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Summer Activities in Tyler for 2012

May 30th, 2012

UntitledNearly every summer we, here at Tyler TX Directory, put out a list of summer activities as suggestions for East Texas parents. Keeping the kids busy and maybe even learning a little something, during the summer months can be a challenge. Family vacations are generally more difficult than years past, due to financial concerns, so the trick is making the summer fun and memorable without going overboard on expenses. So our suggestions are as follows:                 

The Caldwell Zoo is always on the list, but hey it’s always fun educational and is ever improving. It remains an area favorite. The Brookshire’s Wildlife Museum looks from the outside like an odd place for a family museum, but trust us, it’s a great stop. (It’s graced our site on numerous occasions already, so feel free to scroll through the attractions column on the right for more info).  Discovery Science Place is located in downtown Tyler and is a growing attraction in our area. Admittedly it’s been a while since I’ve checked it out but I’m hearing it mentioned more and more by local parents. This summer the museum is welcoming a traveling exhibit called Predator and Prey. And here are the summer activities schedule for the Caldwell Zoo:

ZOO MEMBERS’ ONLY EVENING AT THE ZOO

Come enjoy a special evening at the zoo! ZooMembers are welcome to bring a picnic supper or enjoy food from our Chakula Cafe. There will be behind-the-scenes looks at our newly refurbished cat enclosures as well as keeper chats throughout the evening. Of course, you will want to stop by the concession stands for a complimentary small sno-cone and have fun feeding the birds at Wild Bird Walkabout with a complimentary seed stick

June 8 5:00-8:00 p.m.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE AT THE ZOO

Celebrate our country’s birthday! Caldwell Zoo appreciates our country’s military personnel! On July 4th, the zoo will give one free admission with a valid military ID.

DON’T STEP ON A BEE DAY

July 10th is set aside each year as “Don’t Step on a Bee Day.” Don’t bee left out–make a beeline for the African Huts where we’ll have a hive-full of fun activi-bees.

July 7 1:30-4:00 p.m.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Bring your small fry to the African Huts for some swimming-good fishy fun.

August 25 1:30-4:00 p.m.

ELEPHANT APPRECIATION DAY

There will be a trunk-load of elephant fun on the African Overlook.

September 22 1:30-4:00 p.m.

One area attraction that is often overlooked in our area is the Hudnall Planetarium. The Planetarium is located at Tyler Junior College, and to my surprise, has actually begun advertising on local television. Hudnall has really great programs running this summer, including IMAX films. Visit their web page for more information. http://www.tjc.edu/cesse/  I love making trips to the Gulf Coast, in fact I hope visit the beach at some point this summer. Now I may or may not be able to make that happen, but I know a visit to Tyler State Park,is always a possibility. Great campsites and a sandy beach are never more than an hour away for most Tylerites. For older students and or children, The Historical Aviation Memorial Museum, and The American Freedom Museum,are two of my documented favs.

The popular Faulkner Park splash park is a great free option for the summer time. This is a small water based park inside of Faulkner park which is known for mainly being a softball and tennis court park with some biking and hiking trails. I think you will find the splash park to be a fun place to bring the kids and there are two playgrounds at this park as well when the kids want to do something not water based.

Many local churches are holding Vacation Bible School programs this summer as well. Most use a standardized curriculum which allows potential students multiple opportunities to get on board at some point over the break.  Christ Episcopal Church is holding theirs from June, 25ththrough the 29th. https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/CEC/gpgs/Home.aspx, www.christchurchtyler.org I’m no doubt leaving off some good stops and events, but for those of us wanting to fill the kids summer days with something other than Xbox and Boomerang, I think these are a good start. As a parting note I should also remind readers that we are living through a golden age of Ranger’s Baseball, so if the cost is affordable, what better summer memory then a family outing at the ball park?

Caldwell Zoo

September 18th, 2009

Caldwell Zoo has been one of Tyler’s greatest treasures for many decades. It was one of the only zoos in Texas that was charge free up onto just a few years ago. As they started to add on to our small simple zoo, they began to overcharge visitors. Mr. Caldwell, the founder of the zoo, left in his will that he never wanted to have fee to enjoy these beautiful animals, but to allow the zoo to extend and to keep up the maintenance they did not have much more to choice from. But besides my frustration on the matter of price, I do love a walk through the zoo. If you live in the Tyler area I recommend getting a membership that will pay for the whole year no matter how many times you go.

As a member I have been able to go after hours when they have fed the animals and have allowed children to feed them too. They give members an opportunity to see the animals to up close and watch them do tricks. Don’t stand in long lines to get tickets to get into the zoo, use the member entrance and skip the wait and just get to the fun.

The zoo just recently go a bird walk. Walk into a small building filled with beautiful parakeets painted with the most colorful feathers. You will be able to hold the birds and buy a stick covered with bird seed.

Visit the old aquariums and see what is new including one of the most popular animals, the penguins. Be entertained as they swim and play. See the beautiful colorful fish, and the large slithering snakes. Explore the spiders from around the world.

The zoo has welcomed many new animals with in the past few years, among them, monkeys, the beautiful white tigers, the wild bird walk around, and much more.

Come eat at the small restaurant and be able to sit in the zoo’s touch of Africa. Have fun watching the elephants, zebras and giraffes. And walk through the rhinoceros house, but make sure you plug your nose. Enjoy a cold drink or snow cones on a hot Texas day. Before you leave stop by the store for fun gift ideas and even more great ways to remember your great day at our very own Caldwell Zoo.