Deep in the heart of Texas, Waco supplies visitors with a variety of unique experiences. While the area has more than its fair share of restaurants, bars, and boutiques, it also features plenty of one-of-a-kind destinations that will entertain travelers of all ages. Make your plans to spend a few days exploring everything this charming town has to offer.
Stay Near Your Destinations
Image via Flickr by daveynin
With the variety of places to explore in Waco, visitors to the area should plan to spend at least a night or two in order to fully experience this charming town. Staying in a hotel in Waco near your favorite destinations makes it easy to explore all the activities you’ll only find in Waco. It’ll also give you the time you’ll need to explore this unique part of the state.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is in a 100-acre wooded area beside the Bosque River. The site provides a peek into the lives of the Columbian mammoths that roamed the area during the Ice Age. Managed by a joint agreement involving the National Park Service, the City of Waco, and Baylor University, the monument’s main attraction is the climate-controlled Dig Shelter. On a guided tour of the Dig Shelter, visitors can view fossils of a bull mammoth, several female mammoths, and a camel that lived over 67,000 years ago.
Guided tours start every 30 minutes and last about 45 minutes. Tour guides teach guests about the Ice Age, describe how the fossils were found, and explain why the site is so important to the field of paleontology. No reservations are required, and the tour fee is included in the price of admission.
Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute
The Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute gives visitors a fascinating glimpse into the history of the soft-drink industry, teaching visitors the story behind the oldest soft-drink brand in the United States. Despite its name, the Dr Pepper Museum is an independent nonprofit organization, so its collection isn’t limited to Dr Pepper. On the contrary, the museum contains the largest soft-drink memorabilia collection in the world. It’s housed in the 1906 Artisan Manufacturing and Bottling Company Building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the original Dr Pepper bottling facility.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5:30 p.m.
Lake Waco
Lake Waco is a reservoir located within the city limits of Waco. Several nice parks surround the lake, providing plenty of opportunities to swim, boat, fish, hike, and bike. Texas Parks and Wildlife rates Lake Waco’s catfish fishing as excellent, and depending on the time of year you visit, you’re likely to catch crappie, bass, and sunfish as well.
Waco can keep visitors entertained for days, and the city is constantly finding ways to grow and advance. Whether you’re planning a long weekend getaway or a quick overnight trip, you’ll find plenty of ways to stay busy during your time in this bustling, vibrant community.
