Most families come to Waco for Magnolia Market, and the Silos are a great morning with kids. The lawn gives them room to run, and a cupcake helps. But the Silos take about half a day. If you’re here for a weekend or a spring break week, you’ll want a few more places in your back pocket. 🎈
Here’s where to take kids in Waco once the Silos are done, sorted by how long they hold up and how old your kids are.
Cameron Park Zoo
This is the one to plan a whole morning around. Cameron Park Zoo sits inside Cameron Park, with animal exhibits spread across shady, walkable grounds. It’s big enough to keep kids busy and small enough that you can see most of it without a meltdown. 🦒
Best for: Toddlers through about age 10. Little kids love the animals, and older kids like the bigger exhibits.
Tips:
Go right when it opens. The animals are more active in the cooler part of the day, and the crowds are smaller.
Bring a stroller or wagon for little ones. There’s more walking than it looks like on the map.
Plan a snack break halfway through, and don’t try to see everything.
Mayborn Museum Complex
The Mayborn Museum is at Baylor and is one of the best rainy-day stops in town. It has hands-on exhibits, natural history displays, and a historic village, so it works for kids who like to touch things and kids who like to read the signs. 🔬
Best for: Ages 3 to 12. Younger kids get a lot out of the hands-on areas, and older ones can spend real time at the exhibits.
Tips:
This is your backup plan for cold, windy, or rainy days.
Give it two hours. Kids who like it will ask to stay longer.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
Real Columbian mammoth fossils, still in the ground where they were found. The guided tour runs about 90 minutes, which is long for a toddler but great for a five- or six-year-old who loves dinosaurs and fossils. 🦣
Best for: Ages 5 and up. Book ahead, because tours fill up.
Dr Pepper Museum
A fun stop for a family, and a good one for kids who are bored of walking outside. The museum covers the history of the soda, and there’s a soda fountain for a treat afterward. 🥤
Best for: Ages 6 and up, plus any adult who likes old bottles and vintage signs.
Cameron Park Itself
Even without the zoo, Cameron Park is worth a stop. There are trails, river views, and open space. A short walk to the Lover’s Leap overlook is a good outing for kids who can handle a little hiking, and it’s free. 🌳
Best for: Ages 4 and up for the walk. Younger kids can enjoy the open areas and playgrounds.
The Suspension Bridge and Riverwalk
The 1870 suspension bridge over the Brazos is quick, free, and kids like walking across it. Pair it with a stroll along the Riverwalk at the end of the day, when everyone needs to burn off the last of their energy. 🌉
Best for: All ages. Hold hands near the railings with little ones.
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
Older kids who like Western history, guns-and-badges stories, and big exhibits tend to enjoy this one. It’s a better fit for school-age kids and tweens than for toddlers.
Best for: Ages 8 and up.
Hours, admission, and exhibits change, so check each attraction’s website before you go. Some tours and special events need advance reservations.
Sample Day Plans
A day with a toddler or preschooler:
Morning at Cameron Park Zoo
Lunch and a nap back at the house
Late afternoon at the Silos lawn or a Riverwalk stroll
A day with school-age kids:
Silos and a cupcake early
Waco Mammoth tour late morning
Lunch, then the Mayborn Museum or the Dr Pepper Museum in the afternoon
A rainy or cold day:
Mayborn Museum in the morning
Lunch out, then a movie and a fire back at the house
Why the House Matters With Kids
Kid-friendly days work better when you have a good home base. A hotel room means everyone is stuck in one space by 7 p.m. A house gives you a kitchen, room to spread out, and a place to burn off energy.
The Barndominium has 16 private gated acres, a 25-acre spring-fed lake, and an 800-square-foot covered deck. There’s room for kids to run while the adults sit nearby with coffee. Five bedrooms, sleeps 16+, so it works for a few families at once. Keep an eye on children near the water. 🏡
The Little House has a back deck shaded by a 200-year-old oak, and the backyard comes stocked with lawn games. Three bedrooms, sleeps 8, and it’s quiet enough for naps. ☕
Not sure which fits your family? Our post on spring break with young kids breaks it down by group size.
Tips for Waco With Kids
Do one big thing a day. Add one small thing if everyone is still happy.
Go early. Zoos, museums, and the Silos are all easier before the late-morning crowd.
Plan around naps. Build the day so everyone is back at the house when the youngest needs a break.
Keep a backup. Waco weather changes, so know your indoor option before you leave.
Cook at the house. A full kitchen makes picky eaters and early dinners much easier.
The Bottom Line
The Silos are a great start, but they’re not the whole trip. Between the zoo, the museums, the mammoths, and the river, Waco has enough to keep kids busy for a long weekend or a spring break week. And a house with room to run makes every day easier.
📩 Check availability for the Barndominium and the Little House on Airbnb and VRBO and plan a Waco trip the kids will still be talking about.