Countdown to the Greatest Attractions in Waco Texas

01 Visit the Carleen Bright Arboretum

The Carleen Bright Arboretum spans 16 acres of hiking and biking trails, botanical and demonstration gardens, and a Monarch Butterfly Waystation. Take a leisurely stroll or bike ride through the grounds to take in the koi pond, rose garden, meditation garden, and fountains throughout the grounds. Trees planted on-site include Mexican maples, pecans, and oaks. If you’re visiting during September and October, be sure to stop by to see hundreds of Monarch butterflies from North America and Canada stopping at the waystation on their way to Mexico for the winter.

02 See the Earle-Napier-Kinnard House

A bold and beautiful home with roots in the 19th century, the Earl-Napier-Kinnard House’s overall appearance embraces the Greek Revival style. At the time the original log cabin existed on the location, Waco was inhabited by merely 700 people. In 1967, the owner presented the house and all its antique contents to the Waco Perpetual Growth Foundation. Tours of the house include a peek at everything the various families inhabiting the house contributed to it over the course of more than a century.

03 Spend Some Time at the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum

The Lee Lockwood Scottish Rite Library and Museum houses a collection of more than 2,000 Masonic items and 8,000 books. Its collection originates from Robert Lee Lockwood (1901-1980), who served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, and Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in Texas. The purpose of the Library and Museum is to collect, organize and preserve Masonic items in public trust for use by present and future generations. It’s a fantastic look into the knowledge and rites of the Waco Masons.

04 Browse the Mayborn Museum Complex

The Mayborn Museum Complex includes a variety of natural history exhibits, including dinosaur galleries, backyard ecology for youth, Strecker’s Cabinets of Curiosities, and the Waco Mammoth National Monument Exhibit. Educational events take place regularly at the museum and help kids and families learn hands-on knowledge of the natural world. Part of the complex includes the Governor Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village. It is comprised of nine wood-frame buildings from the 1890s meant to recreate a realistic life scape from Waco’s early years. Admission to the Mayborn Museum Complex includes a visit to the historic village.

05 Kayak the Bosque and Brazos Rivers

Take an hour or 2 (or 3) to paddle, canoe, kayak, or fish your way down the Brazos and Bosques rivers. The city's paddling trails are easy to maneuver and suitable for beginners. Embark at some of the most popular boating and stand-up paddling locations between Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Granbury. The rivers are full of fish, including various types of catfish, common carp, largemouth bass, and white bass. For outdoor enthusiasts, it’s possible to kayak or canoe the entire length of the upper Brazos river over a four-day trip. Spend your days paddling and your nights camping out under the stars at various campsites.

06 The Dr. Pepper Museum

Dr. Pepper's history predated that of Coca-Cola when Dr. Pemberton made the world's most iconic soft drink for the first time. Between 1906 and the mid-1960s, the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company used the building that now houses the three-story museum. Memorabilia abounds through the museum, and the gift shop allows you the opportunity to bring home a piece of this soft drink stalwart's history.

07 Lake Waco Wetlands

In the last years of the 1990s, Lake Waco's water level rose by nearly ten feet before settling back to an increase of seven feet. The wetlands were created in 2001 to give the many plants, insects, and animal species a home that includes an education center and a research facility. The wetlands have since expanded to nearly 200 acres, including a plant nursery, many raised walkways/hiking trails, and the opportunity for visitors to do some much-needed bird watching.

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08 Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum

You won't see the likes of pitching great Nolan Ryan here, but rather a tribute to the famed law enforcement group, the Texas Rangers. The Rangers began their work prior to Texas be admitted to the union and were founded in 1835. Presently, the 30-acre grounds pay tribute to all that have died in their service of Texas, both as a republic and as a state. The museum is an iconic piece of history for this branch of state police.

09 Waco BlueCats Minor League Baseball

While Texas is famed for its love of football from a high school level through to the professional leagues, America's past time is still baseball, and Waco's BlueCats play in one of the grandest minor league ballparks in the nation. 56 home games are played through the summer at the $12 million park opened in early 2018. Minor league baseball remains one of the most cost-effective nights out, and Waco loves its team.

10 Armstrong Browning Library

You would certainly be forgiven if you were unaware that Baylor's campus is home to the largest collection of work by Robert Browning and wife Elizabeth Barrett Browning's work. While the Brownings are indeed the focus of this library, it also includes what is believed to be the most extensive collection of secular stained glass in the world. The library features both permanent exhibits as well as two or three temporary exhibits each year and is free of charge to all visitors.

11 Check out the Actual Baylor Bears

Thanks to the generosity of Bill and Eva Williams, the mascots of the Baylor Bears are available to see lazing away the day among waterfalls, fallen trees, and other parts of this intended natural habitat. The two black bears, Joy and Lady, are sisters and genuinely love frolicking about for the amusement of their visitors. The two are there to entertain from early morning to evening.

12 The Mammoth Site

In 1978, archeologists discovered the largest collection of mammoths to have died in a single disaster. It's believed that a mudslide which occurred nearly 70,000 years ago claimed the lives of many of these creatures. While visitors or not allowed to stroll the excavation site, a viewing pavilion was built by Baylor University to view their remains roughly ten years ago.

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13 Cameron Park

Cameron Park in Waco has two rivers, biking, and hiking trails, as well as the famous Waco Zoo. For its inland nature, Waco offers a lot to the visitor that would prefer to be out in the sun; the park provides a world-class Frisbee golf course and no shortage of acres to explore when visiting the city. While it's better done on foot to appreciate it truly, roads do bisect it if it's just too hot outside.

14 Spice Village

The Spice Village is a shopper's dream. Opened in 1997, you are sure to find antiques, housewares, vintage clothes, and more in this space, including nearly 100 separate shops in this 30,000 square foot former warehouse. It's located in the center of town, and it's surrounded by many bars and restaurants to sate your hunger and thirst before you return for more of this unique shopping destination.

15 The Magnolia Market

The Magnolia Market is the brainchild of reality TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, known for their work on the Homes & Garden television network. Magnolia Market is known for its iconic silos that mark it's two-block location in Waco. Events include concerts, vendor booths, and other activities for the whole family.  It is absolutely Waco's most prominent tourist attraction and must-do on the weekends, which includes some of Waco's best bites with its famous food truck park. This iconic market has attracted visitors from all over since its opening.

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