Fix ‘er Up
This not so little town (MSA around 270,000 people) has been lit on fire with the Chip and Joanna Gaines fixer upper television hit. The couple are not only creating their own intrinsic marketing campaign for Waco spurring tourism, they are also making a difference by renovating local old homes and commercial venues. If you are even just a casual fan like me, you’ll want to visit 
Magnolia Market at the Silos. What once was an old grainery is now as home goods store; outdoor space with a bakery, Silos Baking Co.;food trucks and an outdoor space. If standing in line between 20 minutes to two hours for a muffin is not for you, then there are other restaurants within walking distance. We ate at Hecho en Waco. The food was delicious and the margaritas perfect. They were serving brunch but were happy to bring us a lunch menu.
You can also go down the road to the Gaines’ new restaurant Magnolia Table. My friend was there at the same time and opted for the two hour wait. She said the food was really good. Note: It’s only open for breakfast and lunch and closed on Sundays. 
Across the parking lot is Rudy’s County Store. We ate some delicious BBQ there where you get parchment paper for your plate, toss all your food on top and then proceed to gobble it up. Delicious.
50,000 Year Old Bones??
Did you know a Woolly Mammoth and a Columbian Mammoth are not the same thing? One of the biggest differences is that Columbian Mammoths are about 14 feet tall and Woolly’s are only about 10 feet tall. If you are into old bones, you can see these creatures at the Waco Mammoth National Monument. Entrance is $5 and you get a 40-minute tour to see the excavation site housed under a metal building. You can also walk the grounds for free. There are hiking paths throughout the Park.
One of the Largest Municipally-Owned Parks in the U.S.
Cameron Park is on 400 acres of land. Running through it is the Brazos River. Locals spend time on both the river and enjoying the beautiful views along the many hiking trails. We drove up to Lovers Leap to lookout over the city. The Park would be a great place to go kayaking or just relax with a picnic.
The Waco Suspension Bridge crosses the Brazos River and opened in 1870 as a part of the Chisholm Trail. Cowboys ran cattle across the bridge as they made their way from ranches in Texas to the railroad in Kansas. Currently, you can walk across the bridge and get some good photos of the river and other bridges. It’s a favorite place for prom and quinceañera pics.
“I'm a Pepper, He's a Pepper. We're a Pepper. Be a Pepper. Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?"
Are you singing? Waco is home to Dr. Pepper. Charles Alderton, a pharmacist, spent most of his time mixing up medicine and serving carbonated drinks at the soda fountain. He liked the way the drug store smelled and wanted to make a drink that tasted like the smell. So if you think Dr. Pepper tastes like medicine, your right, it’s supposed to. The Museum costs $7.00 to enter and includes a small soda at the end or you can upgrade to an ice cream float and get a $1.00 credit towards your drink.
While we only had a short time in Waco, we had a fantastic time. We were lucky enough to have relatives to take us around the City filling us in on the history and details. If you’re visiting Dallas, or are a Fixer Upper fan, it’s worth a check out.