Home of Baylor University and the famous Magnolia Market, Waco, Texas, offers numerous spectacular places to spend time. Whether taking a weekend trip, a weeklong vacation or driving down for the day, the city on the Brazos won’t disappoint.
At Homestead Craft Village, local artisans of the community demonstrate various crafts. Experience woodworking, steel forging, weavers and basket makers, a working old-fashioned gristmill and more. The general store, village market and other shops delight visitors with an option to purchase locally grown and handmade items. While there, enjoy a meal at Cafe Homestead, where they use ingredients from Homestead Heritage Farm. Be sure to get on the list soon after your arrival at the village.
The Mayborn Museum Complex, located on the Baylor campus, provides more than a day’s worth of intriguing, interactive displays. Dozens of interactive exhibits draw out the child in anyone. The traveling exhibit for 2021 summer thrills lovers of dinosaurs. Be sure to interact with more of the fun creatures upstairs.
Don’t miss the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum (not the baseball version that’s down the street at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame). Check out the history of Texas’ most famous law enforcement branch. Learn about these men, how they changed over time and use today’s technology to capture criminals of all types.
A trip to Waco isn’t complete without learning the origins of Dr Pepper. The museum houses memorabilia and fun facts about the creation of sodas. The site contains a sealed, original artesian well that supplied water to the company in its early days.
Looking for outdoor activities? Waco Mammoth National Monument allows visitors to view the dig site where scientists uncovered 23 mammoth skeletons. Trails and a picnic area allow visitors more time to explore nature.
The Waco Riverwalk runs beside the Brazos River, a great place for walking, jogging and bike riding. A tribute to the Chisholm Trail depicts cowboys on horseback and cattle. In another area, a memorial park for Doris “Dorie” Miller commemorates a naval cook during WWII. The first African-American awarded the Naval Cross exhibited extraordinary courage during the attack on Pearl Harbor, which he survived. The area also contains a Vietnam Veterans memorial and one for law enforcement among various parks. Many old bridges cross the Brazos River in Waco, including the 1870 Suspension Bridge, currently under rehabilitation. Another bridge, built in 1901, allows pedestrians to cross the river safely while experiencing a touch of history.
Cameron Park covers 416 acres of land along the river. With 20 miles of trails, any hiker can achieve a great workout. A drivable, winding road passes through the park with various lookouts such as Circle Point, Lovers Leap or the Bosque River Mouth, where travelers experience amazing views. Picnic areas, fun statues, a splash park and the Cameron Park Zoo provide hours of fun. Throughout the city, Waco features splash pads, pools, a lake and the Lake Waco Wetlands.
With many hotels, plenty of bed-and-breakfasts and area campgrounds, finding a place to stay comes easily. With wonderful places to eat, like TeJun, Abuelitas, Twisted Root, Buzzard Billy’s and a variety of local and chain restaurants, you can try different places for each meal. About an hour-and-a-half drive from the DFW Metroplex, take several trips and create fresh memories with family or friends.
Written by Lisa Bell
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