Planning the Perfect Weekend to Texas

If you have a sister, you know what a special type of bond it creates. That's why when mine suggested we go on a trip together last spring - I couldn't say no. This was the first time we would be traveling just the two of us and it didn't take us long to decide on our destination: the most magical place on earth (no, not Disney World) Magnolia Market! It was an extended weekend trip - Saturday to Tuesday - so I set out to create an itinerary that would allow us to make the most of our time together. Waco, Texas is located in the middle of Dallas and Austin about and hour and a half from each city. After researching flights (I love Google Flights or Hopper app) I found a good deal on a flight from Chicago to Dallas. Although, I've heard great things about Austin as well so the next time we go back that will likely be our home base. You could certainly spend your entire trip in Waco but we decided to explore Dallas for the first half and drive to Waco just for the day. We booked an AirBnB in Lakewood near White Rock Lake which was only a short drive to downtown Dallas. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

---

Day 1: Travel

We flew out on Saturday afternoon and planned to get to Dallas around dinner time. However, due to a three hour delay and having to circle in the air for an hour before landing because of a thunderstorm we didn't check in to our AirBnB until late that night and were too tired to do much of anything. Although I was a bit grumpy at the time, that's part of the fun of traveling and my type-a personality is learning to embrace it.  If we had landed on time, we had planned to check out some of the local nightlife at The Skelling or Henderson Tap House. 
​

Day 2: Dallas, TX

We woke up bright and early with one thing on our mind - breakfast! We headed to the Garden Cafe just a few miles from our AirBnB. This was the cutest little spot with an outdoor patio area. They also have delcious homemade lemonade and biscuits the size of your face. ​

We had originally planned to paddle board at White Rock Lake this day but it ended up being too cold and windy so we decided to drive to downtown Dallas instead. Our first stop was at the Dallas Farmer's Market. Located in the heart of the city, the Market Shops is an indoor space featuring various artisans and local food vendors. The Shed is an open-air pavilion open on the weekends and is more your traditional farmer's market feel. We wandered around for a couple hours checking out the various booths and trying so many delicious samples! We also found matching antique spoon rings from the cutest couple. 

Next, we walked to Deep Ellum, an artsy neighborhood in Dallas, to hunt for the best street murals we could find. A few of my favorites were Deep Ellum (located near the famous Deep Ellum street sign), I Love You (2912 Elm St.), Fine Pies (2708 Main St.), and Colorful Squares (2810 Elm St.). We also did a loop around main street popping in and out of shops - my favorite was Jade and Clover which had the cutest decor and a succulent bar. When we got hungry we headed over to Dot's Hop House and Cocktail Courtyard. They have the cutest outdoor space with a giant chandelier in the middle of the courtyard and their duck fat nachos are on another level.

After lunch we made our way to Klyde Warren Park which creates beautiful green space in the middle of the city. Parking can be a bit tricky but you can pay $12 to park in the garage at the Dallas Museum of Art and easily walk across the street. The art museum also has free admission if you're looking for another activity.

We brought a blanket and spent time relaxing in the park lawn, soaking up some sun, reading, and listening to the live jazz band playing that day. There is a wide range of food trucks lining the street and since we had already had lunch we cooled off at the popsicle truck selling homemade treats. The park also has a playground for kids, yard games, and free exercise classes happening throughout the day.

After a few hours exploring the park we headed back to our AirBnB to get ready for dinner. We decided on a local Mexican restaurant, Mi Cocina, because chips and salsa, duh! Later that evening, we were off to Truck Yard for drinks. This was the coolest place - like a playground for adults. It has an eclectic mix of seating options (including a tree house) and they have live music on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Day 3: Waco, TX

Now on to the real reason we planned this Texas trip! Magnolia had been on both mine and my sister's bucket list for quite some time and we finally got to make it a reality. We hit the road early to make the 1.5 hour drive down to Waco and arrived around 9:30 a.m. There were still plenty of spots in the Magnolia parking lot but it filled up later in the afternoon so I would recommend getting there early. They do have additional lots and a good bus system downtown if you can't find a spot onsite. We also decided to go on a Monday (they are closed on Sunday) so it seemed to not be as crowded as I would imagine the weekends are. 

The moment we walked onto the Magnolia grounds it seriously took our breath away! The thought Chip and Jo put into every inch of that space did not go unnoticed. We started the afternoon browsing the shop. I am a Magnolia Journal subscriber and each quarter they make the theme of the magazine come to life. When we were there it was all about intentionality. 

"This season always stirs within me a desire to consider what I have outgrown, or need to weed out, in order to make room for what I hold most dear." -Joanna 

After exploring the store (and of course making a few purchases) we headed out to the grounds. The lawn area is the perfect place to relax on an iconic striped bean bag. Food trucks line the outskirts of the grounds and we decided on wood fire pizzas for lunch. We also wandered around the gardens - I couldn't get enough of those snapdragons! Next, it was time for a Silos Baking Co. cupcake. The line tends to wrap around the building but they have a great system down for ordering so don't let that scare you away. We enjoyed two shiplap cupcakes in the patio area before taking some photos by the famous Magnolia wall. 

You could honestly spend all day at Magnolia but we wanted to explore more of Waco while we were there. We walked down a couple blocks to visit some of the other shops. Our favorite was Spice Village - 30,000 feet with over 60 unique retailers. This was a shopper's paradise with something for everyone!

Our next stop in Waco was BSR Cable Park which is home to the largest lazy river in the U.S. We were still a little early in season when we went in April but I can imagine what a blast this place is in the summer. You can bring a cooler and your own drinks and pay for a wristband which lets you float around as many times as you want. They also have a super slide and beach area as well as a simulated wake boarding using a cable. Once we had enough fun in the sun, we hit the road back toward Dallas and made a stop at In-and-Out Burger for dinner - because you can't be out west and not stop here

Where are your favorite spots in Texas? Post in the comments below. You can bet I'll be heading back again sometime [soon]!