You’ve probably heard all about The Silos at Magnolia Market down in Waco, Texas. HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have turned the property surrounding two old grain silos into a home goods shopping destination that draws visitors from all over the country. Residents of Dallas and Collin County are lucky enough to have this attraction practically in our backyards, making a day trip to Magnolia Market totally doable. After visiting The Silos a few times, I’ve discovered a few things that can help you make the most out of your day trip to Magnolia Market in Waco.
1. Leave Early for Your Day Trip to Magnolia Market
It took a little over two hours to drive from Allen, Texas, to Magnolia Market in Waco. It may take you longer than that depending on traffic, construction, and if you need/want to make a stop along the way. Magnolia Market is known to get very crowded during peak times (afternoons, evenings, and weekends), so planning ahead and getting your day started early can help you avoid some of that.
We left a little after 6am and arrived at the perfect time to grab some breakfast at Magnolia Table.
After that, we had plenty of time and space to peruse all the shops without having to wait in any lines or fight crowds. It was comfortable and easy to do everything we wanted, and it left plenty of time for us to do a few other things in Waco before we returned home. There really is a lot to do, and you don’t want to miss out on anything, so get an early start!
2. Plan a Few Stops on Your Way to Waco
One of my favorite places to stop along I-35 as you approach Waco is the Czech Stop, where they serve a huge variety of authentic kolaches and other baked goods. There may be a line but it typically goes quickly and is definitely worth the wait if you can swing it.
We also love hitting up our favorite grocery store, HEB, before we head back home. Hopefully, we’ll only need to do that for a little while longer—HEB locations are set to open in Collin County soon!
3. Make Reservations in Advance for Magnolia Table
The wait time at Magnolia Table varies and can sometimes be quite long. We didn’t have much of a wait when we had breakfast there, but it tends to get busier as the day goes on. You can make a reservation on their website as well as see estimated wait times for walk-ins and view the menu. The reservations fill up quickly for busy days and times, so the further in advance you can book it, the better.
A few other tips for enjoying your time at Magnolia Table:
- I highly recommend getting the bread basket, which includes a variety of pastries to share, all of which were delicious.
- The portions are quite large, so take that into consideration.
- There is a Take-Away entrance and market on the side of the Magnolia Table building where you can order food to go. You can browse the small market of t-shirts, mugs, and more while you wait for your table or your to-go order.
- Magnolia Table is not at the same property as the other parts of Magnolia Market, so be sure to plan whether you want to go there before or after you do your shopping. It’s about a 5–10-minute drive and easy to find.
4. Try a Lemon Lavender Cupcake
There are so many amazing treats at Silos Baking Co., that it can be hard to decide what to try. Let me just solve that problem for you: You must try a lemon lavender cupcake! It may sound a little weird, but this flavor combo is subtle and totally works. Trust me! The cinnamon rolls are another favorite of ours, along with “The Prize Pig” bacon and cheddar biscuits. Silos Baking Co. also offers gluten-free and vegan cookies.
5. Visit Some Other Waco Attractions During Your Day Trip to Magnolia Market
There’s a lot more to do in Waco than you might realize. Waco is home to museums, parks, and other attractions that are perfect for families. The Dr. Pepper Museum is right around the corner from the Magnolia Market property (within walking distance), and has a cute soda shop and really fun gift shop! Waco also has the Mayborn Museum which is a highly interactive natural and cultural history museum that will keep kids busy for hours. The Mayborn Museum participates in the ASTC Travel Passport Program which offers reciprocal admission benefits. Check out this full list of things to do in Waco that aren’t Magnolia Market.
Magnolia Pro Tip: Soak in the inspiration, but don’t feel pressured to buy everything.
There is inspiration everywhere you look at Magnolia Market. Indoors, outdoors, and everywhere in between is beautiful and cozy. It’s natural to want to bring some of that home with you, but realistically, most of the items for purchase were priced above what I was willing to pay.
I still had a ton of fun seeing all the displays and picturing what I might like to add or change in my own spaces to incorporate Chip and Joanna’s style into my home. Luckily for me, the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia line at Target offers much more budget-friendly options. The products are not the same, but they are of a similar style. Many of the Target items are at least half the price of the products at Magnolia Market.
The one thing I did purchase was candles! They had candles burning in the Magnolia Home store and I fell in love with the scent the minute I walked in. I bought the Stay a While Candle Tin and the Fresh Start Candle Tin.
A day trip to Waco is the perfect way to have some girl time with some friends or have a fun family outing. Magnolia Market is a refreshing change of scenery that will have you leaving with your tummy full of goodies and your mind full of great ideas. What could be better than that?
Check out some sample itineraries for visiting The Silos and some maps and lists of things to do both at Magnolia and Waco in general.
Have you taken a trip to Magnolia Market? Share your tips in the comments!
