Things to do in Waco Texas
We just got back from our girls trip to Waco, Texas.
Yes, the same trip I contemplated even going on. The morning I left, I was an emotional wreck with tears falling knowing I was going to miss my oldest’ baseball tournament. (I do not miss anyyy of my kids activities. I’m at every practice and game for every sport.)
But I’m glad my husband pushed me to go, because if I would have stayed home, I would have missed out on a great lesson.
Saturday:
The 8 hour car ride with a 3 month old was rough to say the least, but once we arrived to our beautifully restored downtown bed and breakfast, I had already forgotten about all the crying and screaming we had just endured.
Our initial purpose of going to Waco, TX was for my cousins graduation. The graduation was limited due to COVID19, so I decided to say with Kali at our beautiful house for the weekend. While they were at the graduation, I went outside & read the renovation story of Poppy & Rye House with Kali sleeping in my lap while listening to the live band who was at the local pub down the street… Soooo relaxing!!!
I had only been there a few hours &
was already in awe of the city and completely INSPIRED!
After the graduation, my cousins came over, joined me by the fire listening to music, and we shared stories of why we must follow our hearts even if that means receiving disapproval of those you are close to.
Sunday: We Explored Waco!
- The Suspension Bridge which crosses the Brazos River
Walk on the boardwalk right along the river. <— very cool!
Fed tortillas to the ducks.
Attempt to do the Tortilla Toss where you toss the tortilla trying to land it on a large pillar sticking out of the river. - We ate at Milo All Day (most places were closed on Sunday or still closed from the pandemic). It was a sandwich place with a great indoor/outdoor atmosphere in a very cool modern warehouse. The food was great!
- We drove passed the Silo’s & Magnolia Market
I was very surprised by the location of the Silo’s & Magnolia Market. They were placed in a part of Waco that was not very lively. The surrounding buildings were abandoned, beat down, and not many businesses were near. The block the Silo’s was on seemed to be the only blooming thing around. But this was part of my lesson I was telling you about earlier… - We watched Waco documentaries & stories
Watched a video on the renovation of our air B&B we were staying in.
Watched stories of Chip & Joanna Gaines experiences
Monday: Silo District
June 1, 2020 the day we visited, and the first day they reopened from the pandemic and only allowing 50% occupancy.
Make sure when you get to your first Magnolia location you ask the staff for a Magnolia Passport. They stamp each location you go to and once all are stamped, you get a special prize. Also in the passport are Magnolia Staff’s Waco Favorites to visit.
- Magnolia Press Coffee Co.
Every inch of Magnolia Press had amazing details. Dark shades of green and gold, beautiful leather couches, wooden tables, gold light fixtures. I don’t drink coffee, but this was a great start to my day!
- Silos Baking Co.
They had social distancing dots outside of the building for those waiting. I was the first in line before they opened the doors. I was dot #1! The giant cinnamon roll was delicious! The inside carried the same black and white theme as the outside. One of my favorite parts about the bakery was finding out that the only soft drink they carried was Dr. Pepper. With Dr. Pepper being invented in Waco, TX, Silos Baking Co. is supporting locally!
- Magnolia Market
There was a line outside wrapped around the building of people eager to get in. There was one person who surprised us, waved her way to the front of the line, and inside the Magnolia Market. Joanna’s mom, Nan Stevens, or as the employees called her, Ms. Stevens. The employees said Ms. Stevens loved being at Magnolia Market and often spent time there.
Magnolia Market is a two story building with everything designed by Joanna. Delicious scents galore giving me tons of candles to smell and choose from. I wanted to get all of them, but my budget told me I had to choose one. I decided on Summer. Tons of plant decor, pots, baskets, blanket ladders, etc.
Downstairs, I got the Magnolia magazine (which I plan on subscribing to), The Magnolia Story (Chip and Jo’s story), We are the Gardeners (story written by Jo & the kids about the life lessons in gardening), & some Coneflower seeds I plan on planting to have a visual reminder of my trip to Waco. (I’m just noticing all of these items are muchhhhh cheaper on amazon than they are in the actual store.)
- Seed + Supply
Was closed due to construction
- Magnolia Table
Magnolia Table is about an 8 minute drive from Silo District. The outside has a Spanish feel with the inside having open ceilings and leather wall pouches near each chair encouraging everyone to put their phones away and “enjoy each others company.” I had a delicious burger and chips!
Lesson Learned from my trip to Waco, Texas
One trend continued between several of the activities on my trip….. Stories
Stories can be so inspiring.
At our air B&B, I learned how they renovated a beat down house and made it into a beautifully detailed home full of comfort. They had hidden details through out the house (holes in the wall, hidden closets, walls that were left the original color of the house) that had stories attached to those details. The house was restored by a son and mom duo inspired by the grandfather.
Learning why Chip & Joanna choose to invest in a location that had nothing going for it. They had a vision & decided to take a big leap of faith that their decision would grow the city of Waco. So I was excited to see downtown Waco and the Silo’s in a beginning phase where it was still abandoned. Now I will have the opportunity to go back in a few years and see the drastic transformation from the initial seed they planted in their community.
On the way home, I began to read The Magnolia Story and learned about the trials and obstacles Chip and Jo went through to get to the place they are at now. The tribulations of not having things handed to them, but having faith and taking risks to accomplish big things!
These powerful stories inspired me and reminded me that there is a road everyone must take. My road is different than yours, but what we do with that route is what really matters. We must learn from our challenges and speed bumps instead of trying to always avoid them.
Stories are powerful, if you are willing to LISTEN!
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