Waco Texas: Family Friendly Getaway

by Marilyn Jones

Waco is an easy-to-navigate city with most of its attractions centrally located. From museums and an award-winning zoo to great shopping and Texas historic attractions, this city of 110,000 seems custom made for family getaways.

A great place to start is the historic suspension bridge spanning the Brazos River located right in the heart of the city. Today it’s used by pedestrians and an unusual number of professional photographers using the backdrop for their creations.

But in the late 1860s, the bridge was built for cattle drives. The 475-foot span was finished in January of 1870. It was the first bridge built across the Brazos River and became part of the Texas section of the Chisholm Trail. To defer the $135,000 construction cost, a toll was charged for each person and each head of cattle until 1889.

The city was young when civic leaders decided to build the bridge to further commerce in their city.

Waco's Beginnings

After many false starts in the area, Waco finally began to take shape in 1848, when General Thomas J. Chambers sold his Mexican grant of land to a group of businessmen from Galveston two years after Texas became a state.

In early 1849, surveyor George B. Erath laid out the first streets. Lots sold for $5 each, with "farming lots" selling for $2 to $3 each. The City of Waco was incorporated on August 29, 1856.

A relatively new attraction celebrating the wherewithal and creativity of early settlers is Homestead Heritage Traditional Crafts Village, a Christian agricultural settlement located a few miles outside Waco.

In each of the buildings, craftspeople create one-of-a-kind treasures — from handcrafted furniture and original watercolors to beeswax candles and natural soaps.

All the wares are featured in a 200-year old restored barn, transported here from New Jersey, or you can find specific crafts in each individual building: the Potter’s House,

Homestead Gristmill, Heritage Furniture, Heritage Forge, Restaurant and Bakery and Heritage Farm.

Craft classes also are available.

The Texas Rangers

One of the most popular attractions in Waco is the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum, the official State Hall of Fame for the Texas Rangers Law Enforcement Agency.

The Texas Rangers is the oldest state law enforcement agency dating from 1823. From their cowboy hats to the silver stars on their shirt pockets, it’s easy to see why Texas Rangers are famous for their strong presence.

The agency plays an important role in solving crimes and apprehending fugitives; today focusing primarily on investigations.

Throughout the museum, memorabilia used by Rangers is displayed in an easy to understand manner for every age group and every level of understanding.

Firearms, artwork and equipment are all used to tell the story of the Texas Rangers.

One gallery houses case studies of important Texas Ranger law enforcement investigations such as kidnappings, riots and the Texarkana Phantom Killer. Visitors will find here Bonnie and Clyde’s shotguns confiscated from the "Death Car" after the final shoot-out and the firearms used by Texas Rangers at the ambush.

Another gallery features Texas Rangers in film including the Lone Ranger. Memorabilia from film and television publicity as well as items collected by fans are on display.

The Hall of Fame memorializes 31 Texas Rangers who gave their lives in the line of duty or served with great distinction.

More Waco Attractions

Mayborn Museum Complex:

The Mayborn Museum Complex is ideal for families with exhibits and education programs for everyone no matter what their age.

The complex offers 16 hands-on discovery rooms with themes from TV news and weather and people around the world to health and Native Americans.

Natural history exhibits are located both indoors and outdoors and include a limestone cave, Texas forest, and the Waco Mammoth Experience walk-in dioramas plus exploration stations.

Cameron Park Zoo:

You’ll know immediately this zoo isn’t your average animal park. Designed to resemble natural habitats, the zoo uses landscaping and natural shelters to house its animals.

Creative use of flora and fauna along with sculptures, fountains, waterfalls and winding trails creates an exotic destination right in the heart of the city.

The Brazos River Country exhibit, for example, follows the footsteps of early Spanish explorers who searched for the seven cities of gold along the Brazos River.

Allow several hours for your visit. There are 1,731 animals, representing 300 species from around the world in addition to the park-like trails and play areas for children.

Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute:

A trip to Waco wouldn’t be complete without a tour of the Dr Pepper Museum where a restored turn-of-the-century soda fountain helps recreate the soda fountain where

Dr. Charles Alderton first mixed the flavors that make up Dr Pepper. In this exhibit, an animatronic, life-size Dr. Alderton tells the story of his invention.

Other exhibits showcase the original Dr Pepper bottling company including historic soft drink bottles and manufacturing equipment.

The second floor of the Dr Pepper Museum shows the evolution of soft drink advertising over the years. The third floor houses the Soft Drink Hall of Fame and Free

Enterprise Institute, a division of the museum committed to educating children about free enterprise, product development and successful marketing.

If you go:

Homestead Heritage is located on Halbert Lane in Elm Mott, TX. For more information call (254) 754-9600 or check the website at www.homesteadheritage.com.

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum is located at I-35, exit 335B at University Parks Drive. For more information call (254) 750-8631 or check the website at www.texasranger.org.

Mayborn Museum Complex is located at 1300 S. University Parks Drive. For more information call (254) 710-1110 or check the website at www.baylor.edu/mayborn/.

Cameron Park Zoo is located at 1701 N. 4th Street. For more information call (254) 750-8400 or check the website at www.cameronparkzoo.com.

Dr Pepper Museum is located at 300 S. 5th Street. For more information call (254) 757-1025 or check the website at www.drpeppermuseum.com.

Hilton Waco University Parks is near major Waco attractions and is located at 113 S. University Drive. For more information call (254)754-8484 or check the website www.hilton.com.

Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau – for additional information call 800-321-9226 or check out the website at www.wacocvb.com.