Summer Fun in the Tyler, TX Area

Tyler, Texas, has a host of fun things to do in the summer months. You can have fun with friends and family members, learn more about the region, and see many interesting sights. Here are some of the best places near Tyler for summer fun.

The Caldwell Zoo

Going to the zoo is a great way to spend a summer day. Caldwell Zoo has been open for more than seven decades, and it’s a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This zoo covers more than 80 acres, and it has over 3,000 animals from more than 200 species. Many of them are endangered or threatened.

The Chakula Cafe is on top of the African Overlook, and the patio has a beautiful view. There are several vending machines around the zoo as well. You can reserve a close-up encounter with many animals, including penguins, bears, or tortoises. You can also help feed the giraffes if you come at the right time.

Keepers give educational talks every day, and you can visit the gift shop called the Crossroads Trading Company and buy plush toys, jewelry, or clothing as a souvenir of your trip. You can buy advance tickets to the zoo online so you can skip having to stop at the ticket booth.

• Location: 2203 Martin Luther King Blvd., Tyler.
• Hours: Tickets are for sale from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the zoo stays open until 5 p.m.

iJump Tyler

iJump Tyler is a trampoline park and birthday party center, and it covers more than 25,000 square feet. It has the biggest NINJA course in East Texas, and three different skill levels are available. There’s also an arcade area and a playground for young kids that covers 2,000 square feet. The rock-climbing walls are 22 feet high. There’s also a trampoline dodgeball court and a set of three-dimensional trampolines that let you bounce off the walls or from mat to mat.

Two trampoline lanes have iDunk basketball goals, and two runway trampolines are 100 feet long and 20 feet wide. The iCafe is fully stocked with drinks and snacks, and private rooms are available for special events. Wi-Fi is free, and there are plenty of seats for people who don’t want to jump. Staff members are experienced and friendly, and they focus on safety.

iJump also hosts summer camps for three age groups: five to seven, eight to 10, and 11 to 13. Lunch is provided for campers who stay for the entire day, and kids can buy other snacks and drinks from the iCafe. While at camp, kids can play laser tag, create crafts, and more.

• Location: 2029 Capital Drive, Tyler.
• Hours: In summer, you can visit Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Lake Tyler

Lake Tyler is in Whitehouse, about 20 minutes away from Tyler, and a canal connects it to East Lake Tyler. Both these lakes have outstanding fishing and camping spots, and people made them in 1949 and 1966. You can fish for catfish, sunfish, crappie, spotted bass, and largemouth bass. These lakes also provide fresh water for the area. They’re up to 40 feet deep, and they each cover more than 2,200 acres.

You can cool off on a hot summer day by enjoying a swim, or you can hike on some of the trails nearby. The Camp Tyler Outdoor School provides unique learning experiences for kids. If you don’t want to go camping, you can stay at the Lake Tyler Marina Resort. This resort offers boat, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals. It has a gas station and a restaurant called The Lakeside Grill. Fishing, camping, and other supplies you might need are available to purchase.

• Location: 18183 Concession Road, Whitehouse.
• Hours: The Lakeside Grill is open every day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Earth and Space Science Center

The Earth and Space Science Center was called the Hudnall Planetarium when it opened in 1963. It received a new name after a major renovation in 2011. The new theater uses Æthos systems by Digitalis, a type of advanced digital projection technology.

The center also has interactive exhibits and displays, along with outdoor and classroom play spaces. The current exhibit is called Velocity, and it helps kids learn about physics and the science of motion. They can experiment with momentum, friction, speed, and other factors by launching golf balls on tracks, hills, and loops. You can see just one exhibit or show, or you can get a day pass that will let you check out everything. Some free parking is available, but you should park in spaces labeled Science Center Parking.

• Location: Tyler Junior College, 1411 East Lake St., Tyler.
• Hours: You can visit Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There’s a new show every hour, and the day starts with a show for kids aged 10 and under. This season, the schedule includes Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker, Great Barrier Reef, Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure, Faster Than Light, and Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit.

The Waterpark at the Villages Resort

The Waterpark at the Villages Resort is part of the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Villages Resort. It’s an indoor waterpark that you can visit any time of year. There’s a wave pool, a lazy river, and water slides. Young kids can enjoy a playscape and three smaller slides. You don’t have to stay at the resort to visit the water park, and it’s in Flint, about 20 minutes away from Tyler.

• Location: 18270 Singing Wood Lane, Flint.
• Hours: Friday from noon to 10 p.m. and Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.

You Can Enjoy Plenty of Summer Fun in Tyler

In Tyler, Texas, you can find a range of fun summer activities. Did we miss any of your favorite things to do in summer? Contact us at Classic Toyota and let us know what you want to do most this year.

Zoo by Ibinic is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0