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 17 amazing things to do in Tyler Texas with kids on your next family sit!
Caldwell Zoo
Why You Should Go
Tyler’s Caldwell Zoo is an 85-acre zoo home to various animals. The zoo houses mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects. It has a giraffe barn, elephant facility, penguins, reptile and aquarium building, and the Overlook Plaza. Caldwell Zoo also offers several animal encounter opportunities and giraffe feedings.
Tickets for the zoo are $16.50 for adults, $12.50 for children 3-12, and free for children 2 years and under. The zoo also offers wagon and infant stroller rentals for $7.50 plus tax.
Caldwell Zoo is located at 2203 Martin Luther King Blvd. It is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Find more information on their website.
Times Square Grand Slam
Why You Should Go
Times Square Grand Slam is one of Tyler’s newest and most popular attractions. Grand Slam is home to every type of family entertainment you can think of. They offer movies, bowling, laser tag, ropes course, VR, an arcade, restaurants, and more.
Times Square Grand Slam is located at 5201 S Broadway Ave. #170. You can discover more information and regular deals for children’s activities on their website.
Tyler Rose Garden
Why You Should Go
Tyler is most famously known as the “Rose Capital.” The “Tyler Rose” can be seen nowhere better than at the world-renowned Tyler Rose Garden. The garden is set on 14 beautiful acres, which houses more than 35,000 Texas rose bushes and more than 500 varieties of roses. The Rose Garden is also home to the Tyler Texas Rose Festival Museum & Gift Shop.
The Tyler Rose Garden is free to enjoy and open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Tyler Rose Festival Museum & Gift Shop is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Both features are located at 420 Rose Park Dr. You can discover more information on their website.
We highly recommend adding the Tyler Rose Garden to your list of things to do in Tyler Texas with kids.
Tyler State Park
Why You Should Go
The Tyler State Park is home to a 64-acre spring-fed lake, 100-foot-tall trees, and historic structures. You can spend your time boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, picnic areas, enjoying the walking trails or even bird watching. There are more than 13 miles of trails to explore, including the Whispering Pines Nature Trail, which was laid out more than 70 years ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
There is an entrance fee of $6 for adults, but children enter free. The state park is located at 789 Park Road 16. Find more information on their website.
Discovery Science Place
Why You Should Go
The Discovery Science Place has had its home in Tyler since 1993. Their mission is to “ignite curiosity in young minds through fun, hands-on exploration.” The Discovery Science Place has state of the ar exhibits for your children than you can imagine.
Their exhibits include a DSP train station, imagination playground, Orion space exploration, KO mine, One World Bistro, Hometown Veterinarian Clinic, a neonatal nursery, Smith County Courthouse, Southside Bank, Brookshires Grocery Store, a robotics station, CBS19 kids TV station, Meso-American rock climbing, a dino dig pit, a dinosaur cave, a 3D cinesphere, and the Buford Kinetics gallery.
Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for children 3-12, and children under 2 are free. Their regular hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. They are located at 308 N. Broadway Ave. Discover more information on their website.
Chuck E. Cheese
Tyler has the popular children’s chain Chuck E. Cheese located at 736 West SW Loop 323. Chuck E. Cheese offers games, prizes, tickets, and pizza for kids of all ages. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Faulkner Park
Why You Should Go
Faulkner Park opened on April 18, 2001. It is named after Mr. Robert Faulkner, who donated the land to develop a community park. In 2019, Faulkner State Park was added to the facility. The park is home to baseball/softball fields, a fishing pond, hike and biking trails, a nature trail, pavilions, picnic tables, playgrounds, skate ramps, tennis courts, and a summer sprayground.
The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset and is free to use. It is located at 410 W. Cumberland Rd, and you can find more information on their website.
Texas Rose Horse Park
Why You Should Go
Texas Rose Horse Park is a 1,700-acre, family-owned and operated facility. It features a full size lighted indoor arena, six all-weather footing outdoor arenas including one Grand Pix Jumper Ring, three show barns housing over 250 12×12 stalls, a tent pad to accommodate an additional 350 horses, a Tadpole to Intermediate level Cross Country Course, a 61-slot RV park, and a concession court.
The park hosts numerous top-rated Dressage Shows, Hunter/Jumper Shows, Horse Trail Events, Breed Shows, and USDAA Dog Agility Trails and Training Events, Clinics, and USEDC Drill competitions. Many of these events are free and provide a perfect family-friendly experience.
Texas Rose Horse Park is located at 14078 Hwy 110 S. You can find more information and a calendar of events on their website.
Camp Ford
During the American Civil War, Camp Ford was the largest Confederate Prisoner of War Camp west of the Mississippi River. The prison was created in August 1863 and did not close until May 19, 1865.
At its peak in July 1864, the prison contained over 5,300 prisoners. The location of the prison’s stockade is now a public park housing detailed information about the war camp.
The camp is open daily from dawn till dusk and is free for guests. There are also museum tours and archives available by appointment Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The camp is located at 6600 US Highway 271. More information can be found at the Smith County Historic Society website.
Historic Aviation Memorial Museum
Why You Should Go
The Historic Aviation Memorial Museum is located on the grounds of Tyler Pounds Reginal Airport. The museum provides information about how aircrafts have shaped the United States and how they continue playing a vital role in the military.
The museum is home to real military aircrafts, historic memorabilia, hands-on exhibits, and a real flight simulator.
The museum is located at 150 Airport Drive, Suite 2-7, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for teens (13-17 years), $4 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. More information can be found on their website.
Cotton Belt Depot Museum
Why You Should Go
The Cotton Belt Depot was a train station that opened for passengers in 1905. It continued operating until 1965, when the last passenger train, train #8, departed in April.
In 1988 the Southern Pacific deeded the depot to the City of Tyler, who resorted it in 2003. Today, the facility houses the Cotton Belt Depot Museum in the old baggage section.
Notable items in the museum include: artifacts, memorabilia, pictures from the depot, the “Brag Train Collection” of Lionel Electric Trains, including over 200 engines and 1,600 cars, operational O and HO scale models, and Union Pacific Railroad’s westbound Corsicana Sub runs past the museum.
The museum is located at 201 East Oakwood St. and is open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free, but they appreciate donations. Additional details can be found on their website.
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary is the nation’s oldest independent, non-breeding rescue animal shelter. The sanctuary sits on a 173-acre wildlife preserve that houses rescued big cats and other endangered species.
The animal sanctuary is located at 17552 FM 14. It is currently closed due to COVID but is expected to reopen. Additional information can be found on their website.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
Why You Should Go
Urban Air is the ultimate indoor adventure park with attractions for all ages and families. Their trampoline park includes a sky rider, ropes course, climbing walls, wipeout, warrior course, battle beam, and an indoor playground with tubes. You will be able to find attractions for all your children, regardless of age.
Urban Air is located at 8958 South Broadway Ave and is open Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
There are three different ticket packages available. The Ultimate Attraction is $25.99 and gives you access to all the attractions. The Deluxe Attraction is $20.99 and gives you access to everything but the sky rider, ropes course, and climbing wall.
The lowest package is the Basic Attractions which is $13.49 and only gives you access to the basic trampolines. There is also a Deluxe package for children under 5, which costs $11.99.
More information can be found on their website.
The Center for Earth and Space Science Education
The Center for Earth and Space Science Education is the home of the first planetarium in East Texas, established by Tyler Junior College in 1963 and renovated and expanded in 2011.
The planetarium features an immersive, full-dome video experience in its 40′ Spitz nano-seam domed theatre, equipped with the latest in digital projection technology, Digitarium Aethos. It also has interactive displays, exhibits, and classroom and outdoor play spaces.
The center is located at 1411 E. Lake Street. Their current schedule can be found here, and tickets can be purchased through TJC.
Liberty Hall
Why You Should Go
Liberty Hall is a theater in downtown Tyler that first opened in 1930 and was refurbished in 2011. It offers live music, comedy, and revivals of old classic films in its art deco-style theater, seating 300 people.
Not every event offered at Liberty Hall will be the best choice for you and your children, but they do offer many family-friendly events. You can check their schedule of events on their website.
The theater is located at 103 E. Erwin.
Tyler Museum of Art
The Tyler Museum of Art (or also known as the Art Center) is a great place to take the kids. The specialize in educational tours for the little ones. This small art museum located on the campus of Tyler Junior College is inexpensive and nice place to spend a little time inside and a great break from a hot Texas day.
The Texas East County State Fair
The Texas East County State Fair is a wonderful event that offers fun for the whole family. With a variety of carnival rides, games, and attractions, there is something for everyone. Kids will love the petting zoo, pony rides, and the opportunity to learn about agriculture through interactive exhibits.
The fair also features live music, delicious food, and a rodeo, making it a great way to experience the unique culture of Texas. Overall, the Texas East County State Fair is a perfect family outing that creates memories that will last a lifetime.
Map of Things to Do in Tyler Texas with Kids
Frequently Asked Questions about Things to Do in Tyler Texas with Kids
What can you do for free in Tyler, Texas?
Tyler Rose Garden
Azalea Residential Historic District
Children’s Park
Faulkner Park
Lake Palestine
Camp Ford
Rose Rudman Recreational Trail
True Vine Brewing Company
When is the best time to visit Tyler, Texas?
Best time would be spring or mid-October when all of the flowers would be in full bloom. You don’t want to miss them!
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