Tyler, Texas, is one of the largest cities in the Piney Woods region, and it features the nation's largest municipal rose garden. Other area attractions include tours of restored plantation homes, several drive-through safari tours and many local wineries. Visitors can stay in town and attend ballet or opera events, or they can take advantage of camping and fishing opportunities at nearby Lake Palestine.
This small town once had the densest concentration of oil derricks in the world, and it features an attraction called "The Richest Acre in the World." It offers an oil museum with exhibits about the town's history and the oil drilling process, as well as Kilgore College, the home of the world-renowned Rangerettes dance team. Visitors have their choice of many different area barbecue restaurants, including Boomtown BBQ, which features ribs, brisket and homemade banana pudding dessert.
Located in far east Texas, near the Louisiana border, this town offers a red-bricked downtown, antique stores, festivals and nature trails. Some of the popular annual events include the Nacogdoches County Championship Rodeo in March, the East Texas Cajun Cook-Off in April, and the Texas Blueberry Festival in June. The Caddo Mounds, a 93.8-acre site with Caddo Indian dwellings and ceremonial areas, is situated just outside of town in Alto, Texas.
This east Texas city features a 67-foot tall statue of Sam Houston, the first President of the Republic of Texas. It is also home to Sam Houston State University, a four-year college with a world-renowned criminal justice program, and the Texas Prison Museum. Visitors who enjoy the outdoors can go to Huntsville State Park, which is adjoined to the Sam Houston National Forest, and features a 105-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail, fishing, biking and camping venues.
Jefferson is called the "Riverport to the Southwest" and features an open-air riverboat tour, steam engine train, and carriage rides through the quaint downtown area. Visitors can stay in historic hotels or in one of many bed and breakfasts, as the town is known as the "Bed and Breakfast Capitol of Texas" as well. Caddo Lake is nearby, and day and night tours featuring its bayous, Spanish moss, lotuses, cypress tress and water lilies are available.
