Our mother-daughter Waco weekend: Magnolia, shopping and food · Full film (57 sec)
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Magnolia gave my daughter and me time for shopping, good food, and a weekend with friends. Here are the places we enjoyed, the meal we nearly missed, and the practical things I would check before going back.
This short portrait film records our past Waco weekend, including our stay, Magnolia shopping, and a group photo at Magnolia Table. The footage and our original costs describe that visit; check current opening hours, booking arrangements, and availability for your dates.
When I told my father-in-law I was going on a girl’s trip to Waco, Texas, he did a double-take. “Why would you go to Waco?!”
I went to Waco with my 13-year-old daughter, a good friend, and her teenage daughter. We made a fun weekend of browsing Magnolia, eating together, and enjoying time to talk. The short film brings back that mix of shopping and inspiration, along with our group photo by the Magnolia Table sign.
As a Texas native, he couldn’t comprehend spending the time and effort to go there. Well, you either know or you don’t!
If you are a fan of Fixer Upper and the Gaines family, you know why we would go to Waco! Magnolia proved to be a super fun girl’s trip for my 13-year-old daughter and me, along with one of my friends and her teenage daughter.
I considered a few places for our girl’s weekend. What do you ultimately want from a girl’s getaway weekend? I want:
Magnolia checks all these boxes! The only thing missing is the girl’s getaway spa. Joanna, perhaps a Magnolia Spa coming right up?
Another bonus to a girl’s trip in Texas can be the weather, although conditions vary. Check local weather and Magnolia’s operating notices before travelling; the snow-related closures mentioned in our original trip notes are historical, not a current alert.
Dallas and Austin are two regional airport options for a Waco trip. Compare flight connections, driving routes, and traffic before choosing where to arrive.
I didn’t find any direct flights on Southwest from SLC and connected through Denver, which has plenty!
Watch our original related film on Vimeo
I would definitely recommend renting a car. You’ll need one to get to Waco and certainly will want one while in Waco. I think my friend Heather rented a car for the long weekend for around $200.
Waco doesn’t top the list for biggest cities in Texas. It’s quaint and cute. You have several options on where to stay.
My personal favorite, Airbnbs offers many bonuses. I compare Airbnbs to hotels in this post, but I always prefer them for more than two people.
Features to check in a rental listing:
Search for accommodation near Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas, using the Silos address and map to check distance. “Magnolia, Texas” is not the destination name to use for this Waco visit, and proximity does not guarantee availability.
In fact, some of the homes remodeled by the Gaines are used as Airbnbs now, We stayed in one of the “Row Houses” close by.
Finding other lodging in Waco, Texas is not difficult at all! In fact, during our visit, we saw that Marriott is building right next door to Magnolia Market. Smart move, Marriott.
We like to book hotels using Expedia, but there are a ton great apps to book them! Hotels.com, Kayak, Hopper are just a few.
Magnolia also offers vacation rentals, including Magnolia House. Dreamy, huh? Check its official stay information for the current properties, booking arrangements, rates, and availability rather than assuming a bed-and-breakfast room is available.
Magnolia Market is primarily shopping, but that’s not all!
There is a beautiful garden, the amazing silos, open grass areas to play and sit, food trucks, a chapel and even a baseball diamond. The whole place is designed for families in mind.
I’d allow about 3–6 hours for a visit like ours, with more time if it is busy or you add an activity. The distancing and store-capacity arrangements mentioned in our original notes belonged to that visit; check current notices rather than assuming those same procedures still apply.
I was surprised at how many shops there are now at Magnolia! So much fun shopping.
Of course you can shop home decor and home furniture at Magnolia Home and Magnolia Market. Bring home some Chip and Joanna Gaines decor for your home!
However, there are lots of other cute shops with jewelry, baby items, office and books, bath products, clothing and more.
I purchased two lamps at Magnolia Home and had them shipped home. I had multiple packages shipped home. Each order over $100 qualified for free shipping.
I carried home a Magnolia farms metal sign. There are a LOT to chose from and it was hard to pick just one.
Naturally, you can always shop online instead! Magnolia online can be found here.
Foodies, come to Magnolia! The quality and deliciousness of the food at Magnolia totally took me off guard.
Magnolia Table demands a visit! We put our name on the list at noon and barely made it in before the 3 pm closing on our trip. Check Magnolia Table’s current hours and reservation link before going.
On our visit, Magnolia Table texted us when our table was ready and gave us seven minutes to return. We were shopping at Magnolia Market, which was farther away than we could comfortably manage in that time! We almost missed our table but got in as the last people of the day. That was our experience, not a current seven-minute policy or guaranteed drive time; confirm the instructions attached to your own booking or waitlist entry.
The Magnolia Market bakery, Bakery at the Silos, warrants its long lines also. We didn’t go into the bakery itself, but sampled from the food truck instead inside the market. Wow. Divine cupcakes for sure!
Food trucks reign in this part of Texas. We found tons in Austin too! I love food trucks!
Magnolia Market has an entire food truck section and eating area.
I always hit up Chuy’s when I can. It’s some of the best Tex-Mex in the world! I’m sure there are other amazing places to eat in Waco, so put them in the comments if you know!
All of our other meals we ate at our Airbnb!
Our entire girls’ trip was Thursday to Monday. We divided our time between Austin and Waco.
I didn’t realise Magnolia would be closed on the Sunday of our trip, so that became a quiet day of lounging, work, and school. Sunday closure is the usual pattern, but special weekends can differ. Check the official holiday and event notices for your exact dates.
You may be able to plan a satisfying Magnolia visit in one day, depending on your priorities and the crowds. Check each stop’s current hours and any reservation or event requirements, then leave enough time for the drive, airport, and flight. Our old 3 pm restaurant and 5 pm Market timings are not a reliable timetable for a new trip.
Yes, definitely. A rental car is easy to get from Dallas or Austin.
Texas has pretty great weather all year, but summer can be super hot. Spring, fall and winter are the best bets.
Texas loves their Dr. Pepper! My in-laws hail from the Arlington area and can be pretty die-hard about their Dr. Pepper. Learn more about this love at the Dr. Pepper Museum.
We were blessed to find this on the Saturday we went to Magnolia. It was darling! I love a good farmer’s market. This one was the perfect blend of crafts, meats, vegetables, ready-to-go food and snacks, and more.
My favorite finds: lavender goats milk soap, fabric headbands for my girls, leather earrings and some of my new favorite face masks!
Thrills and a challenge are good for any good girl’s trip! If you haven’t done an escape room before it’s like solving a giant puzzle with a timer. Usually, the room has multiple puzzles and layers upon layers with clues. It can be a ton of fun! Visit the Waco Escape Room for some fun!
I hope you enjoy your next girl’s trip to Waco! Good friends are one of life’s greatest treasures.
Xoxo,
Leslie
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