Visit Magnolia & Fill Your Cup
Calling all moms who are Fixer Upper Fans! Are you looking for a fun getaway? Are you looking for a way to fill your cup? I’ve got the perfect trip for you! Plan a trip to Waco and visit Magnolia.
Come along as I share all we did and the fun we had. Get a list of what to see and where to go as you plan your trip to Magnolia in Waco, TX. I am still basking in the memories.
This trip was four years in the making. It was initially planned four years ago with my sweet friend of 40 years and our two daughters. Unfortunately, the world shut down and canceled our trip.
This girl’s trip included a visit to Magnolia Home, Magnolia Table, The Silos, The Old Church, the Magnolia showroom, Hotel 1928, Silo Baking Co., Magnolia Press-the coffee shop, and so much more.
Below is a complete list of everything I recommend doing and seeing! Just click on it and print it!
It’s hard to believe it took us four years, but we finally rescheduled our trip. The only sad part is that we had to go without our daughters because one is married and the other is about to be married.
Our hearts were broken four years ago, but the good news is there is so much more to see now and we saw it all!
This post is a little out of my niche, but I couldn’t help but share it because when I shared it on Instagram, so many of you had questions and expressed your desire to visit.
My friend and I live in two different states, so we met at Dallas Fort Worth Airport, hopped in a rental car, and drove an hour and a half to Waco. We grabbed Jimmy John’s, found our hotel, and settled in for a good night’s sleep.
I have to let you in on a secret we discovered in our planning, but didn’t know before we booked our flights…Magnolia is closed on Sundays. Like, I mean everything Magnolia. Womp. Womp.
Fixer Upper Tour
As we learned of the Sunday situation, we searched for other things to do to fill our day. A good friend recommended a tour. We found one on TripAdvisor, and they had Sunday availability! Disaster averted.
To be honest, I kinda love that they aren’t open on Sundays and respect it immensely. However, because we only booked a trip for 2 1/2 days and one of those days was Sunday…imagine our disappointment.
The Fixer Upper Tour with Brazos Tours had availability on a 10:30 tour, and we booked it. This tour began at Clint Harp’s original location.
The tour company owner bought it from Clint Harp to be the starting point of the tours and the base for the business. It’s a great place to begin the tour.
Our driver, Scott, happened to be the owner of Brazos Tours, and he was a wealth of knowledge and a great tour guide.
We saw several of the Fixer Upper homes and ended at the home from Season 3, Episode 13. It was called “A Home For Him And Her.”
Scott shared an unfortunate story about the owners of the home. Chip Gaines came to him and asked if he wanted to buy the home for his tours. Chip proceeded to make him a deal he couldn’t pass up.
If I learned nothing else, I learned that Chip and Joanna have big hearts. I love that about them. Chip wanted the house to go to someone who loved Waco and would love the community around this home.
It was not occupied when we arrived, so we toured the home. This was an unexpected treat. I loved seeing Chip and Jo’s craftsmanship and hearing the stories about the house.
In-N-Out Burger
After our tour, we hit up In-N-Out Burger! I’ve never eaten at an In-N-Out Burger, so I was excited to give it a try. The food was pretty good, but I recommend you get a double when you order a burger. Make a note!
I love the fact that In-N-Out Burger is owned by a family of faith. There were verses on their packaging from Revelation and Proverbs.
Spice Village
Next stop, Spice Village. This is a cute shopping experience with local vendors. My friend and I bought new straps for our purses and had a blast walking around. I recommend stopping in if you have time.
We received a tour of the building and had a little briefing. I cannot begin to say how much we enjoyed this tour. It laid the groundwork for what would turn out to be a wonderful visit to Waco.
After Spice Village, we headed to visit the coffee shop called Pinewood. This is owned or previously owned by one of the Fixer Upper clients. It was Season 2, Episode 1.
Pinewood Coffee
The episode was called Newlyweds Seek First Home. The coffee was amazing, and I splurged on a chocolate chip cookie. The atmosphere was electrifying.
Students were hanging out and enjoying coffee and fellowship on a Sunday afternoon. Baylor University is located in Waco. I loved seeing the students around town.
McGregor
Our next stop was one of Joanna’s favorite antique stores. Unfortunately, we only had 30 minutes til closing, but I was thankful we got to see it. I can’t remember the name, but it was on the way to McGregor from Waco.
The McGregor House was next on our list. McGregor is a quaint little town and the home was adorable. It is currently an Air BNB. We walked around, took pictures, and admired Chip’s workmanship and Joanna’s eye for design.
We may have gotten a little crazed with our fandom with what we did next. We googled Chip and Joanna’s address and drove by. This was a fun little adventure. We were respectful and did not pull into their driveway or stalk their home…lol…just a drive-by. 😘
Magnolia: Little Shop on Bosque
Next stop: The original Magnolia store, the Little Shop on Bosque. It looked vacant but we were able to grab some pictures to say we were there. It’s a part of their history and seeing it was an important part of the experience for us.
Twilight at Magnolia
At this point in the day, the sun was starting to set. We decided to drive to Magnolia Home and the Silos to grab a look. It was closed, but it was the most glorious evening and we wanted to get a glimpse of what tomorrow would bring.
We enjoyed the view even if it was through the fence. This quick visit and walk spiked our enthusiasm and excitement for the next day!!
We took some cute pics in the twilight, and I’ll forever treasure the soft breezes, the setting sun, and the beauty of the grounds we experienced that evening.
From there, we meandered back to our hotel and had fun watching a couple of Fixer Upper episodes, specifically of the houses we had viewed on our tour. As it turned out, Sunday was a fabulous day.
Magnolia Table
First and most importantly, if you go to Waco to visit Magnolia, you absolutely, positively, must go to Magnolia Table to eat. It’s the most lovely experience with the most amazing food.
We had an 8:15 reservation for Magnolia Table. Little did we know that Magnolia Table is NOT on the grounds of Magnolia Home and the Silos. This is important to note if you plan to visit Waco.
Needless to say, we were late for our reservation. We called and explained our misunderstanding, and they were so gracious to accommodate us.
We had a good laugh at ourselves. The GPS started to take us to the correct location, but we ignored it, thinking we knew better…lol. We drove to Magnolia Home, assuming it had to be on the grounds.
The iced coffee and the food were perfection. I enjoyed the butter pecan pancakes, and “Oh My Word,” they were the most delicious pancakes I have ever eaten.
The best part was seeing Joanna’s mom walk by us. We got a little thrill seeing this adorable woman in her element.
As we left, there was a line, so I would recommend making a reservation.
Magnolia Home & The Silos
First, I must say we had the most gorgeous weather while in Waco. It was uncharacteristically warm for February. We enjoyed sunny skies and 80-degree weather with a breeze. That just set the tone for everything we did!
Shops At The Silos
We ventured into the Shops At The Silos and meandered in and out of every store. Our favorites and stores we bought from included Fernie’s Retro Plant Shop, Chapter 1, and No. 16.
The bag store, Tried and True, was adorable, and we got the leather bookmarks we purchased at Chapter 1 engraved there.
The employees at Magnolia are top-notch and so incredibly sweet. It made shopping there very enjoyable.
The Bathrooms
Every space you visit at Magnolia Home and Silos is manicured to the nines! One of my favorite things to do was to visit every bathroom.
They were adorned with such beautiful details. The tile, the sinks, the faucets, the doors on the stalls, and the mirrors were stunning. It was sheer perfection and beauty.
The Old Church
Chip and Joanna relocated an old church to the Silos in the last couple of years. It was stunning in its simplistic style and history. We walked inside and sat for a few minutes. You are asked to be respectful and contemplative while in there.
The church was refurbished to perfection. Everything had been brought back to its original condition. The chandeliers alone were stunning. They were spectacular in their simplicity, and I couldn’t stop looking at them.
The Katy Ball Park, Silos & Food Trucks
The addition of Katy Ballpark to Magnolia is special. It is a fun place for families to play whiffle ball and enjoy the beauty of the day.
It is at the center of the Magnolia campus. This field is a good representation of what Chip and Joanna Gaines are all about-family.
As you wander past the Ballpark, you will come to a large open area with artificial turf. On the field, there are large bean bag chairs to sit in while watching friends and family play cornhole.
The field is surrounded by food trucks and full of shaded seating and tables.
The Silos are stunning in their original weathered condition, are massive, and a beautiful sight to behold. Joanna loves to mix vintage with new. This whole area is a representation of her style.
There is an old (newly redone) green truck set in front of the silos. This is a great picture-taking opportunity. We sat and enjoyed our delicious food from the food trucks and then ventured into the Magnolia Home Shop.
Magnolia & Magnolia Press
Joanna has a knack for creating beautiful spaces, and this store did not disappoint. Oh, and did I mention the signature scents? My favorite is Linen (I had to bring one home with me), and their new one was called Daybreak, which is divine as well.
The main shop is simply called Magnolia. We perused that shop first, admired it, and purchased a few treasures.
Coffee time! The Magnolia Press is an adorable coffee shop at the Silos, and it was time for that afternoon pick-me-up.
We ordered their house drink called The 1905. It is espresso infused with a toasted marshmallow and vanilla syrup. I mea,n how could we not, right???
We ordered it iced, and all I can say is I’ve been dreaming about this drink since the day we had it. If you go to Wac,o you must get this.
This coffee shop is also perfection. We grabbed our drinks and sat outside in the most beautiful setting on the most comfy chairs, enjoying the most beautiful day.
Magnolia Home
We ended our time at Magnolia Home. It is the showroom where all of their home decor and furniture are on display. We meandered and admired all the beautiful decor.
Silos Baking Co.
We, of course, had to try the most delicious cupcakes, and so we ended our day at Magnolia with a trip to the Silos Baking Co. We bought chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes to take home to our hubbies.
Hotel 1928
The Hotel 1928 was a lovely surprise for us. After spending the majority of our day, several hours at Magnolia and the Silos, we drove to Hotel 1928. It was a short 5 blocks away.
Hotel 1928 is a boutique hotel with 33 rooms. It only opened in the Fall of 2023. It boasts three delightful eateries: The Cafe, The Brasserie, and Berties on the Rooftop. It also has a gift shop that is darling.
After visiting the hotel, we quickly decided we would eat at the Brasserie for breakfast the next day, which coincidentally was our final morning in Waco.
It did not disappoint, and we enjoyed it immensely. The cup of coffee alone was worth the visit, but the food was delectable.
We met a lovely hostess who asked us if we had done the Castle Tour. I couldn’t believe she asked us that because it is the one thing I wanted to do that we didn’t get to do.
We booked it right then and there, and our tour started at 10:00. We finished breakfast and headed to The Castle.
The Castle Tour
The Castle is a beautiful home built in the early 1900s. It was recently updated by Chip & Joanna to absolute perfection.
This castle was brought back to its former glory and will eventually be sold to a family who wants to live in it. However, Magnolia was granted a special permit to host tours for one year.
This was a real treat and we both enjoyed it immensely. It was the perfect way to end our excursion to Waco.
In Conclusion
My hope is that this excites you and guides you as you seek to visit Chip and Jo in Waco. It’s a fabulous girl’s trip or a getaway with hubby. To say this trip filled my cup is an understatement.
My heart was full and blessed upon departure, and we made our flights in plenty of time! I’m so glad we threw caution to the wind and did the tour!
Print List of things to do and places to see:
A girl’s trip to Waco & Magnolia was just what the doctor ordered. It filled my cup immensely! If you love to be surrounded by beautiful things, this trip is for you!
If you are considering this trip, I say go for it! You won’t be disappointed! But remember, don’t book it for a Sunday, and give yourself 2-3 days. Also, plan to drink a lot of delicious coffee, bring spending money, and have fun!
