Tyler

 Tyler, Texas, with a population of approximately 107,000, is known as the Rose Capital of America, a distinction earned from a long history of rose production, cultivation, and processing. It is the largest city in Northeast Texas and the county seat of Smith County. It is the major economic, educational, financial, medical and cultural hub of the region. The city is named for John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States.  

     Tyler is home to the largest rose garden in the United States, a 14-acre public garden complex that has over 38,000 rose bushes of at least 500 different varieties.  The Tyler Rose Garden is home to the annual Texas Rose Festival which attracts thousands of tourists each October.

     Tyler State Park is a state park north of Tyler boasting 985.5 acres. The park includes a 64-acre lake.  Activities include picnicking, boating, boat rentals, fishing, birding, hiking, mountain biking, lake swimming, and nature study.

     The city offers a wide variety of activities for residents and visitors alike. The Caldwell Zoo offers 85 acres featuring animals from all over the world.  The Discovery Science Place is a children’s museum sure to please the young ones. The Tyler Museum of Art features a sizable collection of pieces by Texas & international artists, plus a cafe & shop.  Camp Ford was a POW camp near Tyler, Texas, during the American Civil War. It was the largest Confederate-run prison west of the Mississippi and is a site sure to please history buffs.

 Famous Folks  

 Actress Sandy Duncan was raised in Tyler, Texas. Other notables include Sarah McClendon-White House correspondent for over half a century; longest tenure ever in the white house press corps.  Winston C. Hackett – Tyler native who became the first African-American physician in Arizona.  Jo-Carroll Dennison – Miss America 1942 and the first Miss Texas to win the national title.


Schools

Public primary and secondary education for much of the city is provided by the Tyler Independent School District which features John Tyler and Tyler Legacy high schools as well as Tyler ISD Early College High School.  Several Tyler schools offer international baccalaureate and advanced placement programs.

There are also private schools in Tyler including Grace Community School, All Saints Episcopal School, King’s Academy Christian School, Kingdom Life Academy, Christian Heritage School, Cumberland Academy, and Good Shepherd Episcopal School

Tyler is also home to the University of Texas at Tyler University Academy at Tyler, a K-12 public charter operated by the University of Texas at Tyler since 2012 that offers University courses to students in grades 9-12.

The University of Texas at Tyler offers a wide variety of programs to meet the needs of area students.

 

 

Restaurants

 Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ

Great BBQ.  Friendly bar. Live music.

Javi’s

Mexican fare.  Some are locally sourced. Nice bar.

Clear Springs Restaurant

Seafood, rustic, fish-themed décor, and American eats

Rick’s On The Square

Southern seafood & steaks in a vintage, brick-walled space with a patio & live music on weekends

Texas de Brazil

Upscale Brazilian eatery featuring all-you-can-eat grilled meat carved tableside & a salad bar.

 Bernard's Mediterranean Restaurant

Upscale option serving pasta, steak, veal & chicken with a Mediterranean twist in a dimly lit space.

FD's Grillhouse

Contemporary American restaurant turning out steaks, burgers, seafood & cocktails.

 Razzoo's Cajun Café

Local chain with New Orleans flavor serving bayou-inspired fare in a festive setting.