Who’s ready for a road trip!? Grab a comfy travel set, get ready to stop at every Buc-ees you see from Houston to Austin and buckle up because we are going on one epic four-day vacation through the great state of Texas!
Landing in the funky town of Austin, getting a good night’s sleep and going straight to the Riverwalk to discover the magic of San Antonio. From there, we will make a stop in the fixer upper capital of the world, Waco. A quick stop in Houston for a taste test dream will be the icing on the cake before ending right back in the state capital exploring before your flight home. This destination is the ultimate girls’ trip exploration but also perfect for a traveling mother/daughter duo like my mom and me. When we took this trip, we also had my one year old in tow and it was the perfect trip to get his travel legs ready!
This trip is one for our adventure lovers and while the agenda will be jam packed, there is a fair amount of car riding time, so you will be able to give yourself a little walking break & some AC time if you go in the smack dab of summer. Get your cowboy boots & hat ready and LET’S GO to Texas, ya’ll!
Day 1: Flight to Austin
Flight to Austin. Grab your rental car & head straight to your hotel for some shut eye. Don’t forget those sheets... IYKYK.
TIPS ON THE LO: We flew at night so that we saved a vacation day. We also traveled on Memorial Day weekend so this trip only cost us both one vacation day away from work... Winning!
Day 2: San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas is about 1.5 hour drive from Austin. We left out around 9am. We aren’t really early risers but a 9am start to your day leaves ample time to enjoy San Antonio and still make it back to Austin in time for dinner.
Park downtown San Antonio
It’s an easy walk to all of the destinations you will visit while here
There are several garages downtown with fair parking fees
Houston Street Garage (111 College St)
Riverbend Garage (210 N Presa St)
St. Mary’s Garage (205 E Travis St)
You could also use the Spot Hero site to see parking locations, distance from certain attractions, prices, and availability easily.
Breakfast & Coffee
Grab something to eat on the road or sit down somewhere in Austin or San Antonio.
Head to the Alamo
You can visit the iconic Alamo Church for free. This is the building you are familiar with from tv and your history books. It has the Texas flag flying out front and it literally looks like you walked right into your book’s pages. It is much smaller than I expected but still a really neat experience, though I am not a big history buff so I was a little underwhelmed in the grand scheme of things.
Plan to spend around 30 minutes if you only want to see the Alamo Church, however, I would allot around 2- 2.5 hours if you want to do a tour or see the exhibit listed below as well!
Remember The Alamo: A guided tour. An Alamo expert will lead your tour. ou will visit The Church, the outdoor battlefield, as well as the Alamo exhibit.
$45 per adult and $35 per child
A Line in the Sand: self guided tour but it is includes the exhibit entry, The Alamo Church, and has an audio available
$20 per adult, $18 per child
Alamo Exhibit add on option. This is the collector’s portion of the Alamo experience. It is a 24,000 square foot full of memories, artifacts, and history.
$14 per adult, child $10
Reminder, visiting the Alamo Church is free so the exhibit would be your only price of admission if you choose to add it on
Riverwalk
The Riverwalk in San Antonio is a 15 mile stretch of river with shopping, dining, & more. While there isn't an exact address, use the Shops at Rivercenter for GPS purposes.
Be prepared to walk but it is truly one of the neatest places I have ever visited. It is absolutely gorgeous and such a unique scene. There are vendors set up along the river walk, traditional shops, great places to eat, and boat rides all along the river.
Please note: if you go in the summer, bring a fan and some water. We went in September and it was still unbelievably hot
Lunch at a restaurant on the riverwalk
Ride a Go Rio Cruise
Narrated cruises, unique cruises like happy hour & brunch cruises, dinner cruises, & private cruises all available. Plan to spend 35 minutes to up to 3 hours on board depending on cruise type
Go Like Lo & book a unique cruise like the Mariachi Sip & Cruise
Prices start at $14.50 for adults & $8.50 for children TIPS ON THE LO: Save money on your ticket price if you are active military, a senior, or a local resident.
The Riverwalk is an excellent PICTURE PIT STOP
There are many other things to do along the San Antonio Riverwalk. Whether you enjoy shopping, have kiddos along for the ride & want to check out the children’s museum or build legos, visit a Japanese Tea Garden, or take a biking mural tour, there is something for everyone. Plan your own adventure here.
There is great nightlife in San Antonio! Explore the night scene along the Riverwalk. Learn more here.
Head back to Austin
Remember it is about 1.5 hour drive back so plan accordingly!
Grab dinner downtown Austin or opt to stay in San Antonio for dinner!
Visit Sixth Street, downtown Austin, for after hours fun! Or Go Like Lo & opt for an early bedtime!
Rest up so we can repeat!
Day 3: Waco
About 1 hour and 48 minutes in the other direction of Austin, you will reach the homeland of Chip and Joanna. Before the town of Waco was known for all thing Magnolia Homes, it was known for Baylor University. Waco is a quaint, little Texas town & now has so many things to do & see thanks to HGTV.
Up and at 'em early!
Grab your favorite coffee for the road.
Breakfast at Magnolia Table
Be prepared to stand in line and have a little wait. You can eat lunch here too, but I recommend breakfast. We even got to meet Joanna’s mom. I am not really a fan girl type person but it was neat to see them in action! The restaurant has a take away option as well if the wait is a little longer than your liking. What was once an Elite restaurant, destroyed by a F5 tornado, is now a modern eatery.
You can make reservations for parties of 6 or fewer here.
Drive past a few of the houses from Fixer Upper
2517 Wooded Acres Drive: Mid Century Modern House
3601 Hillcrest Drive: Hillcrest Estate
5517 Lake Highlands Drive: The German Schmear House
Visit Magnolia's Roots
Head over to Magnolia Little Shop on Bosque, the original home to Magnolia Market when Joanna first opened her home décor store. The store is currently closed but check back here for the latest updates.
Ride by Harp Design Co to see the former business of Clint Harp, one of the partners of Chip and Joanna on the show Fixer Upper as well as other with other DIY network shows. The company has since closed but the building is still standing.
Head over to The Silos at Magnolia Market
Shop in the Magnolia Market Emporium
Enjoy lunch at one of the many food trucks in Food Truck Park
Go Like Lo & enjoy the heavenly sweet tea from The Alabama Sweet Tea truck located at 601 Webster Ave.
Grab a sweet treat from Silos Baking Co. or Magnolia Press... or both! You can grab one for the road!
PICTURE PIT STOP at the 120’ high silos
Shop at Magnolia Home and stroll through the other local small businesses set up on the lawn.
Visit the old church on the lawn, play wiffle ball on the wiffle ball field and then take a quick break by hanging out on the lawn.
TIPS ON THE LO: There is an interactive map of the Silos available to help plan your trip here, scroll down to “find it in the app”.
Finish the Fixer Upper Tour
625 S 7th Street: Shotgun House
121 Castle Ave: Pilot Show
1902 Alexander Ave: Drama Drama House
323 S Madison St: Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast
End at a drive by of Chip and Joanna’s
Located at 316 Canyon Oaks Rd in Crawford, Texas, remember to please be respectful when driving by their private home. Don’t approach, don’t trespass and don’t gawk. I am sure we all want our privacy.
Visit Baylor
As one of the top Texas colleges & Universities, Baylor is located in Waco, Texas as well!
Fixer Upper Tour
There is a flex option to do the Fixer Upper Tour. If you are opting to be an adventurer and stay the night in Waco, this is a great option to extend your trip.
Dinner and head home to Austin
Grab dinner at a local spot and get ready for one last day on the road.
If you’re on a bachelorette trip, girl’s trip, or just enjoy the nightlife, be sure to visit Sixth Street in Austin before you call it a night!
Day 4: Houston and a little Austin
Today’s road trip will take a little longer, about 2.5 hours one way. I didn’t find that there was an overwhelming amount of things to do in Houston. They are known for their food scene, so we explored downtown a bit before eating lunch, and then quickly went back to Austin. I have a desire to see all major US cities so it was a must stop for me, but this could be skipped if you wanted more time in Austin.
Up and at em' early
Be sure to have that coffee ready to take on the road. Grab breakfast at Weikel’s Bakery on the way! Go Like Lo & get a fruit & crème Kolache, they are apparently award winning.
Explore Houston
Head over to Discovery Green
A 12 acre park with tons of activities for people of all ages, Houston’s version of Central Park! Check out the over 30 permanent illustrations of Public Art along downtown walls.
PICTURE PIT STOP: 313 Travis Street
Be sure to check out Avenida Houston for local entertainment and grab lunch downtown!
We stopped in local shops around the downtown area after eating & then took the journey back to Austin to make it in time for the bat sightings downtown. Want to extend your time in Houston, check out more information here.
Head back to Austin
Freshen up and head out to see the bats. The bats hang out, literally, under the Congress Avenue Bridge, starting in late March & lasting until early fall. These are Mexican free-tailed bats and while it is hot, crowded and takes a little time for them to fly out, it is a must see. Austin is home to North America’s largest urban bat population. SO COOL! Learn more about where to watch the bats here.
I have taken a boat tour as well as watched from the sidelines when the bats take flight. Go Like Lo & opt for the boat tour on Lone Star Riverboat or Capital Cruises. They take you right out on Lady Bird Lake so you can see the action up close & personal.
Grab and quick dinner then ride by the Capitol Building at night. Located at 1100 Congress Ave, it is GORGEOUS.
Bed to prepare for your last day in the Lone Star State
Day 5: Austin and Head Home
Check out bright & early! Don't worry about hauling your luggage around town, the hotel can store your bags!
Dine and Shop!
Grab a bite then head over to 2nd Street District for shopping at some of the neatest local boutiques. The district is walkable & one of the most visited places in Austin. It is lined with shops, restaurants and murals for picture taking along the way!
Head over to South Congress.
Explore and shop a little then be sure to grab a bite to eat & a cocktail.
Check out Barton Springs Municipal Pool
A 3 acre concrete swimming pool, fed by a spring! Probably one of the coolest places I have seen to escape the summer heat. It’s only $9! If you don’t want to be wet before traveling, at least stop by & check out Barton Springs Municipal Pool!
Check out University of Texas
When we visited the beautiful campus, it made me question all decisions I made when choosing a college. It’s gorgeous!
Stroll around Lady Bird Lake
If interested, there are many water activities available Lady Bird Lake. Rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, take a boat tour and more!
Head to the airport & fly home
Have a few extra days or want to arrive earlier than night time on travel day?
Be sure to check out more Austin Hot Spots.
Barton Springs
Boat Tours and Cruises from Lone Star Cruises or Capitol Cruises
Spend a day on Lady Bird Lake
Visit the food trucks
Sixth Street for nightlife entertainment
Austin Lodging Options
Of course, you can never go wrong with a Hampton Inn, Kimpton Hotel, or a Marriott. If you opt to use those or use an Airbnb, I recommend staying in East Austin or downtown! An Airbnb can truly create a unique experience. I love it for girls’ trip!
Dining Recommendations:
Austin
There are so many fabulous choices for food in Austin. There is no way for me to cover every great restaurant but this is a perfect starting point to save you time!
Acre 41: A nicer stop for burgers, steaks, & weekend brunch
LeRoy & Lewis: BBQ, burgers, or tacos
They also have a food truck in a beer garden setting
Cuantos Tacos: You guessed it, tacos—in a food truck, that’s iconic Austin
Fixe Southern House: Grits, biscuits, steak, AND seafood
Caroline: Brunch and coffee
Phoebe’s Downtown: Sandwiches, burgers, and more
Local Foods: A great place to hang out, eat, and has outdoor seating available
Magnolia Café: Breakfast
The Omelettry: Breakfast
The Well: Breakfast
Kerbey Lane Café: Central: Breakfast
Food Truck Park: Go Like Lo & check it out, perfect for lunch and dinner option
San Antonio
Iron Cactus Mexican Restaurant: Be prepared, it’s not like Mexican at home!
Boudro’s on The Riverwalk: Steak, seafood, and tableside guac
PROST: German dishes and a beer garden
Crepeccino Café & Creperie: Breakfast
Waco
Magnolia Table: Homestyle food, breakfast and lunch
Café Homestead: Rustic American eating, think farm to table with local ingredients
Twisted Root Burger Company: Great burgers and shakes
Cajun Craft: Eat crawfish outdoors, they also have inside seating and other options like fried chicken
Houston
Hearsay Market Square: American eatery with great cocktails
Bungalow: American favorites like mac and cheese, salads, and more
The Nash: A bar type scene with great drinks and American far
The Grove: Salads, steaks, and sandwiches
The Breakfast Klub: Breakfast
Want to spice it up?
Grab a hotel in each destination to add a little spark.
San Antonio
Waco
Houston
Stay connected
Be sure to follow Hey Lo, Let’s Go on Instagram at @heyloletsgo and TikTok at @heyloletsgolauren.
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