Carved through by the weaving Brazos River, Waco TX is most commonly known for being the home of Magnolia Market at the Silos. However, we were thrilled to find things to do that aren’t as well-known, but just as memorable!
If you’re wondering what to do in Waco this weekend, or on your next vacation through the Heart of Texas, we’ve curated a fantastic list of things to do that will give you a taste of its culture, art, and the outdoors in one weekend, easily. Whether you’re a first-time visitor, are new to Waco or Baylor, or have been many times, we hope we can help you find all the best ways to explore Waco.
And the list of where to eat in Waco TX is extensive as well! You’ll likely have to come back, and we guarantee one weekend will leave you wanting more of Waco anyway! We found it to be the perfect getaway if you’re looking to add adventure, leisure, or both to your visit in this up-and-coming, thriving arts city.
Check out our YouTube channel for Part 2!
Stay at Our Ice Cream Themed Rental
If you’re looking for a unique place to stay in Waco, we think there’s no better place than our Ice Cream House at Casa Kumwesu. This 3-bedroom house with a loft can sleep 8+ people and comes with so many colorful amenities. It is sure to bring joy to your next Waco TX trip! Click here to book!
A Culture of Rebuilding & More
Waco TX is filled with so many unique and impressive experiences that many tourists aren’t aware of. Its extensive history is a key part in what has shaped the city’s culture into what it is today.
Go on an Insightful Tour with Waco Tours
A common theme that was pointed out to us by the leaders of our “Classic Waco Tour” (shout out to Harrison and Red with Waco-Tours) was how Waco has had its fair share of tragedy, but it has continued to bounce back and is blossoming as we speak!
This guided tour gave us more insight into the rich history of the Waco area than if we had just explored on our own. We were so lucky to have such a knowledgeable tour guide who could share some detailed history about Martin Luther King Jr.
Add one of their many tours to your list of things to do in Waco this weekend for a glimpse at what makes the city’s culture one you won’t find many other places.
Experience Uptown Luxury at Sironia
A trip to Waco isn’t complete without a visit to Sironia in the Uptown area. The building once housed Sachs Austin Avenue in 1954. Unfortunately, its original location was destroyed in the devastating tornado that ripped through downtown Waco on May 11, 1953. Now, it’s filled with charming boutiques, a café serving Texas comfort food, and even a loft you can stay in!
Pamper yourself as you explore every corner of Sironia! All the items at the Sironia Cafe are made fresh in-house daily. Don’t skip out on their famous desserts, including meringue pies, triple-layered cakes, and their top-selling strawberry cake! After enjoying a delectable meal, pick out something nice at one of their many local shops.
Book a Tour of Waco’s Wine Scene & Visit Valley Mills Vineyard
Waco is home to some of the most delicious craft wines and spirits in the region, so a wine tour is an activity you have to add to your list of things to do this weekend.
With options ranging from vintage and private tours to brewery tours, Waco Wine Tours gives guests a taste of only the best! As you visit the different vineyards and breweries in Waco, there won’t be any shortage of tastings!
One of the vineyards that you’ll visit is Valley Mills Vineyard, a beautiful winery on the outskirts of Waco that overlooks the grapes as they grow. You can walk through the vineyards and glimpse the same grapes that end up beautifully bottled not long after. There is also a winding staircase that leads up to a small porch on the roof where you can sip on your choice of wine. It’s the perfect spot for pictures!
We love that all their wine is made from 100% Texas-grown grapes, with a variety of flavors, like Mourvedre and Vermentino. The great thing is that Valley Mills Vineyards provides such a scenic spot.
If you choose to add a Waco Wine Tour to your list of things to do in Waco, you’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how the wines and beers are made along the way.
Bathe in Beer in at Pivovar Hotel
One of the highlights of our stay at the Pivovar was the beer spa. You’ll soak in a copper bathtub filled with beer yeast and hops while sipping on a beer of your own!
Beer yeast has many health benefits, including nutrients like iron and vitamin B. You can even add a massage if you’d like! Samples of beer soap, beer body milk, hair products, and shampoo are also available for guests of the hotel to use during their stay.
You can still book a beer spa experience if you aren’t staying at the Pivovar this weekend, so if you have the time, we highly recommend adding this to your list of things to do in Waco!
@mycurlyadventures ?Who knew beer could be so good for you!? One of the coolest spa experience we’ve had in Texas #texas ♬ Feel No Ways – Drake
Shop at the Magnolia Market at the Silos
A trip to Waco, Texas isn’t complete without a visit to the Magnolia Market. It might just be the most popular spot in Waco!
Encompassing two city blocks in downtown Waco, Magnolia Market at the Silos is a charming spot filled with personally curated collections, whether you’re seeking inspiration or a new statement piece for your home. From the hit HGTV show Fixer Upper, you can bring Chip and Joanna Gaines’ vision into your own life!
Check out the refurbished church and silos at the heart of the market. The shops themselves are filled with everything from home decor and essentials to plants and paper goods.
There is a baseball field you’re invited to enjoy along with cornhole games, soccer balls, bean bag chairs, and picnic tables with umbrellas, perfect for the entire family.
Multiple food stands and food trucks are on-site as well, with a variety of offerings to fuel you as you explore. We really enjoyed the iced tea from the Alabama Sweet Tea Company! It came in the cutest mason jars that we got to keep! Refills are only $2, so it was definitely worth it!
Stay in Waco’s Newest Boutique Hotel
Coming soon to downtown Waco is Chip and Joanna Gaines’ antique, boutique hotel. It’s rumored that it will have a French café, a full-service restaurant, and a ballroom! Save our list of things to do in Waco for updates.
Learn About the Baylor Bears
Another interesting and educational attraction in Waco is Baylor University. It’s not just known for its academic prowess, but also for its live bear mascots, Joy and Lady, who live on the Baylor University Campus.
The Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat offers a natural living space for these Baylor bears, complete with a waterfall, stream, and comfortable sleeping quarters. Visitors can observe the bears and learn about their behavior, biology, and the university’s conservation efforts. It’s an experience that combines fun and education, especially for animal lovers and children.
Learn All About Texas’ Favorite Soda at the Dr. Pepper Museum
As the birthplace of Dr. Pepper, you have to add the Dr. Pepper Museum to your list of things to do in Waco TX this weekend. This non-profit museum will take you through one of Waco’s marks on history, from Dr. Pepper’s humble beginnings to how it is enjoyed worldwide.
As you’ll continue to learn, there are a number of things to do in Waco that the city should also be known for! The Dr. Pepper Museum is a fun place for kids and adults alike. Don’t miss out on their cute soda fountain for a refreshing soft drink.
And Become a Beverage Chemist
Book a Make-a-Soda appointment ahead of time to try your hand at being a beverage chemist. You’ll learn about the traditional way that they used to mix sodas and how to properly keep a shaken soda from exploding on you.
You can taste your chosen combination of syrups from their provided list before adding it to some carbonated water, the base of any bubble beverage. However, be warned, the syrups will be super concentrated before adding them in. Once you’ve mixed them, you’ll have your own, unique soda to enjoy!
The soda lab is retro themed, and you’ll even be gifted with a paper beverage chemist hat to represent your newly acquired skill. Name your soda, create a logo and ingredient label to remember what you added for next time! Don’t forget to grab your coupon for a free bottled Dr. Pepper from the soda parlor at the end! Who knew you could find such a fun museum in Waco?
@mycurlyadventures Such a fun make your own soda experience #texas ♬ Soda – Ikson
Make a Mess Without the Clean-up at the Waco Rage Room
If the reason for your next trip to Waco TX is centered around de-stressing, add the Waco Rage Room to your list of things to do this weekend. It’s the city’s first, themed rage room where you’re free to completely demolish everything in sight.
Has work been wearing you out? Are you dealing with a breakup? Maybe you just want something new and fun to try? Whatever the reason may be, the Waco Rage Room has all the equipment necessary to assist you with releasing your pent-up emotions.
All you need to do is show up and be ready to do some damage. The best part, leave the mess behind you, a metaphor for the stress in your life on your next weekend getaway to Waco.
Catch a Game at McLane Stadium
This one is for the sports fans. For those who find excitement in the roar of a crowd, the thrill of competition, and the camaraderie of hometown pride, McLane Stadium is the place to be.
This state-of-the-art facility is home to the Baylor Bears football team and has quickly become an iconic symbol of Waco’s love for sports. With its stunning riverside setting, the stadium not only offers an action-packed game day experience, but also breathtaking views of the Brazos River and the Waco skyline.
Whether you’re a die-hard Bears fan or a sports enthusiast exploring the city, catching a game at McLane Stadium is sure to be a highlight of your Waco experience. It’s not just a stadium; it’s a testament to Waco’s vibrant community spirit and its passion for sports.
Travel Back in Time at the Waco Mammoth National Monument
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is a must-visit destination that will transport you back to the Ice Age, located just on the outskirts of Waco.
This paleontological site preserves the fossilized remains of 24 Columbian Mammoths and other mammals from the Pleistocene Epoch. Visitors can explore the dig shelter and have a close look at the fossils in their original positions in the dirt.
The guided tours provide valuable insight into the lives of these mammoths and their significance to our understanding of prehistoric life. It’s a rare opportunity to step back in time and experience a world that existed over 65,000 years ago.
Shop Inside this Boutique Wonderland at Spice Village
Check out some of Waco’s best shops at Spice Village, an indoor shopping district filled with over 60 boutiques and local vendors.
Conveniently located in the Downtown Cultural District, we absolutely loved the Texas themed items and unique Waco souvenirs, as well as the cute merchandise, from clothing and jewelry to pet supplies and home décor, that we found as we explored every inch.
Spice Village is the ultimate Texas and Waco gift shop! It is the perfect place to add to your list of things to do in Waco this weekend for some unique, locally made finds, all in one place!
Visit Balcones Distillery, the Birthplace of Texas’ First Whiskey
Enjoy tasting locally crafted whiskey at Balcones Distilling, an active brewery during the week that you can also tour on the weekends. The high Texas temperatures give Balcones Distilling’s whiskeys their intense and bold flavors they are famous for.
If you take a seat inside their tasting room, you can select the spirits you’d like to taste from their menu. You’ll be given proofing water so you can play with the flavors of the whiskeys, or if they’re a bit too strong for you.
When you’re done, go across the street to Milk Bottle Cookies for a sweet snack, which you can read more about on our list of where to eat in Waco!
Support this Historic Barbershop in Waco TX
The Jockey Club Barbershop is the oldest black-owned business in Waco.
While it originally opened in 1920, the barbershop has been through its fair share of challenges, including relocation after the historic 1953 tornado and a temporary closure in 2011.
Throughout the trials and turmoil of its history, the Jockey Club powered through it all and was actually reopened in 2016! Even celebrities have stopped in to get a haircut from the pristine talent at the Jockey Club, including baseball player Jackie Robinson!
The original set-up and barber chairs are still in use after undergoing some reupholstering. Customers can learn about the history of the establishment via the tributes all over the shop. The Jockey Club serves as a staple in the community and is definitely worth a visit this weekend, whether you’re due for a haircut or not.
Visit a Castle in Waco TX
Another gem brought to you by Chip and Joanna Gaines is Cottonland Castle. The century-old castle was renovated by the duo and was recently put up for auction. The next time you’re in Waco, add a “Classic Waco Tour” with Waco-Tours to your list of things to do this weekend and you’ll have a chance to see the outside of Cottonland Castle while learning about its history and renovation.
@mycurlyadventures Only a short for getting to tour this beautiful castle #texas #fixerupper ♬ Howl’s Moving Castle – Merry-Go-Round of Life – Vitamin String Quartet
Tour Waco TX with a Cocktail
What better way to explore Waco this weekend than by pedaling through it? Waco Pedal Tours offers a fun expedition around the city on their 16-person party buses.
Stopping at some of Waco’s top destinations, the tours allow guests to enjoy a unique, alternative way of sight-seeing. Bring a group of friends and get a nice leg workout in while enjoying drinks and learning all about what makes Waco one of the best cities to visit this weekend in Texas!
Shop for Seemingly Endless Handmade Goods
At Homestead Heritage, take the time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. The Homestead Craft Village is composed of many different shops with quality, homemade goods that you can take home with you, including a market, quilt barn, general store, basket shop, and coffee shop.
There’s also a cheese shop that sells a variety of handmade and aged cheeses, oils, honeys, caramels, and jams. We grabbed some goodies for our next garden party from here and they were phenomenal!
