Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHAT THE...? TIGERS IN TEXAS
Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge
(
www.tigercreek.org
;
FM 14, exit 562 off I-20; adult/child $10/6; 10am-5pm
Mon-Sat), 13 mile north of downtown Tyler, is home to 50 big cats that have been rescued from accross the coun-
try. Tour the wooded enclosures on the ever-expanding, 30-acre-plus site and meet the lions, leopards, cougars -
and tigers.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Tyler
POP 98,546
Romantics, be prepared to swoon: the country's biggest domestic supplier of roses, Tyler
is also home to the 14-acre
Tyler Municipal Rose Garden
( 903-531-1212;
www.texasrosefestival.com
;
420 Rose Park Dr; dawn-dusk)
, which is in full bloom from May through October.
Flowers are also the focus of two annual festivals in 'Rose City': the
Azalea & Spring Flower
Trail
(
www.tylerazaleatrail.com
)
in late March, and the
Rose Festival
(
www.texasrosefestival.com
)
in Octo-
ber. Contact the
Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau
( 800-235-5712;
www.visittyler.com
; 315 N Broad-
way; 8:30am-5pm Mon-Fri)
for seasonal variation in dates.
Given the size of the city and the services available, Tyler makes a good base for ex-
ploring the area.
Rosevine Inn
( 903-592-2221;
www.rosevine.com
; 415 S Vine; r incl breakfast $129-199;
)
is a gracious brick home with five sweet, comfy rooms that enjoy use of the
outdoor hot tub and the red barn rec room, which has a pool table. Otherwise, because of
nearby Tyler University, numerous upscale chain hotels line the highways: our favorite
among them is the
Fairfield Marriott
( 903-561-2535;
www.marriott.com
;
1945 W SW Loop 323; r incl
breakfast $104-130; )
, because of its friendly staff and Loop 323 location.
Tyler's old courthouse square is kinda dead in the daytime, but a couple of bars and res-
taurants bring it to life at night. For a fancy date night of dining, and maybe dancing, try
Rick's on the Square
( 903-531-2415;
www.rix.com
;
104 W Erwin St; lunch $7-12, dinner mains $20-40;
11am-midnight Mon-Fri, 5pm-1am Sat)
. Their live music Wednesday through Saturday is usually
jazzy, but may be rockin' instead. Other local favorite restaurants are spread all around
town.
Wasabi
(
www.wasabityler.com
; 5617 Donnybrook Ave; sushi $5-15, mains $9-12; 11:30am-9:30pm Sun-
Thu, 11:30am-10:30pm Fri & Sat)
serves sushi rolls and suprisingly inventive Asian fusion dishes,
and has a great patio.
