For a fun mother-daughter-granddaughter getaway after Christmas, we hit the road for an adventure-filled trip to Waco, Texas.
We left Georgia on a rainy Christmas morning and overnighted in Vicksburg, Mississippi to break up the drive. We arrived in Waco on December 26th and were warmly welcomed by the lovely three bedroom Airbnb we booked just a stone’s throw from the famous Magnolia Silos. That evening we walked over to Waco Ale Co. for some Texas-sized portions. Their burgers and beer totally hit the spot after a long drive!
Airbnb Walk Through
The next morning, we grabbed coffee at the Magnolia Press. The 1905 latte got us fueled up for a day of shopping at all the adorable boutiques around the Silos like Magnolia Market and Magnolia Home. Joanna Gaines sure knows how to design a shopper’s paradise!
We took a break for a delicious Mexican lunch at Maria Mezcaleria and let me tell you, the food was phenomenal and that margarita was the best I’ve ever had!
After lunch, we learned all about the origins of Dr Pepper at the Dr Pepper Museum. Who knew that iconic soda started right there in Waco? The Dr Pepper Museum was a fun stop to learn all about the history of the iconic Dr Pepper soda. We watched an entertaining film about the origins of the famous 23 flavors, saw antique advertising and bottling equipment, and got to taste vintage sodas from the soda fountain!
We popped into the massive Cedar Chest Antique Mall afterwards to hunt for some treasures. The antique lover in us had a blast wandering through all the booths.
On day three, we indulged in a mouthwatering Southern breakfast at Magnolia Table. From the fluffy biscuits with strawberry butter to the hashbrown casserole, we were in food heaven! If you have this on your itinerary, get the deviled eggs with candied bacon.
To see more of Chip and Joanna’s famous Fixer Upper touches, we drove around Waco and then headed out to McGregor and Crawford to take in the countryside. The scenery with all the open fields was just gorgeous.
In the afternoon, we toured the Castle, which was transformed on HGTV’s Fixer Upper: The Castle from an dilapidated building into an incredible living space. This place is stunning! According to our guide, the Gaines will be putting it on the market soon and it is expected to be listed for $3 million.
We finished up the day driving through lovely Cameron Park before heading to grab to BBQ sandwiches for dinner.
On day four, we took a little road trip to Fort Worth to experience the iconic Stockyards National Historic District. We got to see a traditional Texas cattle drive right down the main street which was such a thrill! Afterwards, we walked up and down the historic brick streets browsing shops and the old-timey architecture. We stopped for a delicious lunch at Riscky’s Steakhouse where the portions were Texas-sized.
After an afternoon in the Stockyards, we drove over to Dallas to visit the impressive George W. Bush Presidential Library. Seeing the chronicles of his presidency and 9/11 artifacts was incredibly moving. After taking in some history, we made our way back to Waco for a good night’s rest before our last day in town.
Before leaving town, we couldn’t miss seeing the Branch Davidian Mount Carmel Center outside Waco, where one of the most famous sieges in law enforcement history unfolded in 1993. The history of this place and seeing where it all happened was haunting and fascinating.
I’m already dreaming of my next trip to Waco. The shopping, the food, and the Southern hospitality made this a trip I’ll never forget!
