Tyler, home to the Texas Rose Festival, is best known as the Rose Capital of America. The homes in Tyler’s historic district stand testament to the city’s evolution into a healthcare and manufacturing hub. Between college students and retirees, Texas’s first certified retirement city has a diverse population of all ages and walks of life. Scroll down to find things to do in downtown Tyler or one of its surrounding neighborhoods.
Tyler is a retail, educational, and entertainment hub for East Texas. Some of the best things to do in Tyler can all be done within the city borders, such as eating at local favorites or shopping the many retail centers.
The top activities and attractions near Tyler include:
Seeing thousands of acclaimed rose bushes at the Tyler Rose Garden
Exploring the trails and waterfront of Tyler State Park
Watching a community event at the Bergfeld Park amphitheater
Playing a round of golf and dining at the Alpine Golf Course in Longview
Some of the best tourist attractions in Tyler include places to stop and smell the roses, or you can choose to spend your day learning all about local history at the Smith County Historical Society Museum.
Popular attractions near Tyler include:
Experiencing the Tyler Rose Museum
Learning about the Civil War at the Goodman-LeGrand House & Museum
Scaring yourself silly on a ghost tour with Jericho’s Tours of Tyler
Checking out the Tyler Historic Aviation Memorial Museum at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport
Seeing a multigenerational family rose business at Chamblee’s Rose Nursery
Tyler is full of fun things to do everyday. Take the time to enjoy Texas cuisine at local favorite Posados on 5th Street. Or enjoy some of the excellent local coffee supplied by Tyler’s own Coffee City USA retailer.
Exciting activities near Tyler, TX include:
Grabbing a taste of Texas at local favorite 1836 Texas Kitchen
Playing a few games at Green Acres Bowling
Getting your errands done at the South Broadway Avenue Shopping Corridor
Experiencing real Texas BBQ at Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ
Catching the latest blockbuster at the Hollywood Theaters
Nightlife in Tyler is full of music. Whether you’re hearing an act at the Crossroads Music Venue or dancing on your own at Coaches and Cowboys, there are many great things to do tonight.
Nighttime activities near Tyler, TX include:
Playing a few games of pool at Clicks Live
Catching some live music from local bands at the Garage Bar
Watching the big game at Where’s Rufus Sports Bar
Grabbing a burger and shake at the Grub Burger Bar
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 Children’s 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
Like most of East Texas, Tyler has a subtropical climate with warm and humid summers and chilly winters. This makes outdoor activities a common pastime for locals and visitors alike. Many things to do outdoors can be done at Lake Tyler. Spend the day hiking the perimeter, fishing, swimming, or boating.
Active things to do outside in Tyler include:
Boating from the marina at Lake Palestine
Learning about Tyler history at The Bonner-Whitaker-McClendon House
Spending the day playing sports at Faulkner Park
Taking a stroll across the Rose Rudman Recreational Trail
Splashing around at the Waterpark at the Villages in Flint
