Guidebook for Waco

Shannon
Guidebook for Waco

Shopping

Indoor flea market/antique store with multiple vendor booths.
8 locals recommend
Cameron Trading Co
618 Austin Ave
8 locals recommend
Indoor flea market/antique store with multiple vendor booths.
Fun antique mall with various vendors; also "upcycled" furniture and crafts. Adjacent to an unfinished furniture store as well.
15 locals recommend
LaSalle Shoppes
1800 La Salle Ave
15 locals recommend
Fun antique mall with various vendors; also "upcycled" furniture and crafts. Adjacent to an unfinished furniture store as well.
Tons of local indoor vendors - all kinds of "Etsy" sorts of finds - clothing, handmade items, upcycled, knit, sewn, shabby chic, etc. Good place for gifts and souveniers.
102 locals recommend
Spice Village
213 Mary Ave
102 locals recommend
Tons of local indoor vendors - all kinds of "Etsy" sorts of finds - clothing, handmade items, upcycled, knit, sewn, shabby chic, etc. Good place for gifts and souveniers.
Fair Trade Market (store) adjacent to World Cup Cafe. Handcrafted items from around the world - jewelry, clothing, wall-hangings, art, textile work, wood and metal crafts, recycled/upcycled art and gifts. Good place for gifts. Mission Waco is a Community Development org that also provides job training, discounted legal services, and youth programs, in addition to sustainable development of the 15th and Colcord area of Waco.
Mission Waco
1315 N 15th St
Fair Trade Market (store) adjacent to World Cup Cafe. Handcrafted items from around the world - jewelry, clothing, wall-hangings, art, textile work, wood and metal crafts, recycled/upcycled art and gifts. Good place for gifts. Mission Waco is a Community Development org that also provides job training, discounted legal services, and youth programs, in addition to sustainable development of the 15th and Colcord area of Waco.

Essentials

Major Grocery Store
25 locals recommend
H-E-B
1301 Wooded Acres Dr
25 locals recommend
Major Grocery Store
Closest drug store
Walgreens
9101 Woodway Dr
Closest drug store
One of two close gas stations...
Valero
4025 Bosque Blvd
One of two close gas stations...
Other close gas station. En route to I-35.
Chevron
1624 W Waco Dr
Other close gas station. En route to I-35.
To pick up anything you forgot!
13 locals recommend
Target
5401 Bosque Blvd
13 locals recommend
To pick up anything you forgot!
Jubilee Food Market
1505 N 15th St
Urban REAP

Arts & Culture

Events Center - for concerts, conferences, etc. Also Heart of Texas Fairgrounds
12 locals recommend
Extraco Events Center
4601 Bosque Blvd
12 locals recommend
Events Center - for concerts, conferences, etc. Also Heart of Texas Fairgrounds
Local history museum run by Baylor University. Also a Children's museum floor. Main floor has featured special exhibits that change every few months. Museum does a great job making exhibits interactive. Highly recommend!
111 locals recommend
Mayborn Museum Complex
1300 S University Parks Dr
111 locals recommend
Local history museum run by Baylor University. Also a Children's museum floor. Main floor has featured special exhibits that change every few months. Museum does a great job making exhibits interactive. Highly recommend!
112 locals recommend
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
100 Texas Ranger Trail
112 locals recommend
The Art Center Of Waco
1300 College Dr
Artist town about 45min-1 hour outside of Waco. Antique shops, art galleries, indoor flea markets, crafts/artisan work.
8 locals recommend
Clifton
8 locals recommend
Artist town about 45min-1 hour outside of Waco. Antique shops, art galleries, indoor flea markets, crafts/artisan work.
Story Time for infants/toddlers daytimes, arts/crafts, chess, other activities for school-age and youth afterschool and summer. Good air-conditioned option for hot summer days! Check out the McLennan Country Library website for times/library sites for activities -there are 3 locations in Waco (Waco Central Library is the closest.)
Waco Central Library
1717 Austin Ave
Story Time for infants/toddlers daytimes, arts/crafts, chess, other activities for school-age and youth afterschool and summer. Good air-conditioned option for hot summer days! Check out the McLennan Country Library website for times/library sites for activities -there are 3 locations in Waco (Waco Central Library is the closest.)
Good for rainy days or hot summer afternoons! See the listing for Waco Central library and the McLennan County Library website for more details on storytimes or activities for children/youth.
East Waco Library
901 Elm Avenue
Good for rainy days or hot summer afternoons! See the listing for Waco Central library and the McLennan County Library website for more details on storytimes or activities for children/youth.
Good place for rainy days or hot summer afternoons! This site is also the Genealogy Center - for help tracing family or Texas history. Kids and youth activities offered certain days/times at the three library locations throughout city. Check out the website(s) for McLennan County Library.
West Waco Library & Genealogy Center
5301 Bosque Blvd
Good place for rainy days or hot summer afternoons! This site is also the Genealogy Center - for help tracing family or Texas history. Kids and youth activities offered certain days/times at the three library locations throughout city. Check out the website(s) for McLennan County Library.
Local Waco actors put on several shows per year. Check out their website for dates/times/show details. Just down the road on Lake Air off of Bosque! Kids theater periodically puts on shows as well.
7 locals recommend
Waco Civic Theatre
1517 Lake Air Dr
7 locals recommend
Local Waco actors put on several shows per year. Check out their website for dates/times/show details. Just down the road on Lake Air off of Bosque! Kids theater periodically puts on shows as well.

Food Scene

Local coffee shop - primarily college students, but also hosts some great live music.
69 locals recommend
Common Grounds Waco
1123 S 8th St
69 locals recommend
Local coffee shop - primarily college students, but also hosts some great live music.
Coffee, Spirits. Also live music (jazz, blues, folk) on Thursday nights.
71 locals recommend
Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits, LLC; serving coffee drinks & craft cocktails
508 Austin Ave
71 locals recommend
Coffee, Spirits. Also live music (jazz, blues, folk) on Thursday nights.
Great Mexican food. Great prices.
9 locals recommend
The Ranchito#5 waco
2310 W Waco Dr
9 locals recommend
Great Mexican food. Great prices.
Excellent Mexican food - primarily seafood dishes. Chef and owner catered for Bush's under former restaurant (Siete Mares). Call ahead, as they have limited days/hours. See also their food truck!
7 locals recommend
Sergio's
608A Austin Ave
7 locals recommend
Excellent Mexican food - primarily seafood dishes. Chef and owner catered for Bush's under former restaurant (Siete Mares). Call ahead, as they have limited days/hours. See also their food truck!
Great Saturday Downtown Farmer's market, 9am-1pm. In addition to produce, meat, dairy, have handmade goods (soaps, breads, body care), food vendors (Indian, Mexican Burritos, crepes, brick-oven pizza, coffee bar, etc), live music, featured charities. Dog-friendly. Beautiful location along the to Bosque River. Yoga or other activities also offered at times.
76 locals recommend
Waco Downtown Farmer's Market
500 Washington Ave
76 locals recommend
Great Saturday Downtown Farmer's market, 9am-1pm. In addition to produce, meat, dairy, have handmade goods (soaps, breads, body care), food vendors (Indian, Mexican Burritos, crepes, brick-oven pizza, coffee bar, etc), live music, featured charities. Dog-friendly. Beautiful location along the to Bosque River. Yoga or other activities also offered at times.
Thai food. Reasonably priced. Downside: Not great service, and limited beverages. Upside: Not a lot of other asian food options in Waco! And also close to downtown, river, Waco Convention Center.
36 locals recommend
Bangkok Royal
215 S University Parks Dr
36 locals recommend
Thai food. Reasonably priced. Downside: Not great service, and limited beverages. Upside: Not a lot of other asian food options in Waco! And also close to downtown, river, Waco Convention Center.
Delicious Mediterranean/Greek food, and wonderful service. Pricey dinners, but some moderately priced lunch options. Excellent ambiance - brick "old world" interior architecture, and an outdoor patio.
22 locals recommend
1424 Restaurant
1424 Washington Ave
22 locals recommend
Delicious Mediterranean/Greek food, and wonderful service. Pricey dinners, but some moderately priced lunch options. Excellent ambiance - brick "old world" interior architecture, and an outdoor patio.
Wonderful Greek/Mediterranean restaurant + coffeehouse/bakery - yummy baklava and other greek desserts too! Beautiful interior brick architecture. Friendly service. Casual dining and family friendly as well. Beer and wine also available. Outdoor seating available as well.
48 locals recommend
Alpha Omega
929 Franklin Ave
48 locals recommend
Wonderful Greek/Mediterranean restaurant + coffeehouse/bakery - yummy baklava and other greek desserts too! Beautiful interior brick architecture. Friendly service. Casual dining and family friendly as well. Beer and wine also available. Outdoor seating available as well.
Wonderful homemade soups, breads/sandwiches, desserts, icecream - made by a community living simply in a turn of the century lifestyle. A bit of a drive - 20 -30 minutes from Waco at "Homestead Heritage".
45 locals recommend
Cafe Homestead
608 Dry Creek Rd
45 locals recommend
Wonderful homemade soups, breads/sandwiches, desserts, icecream - made by a community living simply in a turn of the century lifestyle. A bit of a drive - 20 -30 minutes from Waco at "Homestead Heritage".
Good breakfasts and coffee downtown area, close to shops.
14 locals recommend
The Olive Branch
215 S 2nd St
14 locals recommend
Good breakfasts and coffee downtown area, close to shops.
Delicious breakfasts and lunch options, good basic (strong) coffee, downtown close to shops.
41 locals recommend
Cafe Cappuccino
100 N 6th St
41 locals recommend
Delicious breakfasts and lunch options, good basic (strong) coffee, downtown close to shops.
Local BBQ joint.
56 locals recommend
Vitek's BBQ
1600 Speight Ave
56 locals recommend
Local BBQ joint.
Casual, Diner-style restaurant very near house. Run by Mission Waco - a community development agency. Good burgers, veg options, breakfasts, specials, and coffee shop. Same building also has a Fair Trace market with handcrafted items from around the world.
36 locals recommend
World Cup Cafe and Fair Trade Market
1321 North 15th Street
36 locals recommend
Casual, Diner-style restaurant very near house. Run by Mission Waco - a community development agency. Good burgers, veg options, breakfasts, specials, and coffee shop. Same building also has a Fair Trace market with handcrafted items from around the world.
Yummy Mediterranean restaurant very near house. Interior recently renovated. Friendly couple owns/operates. A local hotspot.
11 locals recommend
D's Mediterranean Grill
1503 Colcord Ave
11 locals recommend
Yummy Mediterranean restaurant very near house. Interior recently renovated. Friendly couple owns/operates. A local hotspot.
Xristo's Cafe + several other Food Trucks along river, for BBQ, Cupcakes, and other bites - near downtown, and Cameron Park.
7 locals recommend
Xristo's Cafe
810 La Salle Ave
7 locals recommend
Xristo's Cafe + several other Food Trucks along river, for BBQ, Cupcakes, and other bites - near downtown, and Cameron Park.
Local BBQ joint
7 locals recommend
Uncle Dan's BBQ & Ribhouse
1001 Lake Air Dr
7 locals recommend
Local BBQ joint
17 locals recommend
Southern Roots Brewing Co.
219 N 8th St
17 locals recommend
59 locals recommend
Pinewood Coffee Bar
2223 Austin Ave
59 locals recommend
59 locals recommend
Union Hall
720 Franklin Ave
59 locals recommend

Sightseeing

If you have time on your hands, a neat little piece of history. Guided tours available to explain the history of this site.
139 locals recommend
Waco Mammoth National Monument
6220 Steinbeck Bend Dr
139 locals recommend
If you have time on your hands, a neat little piece of history. Guided tours available to explain the history of this site.
Beautiful, award-winning park. Lots of little nooks and crannies, sub-parks, trails. Bike, kayak, hike. Also playgrounds for kids, pavilions for events, etc.
143 locals recommend
Cameron Park
2601 N University Parks Dr
143 locals recommend
Beautiful, award-winning park. Lots of little nooks and crannies, sub-parks, trails. Bike, kayak, hike. Also playgrounds for kids, pavilions for events, etc.
101 locals recommend
Baylor University
1401 S University Parks Dr
101 locals recommend
Award-winning Distillery. Tasting tours available.
43 locals recommend
Balcones Distilling
225 S 11th St
43 locals recommend
Award-winning Distillery. Tasting tours available.
Community living turn of century lifestyles and artisan craft working- have blacksmith shop, pottery shop, woodworking, cafe with homemade breakfast/lunch/icecream, gift shops. Offer classes in furniture-making, cheese making, instrument making, etc. Self-guided tours always available. Festivals offered a few times a year (aka Sorghum Festival in fall) as well with many demonstrations and activities, concerts. Family friendly.
92 locals recommend
Homestead Heritage
608 Dry Creek Rd
92 locals recommend
Community living turn of century lifestyles and artisan craft working- have blacksmith shop, pottery shop, woodworking, cafe with homemade breakfast/lunch/icecream, gift shops. Offer classes in furniture-making, cheese making, instrument making, etc. Self-guided tours always available. Festivals offered a few times a year (aka Sorghum Festival in fall) as well with many demonstrations and activities, concerts. Family friendly.
Bridge Street Farmers Market
76 locals recommend
Waco Downtown Farmer's Market
500 Washington Ave
76 locals recommend

Entertainment & Activities

Bike, Kayak rentals. Across street from Waco Food trucks, river, and close to Waco Convention Center.
8 locals recommend
Bicycle World Waco
112 Mary Ave
8 locals recommend
Bike, Kayak rentals. Across street from Waco Food trucks, river, and close to Waco Convention Center.
Restored historic theatre - features local musicals and play productions, often with African American history themes, as well as live music, songwriters circle, annual cultural food/dance fest (usually in February), classic or historic or culturally significant film showings, etc. Operated by Mission Waco.
Jubilee Theatre
1319 N 15th St
Restored historic theatre - features local musicals and play productions, often with African American history themes, as well as live music, songwriters circle, annual cultural food/dance fest (usually in February), classic or historic or culturally significant film showings, etc. Operated by Mission Waco.

Everything Else

Just in case you need it...
United States Postal Service
424 Clay Ave
Just in case you need it...