Location: Waco
Top Things to do in Waco
Things to do in Waco, Texas (TX): The Best Museums
Waco (/ˈweɪkoʊ/ WAY-koh) is a city which is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2010 population of 124,805, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the state. The US Census 2016 population estimate is 134,432 The Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of McLennan and Falls Counties, which had a 2010 population of 234,906. Falls County was added to the Waco MSA in 2013. The US Census 2017 population estimate for the Waco MSA is 268,696.
Restaurants in Waco
1. McCulloch House Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By NancyE1435
Great Tour of Historic McCulloch House. Docents were on hand to tell the history of the house. Beautiful grounds. We attended during Holiday so Christmas music and refreshments were included and was very enjoyable.
2. Historic Waco Foundation
3. Painting with a Twist
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 128 reviews
Reviewed By Texangirlwaco
I highly recommend using Painting with a Twist for an afternoon or evening with friends! It is very relaxing and the instructors seem more like friends than employees of the business. A great way to have a fun day, and you don't have to know how to paint to do it!
4. Cultivate 7twelve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Cultivate 7Twelve is proud to serve the Waco community by providing a premier space for a myriad of cultural experiences. Join us for our latest art exhibition, a shopping experience complete with local artisan goods, fine art and prints, or yoga or dance classes. Check our calendar for one of our Art-to-Table dinners, special live music experiences or art workshops with professional instruction. At Cultivate 7Twelve, our mission is two-fold. We seek to cultivate a fine art audience for Waco, establishing Waco as a destination for your next fine art experience or purchase. We are also committed to cultivating the arts and culture of Waco as a city. We want to invest in a rich cultural ground for artists, musicians, actors, chefs, photographers and creatives of all types and talents.
5. Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,063 reviews
Reviewed By kathyt3222
Prior to visiting the museum my knowledge of the Texas Rangers was The Lone Ranger movies I watched as a kid. The video presentation is very informative for an overview of who they are and what they do. I have new admiration for the people who are Rangers and what they do. You will get your fill of old west history and see lots of guns and western paraphernalia.
6. Mayborn Museum Complex
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 325 reviews
The Mayborn Museum Complex brings together, in one location, the resources of hands-on discovery rooms and interactive natural science and cultural history galleries, including outdoor exhibits. This rich combination provides a wide spectrum of engaging learning opportunities for learners and visitors of all ages.
Reviewed By pdsixty8 - Austin, United States
I read about the Mayborn Museum in a travel magazine article and marked it as a place to see while in Waco. This museum was easy to find with a small lot in front which provided free parking. The building itself looked impressive with a colonial style architecture. Since it is located on the campus of Baylor University students get in free but we generously paid our adult admissions. As a brief note this natural history museum may not big as big as the Smithsonian but contains a little of everything from local wildlife, heritage, fossils, University culture and children educational exhibits. We walked through a maze of rooms and surprised how well everything was presented and organized. It’s well thought out and professionally designed. You can learn everything about the history of the lower Brazos region at one location. Outside in the museum’s backyard contains the western Historic Village with buildings from the 1800s brought here. You can go inside some of the buildings like the church were I heard a small girl playing an upright piano and a schoolhouse where another child was trying to write cursive on a chalkboard. It’s all very interactive. Giant pecan trees provided shade and pecans if wanted to snack on. While back inside found a nice history and collection of Baylor University mementos, store and coffee shop. There are lots of corridors leading to different sections of the museum from the lobby where one leads to a huge area designated like a children’s museum. There was even a traveling exhibit for little ones. It was late in the day but able to explore it all a little over 2 hours before they closed. I thought the whole Mayborn Museum package was well done and recommended it for those visiting Waco in learning about a different part of Texas.
7. Waco Mammoth National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,150 reviews
Reviewed By mondyann - Hudson, United States
Great guided tour with Robert Very informative Was an interesting fun day Learned about female and male mammoths along with other animals and to see where they are still digging for more bones
8. Armstrong Browning Library and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 110 reviews
The Armstrong Browning Library, free and open to the public, is located on the campus of Baylor University. It is a 19th-century research center dedicated to the study of the lives and works of Victorian poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and houses the world's largest collection of Browning material and fine collections of rare 19th-century books, manuscripts, and works of art.
Reviewed By bjbjohnson - Columbia, United States
One of the most beautiful museum/libraries I have ever visited. Always loved Browning poetry and this museum almost brought me to tears! BUT be careful where you park, cost me big time ????
9. Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By G9331XPcharlesb
Great museum with lots of interesting items. If your a Tom Landry fan, be sure to see several of the movies on his career with the Cowboys Definitely worth the trip to Waco. If your wife doesn't like sports, drop her off at the Silo's, and pick her up in a couple of hours. Really great informed staff.
10. Dr Pepper Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,673 reviews
A museum dedicated to the nation's oldest major soft drink - Dr Pepper! We offer three floors of exhibits featuring information about many different soft drinks, as well as a carefully curated selection of our massive soft drink memorabilia collection. Exhibits change regularly! You can visit our soda fountain and gift shop any time without paying admission. Photo ops outside the Museum include a Dr Pepper Green 1940s delivery truck, one of three original neon signs from the Mockingbird Plant in Dallas, and a hand-painted advertising sign original to the site. Of course the front of the Museum building itself is visitors' favorite photo location. We are a two block walk from Magnolia Market and the famous silos, and about half a mile from the newest restaurants including Torchy's Tacos and In-N-Out Burger.
Reviewed By larrahb - Lubbock, United States
We had such a good time in the Dr Pepper museum! There was so much information and amazing things to see! Take your time and read everything! You’ll be glad you did! We got a free Dr Pepper made by a soda jerk at the end of our museum walk! ???? so freakin cool!!! Then we wrapped it up with a visit to the gift shop for some Dr Pepper merch! 10 out of 10 would recommend!
