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6 Outdoor Experiences You Can Only Have in Tyler, TX

We know what you’re thinking. The weather’s great and you want to get outside, but you don’t know what to do. You’ve exhausted all the outdoor attractions in your town and need something new to get you excited. It just so happens that right here in Tyler, TX, we pride ourselves on our outdoors culture. Get to know just what we mean by checking out the list below.

Tyler Berry Farms: The Ultimate Pick-Me-Up

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Picking berries at Tyler Berry Farms checks all the boxes. It’s a unique way to enjoy the weather, you save yourself a shopping trip, and you have the peace of mind of knowing exactly where your food comes from. Depending on the season, the farm grows strawberries and blueberries for your picking pleasure. Strawberries are from April to May and blueberries are from June to July.

Baskets are sold for your berry haul, but feel free to bring your own basket, as well. If you’ve filled up your basket but can’t wait to get home, there are picnic tables so you can enjoy your pickings right there on the farm. Some refreshments and snacks are available for purchase, but you’re welcome to bring a lunch of your own.

In addition to berries, you can also pick sunflowers at the farm. Just think of what an excellent centerpiece they’ll make while you’re feasting on your berry bounty.

A Holiday Adventure Awaits at Plantation Pines

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Right next door to Tyler Berry Farms is Plantation Pines Christmas Tree Farm, where you can bring the entire family to pick out and cut down your very own Christmas tree. Sure, you could get your Christmas tree at the store or online, but that’s no fun. Picking out your own makes the process of getting a Christmas tree part of the holiday experience.

If you’d prefer the day to be heavier on the relaxation and lighter on the manual labor, you can simply pick your tree and have the farm workers cut it down for you. Afterward, enjoy complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks around a campfire. Visit the gift shop for handmade items, fresh wreathes, and s’more kits.

Outside of the Christmas season, the farm allows for picking tulips in the spring and pumpkins in the fall. Hayrides are available year-round and be sure to keep an eye out for any farm animals.

Explore the Great Outdoors at Tyler State Park

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One of the more traditional ways to get outdoors in Tyler is to visit Tyler State Park, home to a 64-acre pond, 100-foot-tall trees, and 13 miles of trails. Whether you want to go fishing, hiking, camping, swimming, or biking, it’s easy to lose track of time at the park.

With so much to do, it can be difficult to know where to start. We recommend taking a stroll down Whispering Pines Nature Trail, which was laid out by the Civilian Conservation Corps over 70 years ago. Ending the day at the pond catching perch, catfish, and bass is a perfect way to wind down.

You’re certainly free to bring your own boat, but the Texas State Park Store provides canoes, paddleboards, and johnboats for rent.

Feed a Giraffe at the Caldwell Zoo

When it comes to entertaining the kids, you can’t miss with the Caldwell Zoo. Not only does the zoo have more than 3,000 animals and 200 species, many of which are endangered or threatened, but they also provide animal encounters. These private, behind-the-scenes experiences involve penguins, tortoises, and even bears. Oh my, indeed!

Another way the family can get up-close and personal with the wildlife is through giraffe feeding. For those of you under 17-feet-tall, you can feed the giraffes their favorite treats from a feeding deck high above the ground.

Once you’re all out of giraffe treats, stock up on bird seed because there are some peckish customers over at the Wild Bird Walkabout. This avian refuge is home to dozens of parakeets and cockatiels who are friendly enough to welcome you in. Feed them, hold them, and listen to their melodic musings.

Just when you think you’ve seen everything the Caldwell Zoo has to offer, they add something new. They’re currently revitalizing their South American region to include jaguars, sloths, river otters, and an Amazon habitat.

Refreshing Lakes and Relaxing Strolls

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There’s nothing like a warm day to make you want to dive into the nearest body of water. Tyler has a couple of great options for doing just that. Lake Tyler and Lake Palestine are both popular spots for fishing, boating, water skiing, camping, and swimming. There are even hiking options around the lakes if you’d prefer to remain dry.

Speaking of hiking, it doesn’t get much more scenic than the Tyler Azalea Trail, more than 10 miles of azaleas, tulips, wisteria, dogwood, and more. From March 22^nd to April 8^th, residential gardens and historic homes become an urban bouquet you can dive right into!

Stop and Smell the Roses at the Tyler Rose Garden

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If roses are more your speed, you just might break the sound barrier at the Tyler Rose Garden. It’s 14 acres of more than 300 rose varieties, spread out across 600 beds and thousands of bushes. The garden is open year-round, but peak bloom seasons are in October and May.

Within the garden are several special areas, each with their own unique style. Among them are the Idea Garden, Heritage Garden, and the camelia and day lily collections.

After you’ve explored the gardens, visit the Tyler Rose Museum to learn about the story of Tyler’s rose-growing industry and the Texas Rose Festival.

Tyler is the Gateway to the Texas Outdoors

Whether it’s more traditional getaways like boating on the lake or something more unique like chopping down your very own Christmas tree, Tyler, TX has enough outdoor adventures to fill a dozen long weekends. No matter the time of year or the type of weather, Tyler makes enjoying nature feel like second nature.