My first trip to the Magnolia Silos in Waco was simply magical. My friend Victoria (a Texan who’s made several trips to the Silos) told me what to expect, and it really helped make our experience great!!

If you’re a Magnolia Silos newbie, looking to make your first trip to Waco, here are five tips for your trip to Magnolia!

1. Arrive early to beat the crowd.

Visiting the Silos is something you can do in a couple of hours, or a half day… so don’t feel bad if you only have a few hours to stay! Get there early for the best parking and the best lines (or lack of lines). We arrived about 30 minutes after they opened… and we were pleasantly surprised that it was not more crowded on a Friday during the Christmas season. Arriving early meant we parked very close (for FREE!!) on a street nearby, we did our shopping, had coffee and cupcakes, and strolled around the grounds, all before lunch!

Speaking of lunch…

2. Plan to eat at Magnolia.

Or, at the very least, get a cup of Common Grounds coffee and a scrumptious cupcake from Silos Baking Company. But, it’s not just a bakery you’ll find there. Magnolia has about half a dozen food trucks around the lawn, and they offer some delicious eats! If you’re with friends, split up and try several different items (that’s what we did), and share your yummy finds!

 

3. Magnolia Silos are quite stroller/baby/kid/mama-friendly.

We strolled in as two moms with two babies, each in his own stroller. The bathrooms are super nice, roomy, and include great, clean changing areas for babies. The market also has an elevator to use since you can shop on two different levels. You can also check out and pay on each level and access the lawn area from either. All of this makes navigating a crowd so much easier. From the moment we walked in, someone immediately directed us to both the elevator and the restroom, which was incredibly helpful! Did I mention that EVERYONE we talked to on site was helpful, friendly, and kind? They smiled. They asked how they could help. They gave tips and directions. They loved on our babies.

4. Make a list.

If you know you’re short on time but there are specific items you’d like to pick up at the Market, make a list! You can shop online and pick out items you’d like to see in person before purchasing, or you can even purchase at the market and ship to your home, directly from their shipping station. I knew there were a few things I wanted, but the shop was quite overwhelmed just based on the sheer size of it, so I had my (short) list and could ask anyone working to help me locate an item. They walked with me and helped me make my selections. Your list might also keep you from overspending! 😉

(Victoria ended up purchasing the long white hooks pictured above, and we were able to pick up this larger item at the end of our trip by simply driving to a pick-up door. That service was great!)

5. Never fear. Someone is ALWAYS around to take your picture.

Magnolia offers so many fun photo ops… it’s part of what made it so magical for me! The icing on the cupcake is that they have workers stationed around the grounds who are literally waiting for you to walk up and ask them to take your picture with your phone or camera. How amazing would it be to set up shop as the local photographer offering professional family photos at Magnolia? I would love every minute! 😉 I digress. Don’t stress about the photos, and don’t make your kids stand in while you snap the pic. Instead, just find a worker and hop in the photo with your family. You won’t regret it!

What else should you do with your time? I’ve heard the Waco Tour is pretty great… and it’s run by some season 3 Fixer Upper clients, which is even more fun.

Let me know if you’re headed to Magnolia or if you have specific questions I can answer! If you can’t get enough of Magnolia, check out my previous post: A Photo Session at Magnolia Silos.