Two words: WA-COOOOOOOOOO. Okay, that’s one word, but you gotta ENUNCIATE when you are as excited as my mom and I were for our first (but definitely not last) Waco/Magnolia trip!

Can I just say, what a weekend?! My mom and I didn’t know much about Waco before we left, aside from it being home to the obvious reason we were headed there in the first place, Magnolia Market. But boy were we pleasantly surprised by how cool the city is. And since so many of you have asked about our trip – what we did, where we stayed, if it’s worth visiting, etc. – I figured it was the perfect opportunity to give you the lowdown.

Where to stay:

First off, we flew from Milwaukee to Dallas, and then drove the approximate 1.5 hours to Waco. So if you’re thinking of road trippin’ it, I can’t really speak for that. But if you’re starting in Dallas, the drive to Waco is a breeze.

We stayed at Hotel Indigo, about two blocks from the Silos, and I highly recommend this boutique hotel. Parking is not super difficult by the Silos, but most lots charge $10 a pop, so when you can park at your hotel and not worry about a car, why not do it? Plus, Hotel Indigo is affordable and has a super cute restaurant called Brazos that’s open late. So no matter when we returned, the place was always hoppin’, and if you’re like me, you appreciate liveliness on vacation.

There are plenty of other hotels nearby (Residence Inn by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott and Hilton, to name a few), but in my opinion, Hotel Indigo can’t be beat.

Where to shop:

Where to begin… how bout’ here… Magnolia Market! You guys, this place is just as cute as it is on TV. No, scratch that. It’s even cuter.

Here’s the best tip I can give you: Plan to be there on at least one weekday. Weekends are jammed, so had we not been able to get there during the week, I don’t think we would have enjoyed our trip nearly as much. Plus, the whole place is closed on Sundays, so that’s not even an option.

We got there early on a Friday and spent the entire afternoon exploring the store, the grounds and the food trucks! Lines weren’t very long, and we could see all the merchandise in the shop because there weren’t hoards of people everywhere.

Here’s a look inside the shop:

(Just look at my cute mom.)

#NERDS

I tried to capture a panoramic shot from outside that would do the grounds justice, but of course, nothing can do it justice besides seeing it in person. This pic’s a little wonky, but you can still see the expansiveness. The gardens and Seed + Supply store are on the same end as the food trucks, and then the bakery and market are on the opposite side. In between is the cutest courtyard to eat, hang out with your friends & fam and enjoy the Texas sunshine.

A few more shots from the Seed + Supply corner:

I will say, if you don’t like shopping, you may find boredom creepin’ in while at the Silos, but for my mom and I, this shop, the food trucks, the bakery, the grounds and just the whole vibe was enough for us. In fact, we basically took two days (Friday and Saturday) just to hang out here.

On Sunday, since Magnolia Market is closed, we explored the other shops Waco has to offer. This is a small sampling to give you a feel for the area. And if you fly here, rather than drive (like we did), don’t fret because almost every place SHIPS!!!

Harp Design Co.
A short drive from downtown – I’m talking like 2 minutes – is none other than Clint Harp’s shop. It’s not big, but it’s definitely worth a look. Plus, his handcrafted wood products are exquisite. Bonus, his family’s house (which I “think” is now a B&B) is literally right next door to the shop. If you’re a Fixer Upper fan, it’s the house that they renovated on the show, so definitely a camera op.

Spice Village
I HIGHLY recommend this hotspot in the heart of downtown that’s home to countless boutiques of every type imaginable. This is the place I picked up my souvenirs for the kiddos, and my mom and I also bought a few pieces of home decor and clothing items. It’s a must-see. Just make sure you alott enough time to do it justice because it’s huge!

The Findery
This is an uh-MAZING shop we stumbled upon, just a short walk from the Silos. It’s filled with everything from home goods to unique jewelry pieces and clothing items. The upstairs also boasts a great view of the Silos from its windows. Plus, when you find this place, you’ll notice not one, but TWO shops within just a few hundred feet from each other. The second building is called, The Findery Too, and it’s more of a warehouse style shop that’s home to more of its bigger furniture pieces. So cool, and a must-stop-shop.

Mary Ave Market
This new strip of shops and restaurants, again, is a short walk from the Silos. It’s home to a Mexican restaurant, pie place and a few boutiques and shops, all with super cute patios. We hit up these two when we were there:

1. Iron Willow
   A unique shop with handmade gifts all crafted out of metal.
2. Fox & Gray
   This clothing and accessories boutique was a gem. I bought sunglasses and way too many earrings, and my mom also got a necklace (or three).

Adorn Boutique
Once we had had our fill of home decor shops (I know, I can’t believe it’s even possible), we sought out a clothing boutique we had spotted on Austin Ave., the main strip in downtown Waco. Turns out, Adorn just opened at the beginning of 2018, and bonus, it’s very affordable and CUTE. We were on a mission to find my mom a few fun tops, and #MissionAccomplished.

Speaking of Austin Avenue, do yourself a favor and just get out and walk around. There’s a candy shop, loads of restaurants, wine bars, rooftop patios, clothing boutiques and more. We strolled up and down more than once, and it’s just plain fun.

LaSalle Shoppes
Driving out of Waco (just past Baylor University), there’s a flea market-style shopping spot you’ll want to check out. It’s a collection of vendor booths selling everything from comic books to vintage jewelry to antiques to upcycled home decor and furniture. So if you need any kitschy gifts or knick knacky-souvenirs, this might be your place. However, when headed here, MAKE SURE YOU STOP at ALLLLLLL the shops along La Salle Ave. These were some of my faves from the whole trip!

1. Junky Monkey
2. Riverside Relics
3. Shades of Shabby
4. Junque in the Trunk

Driving even further out of town (toward McGregor and Crawford), there are bunchesssssss of other great shops, but we didn’t have time to hit any. Here’s one we were really bummed to miss that “I think” Joanna has been known to shop at. Bonus: There are actually two of these shops. Cedar Chest Antiques and Cedar Chest Antiques Too that is literally just a few doors down from the original:

Cedar Chest Antiques

And here’s us scouring some great finds at at these hotspots : )

Where to eat:

At the Silos, it’s all about THE BAKERY! We ordered a sampling of everything, from scones to cupcakes, and one was better than the next. The only problem is, you and every other Joe, Bob, Jimmy and Jane has the same idea about eating here, so don’t be surprised when the line is winding around the corner. But it’s worth the wait! During the week lines weren’t too bad.

If you don’t feel like waiting, head into the grounds and there’s a great rotating sampling of food trucks around the perimeter. We saw BBQ, healthy options, Asian, crepes, coffee, cheese and of course, a truck solely selling sweet tea. You can buy their souvenir mason jar mug for $8 (it says “Alabama Sweet Tea” on it), and refills are just $2 after that.

Magnolia Table
A few miles from the Silos is the Gaines’ new restaurant, Magnolia Table, and we made sure to eat here. It’s only open for breakfast and lunch, so make sure you plan accordingly. Again, don’t be surprised when there’s a long wait. The good news is there’s a quaint little courtyard where you can hang out, relax and even order a coffee or scone while you do so. There’s also an adjoining shop where you can waste time (and spend money on souvenirs!).

In downtown Waco, there are so many dining options, and sooo sooo many we didn’t get a chance to hit (like the plethora of Mexican choices – we heard Torchy’s Tacos was great). Here are a few I can vouch for:

1. DiamondBack’s – Fancier, more expensive steak and sushi joint located in the Spice Village strip. Super delicious, and great cocktails, too.
2. Cricket’s Draft House + Grill. Good fries, brewskis and bar environment.
3. Cafe Cappuccino – We had brunch here and it was great. There’s more than one location, but we hit up the downtown venue. It’s diner-style, with tons of options and even more types of cappuccino (because #duh). Plus, we noticed this was a local hotspot, so it must be good!
4. Klassy Glass Wine Bar – Cute wine bar right on Austin Ave. When we went, there was live music, so in my book, that’s already a win.
5. Hippodrome – We didn’t eat here, but we tried! Unfortunately, when we stopped for drinks one night, they were just closing (we got there at 9pm on a Sunday). From what we hear, this is a great spot to hit for brunch, dinner or even just a drink. You can see from Austin Ave. how cool it is, boasting a giant neon sign out front.

What/where to explore:

Waco Tours
We didn’t book any formal tours, but we heard this place is legit taking you to a bunch of the Fixer Upper houses, as well as famous Waco sights. There was a stand right outside of Magnolia Market where you could buy tickets.

Waco Riverwalk & Suspension Bridge
The Brazos River runs right through downtown Waco, so my mom and I made sure to leave one morning open for a run. There’s a great little riverwalk, as well as the historic Suspension Bridge you can run across. It’s a great spot for snapshots, and just a pleasant way to spend a morning or afternoon, taking a break from all the shopping to take in some nature.

Baylor University
Campus is just blocks from the Silos. We drove up and down a few of the streets (it was rainy, so didn’t want to walk), so that could be a fun way to spend a lively afternoon pretending you’re still in college. Oh wait, am I the only one who does this?! : )

Common Grounds
DO NOT MISS this coffee shop located right by Baylor’s campus. It’s owned by a young couple who were on Fixer Upper, and the shop itself is super quirky and cool, with delicious drinks and snacks to boot. Definitely worth a visit.

Magnolia B&Bs
There is one right in Waco called Hillcrest Estate. And there’s also one about 25 mins from Waco in McGregor. That’s the one you’ve seen on Fixer Upper : )  If you venture out to McGregor like we did, remember all the shopping along the way.

Jimmy Don’s metal shop
JDH Iron Designs is an actual shop you can visit not far from the McGregor B&B. We were there after hours, so all we got was a snapshot from the road, but when we go again, we will be sure to get there before closing.

Crawford, TX
Not only do Laura and George Bush have a ranch in Crawford, but YOU KNOW WHO also lives there. I’m not going to go any further with describing the GREAT lengths my mom and I went to to try to catch a glimpse of the Gaines’ family farm, because let’s face it, stalking is illegal : )

What I will say is this. Chip and Joanna took down the “Magnolia Farms” sign that used to flank their driveway. They didn’t do so because they enjoy strangers visiting them 24/7, 365. They are trying to keep people like my mom and I away from them. Ha. Touché, Gaines family. Touché.

Fixer Upper houses that have sold, or are for sale
I found this great People article with images and addresses of Fixer Upper homes that have sold, or are maybe still for sale. We didn’t want to spend much time driving around Texas just to see these houses (after all, a house is a house), but we did manage to drive by one that was too close to Waco NOT to hit. It was Patti Baker’s house (3829 Herwol Ave), the widow in one of the recent season’s shows. I remember her and her story well, so we figured hers was a good one to see. She no longer lives there, but it was still fun to scope out:

I could go on and on about this trip, but no one has time for that. That said, I hope you take the time to plan a trip to Waco and the Silos, because I, for one, will never forget ours : )