Waco, Texas Shopping Trip!

A few months ago I visited Waco, Texas on a short girly trip with my mom, sisters, and niece. We are big fans of HGTV’s Fixer Upper reality show and we couldn’t wait to check out the Magnolia Silos Store and Bakery.  We arrived at the silos early Monday morning to try and beat the crowd, or so we thought.  It was a wet and chilly morning during spring break, and we parked the car and made our way down the street towards the silos.  We entered the gate and were a bit confused to find a super long line wrapping around the entire garden area. The store had been open for thirty minutes, and this long line was just to get in the store! After waiting in line for about an hour we made it through the door into the overcrowded shop.  We elbowed our way into the crowd to check out the fairly simple housewares on display.  It was a bit chaotic, and disappointing. We felt the need to buy a few small souvenirs to remember the visit and justify our long wait in line.  The gardens and silos were fun, and we enjoyed taking a few photos with the cool backdrop.  Next, we made our way through the crowd and over to the bakery. The line to get in was about a block long, so we decided to leave and maybe visit another time.  My best advice is to get there early on a week day. You can get free parking down the street, and maybe avoid the crazy crowds that come on the weekends and holidays.  Magnolia Silos are open from 10am to 6pm Mon-Thurs and 9am-6pm Fri-Sat, closed on Sunday and located at 601 Webster Ave, Waco, Texas, 76706.  Phone No. 254-235-0603

Our next stop was The Findery, a cute boutique about a block away from the Magnolia Silos.  The moment we entered we were greeted with the beautiful aroma from the sparkly lit candles on display.  The store is filled with farmhouse chic home décor, trendy clothes and an array of gift items. We really enjoyed our visit! The Findery is located at 501 S 8^th Street and open from 9am-6pm Mon-Sat, Closed on Sunday.

After all that shopping we were hungry! We ventured over to Homestead Café in the beautiful Mennonite community about 15 minutes away. This place was quite packed at lunch time, so we perused the handmade goods in the cute shops around the restaurant.  We watched the black smith work iron over hot coals, tasted the delectable granola and syrup at the food shop, watched in amazement as young girls spun pottery from lumps of clay at the pottery shop, and admired the beautiful woven goods from the Fiber Craft Store.  I bought some really nice homemade soaps from The Barn before we headed to the café for lunch.  We shared some chips and guacamole before diving into our soups and sandwiches.  I highly recommend the jalapeno sweet potato soup, and you can’t go wrong with any of their sandwiches! Our server was super nice and even sent us away with to-go cups of the tasty lemonade we had enjoyed with our lunch.  On our way out of the community we stopped at the Homestead Market and General Store. The market is like a small convenience store and has some fun gifts and snacks for the road. The General Store had a variety of home goods, farming and gardening equipment. The Homestead community is located at 608 Dry Creek Rd, Waco, Texas 76705 and is open 10am-6pm Mon-Fri and 7am-6pm Sat, closed Sunday. Ph: 254-754-9604

Time for more shopping! We stopped by Harp & Co (Clint's store from Fixer Upper, 808 N 15th Street) for a quick tour of the store. I found some super soft and colorful dish towels to take home with me! We had a quick look at Clint's Fixer Upper house next door before moving on. We then popped in a few shops at the Central Texas Market Place outdoor shopping strip.  It had the typical line up of chain discount stores, and we had fun shopping for spring clothes and accessories.  Our next stop was the super fun Spice Village store! There were tons of booths with all kinds of home décor, gifts, clothing, and accessories. We had a great time browsing all the girly things here! Spice Village is located at 2^nd St. and Franklin and open Mon-Sat from 10am-6pm.

Our last stop of the day was a short walk from Spice Village over to Ninfa’s for some great TexMex!  I loved the beautiful décor in this restaurant, and our dinner was really yummy! Ninfa’s was a hit with our group!  Ninfa's is located at 220 S 3rd St, Waco.  Ph. 254-757-2050

After breakfast at our conveniently located hotel (Home2 Suites by Hilton), we ventured back downtown for a quick stop at Summer Ellis Jewelry. This was a beautiful boutique with hand crafted jewelry and unique upscale furniture and gift items. There is a nice coffee shop within the store as well.  The store is located at 601 Franklin Ave, 1st floor, and open Mon-Sat 10:30am-6pm.  

We had some time to kill before lunch, so we parked the car at the Doris D. Miller Park and took a leisurely walk along the Brazos River to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial before crossing the historical suspension bridge to Indian Spring Park on the other side.  The river was previously only passable by ferry, and the bridge opened in 1870 to provide a better means of transporting goods on the growing Chisholm Trail.  There are several longhorn and cowboy Chisholm Trail sculptures, and we had fun getting photos with them.  These parks are accessible from various points in downtown Waco and provide a lovely atmosphere to rest or sit and read a book.

After our morning exercise it was time for lunch at Sironia, a cute tea room accompanied by little boutique booths filled with fun gifts and fashionable clothing and accessories.  Although they lost our reservation, the food was pretty good and we all enjoyed sharing the strawberry cake for dessert. Sironia is located at 1509 Austin Ave and open from 11am-2:30pm Tues-Sat. For reservations call 254-754-7467.

We wrapped up our trip with a free tour of the Armstrong Browning Library on the Baylor University Campus.  The quiet atmosphere was the perfect way to admire the beautiful stained glass windows, extensive poetry collection, exquisite antiques, and elegant art work.  Grab a hot cup of joe at Common Grounds as you leave the college campus. 

We had a great time in Waco and can now check it off our bucket list! If you happen to be traveling through the little town of West on your way to Waco, be sure and stop by Czech Stop for some amazing kolaches!   I love the savory jalapeno sausage kolache, and you can’t beat the cream cheese or pumpkin kolaches when you’re craving something sweet! Enjoy!

Top 10 things to do in Dallas, Texas

     Dallas is the place I call home, and it has lots more to offer than just big hair and cowboys.  Although there aren't any beaches or mountains to explore, there is still plenty of fun to be had here.  Dallas is the place to eat, shop, and be entertained!  New visitors may choose to visit the usual touristy spots including Dealey Plaza, Southfork Ranch, and the Dallas Cowboys Stadium (which is actually in Arlington and not Dallas), but there are plenty of other amusing ways to pass the time here.  Here is a list of my top ten favorite things to do in Big D!

1.)  Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a beautiful place to take a leisurely stroll and enjoy a picnic.  The arboretum is most popular in March and April when a vast array of tulips and flowers will be in full bloom, and it's common to see many formal portraits being made during your visit.  The fall is another great time to visit and take in the many variety of pumpkins and fall foliage.  December visits are less crowded and the perfect time to see the DeGolyer mansion decked out in its Christmas finest.  A variety of events and workshops are held at the arboretum throughout the year, so be sure to check the schedule before planning your trip.  The garden is open daily from 9am to 5pm, and tickets are about $15 for adults, $10 for kids, and $8-15 for parking.

2.)  Flag Pole Hill Park near East NW HWY and Buckner Blvd is a great place to relax with a book, have a tasty picnic, or fly a kite with the kids. It can get busy on the weekends with family parties under the pavilions (reservations required, see Dallas Park & Recreations website for details), but during the week it's fairly quiet and the best time to lie back on a blanket and watch the clouds float by.  There are a few picnic tables and grills as well as outdoor restrooms and a drinking fountain. There's a playground for the little kids, and a fun flag pole on a hill to race around and play tag (like I did with my siblings growing up).  This park is great for sledding when blanketed with snow.

3.)  Shopping is one of our favorite past times here in Dallas, and there are so many great places to shop and people watch! North Park and Galleria Dallas malls are quite popular and offer the usual retail stores along with some high end boutiques and specialty shops. The Galleria has a fun ice skating rink and plays host to the country's largest indoor Christmas tree every December.  If you don't feel liking fighting mall traffic, venture over to some of the other cute shopping centers in Dallas such as: Synder Plaza, Highland Park Village, West Village, Inwood Village, Shops at Park Lane and Mockingbird Station. Looking for a bargain? Treasure hunt at Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, Ross, Tuesday Morning, Nordstrom Rack, and Burlington Coat Factory located in various neighborhoods around the city. And don't miss out on all the local made treats at the Dallas Eco-op Pop Up Markets.

4.)  Downtown Dallas is pretty fun to walk around, and offers a variety of shops and eateries.  Visit the Neiman Marcus Flagship Store on Main Street then take a stroll through the West End Market Place. Check out the cool Dallas Aquarium before heading over to Reunion Tower Observation Deck for amazing views of the city (tickets required). Hungry? Enjoy the food trucks and play in the dancing water at Klyde Warren Park which hovers above the Woodall Rodgers Freeway.

Klyde Warren Park

5.)  Dallas Farmers Market on Pearl Expressway in Downtown Dallas is a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Check out the many stalls of home grown produce, specialty foods and organic home and beauty products available in The Shed on the weekends.  Pick up a souvenir in one of the art stalls, or sample a variety of tasty bites at The Market Shops open throughout the week. Do try the unique flavored Popstar Popsicles and the amazing Chapli Kebab at Laili.

Pop-Star Popsicles.

6.)  Need some Culture? Dallas offers amazing sights, tastes, and sounds with a variety of ways to enjoy the arts! Check the ticket box offices for concerts and events galore! There are a variety of spring and fall festivals that provide trendy tunes from local bands and plenty of crafts to take home from talented local artisans. You can make your own crafts at Michaels, make clothes at Make & Made, paint a masterpiece at E Gallery Studios, or create a decorative pillow at Make It Indiegenius.  Peruse the whimsical galleries and boutiques at Bishop Arts District or attend a summer concert or play in one of the city parks. Shake your body on the earthquake exhibit at Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and enjoy a variety of artistic events and exhibits at the Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher Sculpture Center on one of their monthly DMA Late Night events (third Friday of the month, tickets required to some events).  Catch a magical performance by the Dallas Ballet Theater at the Winspear Opera House, or a colorful play at the Wyly or Kalita Humphrey's Theater.  Check out an intimate concert in the historical Majestic Theater, have some laughs at Backdoor Comedy Club, or share a fun dinner during your concert at Dallas House of Blues. Support the local actors and attend a quirky play at Theater 3 & Too, or enjoy a popcorn tosser at The Pocket Sandwich Theater.  Dance the night away at one of our local clubs or just sit and enjoy a drink on the porch at The Ginger Man bar.  The city also has a variety of culinary events from Taste of Dallas and Savor Dallas to Restaurant Week (Discounted fixed price menu) and special grand opening tasting events.  Mouth watering?  Top your culinary experience off with an amazing treat from Carlos Bakery, French macarons at Haute Sweets Patisserie, or chocolate and jazz music at Chocolate Secrets.

7.)  Trinity Groves offers a variety of culinary delights to tantalize your taste buds!  Try the Asian-Latin fusion dishes of Chino Chinatown or enjoy the exotic belly dancers while you nibble the amazing hummus and kebabs at Souk Mediterranean Bistro & Bar (dinner reservations recommended). Don't forget dessert! Cake bar has a selection of amazing cakes for about $5 a slice, or try a French macaron or colorful, designer chocolate truffle at Kate Weiser Chocolates! Yummo! Digest all that food with a leisurely walk in the park along Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge which provides a lovely view of the Dallas skyline and a great backdrop for touristy photos.

8.)  White Rock Lake in north-east Dallas is my favorite place to ride a bike, speed walk, or take a leisurely evening stroll.  There's a nice path for bikes and pedestrians, a dog park, playground, and a variety of areas to picnic and play.  It's a fun place to feed the ducks, watch the sail boats, and relax with friends.  The lake is easily accessible and offers kayak and facility rentals.  On occasion you might even get free advice from the Free Advice Guy, just look for his sign while you're walking along the west side bike path.

9.)  The Texas State Fair has taken place at historic Fair Park annually since 1886. It's a great place for live shows and music, handmade crafts, every kind of fried food you can imagine, amazing rides, car shopping, games, taste tests, and live cooking demonstrations! My favorites are the beautiful dance shows, exciting pig races, and colorful art competition exhibits!  Check out the Texas State Fair website for entry rules, and submit your favorite livestock, quilts, and jams. Kids can enter too!  There are a variety of festivals and events held at the fair grounds during the year including the Dallas Summer Musicals and the Irish Festival in March.  The Texas Discovery Garden is quite popular for its butterfly garden and even hosts plant sales on occasion.  The Museum of Nature and Science is full of hands on learning tools for the kids, and everyone has fun at the Planetarium and 3D IMAX shows!

10.)  Who doesn't love a touring a fun house? A variety of HOME TOURS are held throughout the city as fundraiser events for various schools and clubs. The Modern Architecture Tour provides a variety of interesting homes both old and new, and check out the annual Munger Place Days home tour for a delightful experience of Dallas history. Holiday home tours are a fun way to see interesting houses decked out in their Christmas finery, and even if you miss all the official home tours you can check out local Estate Sales! They're a fun way to tour homes and find bargains!