Tyler, Texas is commonly referred to as the “Rose Capital of the World.” But there’s a lot more to this cool Texas town than simply stopping to smell the roses. It’s an authentic Texas town full of sights, sounds, attractions, and food options that will make you want to stick around long after you’ve taken a good look at your fill of rose petals. In this video, we’re taking a look at some of the best that Tyler has to offer. It has a huge range of really great attractions, ranging from outdoor activities, museums, a great zoo, and much more. So stick around, as Viewcation presents, The Best Things to Do in Tyler, Texas!
Tyler Rose Garden
Ok, let’s start with the obvious. If you’re headed to Tyler, there’s a decent chance it’s because you’re a lover of all things roses. And there’s no better place to fulfill your love of the flower than to stop by the Tyler Rose Garden. It’s the biggest municipal rose garden in the country, and will not disappoint. It has more than 600 varieties of roses to check out, spread out amongst more than 38,000 distinct rose bushes. Livability.com declared it one of the 10 top most inspiring gardens in the country. So whether you’re looking for inspiration, a gorgeous view, or simply a beautiful view, the Tyler Rose Garden has you covered. Your Instagram feed will definitely thank you for your trip here! And of course, if you happen to be in Tyler in the middle of October, you’ll be able to head to the Texas Rose Festival, held at the Tyler Rose Garden. People flock from all over the country to be a part of this special event.
Tyler Azalea and Spring Flower Trails
Tyler isn’t just home to roses. It also has the incredible Tyler Azalea Trail. It’s a 10-mile trail full of not only gorgeous azaleas but also dogwood trees, Redbud trees, Japanese Maples, and flowers like daffodils and tulips. The trail winds through many of Tyler’s quaint neighborhoods, lined with brick streets and homes that have been around for decades. You’ll also be privy to local gardens as you take the trail around town, and the residents of Tyler take special care to make sure their gardens are worthy of this truly flower-oriented town. There are two primary trails – the Dobbs Trail and Lindsey Trail, and they attract more than 100K tourist every year, looking to explore the local beauty of Tyler.
You’ll also be able to check out the Azalea National Historic District, which is actually on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s made up of nearly 1000 houses that were all constructed in the early to mid 1900’s. Many of them were built as Tyler experienced the positive impacts of the 1930’s oil boom.
Tyler Planetarium
When you visit Tyler, you won’t only want to look down and to the side to check out the plants. You’ll also want to look up… into the sky that is. The best way to do this is by checking out the Tyler Planetarium. It’s a fairly new structure that was built at Tyler Junior College. But there’s nothing ‘junior’ about it. It’s a fantastic facility, featuring a fancy new exchibit space and an incredible digital projection system that is cutting edge. The planetarium boasts a theater that’s 40 feet in diameter, and features Digistar 4. And yes, we aren’t familiar with that tech either, but we’re told it’s the latest and greatest when it comes to digital projections. In other words, it looks awesome. Plus they have an outdoor area full of educational exhibits. You’ll be able to check out some of the planetarium’s shows like “Cosmic Collisions” and “Great Balls of Fire.” Plus you can see an actual meteorite! The planetarium has one that weighs 1500 pounds!
Caldwell Zoo
When you grow tired of looking at animals and star projections, you’ll want to check out some living creatures, right? If so, then you’ll want to head right to the Caldwell Zoo. Originally started in the 1930’s as a place where kids could go to check out local parrots and squirriels, the zoo has grown in huge ways over the years. It’s recognized as one of the premiere zoos in the region, having burst out into an 85-acre campus. It has over 2000 animals to check out, including more than 250 different species from a variety of continents. If you have kiddos with you, they can check out the petting pen, and the whole family can enjoy things like the aquarium and the café. Some of the coolest exhibits are the African Svanna, the Herpertarium, as well as a wild bird walkabout.
Museums Galore
Somehow Tyler manages to have almost as many museums as it does roses. (Ok, that’s an exaggeration, but it definitely has a lot of great museums to check out.
If you are checking out the planetarium, you can stay on campus at Tyler Junior College and see the Tyler Museum of Art. It has a variety of rotating exhibits, as well as some permanent ones. It boasts more than 1200 pieces of various mediums, like sculptures, photos, prints, and paintings. Featured artists include Alexander Calder, James Surls, and many more.
Then there’s the Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum, which is not only a Texas Historic Landmark, but was named to the national Register of Historic Places. It’s been around since 1859, so you’re stepping into a piece of history just by entering. You can take a tour of the house and museum without a reservation, though if you’re looking for group tours you’ll need to set that up in advance. You can then check out the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum. It focuses on aviation history, and is located right at the Tyler regional airport. Aviation enthusiasts will enjoy multimedia presentations as well as educational programs. Plus they have a cool gift shop and library!
Another great option is the Cotton Belt Depot Museum. If you’re a model train lover, this will be your favorite spot in Tyler. It has model train layouts, uniforms, photos of old trains, and much more.
Outdoor Activities
When you’ve had your fill of being indoors at museums, you might be looking for some ways to get some outdoor recreation in. Your first stop can be at Faulkner Park. You’ll be able to play some tennis on the public courts there, or go fishing in the stocked pond. There are also baseball fields if you’ve brought your baseball gloves and want to toss a ball around. If you have kids with you, they’ll enjoy the water sprayground. You can also make an afternoon of it, since they have picnic facilities for spreading out and having a relaxing lunch. Plus if you’re looking to hike or bike, they have lovely trails for those as well. Another great option with a lot of similar offerings is Lindsey Park. Like Faulkner Park, it’s operated by the city, and offers hiking and biking options and a picnic area. But it also adds in things like basketball courts, a disc golf course, a playground, and more. Then there’s Tyler Legacy Trails, which are a newer addition to the city. They are a great way to spend some time hiking or biking, and actually end up in Faulkner Park on one end.
See a show!
If you’re looking for some fun stage entertainment, Tyler offers the Tyler Civic Theater Center. It was originally a historic theater called the Tyler Little Theater, which was built in 1927. After falling into a bit of disrepair, the building was renovated in 2000. The Little Theater stage is now the Rogers Children’s Theater, where younger folks can go to learn about the varying aspects of play production. But visitors will more likely be interested in the Braithwaite Theater inside the building, which seats 350 people. They put up a variety of shows all year round, including comedies, live thrillers, and wholesome classic shows that you can bring the family to. So, be sure to check out the schedule online before your trip to Tyler, so you can catch a fantastic show!
Shopping Options
Finally, if you’ve done all the museum visits, theater visits, and rose garden visits you can take, you might be in the mood for some good old retail therapy. Tyler has you covered in that regard, since it’s actually the biggest retail hub in all of East Texas. There are a ton of shops and shopping centers, ranging from tiny boutiques, to regional and national stores. The South Broadway Avenue commercial corridor is a particularly popular spot to check out, as it offers major retailers and you’ll be able to pick up pretty anything you could want. Then there’s the Village at Cumberland Park, which open in 2014 and offers a bevy of fun stores to check out. And Broadway Square Mall has nearly 100 shops to wander through, as well as some solid food options.
Tyler is a gem in East Texas that should definitely be explored. If you find yourself doing a swing through Texas for your next vacation, it’s clearly a worthwhile place to spend a few days. And obviously if you’re a rose lover, it’s a must-see destination. But as you can see, the city is far more than the amazing collection that it’s famous for. There are a ton of great outdoor facilities to enjoy, a bevy of fantastic museums, a really cool planetariums, a great regional zoo, and much more.
Now it’s time to hear from you. Have you ever been to Tyler? If so, did we miss any of your favorite attractions? If not, do you think you’ll ever get there? Let us know in the comments section below!