Arriving in Waco
After a long drive, I finally arrived in Waco, Texas. As I
drove into the city for the first time, I was struck by its charming small town
feel while still having a good number of amenities. The city is located along
the Brazos River and has beautiful parks and greenbelts.
I checked into my hotel downtown. Waco has maintained its
historic downtown with many buildings from the late 1800s. The downtown area
has restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions. I took a walk to get
acquainted with the neighborhood. There was a great energy with many people out
and about.
Exploring Downtown Waco
The next day I set out to explore downtown Waco in depth.
Some of the highlights included:
- The Waco Suspension Bridge - An iconic footbridge over the
Brazos River built in 1870. It provides great views of the river.
- Waco Mammoth National Monument - Site where the bones of
Columbian mammoths from the Ice Age were discovered. There is a fascinating
exhibit about the excavation.
- Dr Pepper Museum - All about the history of Dr Pepper soft
drink which was invented in Waco in the 1880s. You can try old fashioned soda
flavors.
- Texas Sports Hall of Fame - Covers the history of sports
in Texas. Even if you're not a sports fan, it's an interesting look at Texas
culture.
I also browsed the shops on Austin Avenue and stopped for a
bite to eat at Poppa Rollo's Pizza. The downtown area had such charm and many
historic buildings.
Checking Out the Baylor University Area
Since Baylor University is located in Waco, I headed over to
the campus area next. Baylor is a private Christian university and the grounds
were immaculate with gorgeous landscaping. Some highlights included visiting
the Armstrong Browning Library which houses the world's largest collection of
Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning works. I also walked through the
Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village which has historic homes relocated to the
campus.
Just outside campus along the Brazos River is a great
walking and biking trail called the Baylor Brazos Trail. It looked like a nice
way to experience more of the river. The campus area also had a variety of
eateries and shops catering to students.
Considering a Move to Waco
After my visit, I could definitely see myself living in
Waco. It has a great combination of small town charm along with enough
attractions and amenities so as not to get bored. The cost of living also
appears to be affordable compared to other cities in Texas. Waco would be a great
place to put down roots while still being able to easily visit larger cities
like Dallas or Austin for weekends or day trips.
If I were to move to Waco, some of the things on my to do
list would be:
- Tour the historic homes
- Hike at Cameron Park
- Catch a concert at the Waco Hippodrome Theatre
- Check out a Baylor Bears football game
- Explore more of the walking trails
I'm excited at the possibility of making Waco my new
hometown. It seems like a wonderful community with friendly people and lots to
offer new residents. Have you visited Waco? What were your impressions? Let me
know if you have any recommendations of other things I should see or do if I
move there!
You may also want to check out Waco movers if
you decide to relocate to the area.