Guidebook for Waco
Food Scene
It has excellent food, quick service, and good portions for the price. They have a special "honey pulled pork" plus two sides buy one get one free.
7 locals recommend
Uncle Dan's BBQ & Ribhouse
1001 Lake Air DrIt has excellent food, quick service, and good portions for the price. They have a special "honey pulled pork" plus two sides buy one get one free.
Excellent Mexican food. Most entrees are generous enough to serve two people. Their tortillas are incredibly fresh and fluffy.
Rosa's Café & Tortilla Factory
4200 Franklin AveExcellent Mexican food. Most entrees are generous enough to serve two people. Their tortillas are incredibly fresh and fluffy.
Starbucks
1428 Wooded Acres DrQuick place to grab a daily boost!
This is a wonderful dessert place that features flavored shaved ices with sugar free options. The prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is fun.
Coco's Shaved Ice
3824 Bosque BlvdThis is a wonderful dessert place that features flavored shaved ices with sugar free options. The prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is fun.
Bakery, Meat market, and Kissing Pig Cafe. Czech style pastries, breads, desserts, Czech kolaches, pies, and strudels. Meats and sausages.
Slovacek's
214 Melodie DrBakery, Meat market, and Kissing Pig Cafe. Czech style pastries, breads, desserts, Czech kolaches, pies, and strudels. Meats and sausages.
Entertainment & Activities
A nice selection of animals for a zoo of this size. Natural environments. An island that features a family of monkeys. The youngest just turned a year old. Truly fascinating to watch this family interact! Interesting for all ages.
168 locals recommend
Cameron Park Zoo
1701 N 4th StA nice selection of animals for a zoo of this size. Natural environments. An island that features a family of monkeys. The youngest just turned a year old. Truly fascinating to watch this family interact! Interesting for all ages.
Cottonwood Creek Golf Course
5200 Bagby AveBeautiful 18 hole par 72 course
A great place to rent paddle boards and kayaks (either one or two person). Information on beginner and novice loops that take between 1-3 hours depending on conditions can be found by looking up the Brazos River and Paddling Trails of Waco.
22 locals recommend
Waco Paddle Company
200 S University Parks DrA great place to rent paddle boards and kayaks (either one or two person). Information on beginner and novice loops that take between 1-3 hours depending on conditions can be found by looking up the Brazos River and Paddling Trails of Waco.
A wonderful place to rent bikes for a reasonable rate to explore the many areas of Waco accessible by bike.
8 locals recommend
Bicycle World Waco
112 Mary AveA wonderful place to rent bikes for a reasonable rate to explore the many areas of Waco accessible by bike.
This venue hosts a wide variety of things throughout the year. It is best to check for events when you will be in town. They host various Industry themed shows, as well as rodeos, fairs, horse shows and competitions, concerts, 4-H events, etc.
12 locals recommend
Extraco Events Center
4601 Bosque BlvdThis venue hosts a wide variety of things throughout the year. It is best to check for events when you will be in town. They host various Industry themed shows, as well as rodeos, fairs, horse shows and competitions, concerts, 4-H events, etc.
Parks & Nature
15 miles of hiking and biking trails of various difficulties. You can opt for a level easy path that runs along the river or can choose for a more difficult way and choose to venture up Jacob's Ladder to top it off. Beautiful park!
143 locals recommend
Cameron Park
2601 N University Parks Dr15 miles of hiking and biking trails of various difficulties. You can opt for a level easy path that runs along the river or can choose for a more difficult way and choose to venture up Jacob's Ladder to top it off. Beautiful park!
Expect this to take about 2 hours as you learn about the Columbian Mammoth -cousin of the Wooly Mammoth. The highlight of the tour is the enclosed excavation featuring the remains of several mammoths.
139 locals recommend
Waco Mammoth National Monument
6220 Steinbeck Bend DrExpect this to take about 2 hours as you learn about the Columbian Mammoth -cousin of the Wooly Mammoth. The highlight of the tour is the enclosed excavation featuring the remains of several mammoths.
Cotton Belt Trail
Cotton Belt Trail2.5 mile hike, bike, and run trail located on an old rail line
Essentials
Local grocery store with an excellent produce, deli, and premade meals section. Covers groceries, as well, personal items and pharmacy.
25 locals recommend
H-E-B
1301 Wooded Acres DrLocal grocery store with an excellent produce, deli, and premade meals section. Covers groceries, as well, personal items and pharmacy.
Target
5401 Bosque BlvdBasic groceries, pharmacy, clothing, personal items
Arts & Culture
A Christian agrarian and craft based community that offers tours, activities, craft shop, furniture, and dining options, among other things. Open Mondays through Saturdays. Their Café Homestead is highly recommended.
92 locals recommend
Homestead Heritage
608 Dry Creek RdA Christian agrarian and craft based community that offers tours, activities, craft shop, furniture, and dining options, among other things. Open Mondays through Saturdays. Their Café Homestead is highly recommended.
A gallery begun by international artist, Jesus Rivera, to highlight the talents of local artists.
Art Forum of Waco
1826 Morrow AveA gallery begun by international artist, Jesus Rivera, to highlight the talents of local artists.
A collection of pieces that highlight the history of Waco. They also own four historic homes that can be toured. Each tour is $5 general admission per person, per home. The four homes are: The Earle-Napier-Kinnard House, the Fort House, the McCulloch House, the East Terrace House. Information can be gotten at their office at the Huffman House which is located at 814 South 4th Street.
6 locals recommend
Historic Waco Foundation
810 S 4th StA collection of pieces that highlight the history of Waco. They also own four historic homes that can be toured. Each tour is $5 general admission per person, per home. The four homes are: The Earle-Napier-Kinnard House, the Fort House, the McCulloch House, the East Terrace House. Information can be gotten at their office at the Huffman House which is located at 814 South 4th Street.
Drinks & Nightlife
Locally owned and operated. A tasting room with a rooftop patio featuring local artists and live music.
6 locals recommend
Texas Fine Artists
708 Austin AveLocally owned and operated. A tasting room with a rooftop patio featuring local artists and live music.
A bar that specializes in rare whiskey, wine, craft beer, and cocktails in a comfortable environment.
21 locals recommend
Barnett's Public House
420 Franklin AveA bar that specializes in rare whiskey, wine, craft beer, and cocktails in a comfortable environment.
Local whiskey distillery that has a gift shop, bottle sales, tastings for $10 per person for a flight of 3 different samples, and tours for $15 per person. Tours must be booked in advance and take about 1.5 hours to complete and tasting at the end. Must be 19 to tour. Must be 21 to taste.
43 locals recommend
Balcones Distilling
225 S 11th StLocal whiskey distillery that has a gift shop, bottle sales, tastings for $10 per person for a flight of 3 different samples, and tours for $15 per person. Tours must be booked in advance and take about 1.5 hours to complete and tasting at the end. Must be 19 to tour. Must be 21 to taste.
Local craft brewers. You can hang out and enjoy a drink or two while playing a game or you can ask them to have one to go and they will can and label it while you watch.
18 locals recommend
Bare Arms Brewing
2515 La Salle AveLocal craft brewers. You can hang out and enjoy a drink or two while playing a game or you can ask them to have one to go and they will can and label it while you watch.
Sightseeing
A beautiful campus that houses the oldest continuously operating university in Texas. The University offers a wide variety of cultural, musical, and theatrical events , as well as special speakers, and sporting events.
101 locals recommend
Baylor University
1401 S University Parks DrA beautiful campus that houses the oldest continuously operating university in Texas. The University offers a wide variety of cultural, musical, and theatrical events , as well as special speakers, and sporting events.
Waco Suspension Bridge
101 N University Parks DrSuspension bridge that crosses the Brazos River.