I am taking my daughter to Baylor for a Christian leadership program at the end of this month and will have a few days of free time on my hands.What would you gentlemen from this area recommend doing and what about good restaurants in the area?

Thanks

Visit the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco. There might be an auction just east of town at A&S auction house.

I was gonne mention the Ranger Museum because that is the ONLY thing in that town. Had a stepson went to college eons past +after leaving Austin to the netherworld,the degree came quick;primarily just get out of Waco. They don't call it Wacko Waco without a reason.never seen a town I liked more seeing in my taillights.

Ask Gato for Q recommendations .

Stay in WV and watch my Grandson practice football for next year. The Ranger Museum is a great place to spend time. City is nice, but too small to offer much more other than a couple eating places.

I think all that can be done in Waco is chase co-eds. Not promising if you are the father of one of those co-eds.

Probably the best places to go while you are in Waco is either Austin or Dallas. Get on 35 and head south, or north. In about an hour and a half you'll notice civilization.

I wouldn't take I35 anyplace! I would find a different way to get there.

Is I35 aaaaalways under construction?

At least for the last 30years. You can get on I45 south and drive 75-80MPH and as you approach people they move over. On I35 you have a bunch of people that drive 5MPH under and block the lanes.

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
At least for the last 30years. You can get on I45 south and drive 75-80MPH and as you approach people they move over. On I35 you have a bunch of people that drive 5MPH under and block the lanes.

Soooo true...

Karl

Church?

There can't be much interesting there with all of those Baptists.

Back in college I always found Baptist girls to have split personalities. As long as you went to church with them on Sunday and Wednesday, you could do anything you wanted on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For a while I thought that was a fair trade.

You need to go to Rudy's for BBQ

North of Waco in West Texas you will find some great Kolaches. The Shell station on the east side of I35 has some of the best.

Has it been rebuilt after the fertilizer explosion and fire?

Yes,thanks to Willie Nelson but not the government. Yes,the Czeck Stop has good kolaches;we always grab a couple dozen when passing through.

You could try both Czech Stop and Slovacek's in West. (The line will normally be out the door at Czech Stop.)

My problem with both is, be prepared to be underwhelmed. They are so over-hyped that I guess I expected too much. I was disappointed. (Go there so you can say you've been there.)

People were standing around acting like they were having an orgasm and I thought everything was pretty average; about what I could get at Kroger or Whole Foods.

http://slovacek.com/
http://www.czechstop.net/

I was avoiding giving my opinion of Waco until all the Texans had gone in. The place is depressing!

It probably means more to Texans than to others, but the Texas Ranger Museum is worth a LOOONG drive to visit IMO. It helps your appreciation of it if you know some of the history of the Rangers.

The early rangers were some of the toughest and bravest men of the era. The early ones often operated alone on a horse far from any help and usually got the job done whether the foe was Indians, bandits, or rustlers.

FWIW, of the, at least, 4 bakeries in West, I rate the Czech Stop the worst both for crowds and quality. I much prefer the one right around the corner (I think it's called Gerik's but an not sure)(go straight about a block instead of turning right to the Czech Stop, on right, next to meat market) or the ones downtown.

Personally, thanks to being indoctrinated during some Central Texas dove hunts by the Barron family's poppy seed kolaches, I love them and rarely miss a chance to stock up. It's an acquired taste. A big thank you to Mrs. Barron.

Gerik's has some superb pecan rolls, etc.

Charlie,
You are right. It is a very god museum.

Thanks all,
I Will be there tuesday afternoon and will stay until sunday if anyone will be in the area and would like to have a drink or cigar let me know.

WVF:

Good luck, but I didn't think you could have a drink or a cigar in Waco -- could be wrong.

You are wrong.

Regarding West.My ex-wifes 1st husband's family owned the cafe in town;if memory serves,it was called "Shulacks". Those were days when everybody got along,regardless of divorce. Times have changed but I did get his Great Aunt's recipe for buttermilk pie. It is to die for. It is my entrance ticket to ANY function.

NC:

My wife makes a great buttermilk pie. However, unless it is a secret, I'd like to have your Great Aunt's recipe to see what, if any, differences there might be. Thanks.

I would like the recipe also.

I have never heard of buttermilk pie but would really like to try it if one or both of you could share your recipe.
Thanks
Fred

My wife is out of the country until this coming Monday. I'll get it from her when she returns and post it here and in the recipe section. I'm not claiming her's is the best ever, but it is a damn fine dessert. It's not very hard to make.

I need to go to Waco to look at a boat, but I can't be there until after she returns, which means you'll be gone.

Thanks I'll keep an eye on the recipe forum.

I'm going to the recipe forum now + post mine.Thanks for the interest.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Church?

Anything left of the Branch Davidian compound ? Decided if I ever got to Waco, would have to see that.
Grizz

I haven't been there, but apparently there is some kind of a church there as well as a monument/memorial or two.

This article has pics which give a general view.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/ne...99.php#photo-4313120

Here are directions if you want to go see it:

Branch Davidian Massacre Site

Mount Carmel Massacre Site
Address:

1781 Double EE Ranch Rd, Waco, TX
Directions:
Mount Carmel Massacre Site. Northeast of the city. Hwy 2491 (Elk Rd) about five miles east of Loop 340. You'll come to a split in the road, but stay on 2491 which bears to the left. Not far from the split you'll see large, wavy metal gates on the left (Double E Ranch Rd). Just beyond that property is a gravel road on the left (Double EE Ranch Rd). Turn down that gravel road. The Mount Carmel property is a short distance on the right.

Personally I think it should be more prominent as a monument to government misdeeds.

Should be a statue of Janet Reno, revealing how ugly the government can be. Branch Davidian's were not saints, but the handling of that event was inexcusable.

I don't plan on doing anything in Waco, but I may be travelling through there around lunch time. Anyone have a favorite Waco restaurant?

Waco was a bust when it came to food, but further south on 77; off 77 on 21 actually, there is a café called the Elm Creek Café. Don't miss it if you are down that way. Finish-off the meal with dewberry pie. The vanilla ice cream on top doesn't add a thing, skip it. The dewberry pie is the superstar on the menu. Outstanding!