Instant Alert: HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have made their small Texas hometown one of the top travel destinations in America — here are all the best things to do in Waco

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have made their small Texas hometown one of the top travel destinations in America — here are all the best things to do in Waco by Tanza Loudenback on Jan 10, 2018, 2:52 PM Advertisement HGTV's "Fixer Upper" couple, Chip and Joanna Gaines, are responsible for a huge spike in tourism to their hometown of Waco, Texas. Waco has been named one of the top travel destinations of 2018 by TripAdvisor. From the Gaineses' Magnolia Market at the Silos to the Dr. Pepper Museum and a mammoth fossil site, there's plenty to see and do in Waco.   Chip and Joanna Gaines have starred in "Fixer Upper," one of HGTV's most-watched home improvement shows since 2013. The indelible husband and wife duo announced last fall that Season 5 of "Fixer Upper" would be their last as they shift focus to their growing young family. Though the Gaineses may soon be disappearing from television screens across America, their hometown ambassadorship is strengthening nationwide. Waco, Texas, a city with a population of about 134,400, was recently named the No. 2 trending travel destination in the US by TripAdvisor, seemingly thanks to the Gaineses' burgeoning local empire. In 2017, their expansive downtown Waco hub, Magnolia Market at the Silos, averaged 30,000 visitors a week — an annual total close to 1.6 million people, reports the Waco Tribune. That's more than the Alamo, one of Texas' best-known tourist attractions. Meanwhile, hotel occupancy rates in Waco were 75% in the second quarter of 2017, according to the Waco Tribune, the second-highest in the state. The Gaineses employ more than 600 people in Waco to help run their laundry list of businesses, including a 2.5 acre home-improvement hub, a real estate and construction company, two rental properties, and an upcoming restaurant, Magnolia Table. Here's everything you need to see and do in Waco: SEE ALSO: I traveled to Waco, Texas, to see the town that has been transformed by HGTV's hit show 'Fixer Upper' — here's what it's like DON'T MISS: HGTV's 'Fixer Upper' makes house flipping seem like a good investment — but there's a catch Roundtrip flights from New York City to Dallas or Austin — the two largest airports near Waco — cost about $150 right now. Both airports are about 100 miles from Waco. Once in downtown Waco, you can't miss the Silos. The Gaineses 'favorite investment' so far is a pair of rusted cotton-oil mill silos at the center of a 2.5 acre property otherwise known as Magnolia headquarters. Source: Business Insider On the Magnolia Market website there are tips for making the most of your visit to the Silos. Tip No. 1: The Silos are busiest during lunch hours, so come early or late in the day. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sundays. Source: Magnolia Market See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network:    Email sent to: nguyenvu1187.love5@blogger.com   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011