Who watches Fixer Upper on HGTV? I love that show, and – believe it or not – so does my eight-year-old daughter! Fixer Upper is one of her favorite shows; it was her go-to show when she was having medical tests done and had to rest at home. So, when we went to Dallas over winter break for the Cotton Bowl game (Roll Tide!), it was a no-brainer that we would have to take a trip to Magnolia Market and the Silos in Waco, about an hour and a half away.
We didn’t get to meet Chip and Joanna, but we had a great day in Waco! So, I thought I’d share with you what to expect when visiting The Silos, Magnolia Market, and Waco!
The Silos campus has Magnolia Market, plus it has a grassy area with picnic tables and a corn hole game. There are food trucks there in case you get hungry, serving everything from pizza to crepes to grilled cheese and tomato soup (my fave!).
There is also a little garden area:
Here are my tips for how to make the best of your own trip to Magnolia Market:
(1) Go early.
We went to the Silos on December 30 and, let me tell you, it was PACKED! We got to the market at about 10:30 am (they opened that day at 10 am) and had to wait a few minutes for the crowd to thin before we could get in.
By the time we left – around 1 PM – the line to get into Magnolia Market was out the door and down the street! I know that the Silos were crowded when we went partly because of the holidays and partly because of the Cotton Bowl game. But the fact is that Chip and Joanna and their show are wildly popular and thus people will still flock to Waco and the Silos after the holidays are over.
Thus, I would strongly suggest getting there when the market opens. The hours for the market can be found HERE. There is parking in a lot behind the market, next to the Silos, and we found a spot easily at 10:30 am.
(2) Pack patience.
Once we got into the market, the store was – as you might expect – really packed with people. Everyone seemed to be buying something, so the line for the cashiers was very, very long. They opened a second cashier desk in the warehouse attached to the store:
…and there were about four cashiers at each desk. Again, I’m sure the crowds will thin after the holidays, but know that you might have to stand in line to make your purchase. When we were there, Dear Husband actually got in line while the kids and I shopped, to minimize our wait time, and we still stood in line for about 20 minutes to buy something once we rejoined him.
(3) There’s a second set of bathrooms.
There are bathrooms inside Magnolia Market, but there was a long line to use them. Turns out there are also restrooms by the food trucks, adjacent to the warehouse by the market, and there was no line for them! If you are facing the silos and the red jeep in front of the silos, the restrooms are directly behind you.
(4) Candles and flying.
When we were there, I bought a #shiplap t-shirt, a coffee mug…
…and “Joanna’s signature candle.”
The candle, by the way, smells amazing.
Anyway, if you are flying home after purchasing the candle, and you put it in your carry-on bag, be prepared for a check by TSA. They will let you carry it on, but they’ll search your bag first and swab the outside of the candle to make sure it’s ok. No harm was done to the candle and it made it home fine. Just an FYI, especially if you are in a hurry to get through security to your gate.
(5) Eat lunch there.
Sure, there are great places to eat in Waco, but there are food trucks at the Silos. Everyone in our family had something different: the boys had pizza, M had a crepe with Nutella and strawberries, and I had tomato soup and grilled cheese. And we all loved our food. Support local businesses and eat at the food trucks!
If you decide to eat elsewhere in Waco, ask the cashiers for a list of Joanna’s recommendations (I didn’t do this, but someone told me you could) or go to Clint Harp’s site and see his list of Waco favorites.
After you leave the market, Waco is a fun city to explore! Check out Baylor University, or do what we did and head over to the Waco Mammoth National Monument and see where paleontologists have dug up the bones of a nursery herd of mammoths! You can see the actual dig site, with the bones still there, in place, and hear how the bones were found and what was discovered with them. It was really cool and the kids loved it.
For a sweet treat, we went to Katie’s Frozen Custard, which is in a not-so-good area of town, but is really cute (a former gas station) and has tasty treats!
Are you planning a trip to Magnolia Market or the Silos? Or have you already been there? Share in the comments. We had a great time!
Did you know that Chip and Joanna have a book coming out? I’ve already ordered it and can’t wait for it to arrive! You can preorder their book, The Magnolia Story, here (affiliate link):
A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.
Not heading to Waco anytime soon, but my daughter lives in Richmond (southwest of Houston ), & I am going to forward this info to her, if you don’t mind.
Please do! Thanks!
Oh my stars, how FUN!!! GREAT tips!! I adore Fixer Upper and have watched several shows many times. 🙂 The first season is on instant Netflix. 🙂 SO glad you had such a great time and took the time to take and share photos! Thanks!!!!
Thanks, Christina! It was so much fun! I love the show, too!
It’s a three hour drive for me, and I can’t wait! Thanks for the tips, these will help us plan our trip.
You have to go! It’s really fun. And the dinosaur dig site was a fun diversion, too!
What fun! I, too, am a fan of Fixer Upper, among others! If you haven’t already, check out the program SALVAGE DAWGS. My husband enjoys that show, too. These two men own Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke, VA and their show is about their travels to salvage the treasures, with a bit of history thrown in, that they sell back at their shop.
OMG – I love Salvage Dawgs! They were actually in Atlanta to salvage parts from a church right down the street from me! I missed them – not sure how that happened – and I was so bummed! Also, love the show West End Salvage on DIY. Great show – kinda similar idea.
Kay@americanbaskethouse.wordpress .com
My friend and I arrived 3 days before the grand opening in Oct, it was busy but no lines. I didn’t see too much I hadn’t seen online so I will wait until there is more in stock to go again. We made a side venture on our way to Canton Days. Her mom was helping and stopping for pics but didn’t see Chip or Joanna. Beautiful store with awesome people. The online store is nice and everything arrives quick and reasonable shipping.
Agreed – I ordered a shirt for my daughter online and it came before the estimated arrival date and with a lovely note. I loved the store – it was just too crowded when we went. I’d love to go another time when it would be less packed. Thanks, Kay!!
I’m ready to go! Thanks for the tips!
Thanks, Debbie! You gotta go – it’s really fun! I’d love to go back once the bakery is open!
I am planning a trip to meet some friends there at the end of this month. I am debating flying (for free) on Delta into Dallas, renting a car and driving out verses purchasing a ticket on American and flying directly into Waco. Any thoughts or suggestions?
We flew into Dallas and drove to Waco. It was cheaper for us to fly into Dallas, plus we had never been there and wanted to see the city, too. The drive is easy (one interstate, basically), although longish. Plus, then you’d have a car in Waco, which is helpful! Have fun!!