Magnolia Market Day Trip :: Know Before You Go

#Shiplap. Chip and Joanna. HGTV. If those three things mean anything to you, then you might need to hop in your car and take a little trip down to Waco to check out Magnolia Market at the Silos. This is Joanna’s famous store, which replaced the smaller Magnolia Market in Waco. And it’s so much more than just a home accessory shop—there are food trucks, a big lawn with games, a garden, a bakery, and more.

Even if Fixer Upper isn’t on your watchlist, or even your radar, you can still enjoy a trip to the Market. I’ve had lots of friends ask me about my experience, so I thought it would be helpful to share a few “Know Before You Go” tips.

Weekdays, my friends. Weekdays.

They are open Mon–Sat from 9am–6pm, and I think the earlier you can get there, the better. If at all possible, I would plan to visit during the week. My crew and I visited on a Friday around lunchtime and the store was packed. Think Anthropologie on Black Friday. It was really crowded, hard to shop, and a little tricky with kids (and their grabby little paws). We did wait in a short line to get in the store (and a long line for the bathrooms). I can’t even imagine what a Saturday afternoon would look like.

What to Eat

There are some great food truck options there: grilled cheese (my favorite food group), crepes, pizza, fresh pressed juice, etc. But expect to wait a little bit for your food. I would suggest taking some snacks (or even packing lunches if you are bringing the kids) and ordering something to snack on. There are some great, local restaurants around the Silos as well. You might also consider bringing water bottles or a big iced tea with you, especially during the summer when it will be quite hot outside.

What to Buy

While I wish I could tell you everything in the store was handmade by local artisans, that’s just not the case. But the fake flowers are legit. They are beautiful, actually. There is a selection of items available to shop online, but a much bigger selection can be found in the store. As you can imagine, everything is expertly displayed, and you’ll even see the same item displayed in lots of different ways (which I thought was cool to see how one item could be used all over your house).

Prices are about what I expected them to be, nothing was absurdly overpriced (vases from $11–21, reclaimed wooden trays from $40–60, earrings from $24), but if you’re going in looking for inexpensive or discounted merchandise, you probably won’t find too much. The one thing everyone was buying was the signature Magnolia Wreath for $95. It is stunning in person.

Family Friendly*

It is generally family friendly, and my girls had a great time running around on the grass. One thing you should know, the grass is synthetic turf and it gets HOT. But there were a lot of kids there, and my girls had a blast making new friends for the afternoon. They played corn hole, hula hooped, kicked soccer balls, and swung on huge wooden swings. My mom and I took turns sneaking into shop while the other one stayed out to play with the kids.

I debated whether to bring the stroller or leave it behind. I definitely would not have wanted it in the store. Remember: Anthropologie on Black Friday. But it would be nice to have on the grounds to provide shade to the little ones and hold cups, bags/purses.

*Even though it is totally family friendly on the lawn, I think this is a better spot to have a Girls Day and check it out with your girlfriends, sister, mom, etc. If I were to return, I would not bring my children with me.

Parking

Once you exit the highway, just follow the line of traffic down 4th street. If you see an open street spot, grab it! We ended up snagging a free spot on the street about two blocks away. If there is no street parking available, there are cash lots (around $10) all around the Silos.

Don’t Forget the SPF

This is probably the one thing I wished I had known beforehand—there is not a lot of shade. I know they have since added awnings over the tables, but there wasn’t a lot of shade when we were there. Definitely bring hats, sunscreen, and drink plenty of water!

Bottom Line

So, is it worth the drive? Yes, I definitely think so. It’s cool. It’s unique. It’s less than two hours from Dallas. (Don’t hold me to that; I-35 can be unpredictable. Check your map app for an ETA before you go!). Photos don’t do it justice; the whole place really is quite stunning in person. Whether you come back with a trunkload of new finds or a bunch of fun memories, there’s a little something for everyone.

Have you been to Magnolia Market at the Silos? What did you think?

✨This post was not sponsored in any way by Magnolia Market at the Silos. I just had a really great time and wanted to share my own experience with Dallas Moms readers.

Read More: Texas Travel :: Waco