When we decided that we were going to sell our house, move into a van, and travel the country, one of the first places I told John we needed to visit was the Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas.
Chip and Joanna Gaines are marketing masterminds and I’m addicted to everything they do…also, side note, have you heard that they’re getting their own TV network!? I have seen every episode of “Fixer Upper,” I have read their books, and I love their Target collection. I’ve pitched my “Van Fixer Upper” idea to several people more than once (brilliant, right?) and have wished for several years to take a trip to Waco during their Silobration. We weren’t going to make it for the Silobration but a day trip was the next best thing.
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Homey Touches
Ever since we got our van, I’ve been kind of obsessed with making it as homey as possible. I have this fear that at some point, I will get homesick. I’ll miss having a house, a space to call my own, a bathroom! So I’ve been trying to dress up the van a little so it feels more like home and less like a stinky place I have to sleep in every night.
Initially, my favorite addition to the van was a fruit basket I bought early on. John thought I was crazy because of how much I loved it. We’ve since added a candle, a welcome rug, and a decorative dish towel. Needless to say, I was excited to get some more “vanspiration” from Joanna’s shop.
Visiting Magnolia Market: When to Go
We went to the Silos on a Tuesday and arrived right around lunch time. There were a lot of spaces in their parking lot when we got there which was lucky for us, since we heard lunch time was one of the busier times to visit. It was definitely a good idea to visit on a weekday, as we have heard it can get extremely crowded on the weekends. I’d also recommend checking to see if there are any events going on in Waco when you plan to visit as this would draw additional people to the Silos.
The Space
When you arrive a central “green” welcomes you. It is dotted with Adirondack chairs, porch swings, and bean bag lawn chairs as well as fun lawn games. We saw people having picnics on the lawn, playing corn hole, and blowing giant bubbles. I could have just sat and people watched for hours.
Along the perimeter of the courtyard is a lovely garden, the Magnolia Seed and Supply store, several food trucks, the main Market and the Silos Baking Co. shop. These are all within very easy walking distance to one another.
Good Eats
We ate before arriving so we wouldn’t be tempted to eat there, but this was a mistake because there were so many food trucks with different offerings that we wanted to try. The food trucks rotate in and out but the Silos are said to have the best food trucks in Waco.
Even though we were full when we arrived, we couldn’t resist trying a few cupcakes from the Silos Baking Company. We heard the line to get in usually wraps round the building but we were able to walk right in. While you are in line you are handed a card with all the menu items and a pencil so you can fill out what you want and have your order ready by the time you get to the counter. They have crowd control down to a science.
I got a Lemon Lavender cupcake and John tried the Nuts and Bolts which is vanilla cake filled with pecans and walnuts. Both were delicious but I wouldn’t expect anything less.
Where are Chip and Joanna?
The Market was the most crowded spot during our visit. It is two levels of loveliness and you can really see how much thought goes into each display. If I still had a house to decorate, I would have bought everything.
I couldn’t leave without a few souvenirs. I picked up a #demoday shirt because when you live in a van, you really can’t have too many t-shirts. We also found a cute metal sign that says, “And so they build a life they loved,” which is now hanging on our closet door.
Visiting Magnolia Market was so much fun! The only downside to our visit was that Chip and Joanna must not have gotten the memo that Tiffany and John from Backpacks and Road Maps were going to be there and they didn’t make it to meet us. John was sure that he and Chip were going to become instant best friends. Maybe next time!
Pro Tips for Visiting Magnolia Market
- Go on a weekday—it should be less busy than Friday through Sunday.
- Visit early in the morning—again, this is your best chance at beating the crowds.
- Don’t rush—give yourself several hours to explore, relax, and enjoy the setting!
- Go on an empty stomach—there are several food trucks with tasty offerings and you will definitely want to grab something from the Silos Baking Company.
- Expect lines and crowds—this way it will be exciting if there aren’t any!
Have you visited the Magnolia Market? What did you think of it?
Don’t leave yet! Check out some more of our favorites:
The Best Things to do in Key Largo
A First Timer’s Guide to New Orleans
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