The completed Magnolia campus expansion is spacious and fun and NOW is definitely the time for locals to check it out before summer vacation crowds return. The Magnolia folks even helped us come up with some local pro-tips for Wacoans planning a visit.

Waco Wednesday (and Tuesday!) – Tuesday and Wednesday typically have lighter tourist traffic, making them the perfect days to come check out the whole space or just grab lunch at the food trucks. We (the Downtown Waco staff) visited on a Tuesday, late morning, and sometimes felt like we had the place to ourselves. We found parking spots right in front of Magnolia Press on Webster and there were no lines for Magnolia Press or Silos Baking Co.

• Another reason to visit on Wednesday: Cheddar Box offers a Wacotown Wednesday promotion, $5 gourmet grilled cheese for locals. (Magnolia Table, located at the Traffic Circle, offers a Waco Wednesday discount also, 20% off the whole ticket for locals!)

Speaking of Food – We’re so happy that, since the expansion is finished, our local food trucks that call Magnolia home can get back to plying their delicious trade. The new, improved food truck area is paved, covered and features multiple, spaced out, covered picnic tables. Another local perk: Club Sandwich gives locals $1.50 off rice bowls every day.

Quick Coffee – Magnolia Press opens at 7a.m., making it a great option for grabbing coffee on the way to work. At that hour, you should be able to park right in front and run in. Actually, you can even call your order in ahead of time(254-265-6858) and pick it up at the outside to-go window on the back porch. (Baylor University staff and students receive 20% off consumable purchases at Magnolia Press any time with school I.D.!)

Wide Open Spaces – Visit on a pretty day and plan to hang out a while. There’s a ton of spaced out café seating on the back porch, perfect for popping open a laptop or a book. Or bring a friend along, grab a coffee and settle into one of the couches by the outdoor fireplace for a chat. All these spaces are also ideal for maintaining social distance too.

• With Kids – Some local moms already know a Magnolia secret: the stretch of astro turf in front of the Silos is a great place to let littles get their wiggles out. And now, there’s even more space for that. The expansion includes a whiffle ball field for the whole family to play on. And there’s a stretch of green in front of the chapel and between all the small boutique shops in the new section. Shop a bit – for leather bags, jewelry, bath products and more – then let the kids tumble. Sounds like a good deal.

Parking – The great news is that if you go to Magnolia on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you shouldn’t have a problem finding close parking. If there’s not a space in front of Magnolia Press, try the gravel lot on 6^th Street, just across the train tracks from the Silos. Sixth Street also offers on-street parking and don’t forget, the Dr Pepper Museum lot is actually public parking, so you can park there and stroll over.

Magnolia has implemented extensive cleaning and sanitizing protocol across the campus to keep all visitors safe. As spring creeps in and we have more warm, sunny days, it’s the ideal time to explore Magnolia and take advantage of the sparse crowds and local specials.