Farmhouse stuff, shiplap, & cupcakes, oh my – pretty much the stuff of dreams, right?! Ever since Jo Jo and Chip Gaines came onto the scene, we’ve been in love with everything they’ve dreamed up. Thankfully, we can now go a step further and actually see their labors of love in person – in Waco, Texas!
If you’re planning a trip to Magnolia Market for yourself or as a special surprise, read on! We’ve put together a list of great tips by none other than one of our very own panel members, Jessica. We interviewed her and she shared her best tips and photos to help make sure your trip is everything you hope it will be!
How to Get to Magnolia Market |Airports to Fly Into
WSIGH: Hi, Jessica! Thanks for letting us interview you! How did you decide to travel to Waco & Magnolia Market?
Jessica: “My mom, sister, & I chose to fly into Dallas-Fort Worth, then head into Waco — & we were happy with that choice! We had heard that most of the sites at Magnolia Market can be seen in 1 day (2 if you want to go reeeally slow), so we added a few days of playing in Dallas to round out our trip. Dallas is a really neat city – we used the trolley system to get around, which was so fun. It would also be great to fly into Austin – such a cool city as well! Either way, I would suggest you allow for a few days to spend in one of those cities.”
Quick Tip: The two largest airports nearest Waco are Dallas/Fort Worth (approximately 112 miles from Waco) and Austin, Texas (approximately 111 miles from Waco). You may want to consider flying in early in the day to avoid rush hour traffic in either location!
WSIGH: How did you travel from Dallas to Waco?
Jessica: “We rented a car for the couple of hours drive to Waco, which worked out well for us. We loved having it to run around Waco as well.”
Places to Stay in Waco, Texas
WSIGH: Where did you decide to stay in Waco, and what things were you looking for in your hotel?
Jessica: “We picked the Holiday Inn Express. It was only 4.5 miles from Magnolia Market at the Silos, close to the other Magnolia sites, and reasonably priced!”
Quick Tip: Trip Advisor also shows some well-known hotel chains such as Residence Inn Waco, Hilton Waco, and Courtyard by Marriott Waco, and more – all in very close proximity to Magnolia Market.
Magnolia House bed and breakfast & Hillcrest Estate are among the Magnolia-owned properties that also offer accommodations for out-of-town guests. Be aware, though – both of these places book up months to a year in advance, so get your reservations in early!
Parking at the Magnolia Market Silos
There are plenty of paid parking lots within walking distance of Magnolia Market. There are also spots on the streets, but they do get taken fairly quickly. One really convenient place to park for Magnolia customers is located behind the food trucks – and it’s totally free!
Best Days to Visit Magnolia Market at the Silos & Related Sights
WSIGH: What days do you recommend visiting all of the Magnolia sights, to avoid craziness and big crowds?
Jessica: “We asked around before we planned the trip, and heard Thursdays were good days, so that’s the day we chose to see all the sights. And it definitely worked out great – Thursday had really low crowd levels, especially in the afternoon – around 2:00 or 3:00pm and later.”
Quick Tip: If you’re looking for a more laid-back visit, Wednesdays and Thursdays seem to be less-crowded days at the Silos & other Magnolia locations. Be sure to check the Magnolia Market & Silos calendar for any big festivities before planning your trip!
Magnolia Table Waco | Best Times to Go
WSIGH: What restaurants were your favorites in Waco?
Jessica: “Magnolia Table was definitely our favorite! We ate breakfast & lunch there more than once. They have an on-site coffee bar & juice bar which were both really yummy. You need to get there very early for breakfast (like “right when they open” early) or you’ll definitely be waiting a long time. We also enjoyed the food trucks!”
Quick Tip: If you sleep in late or go on a weekend and it’s extremely crowded at Magnolia Table, your wait might be pretty long (like 2-4 hours, depending on crowds). However, they will take your cell phone number, so that you can run around and shop at the Silos, etc., and they will text you when your table is ready.
Magnolia Market Food Trucks at the Silos
WSIGH: You mentioned you liked the famous food trucks at the Silos. Which ones were your faves?
Jessica: “We did! They were amazing! My favorites were Club Sandwich, Luna Juice, & 900 Degrees Wood Fired Pizzeria.”
Quick Tip: Club Sandwich, according to Magnolia.com, is an Asian fusion food truck, famous for their “trashcan bowls”. They don’t even serve sandwiches – too funny! You can get a quick overview of the current food trucks and their menus on Joanna’s blog!
Magnolia Market Store at the Silos
WSIGH: What did you think of the store at the Silos? And what time was the best to hit it up?
Jessica: “It was beautiful! Everything you dream it will be – perfection everywhere you look. You can definitely tell Joanna has been there and has put her mark all over it. And the staff is amazing – basically like Disney World or Chick-fil-a staff, just for interior design! The best time to go is definitely first thing in the morning when they first open or after 3:00pm in the afternoon.”
Quick Tip: You can purchase bigger items at the store, and use their on-site FedEx to ship it home, but that option can definitely be pricey. You may want to check and see if the item you want is available on their website, and if so, ordering it from home may save a bunch on shipping! Note: Some items are only available in-store.
Silos Baking Company
WSIGH: Ok, so we have to know. Did the Silos Baking Company live up to it’s legendary status?
Jessica: “Yes! It was ‘slap your mama’ good! The chocolate cupcake with vanilla icing & vanilla cupcake with chocolate icing were my faves! The best time to go there was also late afternoon.”
Quick Tip: The Silos Baking Company lines can be long, but most people agree – it is very organized and they move you through quickly! They also offer seasonal cupcakes each year, such as Strawberry Lemonade (summer), Valentine’s cupcakes, pumpkin spice (fall), and Christmas goodies as well!
Harp Design Company
For a fun little side trip, be sure to stop by the Harp Design Company, where Clint made a lot of custom pieces for Joanna on the Fixer Upper show. His little shop is filled with cute home decor items. According to one Trip Advisor review, “it’s lovely and has an aesthetic comparable to the Silos.”
Quick Tip: Ask the store employees to point you towards one of the Fixer Upper houses from the show – it should be to the right of Harp Design!
Fixer Upper House Locations
If you got some extra time and would like to see other Fixer Upper houses in Waco, you can check out several tour companies in the area (one is Dukes & Duchesses) or you can check out this website, which claims to have the locations and directions to all of the Fixer Upper homes.
One Last Tip – Check Dates & Hours!
This is our last tip – but it’s a big one! To make sure you have a great trip, and aren’t disappointed by any closures (Wally World memories, anyone?!), be sure to check out dates and hours of operation on the Magnolia Market’s official website, along with the dates and hours for all of its associated stores. Special events, festivals, marathons, and more happen throughout the year, and you want to make sure you know well ahead of time!
A big thank you to Jessica for all the great tips! Here’s to making fun memories in Waco!
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Oh my! I had no idea that there the Magnolia Market was such a destination. I’m pinning this for a possible future destination. Thanks for the info on this little treasure. 🙂
Yes! Definitely keep in in mind for a fun little destination! 🙂
I admit I have never seen their show (my husband watches lol) but this place looks like a great time! I love to eat and sightsee, so I think I would really enjoy it. Great post!
Yes! A fun little place to visit for a quick getaway, definitely. And lots of good food. ha! 🙂
These markets sound and look amazing. I had never heard of them but will add them to my list of places to visit.
Thanks, Angie – it would make a great day trip or quick getaway. 🙂