East Texas offers a wide variety of opportunities for travelers looking to go on a short weekend getaway. Camping and fishing options as well as historic houses, museums and gardens can all be found nestled around the area. Caddo Lake, the city of Tyler and the Lake Ratcliff Recreation Area in the Davy Crockett National Forest are just a few of the recreational activities in East Texas.
According to Love Tripper, a web resource for romantic getaways, Caddo Lake combines "the sense of adventure in 'Huck Finn' with the romance of 'Gone With the Wind.'" Found in far East Texas, almost at the Texas/Louisiana border, Caddo Lake offers, camping, boating and fishing along canals wending through cypress swamps. Bed and breakfast options also are available.
According to Visit Tyler, the website of the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tyler offers visitors a wide array of attractions. Historic homes, shopping, performances and fine dining can all be found in Tyler. Rose gardens, sporting clays and a number of different museums also give visitors plenty of ways to relax during a weekend getaway to Tyler.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the 45-acre Ratcliff Lake was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lake, which is home to largemouth bass, crappie and catfish, is a low-cost option for an East Texas weekend getaway. Camping sites (some with electricity hook-ups) are available around the lake for $10 to $20 per day as of 2010. Swimming and hiking around the lake also are available.
