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    Central Texas Area Museum

    3.0 (1 review)

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    Waco Mammoth National Monument

    Waco Mammoth National Monument

    4.5
    (193 reviews)
    50.7 mi

    If you have been driving and need to get out and stretch... stop here. It's the perfect "break."…read moreLearn something new and give your little ones the opportunity to become a certified ranger! ;) There's a gift shop of souvenirs for memory sake.

    As a National Park enthusiast, I was really excited to learn this site wasn't too far from my…read morefriend's house and so I was ecstatic to visit Waco Mammoth National Monument while in Texas. I'm also glad I happened to bring my National Park passport (you just never know!) Anyway, Waco Mammoth is definitely one of the more unusual units of the National Park System I've visited but also worth the visit!!! The history behind the site is fascinating. After two men discovered bones in 1978, researchers from Baylor University and other institutions began excavating the area and quickly realized they had uncovered something incredible! More and more fossils were found and in 2015 my guy President Obama established the site as an official unit of the National Park System. Though, one thing visitors should know ahead of time is that even though this is a National Park Service site, our America the Beautiful passes do NOT work here. General entry to the park grounds is free, but there is a separate fee to enter the dig shelter because it is operated in partnership with the City of Waco to help support preservation efforts. The actual dig shelter is absolutely the highlight of the experience, though you'll need to join a guided tour led by a docent. Hopefully you end up with one who is especially knowledgeable and enthusiastic because that really makes the experience come alive. I loved seeing the nation's first and only recorded evidence of a nursery herd of Colombian Mammoths from the Ice Age! So neat. At least 19 mammoths were discovered and the jury (err, scientists) are still out on how exactly these mammoths came to be trapped at this site/the reasoning for their passing. Anyway, this is a fascinating stop and absolutely worth visiting if you're in the Waco area, especially if you enjoy history, science, paleontology, or just visiting National Park units. It's not a full-day destination by any means, but it's definitely educational, memorable, and offers something very different from the typical national park experience!

    Photos
    Inside the gift shop
    Inside the gift shop
    Waco Mammoth National Monument
    Outside the mammoth building

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    Outside the mammoth building
    The Blanton Museum of Art

    The Blanton Museum of Art

    4.4
    (290 reviews)
    47.2 mi

    One of my favorite things about working on a college campus are the gems (art, music, dance,…read moretheatre) that are available to enjoy.who knows if the arts can withstand the tide that is currently decimating our history so I won't take it for granted and will experience as much of it as I can. The contemporary, modern and Latin collections in the Blanton, along with the art pieces at Rowling Hall are my favorites.

    Unpopular opinion loading: as someone who has lived in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, I'm…read moreafraid that this museum leaves very much to be desired, both for the quantity, and quality of the artworks, or lack there of. Basically a single story of actual art, since the first floor is in overly large, check-in area, atrium, and staircase with a large piece of art hanging from the ceiling. The second floor is laid out around the perimeter of said atrium, leaving little space for actual art. I would be surprised if this museum could display more than 20 works at one given time. I've been three times and never seen anything impressive or particularly interesting, and the entire ground can be covered in about 20 minutes if you move at a relatively leisurely pace. One of the times was there Saturday events and it was pretty boring. It was basically a bunch of people congregated outside in the heat because they had declared it wasn't an event with an OK band playing and food. You had to pay for on top of paying for the event. It was the regular art exhibit and there was no where air conditioned to sit in the heat. Whyyyyyyy? The little house outside is cute but it's not worth a visit alone. It's a novelty that wears off within about five minutes. In a city that prides itself on being so artsy, why don't we have any good museums or film houses? Not even one.

    Photos
    A series of emotions filmed in real-time slowed down to 81.5 minutes
    A series of emotions filmed in real-time slowed down to 81.5 minutes
    Farrah Fawcett by Andy Warhol
    Farrah Fawcett by Andy Warhol
    Interior

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    Interior
    The Haunted Magnolia Hotel

    The Haunted Magnolia Hotel

    5.0
    (8 reviews)
    98.3 mi

    Amazing experience! Great Friday Night Spook Day with my girlfriends! We will be back to book the…read moreovernight stay in October!

    Oct 28 is Emma's Birthday... so Magnolia Hotel decided to open the doors to celebrate! Free tours…read morefrom 10am-2pm! I just happened to see something come through my newsfeed over Fb, I bookmarked it, found my schedule open, so headed east to check it out. Emma likes to play in her room... and who doesn't like to play with little spirits?! I didn't know the history of the Magnolia Hotel so was totally clueless walking in the door... Magnolia Hotel has been on Ghost Adventures on Travel Channel. Also, Magnolia Hotel is ~not~ a hotel, it is now a personal residence. To my delight, I was able to hear stories of the old hotel, tales of it's past residents many of which have never left, and how Magnolia Hotel was discovered by the owners. Jim & Erin saved the Magnolia from being demolished... they single handedly have saved a part of Seguin history!... and some haunted history at that! I spent about two hours just hanging out, looking around, and people watching... talked to some interesting people, listening to questions and answers... all very interesting. Did I have an experience? I had something creepy go up the back of my left neck and skull as I was talking to a ghost hunter in the original dining area where the owner was sitting. I also felt some weird things around the house... but something I brushed off at first until I started listening to others talk about it... when you first come up the stairs, it feels really heavy. I originally brushed it off as I just walked up the stairs... but no, go back and you feel it... and everyone was feeling it!!! Emma was playing in her room. One of the guides said just a few minutes earlier, a little girl got scratched. Then someone told her that they saw the door knob in the pink bathroom turn back and forth. The owner, Erin, said this house is more active during the day than at night. Wow! The owners Jim & Erin host a ghost tour in their home on occasion, which books up months in advance. The tour last about 2 hours with in-depth stories which might also include a spiritual reading from the Erin at the end (but only if deceased wish to come forward). Erin has written Haunted New Braunfels, Haunted Seguin, and soon to be released Haunted Magnolia House. All proceeds go towards restoring the Magnolia Hotel. I can not wait to go on their ghost tour!

    Photos
    By far our most unusual capture in the Traveling Salesmen's lobby area. The guest has two faces and she is the one with bangs.
    By far our most unusual capture in the Traveling Salesmen's lobby area. The guest has two faces and she is the one with bangs.
    Erin and Jim Ghedi
    Erin and Jim Ghedi
    Seen on Ghost Adventures AFTERSHOCKS with Zak Bagan on the Travel Channel.

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    Seen on Ghost Adventures AFTERSHOCKS with Zak Bagan on the Travel Channel.
    Temple Children’s Museum

    Temple Children’s Museum

    3.6
    (7 reviews)
    15.9 mi

    Right away I will say we enjoyed it here more than in The thinkery! I am referring to a toddler…read more I think the set up and various stations are just perfect for safe and fun play time. For 1,5 hours we were able to go through entire place without any rush and issues. The fun part that register has scanning light and makes beeping noise. And they use reusable bags for shopping. Musical instruments are also available and they even have x-ray machine in doctors cabinet. 3 clean bathrooms on site and diaper changing room are available. My little one cried, she did not want to leave. I let her explore outside in outdoor kitchen. Toys are in a good condition and all is well organized and in order. Ticket cost is only $6 per person, makes it affordable to come as often as possible. Staff was very nice and helpful. I will definitely go back. For someone who gave only 1 star just for parking, I was able to park easily right in front of entrance on Wednesday afternoon. No problem. Even though plenty parking around the area. For someone who mentioned that staff was reminding to keep toys organized and in order, I was told only once when purchasing tickets and no reminders. Maybe because I was constantly behind kids and helping them to put everything back. Perfect time to teach them to clean up after themselves. If anything the mother who's kid was quite loud did not take any actions.

    We came here for a birthday party and had a lot of fun! I was surprised how much they had for a…read moresmaller town! Lots of different sections to pretend play (grocery, doctor, vet, camping, etc). My girls really enjoyed it.

    Photos
    Build a car!
    Build a car!
    Temple Children’s Museum
    Good times !

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    Good times !
    Museum of the Weird

    Museum of the Weird

    3.8
    (378 reviews)
    48.2 mi

    If I could bottle the feeling of being a weird little kid who just wandered into something magical,…read moreMuseum of the Weird would be it. This place might honestly be my favorite spot I've ever visited. I love oddities, and they are surprisingly hard to find all together like this. Walking through here felt like running away to the circus in the best way. Every room has something that makes you stop and stare. Shrunken heads, two-headed specimens, medical oddities, freak show history, UFO lore, Movie props and replicas! and so much more. I appreciated that it felt more like a cabinet of curiosities than a haunted house vibe. The exhibits are thoughtfully laid out, and there's a genuine feeling of love for weird history here. It doesn't feel cheesy. You can take your time, read signs, and really soak it all in if you want, or just wander around wide eyed and delighted like me. If you're into oddities, curiosities, circus history, strange science, or just being a little weird inside, this place is an absolute must while you're downtown. I left smiling and already wanting to go back. Honestly, if this is your thing at all, you'll get it immediately. One small but important thing to note, especially for the rest of my disabled community: there is no bathroom on site. While they do let you leave and come back if needed, that still means stepping out and trying to find a restroom on a very busy downtown Austin street. It was honestly really stressful and upsetting for me. However...that didn't ruin the experience for me because I love it so much, but it's definitely something to be aware of and the only reason this lands at 4 stars instead of 5.

    It is something to do when it's hot. The AC works except in the wax room. It smells awful!!!…read moreThey encourage you to take pics with King Kong which involves getting on knees and climbing up thru the hand. Well my dress had a dark brown wet stain on it as I stood up. Looked like poop -it wasn't but it sure looked like it. Bathroom out of order but they let me in and stain still there. So $25 for 2 to get in and I possibly ruined a brand new dress. Wasn't impressed at all by the place.

    Photos
    Hollywood prop
    Hollywood prop
    King Kong for photo op
    King Kong for photo op
    Museum of the Weird

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    Central Texas Area Museum - museums - Updated July 2026

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