By Maggie Heyn Richardson 

Home to Chip and Joanna Gaines’ design hub, Magnolia Market, Waco has long been known as a place of beauty and inspiration. It’s also a seriously romantic getaway. Stare across the table into your sweetheart’s eyes over fabulous local cuisine. Pick up a stylish new outfit and trendy home décor at one of dozens of retailers. Enjoy fresh, new experiences that will leave your heart fluttering. From sunset river cruises and horseback rides to boutique hotels and couples’ spa treatments, Waco has the right ingredients to keep the flame burning.  

River Cruise Tour  

Few things are as romantic as a relaxing boat ride, and Waco just happens to be home to one of the country’s most acclaimed. Named the #1 Best Boat Tour in North America by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Waco Tours’ River Cruise Tour provides intimate, 2½ hour excursions along the Brazos and Bosque Rivers. Join a small group of others on a comfy, open-air vessel and experience the regional beauty and history of Waco. Feel the cool breeze and warm sunshine as you sit back, relax and take in the sights. Your guide will spin yarns, tell stories of romance and point out numerous points of interest along the way, including Baylor University’s McLane Stadium, vibrant murals, parks and bridges, and lush natural features. Boat tours are offered both during the day and at sunset.  

Pivovar Beer Spa  

Being in love already feels like an escape, but you’ll really get away from it all at the Pivovar Beer Spa. Yes, honey, we said beer. Part of the Czech-inspired Pivovar Hotel, the Beer Spa is the only one of its kind in Texas and one of the few in the United States. Step into a modern spa room complete with a pair of gleaming copper bathtubs. Don’t worry, this immersive experience doesn’t include splashing in cold suds. You and your sugar pie will ease into hot baths infused with hops, natural barley, brewer’s yeast, and medicinal herbs. Feel the stress slip away as the ancient formula works its regenerative magic. Beer spa treatments are known for their many health benefits, including flushing out toxins and restoring a healthy glow to the skin. The experience only gets better with a shared Pivovar beer flight or Czech wine flight and a cheese board from the hotel’s onsite restaurant. After the bath, rinse off in the accompanying shower before heading off to your room at the boutique hotel or to your next destination. The Pivovar is located in downtown Waco next to the Magnolia Silos.  

Brazos Bluffs Ranch  

Situated amid Texas’ storied natural beauty, Brazos Bluffs Ranch is a hidden gem located just five miles from Waco. Plan a couples’ weekend stay at this working ranch and wildlife preserve, on which a lovely guest house offers two master suites and a sleeping loft. Bring along gourmet ingredients and prepare a special meal in the kitchen, to be savored at the dining table or outside on the porch. Soak up the fresh air and listen to birds sing, frogs croak, and even a coyote baying gently in moonlight. Nature abounds. You might even spot deer or some wild turkeys as you roam the property. A short scenic walk leads you to the Brazos River nearby, where you can spend the afternoon kayaking or fishing. Or, stroll to a bluff overlooking the Brazos River Valley 120 feet below for a panoramic view and plenty of couple’s photo ops. The ranch offers two different horseback riding experiences, including a sunset excursion sure to deliver stunning pink and golden Texas skies. Cap off the evening by whispering sweet nothings to each other around the firepit. The guest house at Brazos Bluffs Ranch house is wheelchair accessible and features Wi-Fi, but no television. After all, this is a romantic escape. 

Brazos Theatre  

Looking for a five-star date night? Book tickets to a show at Brazos Theatre of Waco. The arts venue offers high-quality live theater, including dinner theater performances with catered meals, improv comedy, trivia nights, and even murder mystery events in which the audience plays the parts! Your murder mystery ticket confirmation comes with character packets that preview who you’ll be playing. The arts facility was founded in 2013 by local actors and is known as a terrific place to bring a date. Some shows feature meals, while others offer concessions. Bring your own beverages and settle in for a night of riotous laughs and unexpected fun. The Brazos Theatre will earn you top marks for creativity.  

Cottonland Castle  

Grab your sweetheart and tour a “castle” fit for modern day royalty. Waco is home to fix-up king and queen, Chip and Joanna Gaines, their vibrant Magnolia Market retail complex, and one of their most ambitious renovation projects yet: Cottonland Castle. The couple featured the historic Waco property’s transformation on their show, Fixer Upper, but you can see it in person on a one-hour tour of its spectacular rooms and grounds. Originally built in 1890, Cottonland Castle was the personal residence of many different Waco civic leaders and investors before falling into disrepair. The Gaineses purchased it in 2019 and painstakingly restored the three-story structure to a thing of beauty, complete with Honduran mahogany paneling, Caen stone, and Carrara marble.  

 Filled with romantic things to do, innovative dining, and accommodations to suit every taste and budget, Waco is sure to become your next favorite couple’s destination. Plan your visit to Waco today and prepare to fall in love all over again! 

About the Author: A lover of all things Lone Star, Maggie is an award-winning features writer covering the Gulf South and the author of Hungry for Louisiana, An Omnivore’s Journey.