So you’re a Fixer Upper fan and want to visit Magnolia Market at the Silos? Unless Texas is your home, you may be wondering what else to see if you’re going to spend money to visit Waco. Recently, my parents and I set off on our own Texas adventure, and here are a few places we visited in addition to Magnolia Market.

Day One – George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

After landing at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, we rented a car and headed for this museum where we had lunch at the Courtyard Café. If you want to spend more money, there is also Café 43.

The museum is arranged with displays dedicated to aspects of Bush’s presidency. Two parts of the museum stood out to me. First, the September 11 display contains two twisted I-beams from one of the towers—and only the FBI knows which tower. The beams and the list of victims’ names on the wall are a visceral reminder of that day’s horror.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed the re-creation of Bush’s Oval Office—and having my picture taken.

Day Two – Magnolia Market at the Silos & Dr Pepper Museum

The next stop on our Texas adventure was Waco’s Magnolia Market. Joanna Gaines’s vision to turn old cotton silos into a tourist destination is impressive. We spent about two hours browsing at the shop, eating at a food truck, and purchasing cupcakes at the bakery.

The best tip I have is not to pay for parking. We found a space on the street, but there is a church that charges for parking and you may stumble upon it before you locate the free lot.

Waco’s other claim to fame is Dr Pepper, and not far from the Silos, you’ll find a museum dedicated to this beverage that was invented in Waco. If you need a place to cool off after melting in the scorching Texas sun, the museum is a good option.

Day 3 – San Antonio River Walk and the Alamo

After leaving Waco, we traveled south to San Antonio. My number one tip for this city is to find the Official Visitor Information Center located across the street from the Alamo and ignore the other booths preying on tourists. We toured the Alamo, took a river cruise, and ate dinner at Hard Rock Café on the River Walk. The river cruise was an affordable, relaxing way to enjoy the River Walk and learn about its history.

Day 4 – Sea World San Antonio

Because I wanted variety on the trip, I’m glad we chose to spend day at Sea World. The animal shows were fun, the water rides were refreshing, and it wasn’t as crowded as I thought it might be considering we were there on Sunday. Most rides only had a five-minute wait—probably because it was about 100 degrees. Sea World was one of my favorite parts of our trip.

Day 5 – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

After leaving Sea World, we trekked back to Waco. The next morning, we returned to Dallas where we visited the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, the former book depository where Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated John F. Kennedy. The audio tour is helpful and part of your admission fee. I’d recommend buying tickets ahead of time or getting to the museum early because they control admission times to keep the exhibit from becoming overcrowded.

Our Texas adventure was a fun trip with plenty of sightseeing options.