21 Top Things to Do in Waco, Texas

If you’re looking for a bustling, but small, college town for a getaway or to live in and enjoy friendly neighbours, and delicious food, with a very favourable cost of living, Waco is an exceptional place to visit. From Baylor University to Cameron Park, Magnolia Market and Silos there is much to do and explore. This midsize fundamental Texas small city has an unanticipated slew of one-of-a-kind activities, from outdoor pursuits to sporting events, museums and shopping.
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Waco is located right between Austin and Dallas. Among the top attractions of the town of Waco, are landmarks and recreational spaces, awe-inspiringly located beneath the shade of live oak trees lining the board Brazos River. Brazos River winds its way through downtown, en route from Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico is the 11th longest river in America. Waco offers much to explore to its guest, with so many interesting things, this guide will highlight “Top 21 Things To Do in Waco, Texas” so you get to know more about one of Lone Star State’s most underrated destinations.

1. Magnolia Market at the Silos
Magnolia Market is a 2-acre site which offers an outdoor stage and a half-dozen food trucks, and a farm market. If you are a fan of the HGTV show “Fixer Upper” then you would love to flock to this destination for sure, where you can immerse yourselves in a collection of boutiques displaying housewares, garden supplies, gifts, and apparel curated by the show’s design darlings, Chip & Joanna Gaines. The couple’s realm also features Silos Baking Co., A café specializing in cupcakes and lemonade that helps keep shoppers fueled all through their shopping binge. The area is both alluring and family-friendly, with an expansive lawn where kids of all ages can play a game of tag or corn hole while parents can take a rest under a shady picnic table. This momentous “Silos” was previously a part of a cotton oil mil facility, anchoring the complex and enhancing photogenic interest. Make your visit more worthwhile with a stay at Magnolia’s Hillcrest Cottage, a one-bedroom small cottage modernized by Chip and Jo, which they furnished in their classic Magnolia style.

2. Waco Suspension Bridge and Riverwalk
Take a bike ride or walk along the Waco Riverwalk, a 7-mile tiled path that holds close to the bank of the Brazos River and connects many of the city parks in downtown Waco. You will pass through many bridges along the River, exclusively “The Historic Waco Suspension Bridge” constructed by the same company that built the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, in 1870.At present, this walk-only landmark hosts several community events & festivals. Bronze statuaries honouring the Chisholm Trail, which is a popular route for cattle drives following the Civil War, can be sighted nearby the bridge, as a part of the highly photographed “Branding the Brazos” project. This place presents a beautiful view at night when the lights are turned on, though they caution that current construction has closed off the bridge and restricted access to the area. The Waco Bridge was closed for renovation but it was scheduled to reopen in 2022 and now it is open for visitants.

3. Baylor University
Located along the Brazos River- the heart of Waco a picturesque 1,000-acre campus, where above 20,000 students study, is a must-visit place in Waco. As Baylor University homes the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat which accommodates the school’s live black beat mascots, Lady and Joy. The University welcomes visitors warmly to view the bears in their outdoor habitat free of charge every day from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and even you can schedule guided tours online. You can also explore other notable inside-campus destinations such as The Hooper-Schaefer Fine arts Center, the Burleson Quadrangle and Student Life Center.
The on-campus boutique apartment hotel called 1700 South offer accommodations with two-bedroom condos, full kitchens and living areas.

4. McLane Stadium
McLane is an American football stadium in Waco-Texas, which is operated and owned by Baylor University. Overlooking the Brazos Riverfront in East Waco is home to the Baylor University Bears football team. The venue’s state-of-the-art audio-visual technology makes good use at a multitude of concerts and other entertaining events in the off-season. There are several gift shops for purchasing festive attire in the school’s signature green and golden colours. The horseshoe shape offers sightseers a pleasant view of the Brazos River from the stands as well. You can stay at Red Roof Inn Waco, a budget-friendly place to live in, located around the corner from the stadium and enjoy the view of the stadium with a complimentary breakfast spread.

5. Cameron Park
An urban oasis of outdoor activity with 400-acre vast land, this city park boasts a 20-mile National Recreation Trail system, numerous parks and playground areas, a 23-hole disc golf course and a plethora of geological and manmade landmarks. If you are fond of outdoor activities then it is a must-visit place for you to explore Waco. Cameron Park’s location at the confluence of the Bosque and Brazos Rivers presents a swanky landscape with awesome scenery. Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place, a wildflower garden is a prime picnic spot, especially in springtime. The park compromises all-round trails for hiking and mountain biking. If you are an advanced trekker you can hike to Emmons Cliff and enjoy the sight of the river from atop a towering limestone bluff or attempt a climb Jacob’s ladder, an ancient staircase with approx. 100 rickety steps.

6. Cameron Park Zoo
Well, you might need a place where your kids can enjoy as well. Make your way to Cameron Park Zoo, located on the south side of Cameron Park. This place provides best facilities to more than 1,700 animals across 52 acres. The variety of animals and abundance of shade trees along the walkways makes visitants happy. Main highlights at the zoo include its exhibitions, like the Brazos River Country adventure, featuring a 50,000-gallon aquarium, where guests are briefed about the geography, and biota of the Waco watershed. Visitors get up close with jaguars, alligators, otters and other species that flourish in the Texas backwoods. The Asian Forest exhibition offers an extreme change of scenery in a tropical forest setting populated with orangutans, Sumatran tigers and Komodo dragons.

7. Waco Sculpture Zoo
Waco Sculpture Zoo is a perfect place for pedestrians and cyclists to explore the Brazos River corridor and witness the unique collection of public art in the form of 28 animal statues which are crafted by local and international artists. If you love wildlife and want to spend quality time with your kids, you’d love this place. The sculpture subjects represent wildlife that can be viewed in real form at the neighbouring zoo or are native to the surrounding central Texas region. Kids love the surprise “Zoo” along with the lovely riverfront area and an array of artwork.

8. Dr. Pepper Museum
Dr. Pepper Museum is the oldest major soda brand in America, and do you know it was first created in Waco? This Museum is located in a historic bottling factory downtown. Spend some time browsing the building’s three floors of exhibits that navigate the history and science of cold drink production and contain attention-grabbing memorabilia like a 1940s delivery truck. You can visit the on-site Liquid Lab and get to see soda making, as well as enjoy the Taste-A-Soda experience in which you will be provided with a flight of six soda samples for $12 by a Soda Sommelier. Well, an entry ticket to the Museum will cost you $10 for adults and $6 for children & older. The drawback is there is no on-site parking, though you can spend a couple of hours of fun there.

9. Historic Waco Foundation House Museums
This organization copes with three historic home sites in the downtown area, offering guests a glimpse of Civil War-era architecture and artefacts to understand Waco’s heritage deeply. The Earle-Kinnard House was one of the first brick homes in Waco, constructed in 1858. Though, the structure undertook various additions over the years as families came and went, the Modern Greek Revival façade was accomplished in 1868. The grand East Terrace House was finished in 1874, with a ballroom & Italianate villa-style design details. You can see original furnishings, family heirlooms and artefacts, in the museum. The mission of HWF is to preserve the heritage of Waco and McLennan Country, Texas for the forthcoming generation and to present enriching assorted experiences.

10. Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum more than an honorary hall is the oldest and most probably most well-regarded state law prosecution agency in the country, having assisted and sheltered people of the region since 1823. The 30-acre complex honours the esteemed agency’s contributions to Western Heritage and history with a collection of 20,000 artefacts solicitously put on a show in exhibitions over several galleries. If you visit this place you would see rooms full of firearms, saddles, badges and uniforms used by the rangers throughout the ages, and an extraordinary collection of fine art paintings and sculptures portraying early Western life. The gallery inside the Hall of Fame features portraits of the 31 distinguished rangers honoured as inductees.

11. Waco Mammoth National Monument
This important archaeological find containing the remains of twenty-five Columbian Mammoths lies just on the outer edge of the city of Waco. This archaeological site was established in 2015. It offers 108 acres of soothing forestland along the Bosque River, where the remnant of numerous prehistoric creatures is found, most outstandingly a herd of Columbian mammoths, which were discovered in 1978. Canvassers have posed numerous theories, including drought and flood, to put light on how the animals (camel, giant tortoise, pygmy, antelope, alligator, and sabre-toothed cat) died 70,000 years ago.

12. Mayborn Museum Complex
This educational facility is located on the Baylor University Campus and features five permanent exhibitions dedicated to the cultural & natural history of the central Texas region, which includes models of the original fossil collections hollowed out from the Waco Mammoth National Vara Daniel Historic Village, where you can step back in time while strolling around nine historical structures imitating rural farm life in the late 1800s. Your kids would love fun activities at the Jeanes Discovery Center. The museum is closed during Baylor University domestic football games and on major holidays as well.

13. Armstrong Browning Library & Museum
The Armstrong Browning Library & Museum, devoted to the lives of Victorian poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is home to the world’s largest book collection, and even you would find letters and other materials related to the Browning there. This three-story structure is located on the Baylor University Campus. This fascination is perhaps most sought after for its majestic Italian Renaissance architecture which visitors call “eye-catching” and “royal”. Visitors can whiz at the 62 stained-glass windows, enhancing the décor of the building. Enjoy the royal vibe of the library while meandering through the library’s crowd of rooms and halls and exhibit to appreciate the attention to detail (that was paid during construction in the mid-1900s), from the glossy wood tables in the John Leddy-Jones Research Hall to the sumptuous ceiling in the McLean Foyer of Meditation. The library is open to the public on weekdays from 9-5 and costs nothing. Guided tours are vacant on a reservation or first come first served basis.

14. A Day on Lake Waco
This synthetic reservoir located west of Waco was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prevent flooding and water conservation, 1965. This Lake provides enough space for recreational activities like hiking, hunting, boating and fishing. If you want to spend quality time while enjoying sunbathing, paddling, and picnicking with the scenic parks adjoining the coastline then it is the right place for you, while fewer activities require a small payment as a fee and the rest of the others are free. The 180-acre wetland area located on the northwest corner of the lake is open to the public, offer visitors nearly 3 miles of hiking trails and serves as a habitat for an abundance of intuitive plants, amphibians, animated butterflies and 140 bird species. You would find largemouth bass, crappies, and catfish abundantly on Lake Waco. Waco Lake Rentals offer daily pontoon boat service, and paddleboards and kayaks can be rented at Lake Waco Marina. I must say this is one of the best things to do in Waco.

15. Waco Tours River Cruise
Take a two-hour pontoon boat ride over the beautiful Brazos River which winds through the city of Waco and get a fresh side of downtown. You will find to chance to cruise over some of the town’s top sights, like Cameron Park, and Waco Suspension Bridge while absorbing the fresh breeze, and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, you might get to see alligators on your way. Visitors can also bump into kayaks and canoes floating along the city’s Brazos Bridges Paddling Trail. Travellers praise the friendly and well-informed guides who entertain with exciting morsels about Waco’s history and geography on the journey.

16. Shopping at Spice Village
This 30,000-square-foot shopping district, housed in one of the city’s momentous buildings, is known for its rustic, charismatic atmosphere and an all-encompassing collection of unique boutiques. This historical complex built-in 1908 was formerly occupied by McClendon Hardware Co. and now is a part of the River Square Center development, which arranges Spice Village and its above 60 independently owned shops. You can buy custom pillowcases, garments bags, olive oil and salvaged Barn-wood décor from these stores. Spice Village has been said an exceptional place to find the perfect gift, you might get confused as there is a multitude of offerings here. You can spend a night at the Pivovar Hotel to complete your boutique experience, situated half a mile away with a Czech-style beer garden and Spa.

17. The Amazing Fixer Upper Tour by Brazos Tours
If you are a die-hard fan of real home design TV shows, adore this guided tour of the homes, shops and landmarks featured on Fixer Upper, and delight your taste buds in local eateries. Brazos tours get everything for everyone. Brazos Tours is known to be the most robust touring company, approaching its five-year mark in Waco, and puts forward six different types of touring experiences. The Fixer Upper Tour is one of the most popular among them, which runs seven days a week or sometimes four times a day depending on the demand of tourists. Guests adore the friendly and knowledgeable tour guides on board, who tells stories about the inside workings of the show and its host. Tickets for adults would cost you around $39 for a 2 & 1/2-hour tour in a modern van vehicle. Make up for the experience with a stay in the Three Little Pigs House, one of the show’s homes and collect a complimentary seat on the tour. You can also enjoy wine tours and a haunted adventure over Waco by Brazos Tours.

18. Waco Downtown Farmers Market
Travellers and even locals equally love visiting this charismatic open-air market held on Saturdays from 9a.m. to 1.p.m in the parking lot from the McLennan Country Courthouse of Waco. The sense of amiable & municipal at the Waco Down Farmers market include up to 80 vendors on special event weekends, which is working for more than 10 years and flourished from just a few farmers, making it a top-rated, family-friendly attraction.

Cheers to Texas’s long growing and grazing seasons, which allow vendors to convene here all through the year to sell foodstuffs such as homemade jerky, artisan cheeses, jellies, pickles, baked goods and locally grown organic produce that show a discrepancy by season. Marketers love the elegant bouquets of cut flowers from 6G Heritage Farm and recommend that you go empty-stomach to enjoy lip-smacking food truck offerings such as tacos. Sporadic special events all through the year add amusement in the form of live music, craft goods and more. The market site also assists an ideal jumping-off point for walking around some of Waco’s best dining and drinking options nearby like Southern Roots Brewing organization, additionally known for its pizza, and Hecho En Waco (a famous Mexican eating place).

19. Hawaiian Falls Waco Waterpark
Central Texas is infamous for its intense summer heat, but as soon as the temperatures drop, Wacoans en route to this 10-acre water park, which is situated 5 miles north of downtown. Hawaiian Falls is one of the best water parks in Texas and it houses myriad waterslide rides, a wave pool, a lazy river and much more. The Tsunami slide has earned a rating of 5; it means it is the most thrilling slide of all, for shooting participants on their backs through a winding water subway and into a pool underneath. Meanwhile, the spectrum is Keiki Kove provides an interactive water playground for children 12 or younger. Additionally, you can enjoy services like dappled cabanas and miniature golf. Ticket prices differ according to the visitor’s height and it would cost you around $18 to $26 if you book tickets online. The water park is open from May additionally to September

20. Heart O’ Texas Speedway
For the love of car racing, Heart O' Texas Speedway is the right place for you. A car racing track north of Waco provides an evening full of fun and entertainment where you can enjoy monster truck shows and stock car shootouts with your whole family. Motor adherents are exclusively impressed by the state-of-the-art track facilities and variety of class types. Races are held on Friday evenings starting from March to September. Fireworks shows are arranged during the Fourth of July weekend every year. An on-spot refreshment stand sells yummy snacks like hot dogs, burgers and fries and a separate Beer Stand is all set for adult beverages. Grandstands open at 6.p.m. Adult admission is $15, racing starts at 8 p.m. while tickets for children ages 6 to 12 would cost you around $5.

21. Waco Wine Tours
Do you want to experience some of Waco’s best vineyards; take advantage of the guided Vintage Tour through the countryside which allows visitors to get into the best wineries!

Guests gush over the friendly and well-informed tour guides and enjoy the three different vineyards' air-conditioned shuttle bus. If you visit Valley Mills Vineyards, you can sample a wide assortment of white and red wines, which are prepared from 100% Texas-grown grapes, such as Viognier and Tempranillo. The Red Caboose Winery concentrates on defensible practices, such as using wind or solar power, to produce award-winning Old World-style wines like Zinfandel and Lenoir. The 3 and ½ hour pleasure trip will offer you wine tastings, water and a picnic lunch costing you $139 including tax per person. You can also book private tours and brewery tours are also offered by Waco Wine Tours. The Vintage Tour set out from and returns to the Residence Inn Waco.