In recent years Texas has experienced a surge in population growth as well as a significant increase in visitors to the state. The rise of the major cities like Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio have brought new entertainment, new ideas and created multiple very dense and exciting population centers within the large and wide open space for which Texas has always been known. However, to really learn and appreciate the state you have to go to the heart of it. And in Texas the heart of the state is the sometimes overlooked city of Waco. For travelers driving often between Dallas and Austin, Waco has become a perfect midway point to break up the drive. The fact that the city is less than two hours from both major metropolises also makes it a great destination for a day or weekend trip.
When driving into the city especially on a fall Saturday the first thing that you will undoubtedly notice are the lights of McLane Stadium the home of the Baylor University Bears football team. And as its well-known football is king in Texas and Waco is no exception. A city with around one hundred and thirty-five thousand residents, of which nearly twenty thousand are students, has a stadium that can hold a third of the city. If you like football or just want to see a big game make sure to visit when the universities of Texas or Oklahoma are in town.
And while college football is exciting, the reason that Waco has drastically increased its visitors over the last few years are their biggest national celebrities, the Gaines’s. The celebrity couple which had a hit TV show renovating houses in and around their home city have turned their success on TV into a real brand that has attracted tourists to Waco in droves. If you get to Waco early enough for breakfast or brunch make sure to try their restaurant Magnolia Table. The restaurant is located in a historic building in the city and the renovation was featured in the TV show. The large building has been converted into a communal style restaurant serving some of the family’s favorite recipes. Try the freshly squeezed juice flight and the “Our Favorite Chicken Salad Sandwich” served on a warm croissant.
After breakfast take a short ride to the Magnolia Market and Garden at the Silos. The historic silos which were built in the fifties and are the anchor to what is now known as the Silos District were purchased and converted a few years back by Joanna Gaines. She has converted them and the area around it into a two block complex that includes the Market, silos, Silos Baking Company, herb garden, coffee shop, and a large park area surrounded by local food trucks. The market alone might take you a few hours to explore and getting your hands on something from the bakery will likely cause you to stand in significantly long line, but it will be worth it.
Before the recent rise to popularity of the Gaines family Waco was especially famous for as the birthplace of one of Americas favorite soft drinks, Dr. Pepper. In fact, a few minute walk down the street from the Silos District is the Dr. Pepper Museum located in the original bottling building for the soda. Inside you can find many fun facts about the drink as well as have one hand made for you by the old time soda operator in the gift shop. And if you are looking for a place to grab a beer after you have had your fill of soft drinks, a block down the road is the cozy Barnett’s Public House. You won’t miss Barnett’s because the side of the building has one of the more popular murals in town, “WACO”. Inside you will find delicious food and a very impressive list of hard to find whiskies.
Across from the Hilton Waco and along the Brazos River you will find Indian Spring Park. The park is significant because it holds the Branding the Brazos Sculpture as well as the entrance to the Waco Suspension Bridge. The bridge was significant for the cattle drive industry and the city because it was the only such structure allowing cattle to cross the river safely for hundreds of miles. The sculpture depicting men corralling the cattle towards the bridge does a wonderful job depicting what the scene might have been during that period. Below the bridge you will also find an entrance to the city’s river walk which spans all the way to the campus of Baylor University.
Finally, no trip to Waco is complete without visiting the city’s hidden treasure. The Waco Mammoth National Monument a large area on the outskirts of Waco which has produced numerous archeological finds to date, most importantly dozens of mammoth fossils. Discovered in the late seventies and recently pronounced a national monument the site is famous for the largest concentration of mammoth remains. When taking the very informative visitor tour you might even be able to witness archeologists working on the site. The workers are adamant that only a very small percent of the area has been explored so who knows maybe you will witness a discovery in person.
So during your next visit to the Lone Star State make sure you take a trip to Waco. Because you won’t know Texas unless you really get to know its heart.
vITal-trek 