Airport Park Lake Waco and Some other Waco Things
Airport Park
More back blogging. This trip was from February.
Airport Park has been on my list for quite awhile actually. A few years ago we had it booked for the Heart of Texas Airshow and it flooded (they canceled our reservation) and I never actually bought the airshow tickets. That’s when we ended up taking our first trip to Lake Bastrop South Shore which has since become kind of our go to and the kids’ favorite. Taking the kids to an airshow is actually still on my list too.
People rave about Airport Park because it’s on the lake and got a state park feel, but without the trails. The sites are pretty spacious and treed is what I mean by a state park feel.
About the Sites
We stayed in site 22 which was a pull through on the water. It was a bit windy, but I assume it probably always is. I honestly didn’t see one bad site while driving around Airport Park. They all looked pretty decent. There was crushed granite around the picnic table and everything seemed pretty well kept. We were gone during the day mostly, but only ever heard a few planes in the evenings (the airport is across the street, hence the name). We didn’t take the kids this time, but I kept thinking they’d probably love it here.
What We Did
This was one of those trips that was less of a camping trip and more of a I don’t want to pay for a hotel trip. We left the kids at home and did Magnolia (kid free!) and stopped by a few breweries. All of this was a pretty quick 15 minute drive from the RV park.
Magnolia
Look, I know some people are way over it, but I’m still a Chip and Jo fan. I love interior design and it feels good to just be in a pretty space surrounded by pretty things. I also had some birthday money to blow through. We did The Little Shop on Bosque first and honestly I wasn’t super impressed. The Silos area had grown so much since our last trip though and I’ve got to say, all the new stuff made getting around so much less frustrating. In previous trips you would wait FOREVER and stand in long lines for just about everything. Having more things covering more space really helps spread the people out and makes each thing much more enjoyable and quicker to get through. We actually did the whole thing pretty quick which meant we could move on to the brewery part of the trip, which was Tyler’s preference.
I took exactly one picture at Magnolia. Honestly I just wasn’t interested in having the masses in any photos, but I was pumped to finally get the try Magnolia Press without having to wait in hella long lines.
I also love that you can buy cupcakes from a food trailer on the grounds now instead of waiting in the bakery line. I would recommend the bakery for first timers, but the trailer works fine when you’ve already done the bakery twice. The Cup o’ Jo cupcake is my personal favorite.
where we drank (breweries)
We did a total of three breweries while we were there. We enjoyed all three, but each had their own vibe.
Brotherwell Brewing
We were highly entertained with people watching at Brotherwell. We got there on the early side for a Friday and watched them set up a vintage market while we had our flights. Honestly this place made me feel a little old (or maybe it was the fact that we were on senior citizen time in our late 30s), but most of everything we tried was good and the atmosphere was interesting. We drove back by after dinner and this place had come alive with patrons.
For the most part they live up to their reviews and it’s worth a stop. I’m a light beer kind of girl so the Bridge Street Wit was my favorite and I didn’t much care for the Radler.
Waco Ale Company
Ok I really liked this one. Waco Ale Company was more downtown while Brotherwell was more in what they call Eastside Waco (still on the west side of I35). Everything we tried was good and I was a little disappointed we weren’t there at a meal time. The food menu looked awesome. I mean, there’s not a ton on it, but I wanted to try one of most things. I would definitely go here again (for lunch or dinner) and I’d recommend it with some disclaimers. Dude behind the bar was DRUNK before we left and it was just the middle of the afternoon. The more drinks he took, the more colorful his language got which doesn’t bother me so much, but I was a little bothered for the family trying to have a late lunch with a few younger kids. This one may not be the most family friendly, if that’s a thing you’re looking for. I will say he was super knowledgeable about their beer and made some great suggestions for our flights which I was super appreciative of.
Southern Roots Brewing Co.
Southern Roots Brewing is just a couple blocks from Waco Ale Co. and I loved their vibe. This place definitely invites you to stay awhile. I didn’t do a flight here, just a beer, but I enjoyed it and the smell of pizza cooking in the back. The pizzas looked and smelled delicious, but a regular did tell me they’re hit or miss. Just depends on who’s cooking that day I guess. This one is 100% family friendly (including furry family members) and I love that they have board games and things available for you enjoyment. In terms of hospitality, this was my favorite. I don’t have any pictures of this one unfortunately, but I’d consider their lifetime membership, if I lived in Waco.
where we ate
Revival Eastside Eatery
The guy behind the bar at Brotherwell Brewing sent us to Revival Eastside Eatery when we asked for dinner suggestions. We both ate a Golden Calf burger, which had me at caramelized onions and goat cheese. I love goat cheese. Their beer taps are constantly changing from what we were told so there is always something new to try in the local beer department. It seemed like a trendy spot with good food that I’d eat again.
Cheddar Box
Cheddar Box is a food truck on the Magnolia grounds. Tyler ate, not me, but I’ve had them before. They make a pretty solid adult grilled cheese. My personal favorite is The Boss which includes bacon, gouda, and basil on sourdough bread. I’m seeing a theme here in the food section of this blog post and it’s cheese.
Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant
This was more of an old school, been in Waco forever option. Less trendy, but still super popular. I can’t complain. I’m always a little unsure of the places that are considered tried and true because sometimes they’re just not what they used to be. We’ll let this one keep the tried and true label. It’s solid old school Tex Mex.
