A fun and memorable getaway right down the road in Waco, Texas!

Hey there! Hope all is well. For today’s hang out we’re going to ride down the road from our home for a quick little adventure. Hop in and let’s go!!!

For Ejuan’s 38th birthday, I wanted to do something special. With a December birthday and a busy year of taking on side gigs, he didn’t have enough vacation left for us to take a more extended trip. Therefore, I had to put on my thinking cap. I’m naturally a planner and have learned to do more sentimental things to celebrate him. My husband is not a materialistic person, and typically whatever few things he wants like cologne or shoes, he buys himself.

My mom’s family is from Waco, Texas, and we have gone there regularly for most of my life. However, since Chip and Joanna Gaines have transformed the city, they’ve given us even more reasons to visit.

We left home right after dropping our youngest son off at school. We arrived in Waco a little before 8A. I drove us straight to what’s become a popular eatery there, Magnolia Table. Depending on the time of year and day of the week, you may or may not get in. The line and wait time can get so long that they will stop taking customers hours before closing. Luckily, it was the top of the morning on a cold, December weekday, so we walked right in.

It’s a modern farmhouse space adorned with one of the Gaines’ favorite building materials; subway tile. The place is kept tidy, and the staff is very courteous and super friendly. We enjoyed our must-have Joanna’s biscuits with strawberry butter. The rest of the menu items don’t need to be mentioned. LOL!

After breakfast, we drove over to an antique store in the downtown area. I’d booked The Ultimate Waco Fixer Upper Fan TV Tour. My husband is a super fan, and I’m guilty by association. I knew that he would appreciate this tour and recognize each house from the Fixer Upper TV show. Once inside the small store, we had to show our purchased tickets to the store owner’s husband, Joey, who was also the tour guide. He got everyone settled into the van, gave the itinerary and expectations for the day, and then we were off.

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I love what the Gaines’ have done to transform Waco, but since I’m not an avid watcher of their show, I didn’t connect with each home’s story like my husband did. As the tour guide would drive up to every house, Ejuan and most of the other nine passengers would become over the moon ecstatic. Even if you’re not a big fan, the tour is a fun and exciting experience, and Joey’s enthusiasm, humor, and knowledge makes it an unforgettable adventure. I would highly recommend it to anyone that’s going to be visiting the city.

Once we finished the tour, I then drove us around to the Dr. Pepper Museum. Again, this is a site that we’ve regularly passed and overlooked for many, many years, so I made sure to add it to the day’s schedule. It costs $10 per adult to walk through and observe all levels, and you receive a voucher for a free fountain drink. We learned many interesting facts and saw the production process and evolution of Dr. Pepper.

Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, well really me. I was so excited to introduce my husband to a new experience. We have discussed having a smaller home as we get older, so I felt this would be an awesome and eye-opening experience for both of us.

I started my GPS, although the owners suggest you follow their written directions because it is not always easy to find. After a short drive away from the city, we arrived at our destination. I enjoyed Ejuan’s expression of excitement and appreciation as he looked around to see our home for the evening.

We drove through a gravel driveway that split into two parking areas. One area was designated for three small one-bedroom houses and the other for two tiny container homes.

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We began a tour of our container house and then brought in our bags. I packed games and extra throw blankets from home and supplies to make hot cocoa. I heated some water and made two cups of cocoa for us to take to the rooftop deck. We sat out and talked about our future, sipped on our cocoa, and watched the sunset. It was a beautiful and memorable experience.

We went back down to get settled inside and started preparing for dinner. I had reservations at a local restaurant, Diamondbacks, that I’d found doing a Google search. I confirmed with a family member and lifetime resident of Waco that it was an excellent choice.

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The restaurant had soft lighting and a relaxed atmosphere with western elegance. We were seated quickly and shortly afterward placed our order. Because I had planned the budget before going, I already knew what I was going to eat. The food was delicious, and the bread was like nothing we’d ever tasted before. It has an indescribable flavor! We still talk about that bread from time to time and cannot wait to go back someday.

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After dinner, we headed back to the container house. I presented him with his gifts that I had stuffed and camouflaged in a black trash bag in the trunk with our luggage. Next, we pulled out the murphy bed and then watched a couple of Netflix shows before we called it a night.

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We spent a full day there on his birthday and stayed a few hours the following day after checkout. The owners of the container home agreed to show us another one of their houses on the same property. It was a little under 400 square feet but had enough space and everything a small family would need. My husband and I are looking forward to the empty-nester stage, and this tiny home was inspiring to us.

Overall, the getaway was short and sweet and cost us a little under $500. We enjoyed every minute of it and would most definitely do it again! Well we can skip the container home part, at least not that small.

Until next time, I’ll leave you with this. Remember that every time away doesn’t have to be a first-class, five-star luxury experience. It is possible to enjoy small and simple getaways that don’t cost much. Sometimes, if not all of the time, it’s best to focus on the moment and memories you create instead of the amount of time and money you spend. Have you enjoyed a quick getaway somewhere not too far from home? If so, where did you go, and what did you do? Please share your experiences with me. You never know, it may be added to mine and Ejuan’s list of places to visit.

If you liked this post, please share this on your social media. Thanks again for stopping by to “hang out” with me!