No trip to east Texas would be complete without a trip to Waco. And if you’re like me and love HGTV, then the Magnolia properties must be on your list.

We spent three nights at Midway Park RV Campground, which is an Army Corp of Engineers Campground. This campground is on Waco Lake, a short distance from downtown Waco. We could hear the traffic noise somewhat, but we had a nice covered picnic area and concrete slab site.

Magnolia Table

We researched the best time to have a meal at Chip & Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Table restaurant, and found out that if you are an early riser, they open for breakfast at 6:00! We didn’t get there quite that early, but we were there by 7:00. When we left at a little after 8:00, the line was forming out the door.

They only serve breakfast and lunch, so plan accordingly.

What’s for Breakfast

If you’re on a diet, we would not advise going there. As you’ll see from the photos below, Mike had eggs benedict on homemade biscuits, and I had french toast with strawberry butter and thick pepper bacon. We also had to try the lemon lavender donut holes and homemade tater tots. Along with delicious coffee, we did not leave hungry!

We loved the decor and the atmosphere. I think my favorite part, besides the food, was the brown leather pockets hanging at every table. Joanna had these made and placed so diners could put their cellphones in them to encourage conversation during the meal. Maybe every restaurant should have these.

Magnolia Market at The Silos

With our bellies full, our next stop was Magnolia Market at The Silos.

HINT: There are parking lots around the property that local organizations charge for as a fundraiser. Since we were there before the Market opened at 9:00, we were able to snag a free spot along a side street near the Dr. Pepper Museum. It was just a short walk to the Market from there, and with our large vehicle, we felt more comfortable parking in a larger spot.

The Shops at the Silos had just about anything for the home, garden, and clothing. As you’ll see from the photos, there was also a concert stage, concessions, the bakery, and even a small baseball field where you could play a game of baseball. They have really made this a destination location for families to spend a fun afternoon together.

We enjoyed spending time at these Magnolia locations.

Dr. Pepper Museum

Within sight of The Silos and located at 300 South 5th Street is the Dr. Pepper Museum. Since Mike’s favorite soda is Dr. Pepper we had to add this to our list.

The museum spans two buildings and shares the history of how Waco became the birthplace of Dr. Pepper through displays and their extensive memorabilia collection. There was even a large display telling the story of W.W. “Foots” Clements, who was known as Mister Dr. Pepper because of his awesome salesmanship.

With your paid admission you get a voucher for a free Dr. Pepper. For a nominal fee, you can upgrade to a float!

Hours of Operation & Cost*

• Monday – Thursday – 10am – 5:30pm
• Friday & Saturday – 10am – 7pm
• Sunday 12pm-5:30pm
• 4 Years and Under – FREE
• Students and Children – $6
• College Students with ID – $6
• Adults – $10
• Senior Adults (65+) – $8
• Military with ID – $8
• Educators with ID – $8

The Museum is open year-round except on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s day.

*The website also suggests checking before you arrive because current hours may differ due to special events and/or staffing availability. Also, these prices are on the website, but they state that they are subject to change without notice.

Cycling around Waco

We chose to ride a route that took us along the Waco Riverwalk. Since there wasn’t a trail to ride that didn’t include roads, we also hopped on the roads.

We rode early on Sunday morning before traffic picked up. We were able to ride around The Silos, Baylor University, along the Riverwalk, and out to the dam.

I’d refer you to the Waco Bicycle Club website for more detailed local rides.

Conclusion:

We crammed a lot into just a few days in Waco, but we enjoyed our time there. We would highly recommend you make this a stop on your Texas tour.

We’re Mike & Jennifer Skinnell, and together we are The Rambling Quilter. We travel the country full-time in our 41ft. fifth-wheel pulled by our F-350 – affectionately named Beauty & The Beast. Mike still works part-time, and Jennifer writes our blog, travel articles, and contemporary fiction. Our blog is purely for information and entertainment purposes. However, if you’d like to support Jennifer’s writing career, her author link is below.