Picture yourself on a steep hill overlooking a lush forest, with the autumn mist covering the valley below you. You check your grip, push off and fly over the forest – on a zipline – with a 30-mile vista. How far do you suppose you would have to travel from Dallas-Fort Worth to find this destination? Not far – just 90 miles east of DFW to Tyler, the Rose Capital of Texas.
There is so much for families to explore in the “hill country” of East Texas, including wildlife refuges, museums and an indoor waterpark. Here are our top twelve choices for October:
Tyler Rose Parade and the Rose Queen’s Tea Party
A true extravaganza, the annual Texas Rose Festival is a sumptuous celebration of roses and elaborate costumes. The grand floral Rose Parade begins at 9am on October 19. To watch the parade from the stands, purchase tickets at the Rose Stadium.
After the parade, don’t miss the Rose Queen’s tea party from 1–3pm at the Rose Garden. The tea party is free. Children can have their pictures taken with the Queen and search among the 36,000 rose bushes in the surrounding gardens for the most fragrant roses. Watch where you put your nose – bees love blossoms, too!
The Rose Center restrooms are handicap accessible from the street level entrance, but not from the garden level.
Ziplining
See the piney woods from above as you fly through the air! The steep hills near Tyler are perfect for ziplining. New York, Texas Zip Line Adventures was chosen best adventure tour in Texas for 2012 and 2013. No experience necessary – equipment and training are included. Ziplining is intended for ages 5 and up, and Tandem Zip is available for those under 70 lbs. Reservations are required.
Tyler State Park
One of the most popular state parks in Texas, Tyler State Park encompasses 985 acres of forest. On October 26, the park will host family fishing on the 60-acre spring-fed lake, with fishing poles available to borrow. Pedal boats, canoes and kayaks are offered for rent in the park store.
Also a popular day trip for DFW mountain biking enthusiasts, the park has four trails with increasing levels of difficulty. The toughest trail is 13 miles long.
Make reservations in advance to rent a cabin for the weekend. Remember to bring deep woods insect repellant!
The Waterpark @ The Villages
A 19,000-square-foot indoor water park, The Waterpark @ The Villages is open year round. A fort for the little ones has pint-sized chutes and water guns. Older children can hop in the gentle wave pool or rush down the two sets of slides and tubes, with a minimum height of 42" on one set and 48" on the other. There is tubing on the lazy river for all ages.
All young children are fitted with complimentary life vests. The Waterpark has chairs and lifts for those with limited mobility, and they offer services for guests with low vision. Call ahead for details.
For outdoor water fun, The Villages also offers boat rentals on Lake Palestine.
Caldwell Zoo
Beloved by generations of East Texans, Caldwell Zoo is one of the best mid-sized zoos in the U.S. It’s on an 85-acre park with 2,000 mammals, birds and reptiles living in natural habitats. Most popular with families is the aviary, where kids can hold seed sticks for the birds to munch on.
Moore Farms Pumpkin Patch
Pick your own pumpkin, jump on the hayride and play in the corn maze. The Moore family opens their farm near Tyler during weekends in October so families from the big city can learn about farming. Bring a blanket to sit on.
Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge
A haven for rescued big cats, Tiger Creek has the ambience of a family ranch. Enclosures are double-fenced for security, and the huge tigers lounge as close as 10 feet from visitors. Guests are offered a 30-minute walking tour, and afterwards may linger to photograph or sketch the tigers and lions.
Historic Aviation Memorial Museum
Kids of all ages go crazy for the fighter jets displayed at the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, like the F-111 Aardvark and the F-104A Starfighter. Inside, kids can play with the controls in a simulated cockpit and explore military history through memorabilia displayed in cases at children’s eye level. Outside they can ooh and ah at twelve military aircraft and watch incoming flights at the nearby Tyler Pounds Airport.
Brookshire’s World of Wildlife Museum and Country Store
Bring a picnic basket, because Brookshire’s World of Wildlife Museum and Country Store is the best playground in Tyler, with an old red fire engine, farm tractor and train car for the children to climb on, plus a shaded picnic area. Best of all, it is completely fenced. The museum is free and houses 450 mounted animals and a replica of a 1920s grocery store.
Science Museums
Exploring a cave, caring for the stuffed dogs in the vet clinic and directing the evening news on TV are some of the 200 hands-on activities for 4-year-olds and up at the Discovery Science Place. There is also an enclosed play area just for toddlers. Come on the first and third Saturdays of the month for educational crafts projects.
About a ten-minute drive away is The Center for Earth and Space Science Education, a state-of-the-art domed movie theater that shows science films for all ages. Outside the theater are interactive computer-based activities geared to older children. Call for ticket prices.
The Pipe Organ at First Presbyterian Church of Tyler
If your children have never experienced the sound and feel of a big pipe organ, come to the First Presbyterian Church of Tyler’s family night at the movies. On October 25 at 7pm, the church will screen the silent 1925 version of The Phantom of the Opera, accompanied by live organ music. Admission and popcorn are free.
And finally, the messiest adventure of all . . .
Harvest Festival and Grape Stomp
Would anyone in your family enjoy grape-stomping, followed by painting on stomping shirts with their feet? Well then, come to Tyler on October 19, when local vineyard Kiepersol Enterprises will host the Harvest Festival & Grape Stomp, a family event that includes wine tasting for the adults. Bring lawn chairs and a change of clothes!
Published October 2013
