Tyler, Texas
 

I see that last year's HGTV Dream Home was built in Tyler. Can anyone tell me about the area? Is it a good place to visit? How about to live and raise a family? Are there a lot of activities for a family to experience? Is the community as wonderful as HGTV makes it out to be?

Tyler is nice. There's not too much there for tourists besides the rose gardens and fishing in the local lakes, though.
I'd say it's a good place to raise a family becauss it is a medium-sized town with pretty good public schools and it's close enough to Dallas to have access to airports, major shopping malls, etc. The community is pretty active and there are lots of sports and Scouting activities for children.
Good luck!

I always think of Tyler as being kinda red-neck and heavily churchy. Am I missing something?

There is good/cool band out of Tyler - mostly kids from the same family...what's their name??? They had a double name, but then shortened it to one word. Ugh!!...it's killing me....

Also there is a great artist community in Edom (as well as blueberries).

pepper....Eisley??

I will be travelling to Tyler tomorrow to visit my daughter/grandson. She is a professional with a good salary.
She has purchased a new house just outside Tyler on the southside where all the growth is in the 150's. There is a great daycare. Whitehouse has the best schools. There is a terrific zoo. Lake Palestine is nearby but I can't see any public facilities. The summer weather is hot hot hot. People are friendly, the doctors please her as do other medical rehab professions. There is a good chain of grocery stores. She travels to Dallas for "shopping" on occasion. She uses Shreveport Airport for air travel for personal use and Tyler airport for business. Everybody seems to eat out Fri night.The restaurants are nothing to rave about. There are many nearby towns to visit --Longview, Marshall. Henderson..There is a wide range of housing available.

Sorry, but I just don't see why one would move there without specific reasons like work/school/family. It's not by the water, it's not near a major international airport, it's not near any mountain.

I'm sure there are other nice towns in the US with good schools, good daycare and friendly people...

I believe the home you are referring to is actually located on Lake Palestine.

Tyler is a "southern" town (not all of Texas is truly in the South, but Tyler certainly is) located in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Probably 150,000 residents in Smith County, and about one hour's drive from Dallas on I-20. Not a tourist mecca, but a nice enough town to live in.

rkkwan- I certainly agree!

My cousin was married in Tyler and we spent a weekend there. It's a nice little town for perhaps raising family, but certainly NOT a tourist destination! I've no idea what a tourist would actually do in Tyler! (We spent the one free morning in the rose gardens, and since it was October it was a stretch.)

Not sure why people are saying Dallas is so "close". I remember it as being a heck of a looooong drive, more than 2 hours. And I live in So Cal, so am very used to long distance car drives. Had me knocking my head against the wall for not landing in Shreveport instead. Much, much closer to Tyler than either Dallas or Houston. Perhaps the guy at the rental place had me going the long way round?

Nice place to raise a family (my cousin's husband was born and raised in Tyler), but to visit? Not likely.

Tyler is about 100 miles from Dallas (more from DFW airport), also about 100 miles from Shreveport. Houston is about 200 miles and not all of it freeway.

Tyler- Think Bible Belt- ultra conservative. Is the community great? I am a Texan and Tyler is not a hotbed by any means.

BeachBoi -

That's IT!!!

Eisley

...hit me while I was out driving today....Thanks!

I used to play in the local symphony out there, when I was attending SMU in Dallas. There are some nice homes, for sure. As others have said, it's not as exciting as a big city, but they do hold things like craft fairs & have more cultural events than many "hick" Texan towns. I think there is some oil money in that town, so it is slightly more happening than other places around there.

I realize that it's been a while since you were discussing Tyler, but I'm headed there this July. If anyone's still reading this post and can offer some travel suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

We will be there for a family wedding, then will head to Logansport, LA. What is there of interest to a family with 3 kids (8,6,&1) in either place or in between?

Thanks!
Carrie

PS I posted the same question in the general US section. Sorry for the duplication.

carriez, your kids might enjoy Tyler's zoo.

http://www.caldwellzoo.org/

The Texas State Railroad is not far from Tyler, and kids love it.
http://www.texasstaterailroad.com

P_M & ChristieP: Thanks so much for the info. I've read a little about the zoo and the girls are looking forward to seeing it. I hadn't read about the railroad so I'll check out the web site.

Thank you both for the help, Carrie

Tyler State Park is really nice too...
4 generations of my family are from Tyler (oil family). My great-grandfather built many of the grand old homes featured in the Azalea Trails.
I have been in/out of Tyler my whole life and find it to be a bit segregated. There is still an "Other side of the tracks" feel to it and a lot of old money.
I was never fond of the debutant society that all my cousins were so involved in and seems very slow to change.

Brookshires grocery chain has a park and museum store-free. The zoo is wonderful--with petting zoo goats--they give the kids a grooming brush. Hit the zoo early because in July it will be hot hot hot
As I recall Logansport is in the middle of nowwhere. Pop down to Natchitoches if you want a cute town. In Tyler try a Donut Palace ( they are everywhere) for "Pigs in a blanket" and other interesting non donut breakfast goodies.

Forgot one--there is a Discovery Center downtown--$5 ea admissiom -its good for a couple of hours
http://www.discoveryscienceplace.com/