Good Things Happening in Waco Tourism

There is no doubt that Waco tourism has been temporarily slowed down by the Coronavirus. But we thought we would concentrate on some of the positive things that have been happening on the tourism front. Waco locals are an important part of tourism; they have kept some doors open while we wait for travel to be safe again.

Restaurants and Eateries

Some new restaurants have opened up. Mamaka Bowls, at the corner of University Parks Drive and Franklin Avenue, serves smoothie bowls with no added sugar and no dairy.

At Union Hall, several new restaurants have started up. Press Waffle Co., as seen on Shark Tank; Wacool Tacos & Tamales; Huaco Eatery; and Blasian Asian, making the move from their food truck to bricks and mortar. Several others are making their home at Union Hall.

Route 77 Food Park is coming along. Their website says they will open Summer 2020.

Feel free to comment about other new restaurants!

Hotels

Waco welcomed several new hotels in recent years, including the Hilton Garden Inn, Hyatt Place, and La Quinta.

Construction has continued apace on several new ones. The Residence Inn by Marriott Waco – Marketplace is shooting for a June open date.

Hotels actively under construction include the Aloft Hotel, TRU by Hilton, Springhill Suites by Marriott, and Element Hotel.

Workers are present every day and are working hard on foundations and plumbing for the new Cambria and EVEN hotels at Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Bridge Street.

Attractions

We are keeping a running list of those attractions and museums that are now open on our home page, at https://destinationwaco.org/. Paddle boarding, horseback riding, river cruises, wineries, many museums, and several tour companies are open or have set a firm opening date. There is even a new tour company, slated to open June 12: Waco Adventure Tours, offering stand-up paddleboard lessons, and fat tire bike tours.

Some key attractions that are not yet open include Magnolia Market at the Silos, the Cameron Park Zoo, the Waco Mammoth National Monument, and the Mayborn Museum.

Shopping

Several downtown shops popular with tourists and locals are now open, including Spice Village, The Findery, Simply Irresistible, Honey’s Home + Style, Christi’s Interiors, and Brazos River Supply. Some are still open by appointment only, so call ahead or check websites before you go.