Things to do in Waco in addition to Magnolia

Things to do in Waco - in addition to Magnolia

Overall, I know Waco is known for being the home of Magnolia. In addition, Magnolia draws over 2M yearly visitors to Waco but did you know there are SO many other things to do in Waco in addition to Magnolia?

I spent a few days in Waco thanks to Waco Chamber, and had a chance to visit some of their museums, their zoo, their parks, and tons of places to eat and get coffee. Keep reading for a 3 day itinerary on how to spend a weekend in Waco.

Friday - Day 1 - Explore the Dr Pepper Museum & Magnolia

MORNING
I highly suggest starting your day with breakfast at Magnolia Table. You can make online reservations for Monday-Thursday, so if you are headed there on the weekend, or didn’t make reservations, get there right when they open at 7AM. Put your name down and head over to the Takeaway + Market area to enjoy some coffee and pastries while you wait. I HIGHLY suggest picking any seating so you get your table faster. For food, make sure to order the Pancake Breakfast & Jo’s Buttermilk Biscuits with Butter Flight. Click here for an Instagram Reel of Brunch at Magnolia Table. It was ABSOLUTELY worth the wait!

If you are in a food coma and need a short walk to wake up, walk over to the Dr Pepper museum & Free Enterprise Institution. The museum tells the story of the soft drink industry and the history of Dr Pepper. Bonus, you get a free soft drink at the end of your visit! In addition, if you love ghost tours, the building is apparently haunted so head back at night for some Paranormal Tours!

AFTERNOON

Walk back over to Magnolia and plan to spend a couple of hours there. Do some shopping, get more coffee at Magnolia Press, take a peek inside the beautiful church, explore the ballpark, take photos at The Silos, and when you get hungry for lunch pick from one of the several food trucks at Magnolia. When you’re ready to head out stop by Silos Baking Co for some cupcakes! Bonus, there will be a slightly shorter line! I highly recommend getting the strawberries n’ cream cupcake!

NIGHT

For dinner make reservations at Milo! Milo has southern comfort food scratch made and you can definitely tell the difference! For appetizers I highly recommend the elotes corn ribs, brussel sprouts, and the deviled eggs!

For drinks check out Dichotomy. They have coffee during the day but at night you can enjoy some drinks on their rooftop patio! BONUS, there is a hidden mural up there!

Saturday - Day 2 - Farmers Market & More Museums

MORNING

Grab Breakfast & Coffee at Magnolia Press. I tried their bacon cheddar bake duo which is basically egg bites and they were SO good! Get it to go and head to the Farmers Market. Shop your heart out, and snack on some goodies! I recommend the pupusas (bring cash) and grab Waco Bao (dumplings) for lunch on your way out!

AFTERNOON

Spend your afternoon checking out some of the museums such as the Waco Mammoth National Monument & The Mayborn Museum. Did you know you can see the fossil remains of six Columbian mammoths and a few other Ice Age animals at the Waco Mammoth National Monument? Then head over to the Waco Mammoth National Monument exhibit at The Mayborn Museum which displays original casts of the fossils beneath a glass floor, allowing visitors a unique, up-close view of exactly how excavators found the mammoth bones at the site. Be sure to spend a couple of hours and check out the other exhibits such as The Worlds Largest Dinosaurs at The Mayborn Museum.

NIGHT

For dinner head to Shorty’s Pizza Shack for some pizza pillows, house-made pizza dough, stuffed with cheese and toppings, folded like a pillow, and baked. For drinks head to Sloane’s. It’s a small intimate bar with a retro 80’s vibe!

Sunday - Day 3 - Cameron Park & The Zoo

MORNING Grab Coffee to go at Common Grounds, they also have pastries and then go for a hike or walk at Cameron Park. Personally I love going on a hike when I am on vacation. Cameron Park has several trails for walking or hiking and overlooks the Brazos and Bosque Rivers. If you aren’t in the mood for a walk or a hike head to one of their lookouts such as Lover’s Leap and Circle Point. By the end of the hike you will definitely be hungry so head to brunch at Milo! Be sure to make reservations in advance! I highly recommend the biscuits and the biscuit bread pudding french toast, it’s just as amazing as it sounds.

AFTERNOON Head back out to Cameron Park Zoo. Not only will the kids love it but so will the adults! My favorite was watching the wild vultures that have voluntarily moved in! You can definitely spend hours here but once you get hungry grab lunch at Viteks. They are known for their gut paks (combination of Frito’s corn chips, hand-chopped brisket, sausage, bean, pickles, onions and jalapenos piled high) and spud paks which is the same thing but on a baked potato! Make sure you come hungry! NIGHT For dinner head to Bari’s. You have to try their rolls with their homemade dressing, trust me! For drinks head to Undercroft. It’s a speakeasy where you bring your own alcohol and the bartender will make you a drink! You can become a member or purchase a day pass.

In Conclusion

Waco has so much to offer, and it’s not just Magnolia. My favorite things to do were definitely Cameron Park and I could have spent hours in the Mayborn Museum. Let me know in the comments if I missed anything! I hope you found more things to do in Waco in addition to Magnolia.