3 Dreamy Vacation Ideas to Put on Your East Texas Bucket List
Whether you’re a staycationer looking for a unique getaway or a visitor planning a weekend trip in East Texas, Tyler delivers. Indulge in luxury wellness, savor Texas wine, step into vintage history or unplug beneath towering pines for a restorative deep-forest getaway.
Luxury Wellness Weekend
Stay: A Custom Bungalow at High Hill Resort Community
The perfect itinerary at High Hill Resort Community starts with hiking and exploring the scenic 75-acre property. Spend time lounging by the resort pool, enjoy a craft cocktail, book a massage at the mini spa and unwind in the afternoon at the on-site beach.
For dinner, head to Côte, the resort’s restaurant, where standout dishes include the lobster nachos and gooey butter cake. The resort itself was inspired by the owners’ travels.
“We draw inspiration from our many trips to the Florida Panhandle and love of the California wine country,” says co-owner Sharon Romano. “We wanted to create a destination that combined our love for these areas and that we would want to visit ourselves.”
End the evening by retreating to your private bungalow for a peaceful night’s sleep surrounded by the piney woods.
Experience: Texas Vineyards at Kiepersol
Savor Texas wines and tour the estate at Kiepersol, a premier local winery. For a unique pour, try something different like a smooth cabernet sauvignon aged in bourbon barrels with notes of blackberry cobbler.
Be sure to check the events calendar – there’s always something happening, from vintner’s dinners to cocktail and wine-blending classes. If you’re looking for more than wine, the on-site distillery crafts exceptional bourbon, rum, vodka, gin and agave spirits.
Experiences & Adventures
Explore East Texas’ Hidden Gems
Expect the unexpected with these local experiences.
A Vintage Escape
Stay: An Art Deco Escape at Greyhound Inn
Design lovers will appreciate a stay at the Greyhound Inn, a boutique hotel near the Azalea District.
Originally constructed as a commercial building in the early 1930s and converted into the city’s bus station in 1946, the Art Deco structure that houses the Greyhound Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, says Andy Bergfeld, the hotel’s owner.
“The original glass has been preserved in all of our guest rooms,” Bergfeld says. “From the early 1930s wavy glass to the 1946 Art Moderne mix of clear glass and glass block – featured prominently in rooms 6 and 7 and covering two sides of the space – the details create a historic urban atmosphere unlike any other hotel in East Texas.”
Experience: Paintings, Perennials and Pathways
Antique lovers and history buffs can explore the Goodman-LeGrand House & Museum, which is outfitted with original furnishings, historic photographs, musical instruments and other artifacts dating to the mid-1800s.
“About 90% of artifacts in the home actually belonged to three generations of the Goodman family,” says Debbie Isham, supervisor of the museum. “One of the most loved pieces of artwork in the home is the hand-painted ceiling in the North Parlor that was created after the family added a second floor to the 1859 one-story, four-room dogtrot style home in 1880.”
Other fun-filled local itinerary options include a visit to the Tyler Rose Garden, where more than 300 varieties of roses grow, or a stroll along the paved 4.5-mile Legacy Trail, built on the old Cotton Belt train route that helped fuel the growth of East Texas.
Deep Forest Immersion
Stay: Rustic Retreats at Tyler State Park
Only about 15 miles from town, Tyler State Park feels worlds away. Spend the night beneath the pines in a tent, bring the RV, or opt for a cabin or screened shelter for a comfortable retreat near the park’s amenities.
Experience: Miles of Adventure
Spanning nearly 1,000 acres beneath towering 100-foot trees, Tyler State Park is a nature lover’s paradise packed with ways to enjoy the outdoors.
Cool off with a refreshing dip in the 64-acre spring-fed lake or rent a boat and take in the scenery from the water.
Cast a line for crappie, perch, catfish or bass (no fishing license required when fishing from shore in a Texas state park). Plus, you can borrow rods, reels and tackle boxes through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Tackle Loaner Program.
Spend the rest of the weekend exploring miles of trails. A must-see is the historic Whispering Pines Nature Trail, originally laid out by the Civilian Conservation Corps. You can also hit the mountain bike trails or bring along binoculars for birdwatching beneath the tall pines.
Get to Know Tyler
Want to know more about living and working in Tyler, TX? Check out the latest edition of Livability Tyler, Texas.