Wild West Walking or Wriding Waco Weekend

I’ve always thought of Waco as a fast food stop on I-35 on my way to or from Dallas or Austin. Of course, I knew it was home to Baylor University, President George W. Bush’s Ranch, and the Branch Davidians. Still, when I spent a weekend in Waco, I found it was much more than a local gas and fast food stop. Keeping that in mind, here are Texas Outside’s ideas for a fun and wild Waco weekend.

First step, load up the bikes or walking/jogging/hiking shoes and head to Waco. You’re going to help lower the country’s dependence on oil and save some gas money by parking the car. You’ll enjoy Waco from the seat of a bicycle or while on foot. It’s quite gripping. Plus, walking and riding are good for you, so get with it!

Your Weekend Waco Travel Plan

If you’re going to enjoy your weekend in Waco, Texas, you need a travel plan. So, here’s your plan for Friday:

• Before checking into your hotel, stop and have a good dinner and listen to some music. Sit on the deck of Dock’s River Front restaurant (254-714-2993) overlooking the Brazos River. You won’t regret it.
• Check into the Marriott Courtyard or the Hilton in downtown Waco.
• Cross the street from the Hilton and get ready for some good times. Try Crickets Grill and Drafthouse for pool, darts, shuffleboard, video games, and hundreds of different draft beers.

Get up! It’s Saturday. It’s a beautiful day and there is lots more to do.

Grab a cup of coffee or breakfast and let’s get going. After all that partying, its time to get some exercise to clear the head and lose some calories. So, put on the shoes of choice or jump on the bike and:

• Head to Cameron Park (map of the Park) and enjoy its 400 acres of dense foliage, high overlooks, river bottoms, lush vegetation, and towering limestone cliffs for: 
  • riding on nearly 20 miles of renowned mountain biking trails (all named and marked for difficulty). They are a natural maze that showcases the local ecosystems; they suit the kids and beginners while challenging mountain bike extremists;
  • hiking or jogging any of the trails within the park or along the river.
• After a good ride, cool off on a hot day in one of the park’s water spouts.
• Look for a pickup game of horseshoes or disc golf in the park.
• When you’re done with the park, bike/walk a little further to Cameron Park Zoo. It’s an outstanding 52-acre zoo with winding paths that lead to a very well done exhibit.

What To Do Before You Leave Waco

Saturday night, try dinner at Buzzard Billies (burgers, pasta, steak, or Cajun seafood) or Ninfas for good Mexican cuisine. Both restaurants are across the street from the Hilton. After a good dinner, it’s time for more of the same fun you had on Friday night, or you can bike/walk over to Waco Hippodrome or the Baylor University Theatre and take in some culture before you hit the clubs.

If you still have energy and want to keep going on Sunday, then rent a canoe or kayak and explore the Brazos or Bosque River. Otherwise, ride the trails again or play disc golf or horseshoes. Alternatively, you can fish at Cameron Park.

If you need to slow down a little, then take an easy bike ride or walk over to:

• Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum, Texas Sports Hall of Fame,and Mayborn Museum Complex. You can do all three in a morning or afternoon.
• Bike around the Baylor campus.
• Visit the Dr Pepper Museum.
• Tour the historical houses of Waco.

Above all, have fun.

You can learn more about Waco by going to the Discover Texas Section of Texas Outside or click here.