Smith County Historical Society Museum
Smith County Historical Society Museum
If youre a history buff seeking even more things to do in Tyler, TX, head over to the Smith County Historical Society Museum.
It is situated in the Carnegie History Center, a 1904 building that was once the Carnegie Public Library.
Its a part of the National Register of Historic Places and showcases a significant number of exhibits related to Texas Smith County and its culture.
Youll learn about the countys economic, political, and social background.
As Tyler is the county seat, it makes sense that the museum calls this city its home!
The Smith County Historical Society Museum chronicles unique dioramas and exhibits in chronological order, dating all the way back to the habitation of the Caddo peoples and all the way up to the 20th century.
Its permanent exhibit is known as the 20th Century of Progress and showcases the growth of the county, discussing the growth of roses and crops, the discovery of local oil, and more.
There are also tons of temporary exhibits to peruse.
Address: 125 S College Ave, Tyler, TX 75702, United States
Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge Tyler Texas
The Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge is a specially designated Preserve for rescued lions, tigers, leopards, and other big cats. The 150-acre preserve offers natural habitats for more than 40 rescued big cats and provides a sanctuary for the rehabilitation of wild cats that have been neglected, abused, or displaced.
The refuge was not only established for the rescue and rehabilitation of these animals but also to promote conservancy through educational opportunities for people of all ages.
The Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge also offers an outreach program for the tigers in the wild, as well as genetic research, excellent educational programs that include internship opportunities, and sensory tours for children with special needs.
17552 Farm To Market 14, Tyler, TX 75706, 903-858-1008
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Fun Things To Do In Tyler Texas
We took a fun trip to East Texas and found a charming city called Tyler. Tyler, Texas is just a couple hours from Dallas, making this a perfect weekend getaway from Dallas, Texas. If youre looking for a fun little weekend trip away from the city, Tyler is the place to be! Its great for both adults and kids.
Tyler, Texas is known as the Rose Capital of the United States, and for good reason. They have roses gardens that expand over 14 acres with thousands and thousands of roses, and so many varieties you havent even heard of.
But roses arent the only thing you can see in Tyler, Texas
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The Earth And Space Science Center
The Earth And Space Science Center is a planetarium in Tyler.
If you are searching for the perfect place to enjoy your moment, either alone or with your spouse, check out this amazing place!
Their show is always informative and highly entertaining
Not only that, their speakers and display screen make the entire show more inclusive!
The admission fee is just less than $9, which is considerably cheaper than what you could get elsewhere.
During most of their shows, they also offer some sweet popcorn to keep visitors alive.
Employees are equally very nice and considerate.
They are just the best set of people that you will love interacting with.
If you do come with your kids, they will enjoy their shows in the kids session.
Interestingly, they have a little museum downstairs and that is a plus to the fun things you stand to enjoy here!
Just if you want to limit the fun things to explore in this amazing city, do not leave without visiting this amazing place!
Address: 1411 E Lake St, Tyler, TX 75701, United States.
Stop For Barbecue At The Country Tavern
Located near Kilgore, this is also a must-stop place for barbecue!
Since 1939, The Country Tavern has been welcoming its guests with tender meat and mouthwatering sides and desserts.
As soon as you pull up to The Country Tavern, the smell of Texas barbecue will fill your senses!
The food that follows will not disappoint- locals recommend the ribs and potato casserole.
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Explore The Beauty Of The Tyler Rose Garden
As the largest rose garden in America, you wont be disappointed.
Over its 14 acres, youll find 35,000 rose bushes and more than 500 types of roses!
So take your time wandering through rows of roses and enjoying the beauty.
Peak rose season is in mid-to-late May and October, but the garden has various blooms year round!
Entry to the garden is actually free, and the garden is open daily from dawn to dusk.
While youre there, be sure to check out the Tyler Rose Museum and gift shop, both located inside the building that serves as a gateway to the garden.
The museum shares the history of Tylers roses and the annual Rose Festival.
Check out all of the different features of the Rose Garden here.
Experience Amazing Works Of Art At The Tyler Art Museum
At the Tyler Art Museum, you can walk through multiple exhibits that boast unique and creative works of art.
You can check out the over 800 works of art that are located in the permanent year-round collection or discover unique art in the rotating exhibits that change throughout the year.
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Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary
The Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary is a 173-acre designated preserve that boasts natural habitats as homes for over 40 rescued tigers, lions, leopards, and other wild felines.
The sanctuary promoted conservancy while also rescuing and rehabilitating the animals within, specializing in saving displaced, neglected, and abused big cats.
The Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary was founded in 1995 as the Tiger Missing Link Foundation.
At the time, its sole purpose was documenting tigers kept in captivity that werent a part of accredited zoos.
Over time, the founder became more ambitious, moving onto an off-the-grid property and clearing land for enclosures for rescued tigers.
In 1998, Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge opened on just 25 acres, and it has only grown since.
Tours of the Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary are highly educational, giving you the chance to learn in a fun and interesting way.
You can see the reduced wildcats and tour the compound, granting insight into the behind-the-scenes magic of the sanctuary.
This tour includes the very small red cabin that the founder once lived in when the sanctuary was first founded, a reminder of the organizations roots.
Address: 17552 FM14, Tyler, TX 75706, United States
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Float On A Lazy River
The Village apartment complex has an incredible waterpark that many locals and visitors use to beat the heat each summer.
The Waterpark at the Villages consists of a lazy river to sit back and relax and plenty of slides for your entire family to enjoy. There are smaller pools for younger children as well as playgrounds that have water features for everyone to enjoy.
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Amazing Things To Do In Tyler Texas With Kids
While plenty of people visiting Texas hit up the major cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin or San Antonio, there are some great cities to visit for families in Texas. Tyler, Texas has plenty to offer for the whole family, whether you are interested in adventure, nature, animals or museums there truly is something for everyone. Check out our list below of 15 amazing things to do in Tyler Texas with kids on your next family visit!
Go On A Safari At Cherokee Trace Safari
Cherokee Trace Drive Through Safari is about 30 minutes from Tyler, and will make you feel like you are on a real safari!
The Cherokee Trace Drive Through Safari features over two dozen types of exotic and endangered species.
The animals live in open habitats similar to their native habitats!
Here are some of the animals youll most likely see: camels, zebras, deer, bison, emus, llamas, and even a kangaroo!
As you drive through the park, youll feed all sorts of animals over the 300 acre park.
A tip from a local: buy extra food! Its worth it to make sure you can feed all the animals you want!
Entrance fees:
- Free for children under 4
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Pine Springs Golf Club
Public 18-Hole Golf Club just north of Tyler among beautiful pineywoods and rolling hills of East Texas.
Attendees paint during evening classes at this art studio chain serving alcohol at most locations.
Chain retailer buying & selling trendy secondhand clothing for teens & young adults.
The park features picnic areas, pavilion, restrooms, playground, tennis courts, soccer and football fields.
Experience the thrill of urban axe throwing in this 3,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility.
Veteran mini-golf chain with arcade games & snacks some offer go-karts, batting cages, and laser tag.
Play Ping Pong Under The Stars At The Grove
From having a space for weddings, a to-go market, a lively bar, BBQ, playground for kids, and more, The Grove offers something special to the Tyler area. As you start walking around The Grove, you will discover something new around every turn you take, making for a great night out with friends and family.
The Grove has something for everyone to enjoy. You can try your hand at outdoor games by engaging in a friendly game of ping pong or cornhole. You can also sit back and relax with a delicious cocktail while you enjoy live music on the back porch of The Grove.
Kids can spend their time at the playground that is equipped with a small house and tiny grocery cart for kids to use their imagination all day long.
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Azalea Residential Historic District Tyler Texas
Azalea Residential Historic District The Azalea Residential Historic District is one of Tylers historic districts and is packed with a high concentration of early to mid-20th-century homes. Built in a variety of styles, from Queen Anne, Classical Revival, Craftsman, and Ranch to the International style, these beautiful homes, mansions, and estates convey the rich architectural heritage of the city.
They also showcase the incredible growth that Tyler experienced due to the advent of the East Texas Oil Fields and subsequent industry. The Azalea Residential Historic District was designated as a National Historic District in June of 2003.
Kiepersol Estates Winery And Museum
Source: bullard-texas
Kiepersol Estates Winery and Museum aims to tell the stories of their grapes through their wine, and the vineyards on the property span sixty-three acres and feature both red and white grapes.
The vineyards first started out from hand planted vines in 1998 and are owned by the de Wet family.
There is a tasting room on site for guests to visit which features rolling views over the rest of the winery and guests can sample all the latest wines on offer.
As well as wine tastings guests can also go on a guided tour to learn all about the wine making process at Kiepersol Estates.
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Let Space Amaze You At The Planetarium
Hudnall Planetarium at the Earth and Space Science Center at Tyler Junior College will give you a new appreciation for our beautiful galaxy!
This planetarium was built in 1963- and was the first planetarium in East Texas!
It has since been renovated and now boasts the latest in digital projection technology!
The variety of shows at the planetarium are designed with different ages in mind, so check here to find the show that would best suit you!
Things To Do In Tyler Tx Everyone Will Love
Tyler, Texas probably isnt the first location that pops into your head when thinking about places to visit in Texas but it should be! This hidden gem has a lot to offer.
With state parks, zoos, museums, gardens, estates, and some of the best BBQ youve ever had Tyler has something for everyone.
Here are 20 things to do in Tyler TX that youre going to want to add to your Texas bucket list.
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Head Downtown To Do Some Shopping
Downtown Tyler has multiple unique local shops that are perfect to grab a souvenir or two while also seeking out one of the most fun things to do in Tyler.
One popular example is 903 Handmade, which is a local shop that is stocked full of gifts that are all handmade by local artisans.
As you stroll around 903 Handmade you are sure to find something that will leave you in awe of the creative abilities that these artisans have. They have homemade soap, graphic tees, jewelry, and more so everyone is sure to find something that they want or need.
Moon River Naturals is another unique downtown shop that specializes in homemade soaps, scrubs, lotions, and more. Moon River Naturals started on a homestead and was recently moved into a cute building downtown. All of the products at Moon River are homemade and made with natural ingredients.
Drive Through The Azalea Trails
I have to admit, we were kind of confused about the Azalea Trails.
We were expecting a walking trail through a garden or something like that.
What it actually is is a driving route through neighborhoods known for their gorgeous Azalea blooms in March.
Youll want to make sure you do the Azalea Trails when the flowers are actually in bloom, so be sure to check on their website before making the drive.
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Top Things To Do At Nightview All
Being surrounded by so many suburban towns and neighborhoods makes Tyler the ideal place for family. And there are plenty of fun things to do with kids in town, like bouncing at the trampoline park iJump or playing a round of glow-in-the-dark golf at Lunar Mini Golf.
Family-friendly things to do near Tyler include:
- Having a seafood dinner at Villa Montez
- Learning the mystery of science at the Discovery Science PLace
- Spending the day outside at the Childrens Park in East Tyler
- Petting the farm animals at the Half Pint Petting Zoo
- Learning all about big cats at the Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge
Despite being a town filled with rose gardens,Tyler residents treasure their indoor activities. You can find residents taking part in all sorts of relaxing indoor activities, such as learning to cook at the Kitchen Drawer or winding down at the Rose Spa.
Other things to do indoors include:
- Watching a presentation in the domed theater at the Center for Earth and Space Science Education
- Sipping rosé and learning to paint at Paint Nite
- Shopping until you drop at the retail stores in the Broadway Square Mall
- Easing yourself into a freezing session at Subzero Cryotherapy
- Finding your center at beFree Yoga Tyler
Enjoy The Azalea Trails
Roses arent the only flower Tyler is known foreach March, azaleas are also celebrated in town!
The Azalea Trails arent literal trails, more of a nickname for the neighborhoods where you can find the best blooms, but you can use their website to find the best spots.
If youre visiting Tyler in the spring, be sure to add the Azalea Trails to your list of what to do in Tyler!
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+ Things To Do In Tyler Tx
The city of Tyler, otherwise known as the Rose Capital of the World, is an incredible city filled with music, community, adventure, and an appreciation for roses all the way down to Rose Lattes on coffee menus and rose-themed goodies and souvenirs found within just about every shop. Embark on a rosy trip and discover all of the things to do in Tyler and plan an eventful weekend getaway.
Other Things To Do In Tyler
- Feed Zebras: Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari lets you take your car through the different fields and paths to feed zebras and other safari animals.
- Become a Ninja: Test your ninja skills and blow some steam at iJump Tyler with their obstacle courses, trampolines, and activities for both kids and adults.
- Go Skydiving: For those people who are all about the adrenaline rush, check out Skydive East Texas.
- Visit a Sanctuary: The Tiger Creek Animal sanctuary is a wildlife preserve with over 40 rescued cats and exotic animals.
- Catch an Educational Show: The Earth and Space Science Center, featuring Hundall Planetorium, offers different showings including kids shows, expeditions, and more in their space dome theater.
- Ride in a Hot Air Balloon: Soar high over East Texas with views of the luscious pines all around with Balloon Adventures USA.
- Camp Like Yogi Bear: At Jellystone Park, you can find camping, cabins, and different events/activities on site.
- See the Teddy Bears: Childrens Park in Tyler is a beautiful place with teddy bear sculptures and a butterfly garden.
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