Things To Do In Waco With Kids

Popularly known as the heart of Texas, Waco is the ideal destination for more than 2.7 million people who visit here every year. Things To Do In Waco With Kids From mouth-watering cuisines being served in high-rated restaurants to famous landmarks,

Waco offers the perfect vacation vibe by including picturesque greenery, exquisite form of art, dynamic dining options and even fun outdoor activities!

Are you curious about what is Waco best known for? In Waco, there awaits a ton of remarkable experiences for your family and kids. Enriched by natural beauty as well as dynamic yet impassive forms of outdoor activities, you will definitely go head over heels for this city.

Without any further delay, let us help you explore all the remarkable Waco tourist attractions! Keep reading to find out the details and speciality of each tourist attraction. Look below!

List Of Things To Do For Families In Waco

Waco Mammoth National Monument

This paleontological site and museum in Waco, Texas has been been officially designated as a national monument in 2015. This tourist destination is extremely famous as fossils of 24 Columbian mammoths and other mammals from the Pleistocene epoch have been discovered here.

The national park features several fossils of female mammoths, a bull mammoth, an ancient relative of camels, an antelope, an alligator, a giant tortoise, and many more. Visitors can enjoy and even learn the historical value of fossils.

This can also be a great place for kids to discover and learn! You can arrange a tour with the help of guides who can help you by giving perfect details and explanations about the monuments.

Speciality: Learn and discover about what living creatures existed during the ice age.
Recommended age: Anyone can visit here if they are interested to discover ancient fossils and extinct creatures that existed in historical ages.
Suitable for: Family and kids

Cameron Park Zoo

Established in July 1993, this 52-acre natural habitat zoo houses more than 1731 animals, representing 300 species from all around the world, accompanied by splashing waterfalls, a serene lake and ponds.

This award-winning zoo is the habitat of numerous wild animals including jaguar, reptiles, bears and many more. Your kids can have their own fun in the grammy Nell’s section where they can flash around floor mountain and crawl inside a snake’s mouth!

Speciality: Get to experience the serene natural beauty of waterfalls, lakes and ponds with a diverse range of wild animals and other species.

Recommended age: Kids have immense fun in natural parks. However, people of any age and all animal lovers will have a great time visiting here.
Suitable for: Family and kids.

Texas Ranger Hall Of Fame And Museum

Located near the Interstate highway 35 Exit 335B in Waco, the Texas Ranger Hall of fame and museum is the state-designated official historical centre of the famed texas rangers law enforcement agency.

It preserves the history of Texas rangers since 1968 and is the ideal tourist attraction if you want your kid to be amazed by the range of artefacts and exhibits that symbolise the legacy of these heroes. You might be enlightened by the biographies, historical facts and other notable acts of these people.

Your kid might be amused by the life-size replicas of horses and rangers that are being put up in the museum. Different badges and paper currencies from the various eras are being exhibited here in this museum.

Speciality: Discover the history and legacy of the Texas Rangers in the Texas Ranger hall of fame and museum.
Recommended age: People of all ages are welcome here. They can explore the biographies and different brave acts and events of these notable people.
Kids can also feel enlightened by statues and different paper currencies available here.
Suitable for: Family and kids.

Cameron Park

Considered to be one of the largest municipal parks in Texas, Cameron park delivers a picturesque landscape with a perfect blend of flora and fauna. Resting on 416 acres of land, this park features playgrounds, hiking trails, picnic areas and more. You can easily spend a day with your family having a picnic and spending quality time.

It is rather a cheap option than going for other outdoor activities. Pack your food, go for a hike and then rest for the evening in the picnic areas for a perfect weekend.

Speciality: Feel the gushing wind through green leaves and enjoy hiking while your kids can have fun in the playground areas. Picnic spots are also available here.
Recommended age: People of all ages can visit here and experience the greenery with food and chatting.
Suitable for: Family and kids

Visit Mongolia Market

If you are planning a trip to Waco, then the Mongolia market should be a must-go-to destination for you. Covering 2 acres and settled at the base of two historic silos,

Mongolia market will amuse you with its awestruck collection of home decor appliances including wall decorations, rustic kitchenware, candles and ancient pieces of stuff. Without a doubt, going shopping is definitely one of the best things to do in Waco this weekend.

The moment you think that you are done, you will find yourself drooling over some other marvellous decorative item and in the next moment, it will already be in your bag! Want a piece of interesting news? Want some free stuff in Waco Texas?

If you make a lumpsum purchase, the seller might gift you some free stuff to your liking! If you visit on the first and third Wednesday of the month from June to August, you will be able to procure locally produced goods from area farmers and other merchants.

Speciality: From jewellery to antique decor, you can find your own aesthetic here just by taking a stroll. Be ready to be flattered by the diverse range of products and other locally produced goods.
Recommended age: People of all ages can visit by and fetch their own set of favourite items.
Suitable for: Family and friends and kids.

Explore The Waco Downtown Cultural District

In the downtown cultural district of Waco, you get to browse exquisite art galleries, shop at boutique clothing, jewellery and home furnishing stores and dig into a locally sourced cuisine at high-rated restaurants. You can take a stroll along the streets and admire the architectural beauty of the lanes.

The magnificent artworks in the gallery can swoon you away and you might end up hanging one of them in your home. Go over to the parking lot at the Mc Lennan County courthouse for the farmer’s market. You can take a look at the locally produced goods down there.

You might also get delighted by the works of more than 50 sidewalk chalk muralists at the Wacotown chalk+walk. To sum it up, Waco’s downtown cultural district should top your sight-seeing list in Waco.

Speciality: Apart from the marvellous works of the art galleries and the never-ending range of home decor, clothing and jewellery collections, the magnificent works of sidewalk chalk muralists are immensely admired by the tourists. Kids love these areas as they find the environment very amusing.
Recommended age: People of all ages are welcome here. They can purchase their own favourite items from the market.
Suitable for: Kids, family and friends.

Explore The Waco Downtown Cultural District

Mayborn Museum Complex

Established back in 2004, the Mayborn museum complex features abundant natural and cultural beauty of Waco including Vara Daniel’s historic village, Strecker’s cabinet of curiosities, Governor’s bill etc. This museum is filled with subjects of palaeontology, archaeology and natural history.

Your kids can spend a memorable time in the Jeanes discovery section. They can have immense fun by playing music through walk-on pianos, walking alongside dinosaurs etc. Mayborn museum can provide knowledge along with fun and memorable experiences and might also be considered a great tourist spot for your kid to enjoy.

Speciality: You can derive some knowledge on the subject of history and archaeology while your kids can have their own fun through the walk-on pianos and dinosaurs.
Recommended age: People of all ages can experience a wonderful time here. History lovers will definitely fall for this place.
Suitable for: Family and kids

Waco’s Live Music

Well, who doesn’t like music, right? So if you have a fancy for live music and concerts, Waco is the ideal city for you. You might be wondering what are the things to do in Waco at night? The nightlife in Waco delivers breathtaking live music events all over the city. This city is home to several venues that showcase the skills of talented local and visiting performers.

You can head over to the Waco Hippodrome theatre which showcases a perfectly skilled group of musicians including blues and jazz artists and even country bands. Another one is Backyard Waco which exhibits a lively vibe with a glorious set of musicians and is the ideal place for grabbing a beer and hanging out with your mates.

Speciality: Live music in Waco is the most popular form of entertainment in this city. Also, live music is the most predominant part of Waco’s nightlife. You can visit plenty of cafes or pubs that host live music shows at night time.
Recommended age: Although people of all ages can experience live music, however, it is better to keep kids at home for ensuring safety.
Suitable: For friends and family.

Waco’s Dynamic Dining Options

With a diverse range of cuisines and menus in the high-rated restaurants, Waco will bestow you with the perfect weekend vibe by offering some mouth-watering dishes like steaks, briskets, burgers and divine cupcakes. You might find it intriguing to know that two of Waco’s eateries were ranked among Yelp’s top 100 restaurants in Texas for the 2021 list.

One of them, Cafe homestead, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner including a range of savoury cuisines. Meanwhile, the other one, Taqueria El Crucero, is actually considered to be a famous spot in Waco for offering delicious breakfast tacos, enchiladas and pupusas.

If you desire to try out barbeque diners here, three of Waco’s barbeque diners have been featured in the Texas monthly list: Helberg BBQ, Guess Family BBQ, Honky Tonk kid BBQ.

Speciality: With a never-ending amount of savoury cuisines, Waco has proved itself to be a ‘bona fide destination for foodies’.
Recommended age: You can hang out with your friends, family or even kids here. Have them enjoy the juicy steaks, big burgers and lastly, the briskets.
Suitable for: Family and kids.

Explore The Homestead Craft Village

If you are still in Waco, don’t miss out on this place as you might regret it later. From watching artisans craft wood furniture and stoneware to witnessing a fully functioning water mill, you will feel a laid-back vibe that portrays the significance of traditional methods of living.

This village is a part of an agrarian, non-denominational Christian community that showcases the work of craftsmen who believe in the enduring values of handcraftsmanship. The barn is filled with numerous one-of-a-kind handcrafted items including soaps, books, tables, rocking chairs, bed frames and many more.

You can take your family for a hayride and get a close look at the livestock, and gardens and then at the end there awaits the high-quality dining experience at the cafe homestead serving sustainable and natural meals.

Speciality: Take your kids there to help them gain an invaluable experience by watching the artists craft their wood and villagers occupied in their own way of earning their living. Enjoy watching potter shape their vessels and buy the freshly grown organic produce.
Recommended age: People of all ages will be welcomed here. Kids have tremendous fun roaming around this village.
Suitable for: Family and friends

Get Outdoors

Waco is bestowed with breathtaking and serene natural beauty including pristine rivers and wholesome greenery. Outdoor activity is one of the best things to do near Waco tx. You can rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard at Pura Vida paddle and explore the beauty of the rivers and landscapes.

You can also take a stroll or go jogging by the river walk and get to experience the mesmerizing beauty of nature and waters here. You can even try out boating, fishing or swimming to experience outdoor fun.

Speciality: You can hike through the secluded trails at Lake Waco wetlands and Lake Waco dam. You might also visit the water park to earn some thrilling experiences.
Kids can enjoy the water park and earn loads of remarkable memories.
Recommended age: People of all can join. You must ensure extra safety for your kids and should not them try out risky rides.
Suitable for: Family and kids

FAQs

1. What Is There To Do In Waco After 5 Pm?

There are plenty of amusing kinds of stuff that you can try out in Waco after 5 pm. The first thing to do is watch the beautiful sunset in Texas. You can also try out having an upscale dinner at a multicuisine restaurant and then head to a cafe or pub hosting a live music event. You can also take a tour of the local winery to get a taste of Waco.

2. What is there to do in Waco water?

There are a lot of fun activities that you can try out in Waco water. You can go stand up paddleboarding and for your information, kids have enormous fun riding this water board. You can also go fishing or swimming in the waters. You can also try out the water rides at the water parks that are settled in this city.

3. What Is There To Do In Waco For Toddlers?

You can take your toddler out for a picnic in Cameron park which has a special playground as well as a picnic area. Even the zoo can turn out to be a great option and your toddler would end up having tremendous fun visiting the zoo and witnessing the flora and fauna there!

Final Verdict:

Waco being the heart of Texas is the ideal destination for millions of people for a perfect weekend getaway. There are plentiful tourist attractions available in Waco but make sure to get the latest update due to the pandemic scenario.

Don’t try to visit all the tourist spots at once. Choose some of the nearest and favourite spots and try to stick to them otherwise, you might end up seeing nothing.

We believe that now you will be easily able to decide the destination that is perfect for your family as well as your kid. Have fun! Good luck!