Salle Ave (Shades of Shabby)

· My Greatest Find 324 S 6th St

· Not a mural…but The Green Door 714 Austin Ave.

Happy exploring

-Alysha