Winter Activities in Tyler, TX

Tyler, Texas, is known as the Rose Capital of America, and it offers visitors and locals alike plenty of activities throughout the year. It’s easy to find something to do in Tyler during the summer. But when winter rolls around, you’ll want to enjoy these indoor or light outdoor activities to keep you and your family entertained.

Tyler Public Library

Location: 201 S. College Ave.

Telephone: 903-593-7323

People of all ages can find something enjoyable to read at the Tyler Public Library. This library has a rich history. The Tyler Federation of Women’s Clubs founded the library in 1899, and in 1904, the famous philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated a building on College Avenue to house the collection of books. Today, the Tyler Public Library building sits in its current spot. Also, it has a mission statement, and its purpose is to bring the community of Tyler together while providing a space where locals and visitors can learn, socialize, and bond.

Use the convenient digital Dewey Decimal system to find books from a specific genre. You can find books ranging from computer science to art history and new fiction from modern authors to classic books from famous historical writers. You can also enjoy free public events and services, including Baby Storytime, the NASA drawing contest, or the Winter Reading Challenge.

Tyler Rose Garden

Image via Flickr by gurdonark

Location: 420 Rose Park Drive

Telephone: 903-531-1212

The Tyler Rose Garden is open year-round every day of the week, so anyone visiting will find delight at the colors and scents of the roses found within the park. This 14-acre park features over 32,000 rose bushes, and it has the largest collection of rose varieties in the United States. With over 500 types of roses to observe, this park, founded in 1912 and opened to the public in 1952, is the perfect place to learn about this elegant flower, have a picnic, or take photos for any special event.

A visit to the Tyler Rose Museum and Gift Shop offers interactive displays telling you more about the history of the Tyler Rose Garden. Also, the gift shop is a great place to pick up presents for those on your shopping list. Once a year, the Tyler Rose Garden hosts the Texas Rose Festival, where you can see the Texas Rose Queen’s coronation and cheer on the Rose Parade. Admission to this Tyler gem is free for all ages.

Kierpersol Estates Vineyard & Winery

Location: 21558-A Merlot Lane

Telephone: 903-894-8995 (Tasting Room), 903-894-8995 (Restaurant)

Explore the world of Texas wines when you visit Kierpersol Estates Vineyard & Winery. With over 63 acres of vineyards that produce 16 varieties of estate-grown red and white wine grapes, there’s a wine that anyone can enjoy. Wines range from fruity sauvignon blanc’s to full-body cabernet sauvignons with additions of sweet dessert ports that you can enjoy at the end of your meal.

Beyond wine tasting, you can enjoy wine and food pairings, chocolate and wine tastings, various cooking classes, and wine club members’ exclusive events. Once you’ve become a wine club member at Kierpersol Estates Vineyard & Winery, you’ll have access to unique wines, members-only events, and discounts on select estate wines.

Discovery Science Place

Location: 308 N. Broadway Ave.

Telephone: 903-533-8011

Learn about the world around you when you spend the day at Discovery Science Place. Every time you visit Discovery Science Place, you’ll find something new and exciting to see and experience with hands-on interactive exhibits and collections to keep you engaged. Some displays feature a real-world place or setting like Brookshire’s Grocery Store, One World Bistro, or the Hometown Veterinary Clinic. Having kids explore these exhibits gives them a taste of what it would be like to work in one of these businesses. Other fun exhibits include the Dino Dig Pit, The Cave, and the Buford Kinetics Gallery.

Throughout the year, Discovery Science Place hosts day camps for kids. DSP separates camps by grade, so kids in kindergarten through the second grade make up one group, and kids in the third through fifth grades make up the other. After your fun day, be sure to stop by the gift shop to stock up on unique toys and gifts that make the perfect birthday or holiday presents.

Times Square Grand Slam

Location: 5201 S. Broadway

Telephone: 903-581-1818

It’s a breeze spending a winter day at Times Square Grand Slam with its bowling alley, video arcade, laser tag room, and more. You can get some exercise on the ropes course, feel like you’re in another world with the virtual reality section, or watch a full-length modern movie while sharing a tub of popcorn.

The arcade center features new games and fun old-time games like Air Hockey and Skee-Ball. There’s plenty of room for everyone to bowl with 22 lanes (including six VIP lanes), and the ropes course has over 11 challenging elements to test your endurance and agility. After a busy day at Times Square Grand Slam, fuel up at the on-site Infield Restaurant.

Tyler Museum of Art

Location: 1300 S. Mahon Ave.

Telephone: 903-595-1001

Art lovers will enjoy visiting the Tyler Museum of Art, which we have recognized as one of the best art museums in the Tyler area. Exhibitions rotate throughout the year. Through December of 2021 and March of 2022, you can see the American artwork of Norman Rockwell that depicts what life was like in the early 20th century. Another popular exhibit is The Black Dress that pays homage to this essential closet staple and its impact on culture and society.

Permanent art collections honor Latin American folk artists, contemporary Texas artists, and internationally established artists. The Tyler Museum of Art carries over 800 unique and original art pieces by these outstanding artists.

Our team at Classic Toyota of Taylor hopes you enjoy visiting these Tyler gems where you can spend hours or days during a gloomy winter day. Which of these activities or places are your favorite and why? Which one would you go to again and why? Is there a cool place in Tyler for winter activities that we missed? If so, feel free to let us know, and we’ll add your recommendation to our list.