Not Wacky about Waco: Reasons I hate the Silos
The story behind the trip to Waco, Texas
I am a combination Food Network and HGTV fan. Chip and Joanna Gaines on their television show, The Fixer Upper based out of Waco, Texas are enjoyable to watch. I found Joanna’s passion for remodeling coupled with her sense of decorating style entertaining. Additionally, Chip’s playful spirit and carpentry skills made for great entertainment. The show only lasted for five seasons and towards the end they developed The Silos. The silos were Joanna’s working and storage area, turned tourist destination. They also developed the Magnolia Table their own restaurant in Waco. While I have been to Texas many times and have lived in Texas for several years. However, I hadn’t ever thought about a vacation destination to Texas.Â
Then one day I was watching Molly Yeh, Food Network star of Girl Meets Farm. This is another one of my favorite Food Network shows. Molly decided to take a vacation with her husband, Nick, to visit Waco. Molly and Nick were remodeling their home kitchen and wanted Clint Harp, the woodworker featured on the Fixer Upper to make sprinkle shelves. Yes, you read it right dessert sprinkle storage, Molly is a sprinkle fiend. Molly got to visit Joanna Gaines and The Silos on her trip. Molly shared on her show Girl Meets Farm some places Nick and her ate at and visited on her trip. After watching Molly’s adventure. I decided that I needed to plan my own adventure with my husband to the Waco area. My husband had never been to Texas except to change planes at Houston Airport. I wanted my husband to experience what Texas had to offer. We flew into Austin, Texas airport and stayed in Austin. I was planning to also visit Fredericksburg, Texas on this trip. Austin provided central location between Fredericksburg and Waco.
Not Wacky About Waco: The Silos
We planned a day trip from our Austin Texas Hotel up to Waco. It is not a bad drive but the traffic on Interstate 35 is extremely congested in the Austin area and did not let up until 60 miles outside of the city limits. The trip itself is about 100 miles and takes 1 ½ to 2 hours depending on the traffic. My main goal was to get to The Silos and look around and buy some cupcakes from the baking company that everyone seems to rave about. When we got there it was already getting busy for the day and there was an off-site parking area near a church down the street that we had to pay to park at.
We walked through the furniture store on the property that wasn’t all that exciting. There was a coffee shop when you first walked into the property, but the line was so busy we passed on it. There was a church on the grounds of the property, but nothing special about it. There was a line of food trucks on the property as well, we didn’t eat there as I was planning something else to eat for the day. I have to say I didn’t know what all the excitement was supposed to be about The Silos.
We got to the baking company and there was a little bit of line. I wanted to get several cupcakes since everyone had raved about them, so we got a box of four with a variety of flavors that seemed exciting and a chocolate chip cookie all to eat later that evening. After 30-45 minutes I was ready to leave the Silos and find some lunch.
Milo’s: The Best Part of Waco Visit
I had planned to go to Milo’s for lunch. Molly Yeh and her husband Nick had visited there and had a Sic-Em-on-a-biscuit Chicken sandwich that I was determined to try. Molly absolutely raved about it. We headed over toMilo’s and boy was I elated we did. That crispy fried chicken sandwich with tangy, sweet and spicy slaw on a buttery fall apart biscuit was the best part of my whole day. It wasn’t on their menu, but they knew what I was referring to and were able to make one for me. By far a mind-blowing fried chicken on a biscuit sandwich.
Not Wacky about Waco: Harp Design
I wish we had called it a day after Milo’s, but we decided to go to Clint Harp’s store to see his woodcrafts. There were a lot of cutting boards and nicknacks, nothing overly excited me to buy.
Not Wacky about the No Wine tasting in Waco:
While we were at the Silos earlier, I had inquired about if there were any wineries in the area. We were told about the Waco Winery that was about 20-30 minutes outside of town. When we got there the drive led you up through the back of the building, it didn’t even look like a tasting room or winery from that angle. I guess I am used to the vast estates in Michigan, and it did not even come close to comparing. They had only had 2 white wines for tasting so we just left very disappointed.
Not Wacky about the Silo Cupcakes:
Later that night we finally got to sample the cupcakes we had purchased at The Silos that everyone raves about. My husband and I were extremely disappointed. They were dry and flavorless, the frosting that is supposed to be the most special thing about them tasted like eating a can of lard. I had to throw them out, they were so bad. At least the chocolate chip cookie was tasty.Â
Not Wacky About Waco: Have to say based on this experience I am just not wacky about Waco and what it has to offer. I would not recommend a special trip there, but if you are going there be sure to check out Milo’s.
My tips on Central Texas:
No Rain No Gain Texas: How to avoid a horrible trip to central Texas. – Traveling Garden Lady
