The 22 Best Things To Do in Waco, Texas—Exclusive: With Picks from Chip and Joanna Gaines
By Kelsey Pelzer,
9 hours ago
These days, when many of us hear "Waco," we instantly think of Chip and Joanna Gaines . Thanks to Fixer Upper, their Magnolia Network and all things Magnolia (including the Home shop, restaurant and Silos!), the iconic Gaines duo has become synonymous with this Texas city. And that's something they don't take for granted.
"There's a lot that Waco has to offer, and we're really thankful that we had the opportunity to just sort of blow a little wind in this beautiful community's sails," Chip tells Parade . "We're just thankful that people think of Waco in these positive ways—and for Jo and I, that's a real honor."
If you're planning a trip to see the sights that you've caught on TV and Instagram in real life, you're likely thinking about the best things to do in Waco, Texas . We've gathered up a list of the "can't-miss" spots in Waco, after recently visiting the city, with some recommendations from the Waco Parks and Recreation Director as well.
Plus, Chip and Joanna recently sat down with Parade and shared some of their top picks (including some free options)! Read on to find out which unique destination gives you a "first class experience," according to Jo...
Waco is located in McLennan County in north-central Texas.
"Waco is an incredible place sandwiched in between two incredible cities—two of the most incredible cities on the planet—Dallas, just an hour and a half north, and Austin, where Jo's from, just an hour and a half south," Chip tells Parade . "And so, for us, we have these beautiful benefits of big city stuff when we want to go to a Ranger game or when we want to catch theater or some kind of a production and Austin's just an hour and a half south, but you're not dealing with, on a day to day basis, the massive traffic and congestion and the variables that come with bigger cities."
Hotel 1928 opened its doors in November 2023, with 33 rooms available for guests to book. However, even if you're not staying at the boutique hotel owned by Chip and Joanna, you can still enjoy its gorgeous interiors (including a gift shop!) and restaurant offerings (which include Berties on the Rooftop, The Brasserie at Hotel 1928—which is such a nice vibe—and The Café at Hotel 1928).
This is definitely a destination you should add to your list when visiting Waco.
"The hotel, we're really thrilled about— we really brought an old building back to life ," Chip shares. "To bring a building like that back to life is spectacular. We used a lot of time-sensitive materials, so it's like that terrazzo, and we poured that—I've never seen terrazzo poured like that—we've used terrazzo tile that was manufactured, and then you can purchase it like ceramic tile but they actually, in fact, poured it as if they had done that back in the 20s, and watching that whole process, it was the first time I had done that. A lot of the plaster on the wall was very 20s-sensitive, and authentic to that."
Fabled is an independent bookshop and cafe, and you absolutely must add it to your trip's itinerary.
You should try the Hunny Pot (one of their "Literary-Inspired Drinks"), which is a spiced honey latte topped with cinnamon. And make sure to pop into their Children's section to check out a special nod to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe!
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
3. Grab Coffee at Magnolia Press
The Texas heat can be no joke, but the Frozen Latte at Magnolia Press is the perfect solution. Their coffee drinks are fantastic, and there's plenty of seating throughout—in cute old theater seats close to the coffee bar and a larger area to hang out in just off to the side.
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
4. Go to the Dr. Pepper Museum
" The Dr. Pepper Museum is an old, beautiful building," Jo tells Parade . "When you go in there, you step back in time, you're in this little soda shop. But it's also the history of our favorite thing in Waco, which is Dr. Pepper."
You can even make your own soda inside!
Hundley&lowbarPhotography&solGetty Images
5. Walk Through Cameron Park
"Waco does not get enough credit, I will say that," Chip tells Parade , before raving about one of his favorite places: "We've got an incredible park: Cameron Park, [which] is kind of our highlight."
"If you take a drive through Cameron Park and see the bluffs overlooking the river and the dense vegetation, you can really easily get lost—we often say it's the park with no rival," Jonathan Cook , Waco Parks and Recreation Director, tells Parade. "It's just a beautiful setting in a downtown area in Texas that most people wouldn't assume is there."
"For me and my family, we like to be outdoors," Chip tells Parade .
While there are plenty of outdoor-friendly ideas on our list, here are some family-friendly spots for kids of all ages (both indoors and outdoors!).
6. Enjoy the Zoo
When Chip and Joanna were asked about the best spots to go in Waco, Jo was quick to share, "Especially for me, when my kids were growing up, [it was] the zoo."
Cameron Park Zoo is a 52-acre natural habitat zoo that's open year-round except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
7. Go to the Waco Mammoth National Monument
"We have the Waco Mammoth National Monument that we run in coordination and partnership with the National Park Service and Baylor University," Cook recommends. "Just a very unique site with a nursery herd of mammals that, they're laying there as they were found, and so it's something you're not going to find anywhere else. It's really a museum, an art piece, just an unforgettable experience."
8. Visit the Children's Museum
"My kids love the Children's Museum, and that's at Baylor University," Jo tells Parade. " What you can see is a first class experience."
One of the coolest parts about Waco is its walkability.
"It's pretty rare, I think," Chip agrees. "You go to some cities, and boy, everything seems to be spread out. Here, you can kind of get dropped off and catch five or 10 things within a walking distance."
9. Visit Baylor University
"Our university that we both admire and graduated from is just a few minutes away," Chip shares. He and Jo both recommend "just walking around Baylor" to take in the setting.
"[Waco is] a college town and you really feel the energy of the student body while they're in session which is roughly eight to nine months of the year," Chip explains, especially calling out the "crescendo" of energy that occurs as "football season starts back up."
"Sailgate!" Chip exclaims. "You can sail up to the stadium [of Baylor University], which is incredible and very unique."
11. Spend Time on the Water
"We've got a couple of local companies that offer different kayak rentals," Cook tells Parade about opportunities on the water in Waco. "We're really working on how to capture that natural beauty and increase our recreational opportunities. We've got a lot of exciting things—we've got rowing groups and clubs that have started forming on the river. Obviously, the fishing's great. It's an opportunity for river recreation in a downtown setting, and you just don't find that [often]."
12. Shop at Magnolia Home
This is a no-brainer. If you're going to Waco, you've got to walk through Magnolia Home —it's an interior design heaven.
13. Have a Drink at the Largest Whiskey Bar in Texas
This historic museum and nonprofit's goal has been to "collect and preserve the history and heritage of the legendary Texas Rangers." It's open seven days a week—only closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
"For Jo and I, [Waco] feels like a slower-paced, more relaxed pace of life," Chip tells Parade .
Get a feel for this chill environment while enjoying some of these no-cost activities. After all, some of the best things in life are free!
16. Check Out the Sculpture Zoo
There's one spot, in particular, that you can't miss near Cameron Park: the "Wise Elephant," AKA a large elephant sculpture on a bench by Arizona artist Trevor O’Tool, donated to Waco by Elizabeth and Brian Mitchell.
"That's a famous little spot, everybody gets their picture next to that little elephant," Chip tells Parade .
17. See an Exhibit at Art Center Waco
As their website explains, " Art Center Waco serves as a creative force in the community for teaching, displaying, promoting and preserving vital, diverse visual arts that enrich and inspire us all."
And thanks to sponsors, admission to the gallery is free.
" Castle Heights [is] our historic neighborhood," Jo tells Parade . "It used to be farmland and now you see these Tudor style—I mean, every style of home—which is fun to see that mix of style."
"To us, Austin Avenue is the history of Waco," she continues.
Baylor offers more than great energy and watching football games.
"They've got a Bear [Habitat] ," Chip shares. "So, they've got these two bears that are the mascots that the kids love to see that, and that's a free environment."
The Habitat is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Crystal Bolin Photography &sol Getty Images
21. Stroll on the Waco Suspension Bridge and Riverwalk
"We've got a beautiful river that runs though our community," Chip says.
And what better way to enjoy the Brazos River than walking over the historic Waco Suspension Bridge that was completed in 1870?
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
22. Visit the Silos
Technically , you can visit the Silos without spending any money. "But that's not free because you have to buy a cupcake, you know?" Chip jokes.
It's also the location of the Gaines' annual " Silobration ," which will be in its 10th year in 2025. We had to ask Chip and Jo how it feels to already be celebrating its 9th year this year (and gearing up for that big 1-0 just around the corner).
"It feels like a hundred years ago in some ways, and like yesterday in other ways," Chip tells Parade.
"It's a weird time warp," Joanna agrees.
With events like the Silobration and Christmas at the Silos , there are clearly some *extra special* times of the year to visit Waco and make some once-in-a-lifetime memories. These celebrations, like so many of Chip and Jo's projects, seem to be focused on the long haul and building quite the legacy in Waco.
Chip explains, "It's important to us, the things that we do, don't last six months or two years, but hopefully last decades, if not generations."
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