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    A jewel on the Brazos

    More than Magnolia: All the best places to visit, eat, and stay on a Waco getaway

    Brandon Watson
    Jul 6, 2018 | 10:35 am

    Dallasites could be forgiven for thinking of Waco as a sleepy Central Texas town. But the city is a Texas travel destination all its own.

    The growth of Baylor University and the smash success of Fixer Upper has helped the city blossom with top-notch restaurants, stylish boutiques, and family-friendly attractions. But if all you know about Waco is Magnolia Market, you’re only getting part of the story of what makes the city great.

    Where to eat and drink
    Health Camp
    In this age of paleo diets and Lululemon, the name of this burger stand might seem ironic, but think of it as a boost for your mental health. Not much has changed since it opened on the Waco traffic circle in 1949. The burgers are still juicy, the onion rings are still salty and crisp, and the frozen custard — available in flavors ranging from bubble gum to chocolate chip cheesecake — is still the cure for what ails you.

    Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits
    By day, this charming space is a coffeehouse, serving traditional Italian espresso drinks and beans from local coffee roaster Apex. During the evening, it turns into a stylish speakeasy, serving both classic cocktails and original creations such as a smoked tea Old Fashioned with rye and chicory pecan bitters. For real local flavor, try one of the drinks made from spirits from award-winning local distillery Balcones. The maple Manhattan made with brisket-infused corn whiskey is a delight.

    Kitok Restaurant
    The can’t-miss dish at this long-running Korean-American restaurant is the Oriental fries, a huge haystack of tempura-battered vegetables that are great even without a drop of ketchup. The hefty Liplocker burger is worth an order, but jump to the other side of the menu to find some of the best bulgogi in Central Texas and sweet and spicy galbi (short ribs) marinated in soy sauce, wine, honey, and ginger.

    Magnolia Table
    The latest jewel in Chip and Joanna Gaines’ crown, this daytime restaurant, housed in the former Elite Cafe, keeps the historical Spanish-style architecture intact while injecting it with Joanna’s modern farmhouse sensibilities. (Yes, there’s shiplap.) The menu is just as contemporary with breakfast plates; avocado toast; a terrific pastry basket; and a hefty burger with a 44 Farms beef patty dressed with Havarti, arugula, heirloom tomatoes, and your choice of bacon-onion or jalapeño jam. Don’t skip the biscuits, served either alone or made into a strawberry shortcake.

    Sinclair
    Located just a short drive outside of Waco in Clifton, this farm-to-table eatery from Hillside Farmacy chef Sonya Coté defies expectations of what a small town restaurant can be. As in all her restaurants, Coté only uses the best Texas ingredients to craft an approachable but creative menu. Start off with the Killer Wedge salad and an order of chicken-fried quail legs before moving on to a black Angus ribeye slathered in chili butter. Between bites, take a look around the dining room — you might just spot former President George W. Bush.

    Where to shop
    The Findery
    With a style similar to nearby Magnolia Market, this home store features a mix of new and one-of-a-kind goods. Find shabby chic furniture, farmhouse enamelware, and wall planters with a lived-in patina. Don’t have room for any new decor? The shop also carries womenswear like embroidered floral dresses and easy denim and knit separates.

    Harp Design Co.
    Owned by Clint and Kelly Harp, hosts of the DIY Network’s Wood Work, this showroom is filled to the brim with wood cutting boards, kitchen utensil sets, hand-tooled candlesticks, rustic wall hangings, earrings, and more. More surprisingly, it also has great basic linens and a good selection of body products from Austin’s Thrive Handmade, including the cult rosemary and lavender body scrub.

    Hey Sugar Candy Store
    If you have a sweet tooth, this colorful downtown shop is paradise. The cases are filled with chocolate truffles, gummies, jelly beans, flavored popcorn, and other nostalgic treats. Check out the soda wall to find a mix of vintage favorites and modern artisan pops. There’s even a ranch dressing flavored soda if you really want to get weird with it.

    Spice Village
    Be warned, a trip to Spice Village might take up a good chunk of your day. Renovated from an industrial building in the heart of downtown Waco, the sprawling destination is full of dozens of nooks and crannies and you will want to investigate all. Shop women’s and men’s apparel, antiques and home goods, bath and body products, and unique gifts from local artisans. You might even find a few oddities, like a taxidermy coat spotted during a recent trip.

    What to see
    Balcones Distilling
    The tour at the distillery takes you through the entire whisky-making process, ending with a tasting of all the company’s products. Develop your nose and palate on the introductory tour, or take a deep dive with one of the distillers on the VIP experience. Make sure you book before your trip since slots fill up quickly.

    Cameron Park Zoo
    The whole family will love the 52 acres of natural habitat featuring gibbons, bald eagles, Galapagos tortoises, elephants, giraffes, and big cats. But the breathtaking exhibits are just part of the show. Older kids aged 15 and up can be a zookeeper for the day and help with the feeding and care of animals. Meanwhile, little ones can have an adventure in a secret garden with a playground and a splash pad.

    Dr Pepper Museum
    Be a pepper too at this museum that explores the history, culture, and science of Texas’ favorite soft drink. In addition to the exhibits, visit the liquid lab to learn how to cook with soda, how carbon dioxide gives the drink its signature fizz, and how flavors are developed. Before you leave, stop by Frosty’s Soda Shop for an old-fashioned egg cream, a handmade fountain drink, or a Blue Bell ice cream float.

    Waco Hippodrome Theatre
    This beautiful venue has been entertaining Wacoans for more than a century. The tradition continues today with a full slate of live music and traveling theatrical productions. Between major acts, the Hippodrome hosts trivia nights and screens first-run films where you can enjoy the full food and beverage menu from the comfort of your seat.

    Where to stay
    1700 South 2nd
    Just a short jaunt from Magnolia Market and downtown, this trendy apartment-hotel allows you to rent two-bedroom, two-bath condos full of homey amenities like a fully-stocked kitchen and a washer and dryer, but with boutique hotel perks like luxe linens and towels. Best yet, all units include a personal patio perfect for sipping a glass of wine after a long day of sightseeing.

    Fixer Upper Airbnbs
    Although the Gaineses frown on the practice, several of the homes featured on Fixer Upper are available for rent, including a midcentury modern charmer and the German Schmear house. Great for large groups, the houses give you an up-close look at Magnolia style for about what you would pay for a single room in big Texas cities.

    Stop for a drink at Balcones Distilling.

    Balcones Distillery Waco
      
    Balcones Distillery/ Facebook
    Stop for a drink at Balcones Distilling.
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    top camping destinations

    2 Texas campgrounds made the list of best places to camp in America

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 19, 2025 | 11:46 am
    Neches Bluff Overlook
    fs.usda.gov/
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    Two Texas campground were just ranked among the best in America for 2025: Galveston's Stella Mare RV Resort in Galveston and Neches Bluff Overlook Campground in Davy Crockett National Forest.

    For its 2025 Best Places to Camp Regional Awards, campground review platform The Dyrt combed through the most highly rated and favorably reviewed campgrounds across its website. Campgrounds were sorted into six regions: Central, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, Pacific, and Southeast.

    Stella Mare RV Resort ranked No. 6 on the The Dyrt's ranking of the best campgrounds in the Central region. The coastal resort is about 300 miles south from Dallas, or about a 4.5-hour drive.

    Stella Mare offers 195 different RV sites just steps away from the beach and is pet friendly, making it an ideal summer vacation destination for families that want to spend as much time as possible near the shore. Campsite rates range between $39-$598 per night.

    Stella Mare RV ResortStella Mare is a great destination for families.Photo courtesy of The Dyrt

    Other amenities provided by the resort include high-speed Wi-Fi, 30-50-amp service, two dog parks, barbecue grills, a heated outdoor pool, splash pad, hot tub, and a 3,000-square-foot observation deck. Stella Mare also hosts weekly events such as craft activities, bingo, and more.

    In one review, a returning guest praised the resort's cleanliness and the attentive staff.

    "We have visited Stella Mare every December for 4 years now. This last winter we stayed for 2 months and really enjoyed Galveston," the reviewer said. "The campground is well maintained. The staff is super friendly. They have events for all ages multiple times a week including kid and adult only crafts, candy bar bingo, wine night, s'mores, and golf cart parades for holidays."

    Thrifty campers will enjoy staying at Neches Bluff Overlook Campground, which ranked as the No. 8 best campground in the Central Region. Neches Bluff Overlook is a free campground located in the Davy Crockett National Forest, which is about 150 miles southeast of Dallas.

    Neches Bluff is a primitive campground that only offers "minimal amenities," according to The Dyrt, which means campers will have to rely on their own preparedness if they want to spend several nights in the East Texas forest. The campground operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, and guests are welcome to pick their own site and "create [their] own adventure."

    One of the most stunning features of Neches Bluff is the panoramic views of the forest from the overlook, according to reviewer Rachel H.

    “There was a creek nearby that we hiked up and down, even found what appeared to be a natural spring feeding the creek," wrote Rachel. "We used the creek as our water supply, and the water was delicious. Lots of cool rocks, and even found a couple snail shells. 10/10 would definitely go again and explore more. The overlook is so pretty, and honestly, this place gave us the perfect camping experience."

    The top 10 best places to camp in the Central Region, according to The Dyrt, are:

    • No. 1 – The Wall, South Dakota
    • No. 2 – Scoria Pit, North Dakota
    • No. 3 – Buffalo Gap, South Dakota
    • No. 4 – Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground, North Dakota
    • No. 5 – Big Pine Campground, South Dakota
    • No. 6 – Stella Mare RV Resort, Texas
    • No. 7 – Hackberry Hollow Campground - Indian Cave State Park, Nebraska
    • No. 8 – Neches Bluff Overlook Campground - Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas
    • No. 9 – Territory Route 66 RV Park and Campgrounds, Oklahoma
    • No. 10 – Wilson State Park Campground, Kansas
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