Markets and Ancient Fossils: Waco Downtown Farmers Market, Magnolia Market, Waco Mammoth National Monument

The rain has finally cleared and the sun has come out, so we decided to make the most of the day. And with a packed itinerary ahead of us, there was no time to waste.

Waco Downtown Farmers Market

• Location: Downtown Waco, Texas
• Hours: Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, year-round
• Number of vendors: 40 to 50, with capacity for up to 80

The last couple of farmers markets we had visited were relatively low-key, so you can imagine our surprise when we arrived in Waco to find what felt like the entire city had turned out. And honestly, it's easy to see why. With well over 30 vendors, you can find just about everything you'd want from a farmers market: homemade breads and baked goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and every kind of sweet treat imaginable. My only regret was having eaten beforehand, because I had no idea there would be food trucks.

Magnolia Market

• Location: Downtown Waco, Texas
• Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9:00am to 6:00pm
• Admission: Free
• What you'll find: Souvenirs (hats, mugs, shirts), home goods and decor, food trucks and drinks, bakery

Truthfully, we weren't quite sure what to expect from this place. Josh had never seen "Fixer Upper," and I was only familiar with the brand from watching a handful of episodes and browsing the Magnolia section at Target. Needless to say, we were pleasantly surprised.

The first section features six charming mini shops housed in white cottages arranged around an inner quad, anchored at the far end by a church. The open green space is set up for groups to play cornhole, giving it a relaxed, community feel.

Walking behind the church, you'll spot a wiffle ball field to the left and the beginning of a food truck row to the right. Continue down the path and you'll find about a dozen more food trucks, along with Magnolia Market (a home goods store) and another open quad with more cornhole in the center. The iconic Silos stand tall behind it all. To their right is Silos Baking Co., where the line is perpetually out the door as guests wait to choose from an impressive lineup of cookies and cupcakes.

If you veer right before passing the church, you'll find Magnolia Home (a furniture showroom) and Magnolia Press Coffee Co.

Joanna Gaines clearly had a strong vision when designing this market. The whole space has a village-like feel, and the warm, welcoming energy is contagious. We even noticed that the crowd seemed to lean into the farmhouse-chic aesthetic with their own clothing choices, which only added to the atmosphere.

All in all, we went in with low expectations and came away genuinely impressed. It's a memorable stop for any visit to Waco.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

• Location: Waco, Texas
• Duration: 1 to 3 hours
• Walking Difficulty: Easy

This is the kind of hidden gem that makes a travel itinerary feel special. We had never heard of this national park unit before arriving in Waco, but we are so glad we stumbled upon it. It's the perfect place to let your inner nerd shine and reconnect with that childhood dream of uncovering something buried deep in the earth.

Your visit begins at the gift shop before you follow a roughly 300-yard path down to the dig site, where 33 mammoth fossils have been discovered so far, with more potentially still waiting to be found. Don't worry if you arrive knowing nothing about mammoths. The park rangers and volunteers are wonderfully knowledgeable and eager to share what they know. We came away having learned not just about the history of the site itself, but also fascinating facts about mammoths, including that woolly mammoths did not actually roam this far south in North America.

It may be a brief visit, but it is an informative and surprisingly moving one.

If you want to see all of this in action, be sure to check out our YouTube video covering our full day in Waco. Watching it alongside this guide is the best way to get a real feel for each stop before you visit yourself.

 Exploring Waco: Magnolia Market, Farmers Market & Ancient Mammoths

The Dr Pepper Museum: Our First Stop in Waco

It's our first weekend in Waco, Texas, and our first outing has to be the Dr Pepper Museum. Josh and I are both huge Dr Pepper fans, so when we discovered there was a museum dedicated to this iconic drink, we knew we had to go.

Dr Pepper Museum

• Location: Waco, TX
• Hours of Operation: Monday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5:30 PM
• Parking: Free street parking (if available) or paid public parking across the street
• Website: https://drpeppermuseum.com/
• Notes: General admission ticket includes self-guided access to museum and a complimentary drink at the Soda Fountain

Our first weekend here gets off to a rainy start, which makes a day at the museum a natural choice. We began our visit on the main floor, where we learned about the history of carbonated drinks and the early days of beverage advertising.

We continued along the first floor to discover the origins of Dr Pepper, invented over 140 years ago in a drugstore. We were a little disappointed to find out that the true origin of the name "Dr Pepper" remains unknown to this day.

The last room on the first floor focuses on the factory itself. This building became the Dr Pepper Museum because it was the drink's original bottling plant, opened in 1906. In this exhibit, we learned about the lives of factory workers, viewed example machinery from the era, and even spotted damage on the floor left behind by the original bottle washing machine.

Heading up to the second floor, we explored the advertising history of Dr Pepper. Multiple displays trace the evolution of marketing from the early 1900s through to the present day, highlighting specific campaigns along the way. One room also covers the history of the building itself, while another offers a thoughtful look at the historical significance of people of color and the role that soda shops and convenience stores played during various civil rights struggles.

The third floor is the quickest stop in the museum, devoted to W.W. "Foots" Clements, the man credited with transforming Dr Pepper into a global brand. Foots was the driving force behind the company's remarkable growth throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Once we finished exploring the museum, we stepped next door into the gift shop, which is a Dr Pepper fan's paradise. In addition to the expected hats, mugs, and t-shirts, you can find some genuinely unique items featuring Dr Pepper flavor, including cotton candy and Tic-Tacs.

We wrapped up our visit with our complimentary drinks at the Soda Fountain. The soda jerks can serve you a soda of your choice, or you can upgrade to a float. I went with the Diet Caramel Creme Dr Pepper, while Josh opted for a Dr Pepper float with vanilla ice cream. It was the perfect ending to a fun and informative visit for two die-hard fans.

If you want to follow along on our Waco adventures in real time, be sure to check out the corresponding video on our YouTube channel. We captured all the best moments from the museum so you can experience it for yourself before you go!

 Soda, Storms, and Sirens: Our First Week in Waco

Firefighters, Two Pups, and a Faulty Alarm: Just Another Night on the Road

Well, tonight was quite the adventure. Our CO alarm went off multiple times, which meant calling in the local firefighters to inspect our camper. While they worked, we waited outside with our two pups, which was every bit as entertaining as it sounds.

Fortunately, the firefighters didn't find anything dangerous. The culprit appears to be a malfunctioning CO alarm, which is either due for a replacement or may simply need us to check the camper's battery, since that's what powers it.

In the meantime, we're picking up a standalone CO alarm here in town as a temporary fix while we sort out the original one. It's worth noting that the built-in camper alarm does double duty, detecting not only carbon monoxide but also propane gas leaks, so getting it properly replaced is a priority, not something we want to put off for long.