Magnolia Market Tips: How to Have a Lovely Day in Waco
Magnolia Market Tips: How to Have a Lovely Day in Waco, TX. What you need to know to have a great day at the Silos, Magnolia Seed + Supply, Magnolia Table, and Silos Baking Co.
Most of the time, my weekends are no different than my weekdays. Last weekend, however, was so special that I had to share it with all of you. I went with my daughter to Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco, Texas. You know…the Fixer Upper place. Chip and Joanna Gaines are now a trademarked empire, but when you visit Magnolia Market, you feel like you’re their own special guest. It’s friendly, welcoming, and runs like a well-oiled machine. They have truly thought of everything. This post is going to be a combination of Magnolia Market tips (in case you want to go sometime) and my impressions of the day. We stayed in Dallas, so we got up early on Saturday morning and left our hotel by 7:30 a.m. We were in Waco before 9.
*All photos taken with an Apple iPhone 8 Plus.
First Stop: Magnolia Table
Our first stop of the day was the newest addition to the whole Magnolia experience. It’s called Magnolia Table and it’s a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. It’s about 10 minutes from the Silos and the building is on The National Register of Historic Places. Magnolia Table was our first impression and it did not disappoint. It’s the quintessential American diner with the Joanna Gaines touch. Everything was wonderful…from the food, to the service, to the atmosphere.
Magnolia Table Tip:
Make sure to order the biscuits and strawberry butter!
Elizabeth and me at Magnolia Table.
Second Stop: Harp Design Co.
If you watch Fixer Upper, you know that Clint Harp is a big part of the show. He has a small shop that’s right next door to his own fixer upper. He doesn’t live there anymore, but he still owns the house and it’s available to rent on Airbnb. His shop is small but has darling stuff. Mostly gift items like cutting boards, letters, and other home decor. I bought one of his signature wooden candlesticks that are hand-turned right there in his shop.
Magnolia Market Waco Tips: Get an early start.
Like most places that attract tourists, there are lines. Getting an early start helps eliminate some of the waiting time. As the day progressed, we noticed that the crowds got bigger and the lines got longer.
Third Stop: Magnolia Market Waco TX
For some reason, I thought the Silos were out in the middle of a field. Well, they are not. The silos, market and bakery are on a street corner right in Waco. Another misconception that I had was that the market was in the silos. There is actually nothing in the silos…they just serve as a backdrop to the green space and food trucks. The market is in the grain barn pictured below.
Magnolia Market Tips:
There are no shopping carts, but grab a shopping bag!
The market was crowded, so we just took our time and went slowly. Most of the home decor items are in the front section, and the souvenir items are in the back (pictured below.) There are hats, tshirts, tote bags, mugs, and just about everything else you can think of.
The home decor was displayed in “rooms” that look like they came right out of a Fixer Upper show. There was a kitchen area and a dining area…and the corner pictured below that looked like a living room.
I had given myself a budget of $150 for the market…and I got everything I wanted for just a little less than that, which I thought was pretty good. (It’s hard to stick to a budget in a place like this!)
Fourth Stop: Silos Baking Co.
As you can see from the picture above, the bakery is small and the line was outside and down the block. I was expecting a long wait but that didn’t happen. We were a block down the street but got inside in less than 30 minutes. It’s all very organized and their ordering system is brilliant. Our big purchase was cupcakes, with a couple of cookies added at the last minute.
Magnolia Market Tips:
Don’t plan to go on a Sunday because everything is closed.
Magnolia Market Tips: Parking.
We had the best luck when it came to parking. There is a parking lot at the silos and also parking away from the silos that is serviced by a trolley. The trolley didn’t really appeal to us so we decided to take our chances and try to park at the silos. There is a church parking lot on the corner (S. 6th Street and Webster Ave.) beside the bakery. (I don’t know if it’s open during the week, but it was open when we were there which was a Saturday.) We paid $10 to park but I would have paid twice that…because we were literally right beside the bakery.
Fifth Stop: Magnolia Seed + Supply
The seed + supply store is small, but had items not found in the market. They have their own little tote bag which I could not resist, and other garden-inspired gift items. There is a garden in front of the shop that has raised beds and is similar to the garden at Magnolia Farms.
Magnolia Market Tips: Military discount.
At the restaurant, market, bakery and seed + supply shop, we were asked if we were a military family. We are not, but if you are, you will receive a 10 % discount on your purchases.
I am most comfortable at home, and for me, traveling isn’t easy. This weekend away was so good for me and I am thankful for the opportunity. The thing I am most thankful for is that I got to experience this day with my daughter. The trip was her idea and when she asked me, I didn’t hesitate to say yes for even a minute. If one of my kids wants to spend time with me, there is no way I would say no…even if it means flying home by myself! (Elizabeth hooked our weekend to a business trip so she stayed in Dallas.) Anyway, as much as I like my comfort zone, I know it’s good for me to step out of it occasionally. I was nervous before I left, but as soon as the trip was underway, I relaxed and had fun. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you for hanging in there with me…I know this was longer than a normal post. If you never plan to go to Magnolia Market, Waco, TX, I hope this virtual trip was enjoyable. If you do, I hope the tips and information will help make it a lovely day.
Until next time…
