Spotlight: Tyler
Savor the scent of fresh flowers in Texas’s rose capital
If you’re ready to stop and smell the roses, make sure you’re in Tyler, the rose capital of Texas. Spring in East Texas means bountiful blooms around every corner of this charming community. In March and April, the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail extends for eight miles through residential gardens and historic homes.
When the smell of roses isn’t wafting in the air, there are perennial flowers in bloom, and more than 250 days of sunshine to be enjoyed by residents and their guests.
The best time to see the Tyler roses is in October, when the bright-red flowers are at the peak of their bloom. Horticulture enthusiasts will love learning about the care of the 32,000 bushes in town, and the surprising amount of work needed when caring for 600 rose varieties. It’s during this month every year that Tyler hosts the Texas Rose Festival, highlighted by the crowning of the Rose Queen.
The Tyler Rose Museum keeps a record of every Rose Queen crowned, along with some of their hand-made gowns, going back to 1935. In the “Attic of Memories” exhibit, visitors are allowed a glimpse into life in Smith County from the past 100 years.
Tyler CVB
Trip Through Tyler History
Fly high at the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, which is housed in a former passenger terminal at the city’s airport. Walk among restored historic aircraft, including the F-4D Pantom II, a T-33 Shooting Star and an F-104A Starfighter. The world-class museum spans the history of flight from the Wright Brothers to the Space Shuttle. Compelling exhibits document the role that Tyler played in Aviation history.
See the creatures of the world’s wild places at Tyler’s Caldwell Zoo. The 85-acre park is home to more than 2,000 animals representing 250 species from Africa, and North and South America. Explore the mysteries of nature and the universe at the Center for Earth & Space Science Education.
For More Information
Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau
800-235-5712
www.visittyler.com
Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism
512-463-2000
www.traveltex.com
