Let me start off by saying, I have wanted to visit Magnolia's Silo District for so long! When I saw the "Fixer Upper" episode of them building the silo complex and Magnolia Table, I knew we one day had to explore every nook and cranny of what was bound to be an incredibly designed part of Waco. Michael and I were able to visit with his parents (who are Magnolia experts), and of course our favorite little redhead, Tallulah.
In this post, I’m listing the places I recommend checking out on your visit to Waco along with tips to make the most of your experience!
There is so much to see and do outside of the Silo District on the Joanna-and-Chip-trail through Waco. You can even book a day trip with a tour company to visit the locations below as well as some of the houses they've renovated. Be prepared, the cost for a tour is roughly $80 per person, so I recommend visiting the sites at your own pace... fo free ;)
I've listed the addresses of each location so you can plug them in your GPS and be your own tour guide, while making all of the toddler snack and potty stops you need!
Magnolia Table - (2132 S Valley Mills Dr, Waco, TX 76706) This is Chip and Joanna's restaurant. It's about 5 minutes away from the Silo District.
It's of course beautifully designed and a very friendly and homey southern restaurant. They serve both breakfast and lunch.
The line was already getting long after we arrived at 7:30am. We still had to wait 30 minutes to get in, but there's quite a bit of outdoor seating (and photo ops of course) while you wait as well as a water station, a coffee stand and a really cute little shop. (TIP - Arrive early - If you're visiting on the weekend, particularly in the summer, lines can be very long.)
The food was good, however I definitely encourage you to try the seasonal offerings because Michael's Pecan Pancakes were out of this world!! Probably the fluffiest pancakes I've ever tasted!
Little Shop on Bosque - (3801 Bosque Blvd, Waco, TX 76710) The original Magnolia shop is about 10 minutes outside of the Silo District. It's used as a discount shop for her products. Although they had some unique pieces, we didn't end up buying anything. It's definitely fun to see where they started out!
Harp Design Co. - (808 N 15th St, Waco, TX 76707) For my fellow "Fixer Upper" fans out there, visiting Clint Harp's store is definitely worth checking out. It's also about 10 minutes from the Silos District.
Although he has a much bigger warehouse elsewhere, his store is, of course, beautifully designed and there are some really cool one-of-a-kind pieces that are definitely worth your while. Also, if you really want to go big, you can order a custom designed piece. Apparently you do have to be patient since a masterpiece takes time. I hear the turnaround time is 6-8 months.
Know-Before-You-Go Silos District Tips
There’s s charge for parking but no charge to enter the Silo District - The parking lot we used was just a block away which was great, but it filled up very quickly. It was $10 a car, so not a bad price for spending a half or full day at the Silos area.
Expect crowds - This goes hand in hand with the arriving early tip. The longer we were at the Silo District, the more crowded it got. Thankfully it wasn't terribly busy (I think the heat deterred some folks from coming), but it definitely gets busy in the shop and restaurants.
Take lots of pictures! - This was definitely my favorite thing to do at the Silos area. With Joanna's design motif, it's hard to set up a bad shot. Everything looks incredible. It’s the most photo ready place I think I’ve ever visited :)
Magnolia Silos - (601 Webster Ave, Waco, TX 76706) What a beautiful space! There's a perfect amount of shade as well as activities for the family to do. (TIP - Pack for the day as if you’re going to Disney World - When we visited, it was actually hotter in Waco than in Orlando, so we limited our time outside for sure. However although the area is nowhere near as big as a theme park, it does require a good bit of walking, so a stroller with a fan for a toddler, in my opinion, is a must. Also comfy and cute attire that breathes in the heat is great.)
(TIP - Water stations can be found throughout the Silo District, but they have really cute water containers that are only $2 - I was really impressed by that, especially since there are quite a few families with kids running around. It's easy to keep your family hydrated, and fed. They have food trucks on the Silos property so you can stay for a while and not need to worry about finding food!)
On the main grounds, there's a large grassy area where you can play corn-hole and other outdoor games with your crew to pass the time. You can also pull up a beanbag and enjoy the sights and sounds. There are so many excellent places for photos, you can't leave without getting a few shots in of your family. The #MilesToMagnolia is a favorite for sure.
Magnolia Seed + Supply - What a beautiful little shop (with excellent AC)! There are some cute items branded to the Magnolia Seed + Supply that you can only get there. Also, there's a beautiful garden you can walk through outside of the shop.
This is a toddler's dream area. Tallulah loved looking at the plants right on her level and really got a kick out of walking through the rows. Thankfully the Silo District is filled with areas for toddlers to get their energy out.
There is also a beautiful wooden greenhouse to the left of the shop's exit. We snapped a picture so quickly in here but it turned out to be one of my favorites from the trip.
Magnolia Market - This shop is the main attraction at the Silo District. You can find housewares, clothing, books and decor in this huge space. It's totally fun to just browse through to see how Joanna and her team set the fall space. They change their overlays seasonally so there's always something fresh and new to see. Warning, you may want to come with a spending budget in mind, because it's easy to get carried away. Some things are excellently priced, but most items are on the pricey side, i.e. artificial floral stems are about $12 a piece... yikes.
Silos Baking Co. - What a sweet little shop... pun intended. There are so many goodies to buy! I loved the sugar cookie and the cupcakes are super popular. The one downside, is you fill out an order form sight unseen while you wait in line. Although this is great from an efficiency standpoint, it takes a bit of the fun out of standing behind bakery glass and pointing out what looks the most appealing. Be prepared, there's usually a line outside for this offering, but it moves at a pretty good pace.
All-in-all, Joanna and Chip have designed a beautiful little family space in Waco. It's totally worth your while to visit with your crew!
Have you visited the Magnolia attractions in Waco? If so, drop a photo of your family in the comments :) If you haven't visited but want to, what's the highest thing on your to do list?