Waco--Central Texas at Its Best

Nestled on I-35 between Dallas and Austin, Waco is ideally located smack-dab in the middle of the great state of Texas. Waco was also my home for four years (2002-2006) while I attended Baylor University. Originally from Houston, the idea of moving to a comparatively smaller city (pop. about 150,000) was daunting at first, but Waco turned out to be a charming, inviting city.

With that said, Waco is a perfect place to stop over for a day or two on your way to one of Texas' more exciting cities (like Dallas, Houston, Austin, or San Antonio), but it's probably not worth making a special trip just for the city alone. That's the beauty of Waco -- you can do everything in a day or two and it's no more than three hours away from all of the state's largest metropolises.

If you do have the chance to stop by Waco, I guarantee you can find something that fits your interests, no matter what you like to do when traveling. Waco has one-of-a-kind shopping, a young nightlife (it is a college town), museums, movie theaters, great local restaurants, parks and plenty of hotels of all shapes and sizes.

Quick Tips:

My top 5 places to go in Waco:

--The Shops of River Square Center (www.shopsofriversquarecenter.com)
--The Mayborn Museum Complex (www.baylor.edu/mayborn)
--George's Restaurant (www.georgesrestaurant.com)
--Elite Circle Grille (www.elitecirclegrille.com)
--Cameron Park Zoo (www.cameronparkzoo.com)


Warning: If you want to avoid crowds, try not to visit Waco around graduation times (mid-May, late August, mid-December) or during Homecoming (late October/early November). It will be harder to book a hotel or get into the good restaurants during these times.


Safety Tip: Most of Waco is pretty safe, but Cameron Park is not safe to walk around at nighttime.


Resources for Visitors:
www.wacocvb.com
www.lone-star.net/mall/txtrails/waco.htm
www.baylor.edu
There's also a Visitor Center on Baylor's Campus at 1301 S. University Parks Drive


On your way out of Waco?
--If you are on 1-35 heading toward Dallas, be sure to stop at the Outlet Mall in Hillsboro for good shopping.
--Also on the way to Dallas, about 30 minutes outside of Waco, is the tiny town of West. It has a huge Czech Fest during September/October every year, complete with polka bands and Czech food and drinks. During the other times of the year, be sure to stop at the Czech Stop, right off I-35, for the most delicious kolaches you'll ever have!
--If you're heading toward Austin, stop in the city of Salado. There's great antique shopping in the city, right off the highway, and during the Christmas, the city is in full old-town Christmas mode.

Best Way To Get Around:

Most of Waco's popular spots (restaurants, hotels, downtown, Baylor University, shopping) are right off of the city's main thoroughfare, I-35. Waco's other main streets are LaSalle, Valley Mills, University Parks, Waco Drive, Hwy.6 and Martin Luther King Junior. All of these streets connect to I-35.

It is definitely necessary to have a car in Waco. Parking is plentiful everywhere in the city, except for a few places on Baylor's campus. Taxis and public transportation buses exist in the city, but their availability is sparse at best.

History --
The waitstaff at Elite Circle Grille all have different slogans on the back of their black t-shirts--slogans like, "eat with a legend" or "I survived the circle." At first I had no idea what these slogans meant, but after dining at Elite a few more times, I started to understand. Elite (which opened in 1919 and was recently massively remodeled) is one of those rare restaurants with history, credibility, and good food, too.

That "legend" mentioned in the slogan? He's none other than Elvis Presley, who used to eat peanut butter and banana sandwiches at Elite in the '50s when he was stationed at Fort Hood in nearby Killeen. The "I survived the circle" was a little easier to figure out. Elite is situated on the northwest edge of the historic circle intersection in Waco, where roads from San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas used to meet.

Atmosphere --
In keeping with its history, the newly remodeled Elite went back to its roots. The walls, especially the bathrooms, are decorated with Elvis and Waco memorabilia. Swathed in subtle black and taupe, Elite's booths and table seating spreads out in a V-shape from the entrance. On either end of the V are two large rooms, perfect for large parties or receptions. In the center of the V is the bar area, which offers small-table seating, flat screen TVs, and a mid-20s-and-up happy hour crowd.

When it comes to the crowd and the attitude of Elite, almost anything goes. On the weekends, Elite usually has a jazz-type band play in one of the corners of the restaurant. The clientele is very mixed--There are college kids, families, 30-somethings on dates, and even an older crowd who probably remember Elite in its former days.

Food --
One reason Elite attracts such a varied crowd is that it offers something they can all agree on--the delicious food. My personal favorites are the Cashew Chicken Salad ($8.45), the House Club ($6.95), Elite Cheeseburger ($6.45), the Queso Catfish ($10.45) and the Coconut Shrimp ($13.45).

The chicken salad is huge and served in a scooped-out pineapple. The House Club, which is served on wheat berry bread, comes with french fries, but I like to switch out the fries for their homemade, chunky mashed potatoes. Some of my more carnivorous friends really enjoy the Dr Pepper BBQ Baby Back Ribs ($16.45) or the Elite Steaks. No matter what you get, the portions are huge, and all meals come with delightfully sinful yeast rolls with coconut or garlic butter.

The best deal at Elite is their happy hour (Mon-Fri from 4-7pm). Drinks are discounted, margaritas are $1 and appetizers are half-priced. There were times when I made an entire meal out of yeast rolls, Spinach & Artichoke Dip ($6.45) or Crawfish Queso ($7.95), and Elite's amazing mint mojitos (I didn't say it was a healthy meal). They're still the best mojitos I've ever had and they come in mason jars too.

www.elitecirclegrille.com

Overview --
When it comes to the bar scene in Waco, choices can be somewhat limited. But if you're in the city on a Tuesday or Thursday night and enjoy live music and a slightly rambunctious crowd, then Treff's Bar & Grill is the place to go.

Treff's is open from lunchtime - 2am, seven days a week. Happy Hour is pretty quiet and lasts from 3-8pm every weekday (free pool, drinks start at $1 and pitchers start at $4.25). Treff's also serves various bar foods (which are all pretty good, actually) until around 10pm every day, but it's really the nightlife at Treff's that makes it such a popular Waco hangout.

This two-storied bar is located in downtown Waco near the Alico Building, the city's tallest structure. Downstairs, there's pool tables, a large TV and a small bar area. Upstairs, there's a larger bar, lots of seating, a jukebox, and another room filled with large booths and a stage for live entertainment. Live music is played upstairs every night -- anything from heavy metal and acoustic to 80's music and piano.

When to go --
Treff's has various drink specials every night of the week. Visit the bar on a Monday, Wednesday or Sunday night for a quieter experience. But, as mentioned above, Tuesday and Thursday nights are when Treff's really entertains. On those nights, be sure to get there by 10pm, otherwise you could spend half your night downstairs waiting to get upstairs.

Tuesday night is the bar's $2 you-call-it night. Everything is $2, even Grey Goose or Long Island Iced Teas. Needless to say, with prices like those, things get a little crazy as the night wears on. Thursday nights are "Piano Man" nights, when a young piano player from Austin brings his Piano Bar skills to Waco. Always a crowd pleaser, the Piano Man takes requests, and will play almost anything -- from Madonna and Michael Jackson to Sublime and the Toadies.

Atmosphere --
The service at Treff's is always at least decent, and sometimes better. As with most bars, the better you tip, the faster you'll get your drink next time (and with the ridiculously cheap drink prices, you can afford to tip at least a little!). The bartenders are usually pretty friendly, and even on the busiest nights, you shouldn't have to wait more than a few minutes for a drink. There are also waitresses who will bring your drinks to you at all the seating areas.

Treff's is one of the four main bars in Waco, and it's my personal favorite. I always enjoy bars with live music a little more than those without because it gives you something to sing along to while you're hanging out. Treff's is great no matter what type of bar you like because you can enjoy the loud music upstairs or a calmer game of pool downstairs.

Warning: Waco allows smoking in bars after 10pm, so be prepared to leave smelling like an ashtray.