Can you recognize all these celebrity guest stars on Rawhide?
Cowboy Wisdom
Ok–one last episode or rather town of the current Texas Towns along the Old Chilshom Trail
So here we go leaving:
Salado
Head north on S IH 35 Service Rd N/N Stagecoach Rd toward Blacksmith St
0.7 mi
Continue straight to stay on S IH 35 Service Rd N/N Stagecoach Rd
Continue to follow S IH 35 Service Rd N
1.1 mi
Take the ramp on the left onto I-35 N
0.2 mi
Merge onto I-35 N
10.8 mi
Take exit 299 toward Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept
0.1 mi
Merge onto S General Bruce Dr
0.4 mi
Keep right to stay on S General Bruce Dr
0.6 mi
Turn left onto SW H K Dodgen Loop
0.7 mi
Keep right to stay on SW H K Dodgen Loop
1.5 mi
Turn left onto Airport Rd
3.6 mi
Turn right to merge onto TX-317 N toward Moody
21.2 mi
Turn right onto US-84 E/W McGregor Dr
Continue to follow US-84 E
17.5 mi
Waco, Texas
here we are
Or
if you want something a bit more interesting you could try this (just turn it around and well you know Salado to Waco I mean—and then plan your own route):
Waco to Salado road trip planner
In the early days of the Chilshom Trail large number of cattle being driven north crossed the Brazos River here. In 1870 the city completded a suspension bridge which for a toll—-allowed the cattlemen to get those cattle (as well as the cowboys) over the river without getting wet.
The Waco Suspension Bridge
Is today a National Historic Landmark
If you check out the web site above, the Bridge is currently closed for rehabilitaion as are:
“Significant areas of Indian Spring Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. Park will be closed throughout the duration of the project. Portions of the Waco Riverwalk on both sides of the bridge will also be impacted, as well as traffic lanes along University Parks Dr. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. River access below the bridge will remain open. Project completion anticipated in 2022.”
So if you are interested in the bridge, as well as the area about it, you might want to check with you hotel staff, a policeman along your way or call park servce to see if going there is worth the effort until the rehab is finished.
The River Walk
As mentioned with the bridge the city does have a looping (about 7 miles) of walk way which includes picnic spots and lots of great views of the Brazos River that extends from the bridge to Ft. Fisher Park.
Top Things To Do In Waco – Waco Tours & Activities
Fort Fisher Park
Built in 1837 by a small group of Texas Rangers, by order of Col. Wm. S. Fisher (Rep of Texas Sec of War) this small fort was near a deserted Waco Indian Village,
Waco Indian Village
This tribe (actually Hueco is correct spelling) arrived in the area in the 1700s and resided here until some time in the 1800’s when all manner of things are said to have happened to them including disease and disputes with other Indians and they eventually left the village here never to return. In 1859 they were in a group that was moved to a reservation in Oklahoma and when that was broken up these Native American people continued to live in the same area but no longer in tribal settings. But as you can see their name was left here as the name of this Texas town that now inhabits the lands they once claimed.
LEGENDS OF THE OLD WEST | Texas Rangers Ep1: “A Captain Rises”
The Fort was reconstructed in 1968 as a home for the Colonel Homer Garrison Museum and to serve as headquarters for Company F of the Texas Rangers.
In 1976 the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum was added to the complex.
A Unique Lodging Experience
Transom Window above the door in Bennet Auditorium at Baylor University. Other windows of early university presidents can be found in Burleson Hall and Old Main.
Home of an extensive collection of the works of Robert and Elizabeth (Barrett) Browning. And if all that isn’t enough to impress you the building is reported to have the world’s largest collection of secular stained glass.
TEXAS SPORTS
HALL OF FAME
Waco the Heart of Texas
East Terrace House Museum
Built by Industrialist J.W. Mann for his wife and family when they moved here from Tenn. They moved into the house in 1874 and he eventually added a wing which included a ball room. The house is now a museum which includes many original items fro the orgina house.
Chalk Waco: Chalk Art Festival & Market
African-American Heritage
Ten years after Waco’s official incorporation, the Civil War ended, leaving thousands of freed black men and women to chart their own course. While some freedmen established their own community away from Waco, others remained as tenant farmers, craftsmen or entreprneurs.
East Waco, and Bridge Street especially, became hubs for black-owned businesses, such as the jazz and blues club Walker’s Auditorium, the Gem Theatre, and the Jockey Club Barber Shop, among others.
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Magnolia Market at the Silos
This Market at the Silos was founded by Chip and Joanna Gaines, a pair of stars of HGTV’s Fixer Upper show. It sells a wide variety of home decor, furniture and more. There are also games on the green and don’t forget the food trucks.
The Best Gift Shops in Waco
Spice Village – Waco & The Heart of Texas
Spice Village
Not too far from Magnolia Market
Spice: Something that gives zest, piquancy, or interest
Located in a building (built in 1908) of 30,000 feet that was originally a hardware building, in which they house over 60 shops. These offer everything from apparel to home decor and more.
Boutiques, Specialty, & Vintage Stores – Waco
12 Experiences You Can Have Only in Waco, the Heart of Texas
The Salle Shoppes
Unique, ever-changing collection of shoppes featuring 50+ vendors with varying styles, specialties, and collections of merchandise.
24 OTHER PLACES TO SHOP IN WACO, TEXAS AND A SPRING TRIP TO MAGNOLIA MARKET
Columbian mammoth bull and juvenile remains at the Waco Mammoth National Monument
A museum set on this site where 24 fossils of mammoths as well as other animals of that era were found. Death is said to have come from what is believed to be 3 seperate flash floods in this areas. It is the largest known concentration of mammoths dying from a possible recurring event.
38,000 year old fossils at Waco Mammoth National Monument in Texas
Lady: The Miracle Bear
The Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat
The bear is Baylor’s mascotte and these two bears, Judge Joy Reynolds “Joy” and Judge Sue Sloan “Lady” are the current inhabitants of the on campus center, continuing a tradition of this species being part of the campus since 1907.
The bears habitat is the most visited attraction on the campus and includes a waterfall, pools, caves, dead fall trees and digging area.
Baylor Bucket List
Come horseback ride or book your next vacation at Brazos Bluffs Ranch.
The Brazos Bluffs Ranch offers a 90 min Horse Back Journey–an authentic wrangling adventure
as well as
“The Lone Star” Horseback at Sunset which is 2 – 2 1/4 hours and includes drinks and snacks.
Oh I almost forgot—there are also horse drawn wagon options as well.
Find Historic Hotels in Waco, TX
Cute and themed restaurants in Waco – Wanderlog
More activities to help you explore Waco
Waco has a variety of tours From
The Classic Tour
This 2 1/2 hour tour is said to give you a little taste of all of Waco.
All Tours – Waco & The Heart of Texas
A River Cruise Tour
Which changes your prespective putting you on the Brazos River for an entirely different view.
THE TOP 10 Waco Tours & Excursions in 2022 – Viator
The Fixer Up Tour
This 2 1/2 hr tour takes you on a tour of the town based on the TV show of the same name on HGTV.
Filming Location “Waco, Texas, USA”
or near by
So that’s the final of my Trail Trip: Waco where the trail actually has a splint: with the Shawnee Trail (the older trail) pointing toward Dallas on its way eventually to Missouri and Kansas. Then the newer trail (1867) that went northwest to Fort Worth on its way to Abilene, Kansas.
12 Fun Things to Do in Waco with Kids — Family Friendly Activities!
Of course I didn’t get it all—just too much for this little account—here’s some web sites that might help:
15 Best Restaurants In Waco You Shouldn’t Miss
Where to Stay in Waco
Best Hotels in Waco
