East Texas--from the flat plains in towns such as Tyler, Brenham and College Station to the coastal areas around Beaumont and Port Arthur--offers a variety of opportunities for families to explore this diverse region. You can explore much of eastern Texas by crossing highway U.S. 59, which cuts north and south through the heart of the region, though the distance between attractions and destinations can be rather long. Kids can find museums, zoos, historical sites and outdoor activities for both fun and learning.
Located in Tyler, Texas, the Caldwell Zoo is one of the more popular attractions in East Texas. Your family can explore more than 80 acres containing more than 2,000 animals. Habitats in exhibits include North American, South American and East African. Species from North America include bison and bald eagles, while the South America attraction features giant anteaters, macaws and squirrel monkeys.
Perhaps the most popular exhibit in the zoo is the 3-acre re-creation of an African savanna complete with zebras, warthogs, giraffes and ostriches. You'll also find African lions lounging in their own exhibit. There also is a wild bird walk-out and aquarium.
Caldwell Zoo
2203 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Tyler, TX 75702
903-593-0121
caldwellzoo.org
The coastal region of Port Arthur, Texas, features a vacation spot for the entire family. Pleasure Island Park contains 14,000 acres of hills, bluffs and waterfront on a man-made island off the coast near Port Arthur. The park offers a host of recreational activities, from fishing, crabbing, boating and water sports to biking, hiking, camping and bird watching.
Pleasure Island also includes several smaller parks. Lakefront Park provides opportunities for picnicking, volleyball and basketball. Fun Island Depot is a park designed just for children, while Walter Umphrey State Park features a lighted fishing pier along with places for RV and tent camping.
Pleasure Island
520 Pleasure Pier Boulevard
Port Arthur, TX 77640
409-982-4675
pleasureislandtx.com
If you have a taste for ice cream or have ice cream lovers in your family and are interested in how ice cream is made, then you'll want to visit Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham, Texas, for some cold treats. Blue Bell Creameries was founded in 1907. The company serves more than a quarter of the United States, and its ice cream ranks as one of the top sellers in the nation.
Visitors can tour the facilities and watch as the raw ingredients are turned into a creamy, cold dessert. Tours last 45 minutes, and, at the end, you'll get a free sample. There also is a gift shop on the premises, and, of course, you can buy your favorite flavor of the ice cream many have called the state dessert of Texas.
Blue Bell Creameries
1101 South Blue Bell Road
Brenham, Texas 77833
800-327-8135
bluebell.com
