Waco has seen a lot of changes in the last decade. Most notably, the downtown area developed rapidly and many of the historical buildings are now home to a plethora of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and museums. As for the beautiful river and lake shores, they are covered in several large parks, crisscrossed with nature trails, and there’s no shortage of outdoor activity options to choose from. Waco is not huge, but it’s dynamic!
Some Highlights
When looking for something to do or see in Waco, there is one site to rule them all, and it’s Waco Heart of Texas. The site is a well of information, with handy resources such as their Visitors Guide or their exhaustive calendar of events. A bit more focused, geographically speaking, Downtown Waco is another website with a calendar to bookmark. Finally, and because one is only as old as they feel, here are the slides that the Student Government uses for the students’ orientation, at Baylor.
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Magnolia Market at the Silos
The complex was built in the 50's and housed the Brazos Valley Cotton Oil Mill Company, before Chip and Joanna Gaines, best known for their Fixer Upper TV show, bought and completely transformed it into a trendy shopping complex. This renovation project provided a boost to the whole of downtown Waco, kickstarting its rebirth into a lively cultural and entertainment center.
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Cameron Park and Zoo
Cameron Park is a 416-acre urban park on the southern bank of the Brazos River. It is crisscrossed with over 20 miles of trails, disc golf and cross country running courses, several recreational courts, playgrounds and picnic areas, as well as Cameron Park Zoo, a natural habitat zoo housing more than 300 species amidst lush native vegetation, splashing waterfalls, and a picturesque lake and ponds.
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Dr. Pepper Museum
Dedicated to the nation's oldest major soft drink, which was invented here in Waco, the museum includes 3 floors of exhibits and the original 1906 bottling plant. The museum is located in the historic Kellum-Rotan building, that was itself built in 1880's, making it one of the oldest buildings remaining in Waco.
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Waco Mammoth National Monument
This paleontological site protects the remnants of 24 Columbian mammoths, including juveniles and a large male (bull). The nursery herd apparently died suddenly about 65,000 years ago, during a natural calamity. The Mayborn Museum complex includes a Natural History Museum if you want to learn more about central Texas prehistoric life.
Culture and Diversity
Baylor recently created a complete Waco Culture Guide, celebrating Wacos’s diversity and highlighting venues, landmarks, recurrent events and existing associations that showcase and celebrate Waco’s history and cultural heritage.
Parks and Outdoors
In Waco:
The City of Waco’s website has a whole section dedicated to Parks and Recreation, with a wealth of information about all existing urban parks, possible outdoor activities and resources to plan and book accordingly. While exploring the multitude of tabs on the left, do not miss the Community Center page. Those centers offer a wide variety of programs for all ages and interests.
The Lake Waco Wetlands are a wildlife refuge with marsh and forest habitats, harboring many native plants and animals. Visit them at dusk when their ethereal beauty and out-of-time peacefulness are at their most striking.
Out of town:
Make sure to visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD)website where you can find information about all their parks, tips and guidelines to plan your trip, no shortage of hikes ideas and an event calendar.
Guides and books:
If you are looking for a good travel guide to explore Texas, we recommend you have a look at the Texas Moon Guide. And for a nice hiking guide to put in your backpack check out at the Falcon Guide.
