Let’s take a day trip to Waco, Texas! There is so much to do in this rapidly growing city. Of course, you can visit the Magnolia Silos (I’ve got a whole blog post on visiting, if you’re curious), but there is so much than that.
Start your day with coffee at For Keeps Coffee. For Keeps is a multi-roaster coffee shop, featuring a variety of single origin coffees on their pour over menu. Coffee not our jam? That’s ok, they have excellent matcha, hot chocolate, chai, loose leaf tea… whatever you want!
They also have an on-site bakery and food kitchen that keeps them stocked with breakfast sandwiches, burritos, bagels, and pastries. For Keeps would be the perfect spot to start your Waco day trip! Grab a coffee and a pastry, then take over a table and map out the rest of your day.
After coffee, make your way to Jakes Texas Tea House for lunch. Jake’s is a fun, casual, family-style spot. The unique interior is decorated with classic cars and old gas station paraphernalia. When you order, you pick your main dish, then you get unlimited side dishes brought to the table. For all you chicken strip lovers out there, these strips were 10/10.
After lunch, be a Pepper! Did you know Dr. Pepper was invented in Waco? I didn’t! Pretty cool, when you think about it. The Dr. Pepper Museum tells the whole story of its origin. Tour three floors of exhibits, starting with the invention of carbonated water and ending in the CEO’s office.
My favorite part was definitely looking at the Dr. Pepper ads from around the world and throughout history.
Couple of notes before you visit…
- I found the history of carbonated water and the invention of Dr. Pepper fascinating! However, the exhibits (while very thorough and informative) have a ton of text. So if you’re going with young kids that can’t read yet, they might not be as into it.
- You have to book a time IN ADVANCE to do the interactive “Make-a-Soda” and “Taste-a-Soda” experiences. We didn’t know that, so unfortunately, we couldn’t participate because all the time slots were already sold out for the day for both activities. It also costs $10 extra per experience.
- The one thing everyone wants to do is get a handmade Dr. Pepper float! Of course! This means… there’s going to be a long line. We waited about 25 minutes.
Just around the corner from the museum is the new Hotel Herringbone. Head to the rooftop and grab drinks at Lucky Buck’s. Lucky Buck’s offers a variety of beer, wine, cocktails, and of course, incredible views. They’ve also got a pretty solid variety of hot dogs! An impressive bar food menu, for sure.
Looking for a unique way to end your day? The Pivovar Hotel offers a BEER SPA. Yep, you read that right! Relax in a bubbly bath of hops, brewers yeast, and malted barley. Don’t forget to order a flight to help you unwind! According to the Pivovar website, there are many benefits to soaking in beer:
- Brewers yeast contains high levels of vitamin B and active enzymes which aids in skin regeneration.
- Malted barley is made up of antioxidants and vitamins that nourish your hair and nails. The B vitamins restore intestinal microflora which helps maintain a strong immune system.
- Hops will help prevent bacterial growth and has anti-inflammatory properties.
I’ll admit, I didn’t notice any substantial health benefits to my skin or body, BUT there were certainly mental benefits – what’s more fun and relaxing than a beer bath while sipping on a delicious beer flight?? Each spa room comes with two copper tubs, so make sure you take a friend with you!
We had no problem filling a whole day with fun stuff in Waco! I can’t wait to go back again and continue building this list.
What other Waco things are we loving right now?
