What To Do In And Around Waco

Stab High is right around the corner and it’s luring a lot of surfers into an area with which they are not familiar.  Inland Texas. Hundreds of miles from the ocean.

Other than watch twenty of the best air surfers in the world throw down on the greatest man-made wave on Earth, what is there to do?  Turns out there’s quite a bit. From bars to art to museums, Texas, apparently, has it all.

For instance, this guy is in Texas. Photo: Four-over-four

Where to stay:

With a population of more than 130,000 Waco, Texas has no shortage of lodging. Prices are relatively inexpensive, with cheaper spots such as the Budget Inn or Motel 6 going for about $50 a night, while nicer places, like the Hilton Waco start at around $150.

The truly budget conscious can rough it at the Midway Park Campgrounds for a mere $22 a night. 

Things to do:

If you’re arriving on the 20th you might want to consider spending the night in Austin. You can catch a movie at the Alamo Draft House, then rage the night away on the legendary 6th St.

If you’d prefer to get the drive out of the way in the beginning and head straight to Waco there’s still plenty to do.

Art gallery, Cultivate 7Twelve, is currently hosting a Banksy exhibit.

Could be you.

You can also drive around Baylor University looking for a frat party to crash. Baylor sure does love its Greek life. Think of it as a cultural exchange between surfing and… Texas people.

The more spiritually minded may enjoy a tour of the Branch Davidian compound. TripAdvisor reviewer SandyFromDallas writes:

“During the tour some guy in a wheel chair came in and started making a scene. He claimed to be the pastor there, but I have never seen a pastor act like that. He was very rude and disruptive. He was talking about the tour guide teaching about David Koresh. Hello? Why else would anyone go out there? Anyway, long story short the “pastor” goes on a rant about the children that died out there being a sacrifice to God and some other crazy stuff. We got uncomfortable and left.”

And don’t forget the Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute! It’s not only about the soda.

“…[T]he Free Enterprise Institute was created in 1997 for the purpose of educating Texas school children and adults about the economic system that underlies American life. Thousands of students from as far away as San Antonio and Houston visit the Museum and Institute on field trips, learning elements of economics and free enterprise in guided tours.“

Indulge in the local cuisine – fire-roasted corpse!

(M)Eats:

Vitek’s Barbecue is a must visit local institution. Founded in 1915, it’s the Home of the Original Gut Pack! Which is essentially a massive, delicious, Frito pie.  Texans know their barbecue, one simply can’t visit the Lone Star State without stuffing their belly full of meats.

Finally, if none of the aforementioned items pan out, you can always track down the Stab crew and hang out in our hotel room.  It’ll get weird, in the most delightful sense possible.

Buy tickets to Stab High here. 

Purchase the Pay Per View here.