The Ultimate List of East Texas Family Fun
East Texas offers an incredible variety of fun-filled activities for families of all ages. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, educational experiences, or entertainment, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here’s a list of East Texas Family Fun that will keep your weekends packed with excitement!
The Ultimate List of East Texas Family Fun
Amusement Parks/Arcade
Whatz-Up Fun Park (Seven Points)
Waterpark at The Villages (Flint)
Splash Kingdom Paradise Island (Canton)
Splash Kingdom Timber Falls (Nacogdoches)
Times Square Grand Slam (Tyler)
Animals/Zoos
East Texas Zoo & Gator Park (Grand Saline)
Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari (Jacksonville) – Drive through this unique wildlife park to see exotic animals like zebras, buffalo, and giraffes.
Ellen Trout Zoo (Lufkin) – This zoo in Lufkin is known for its wide variety of animals and lush landscaping, offering fun for the whole family.
Lonseome Dove Exotic Drive Thru Safari (Jefferson)
Rocky Ridge Drive-Thru Safari (Eustace)
Caldwell Zoo (Tyler) – Experience wildlife from around the world at this popular 85-acre zoo, home to over 2,000 animals.
Aquariums
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (Athens) – Learn about aquatic life and enjoy hands-on fishing opportunities at this fun and educational facility.
Bakeries/Coffee Shops
Village Bakery (Tyler)
Janie’s Cakes (Tyler)
Smallcakes (Tyler)
Delightful Food Company (Tyler)
Nothing Bundt Cakes (Tyler)
Collin Street Bakery (Lindale)
Just Pies (Tyler)
Rose City Sweets (Tyler)
Oxbow Bakery & Antiques (Palestine)
Bowling
Green Acres Bowl (Tyler)
Palestine Bowling Center (Palestine)
Highland Lanes (Jacksonville)
Oil Bowl Lanes (Longview)
Kilgore Bowling Center (Kilgore)
Classic Lanes (Sulphur Springs)
Texas Pro Bowl (Nacogdoches)
Times Square Grand Slam (Tyler)
Candy/Soda
Watkins Candy Company (Kilgore)
Lindale Candy Company (Lindale)
Fulmer Candy Company (Tyler)
Tyler Candy Co LLC (Tyler)
Atkinson Candy Company (Lufkin)
Ice Cream
Andy’s Frozen Custard (Mulitple Locations)
Roll’N Rolls Ice Cream Rolls (Tyler)
Paleteria Polar (Tyler)
Shivers Shaved Ice & Snack Shack (Tyler)
Marble Slab Creamery (Tyler)
Wild Honey Creamery (Longview)
Chilango’s Ice Cream (Jacksonville)
Bombongo Ice Cream Shop (Longview)
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt (Tyler and Longview)
Indoor Playgrounds
Raven’s PlayLand, LLC (Kilgore)
G-Force (Longview)
Longview World of Wonders (Longview) – An interactive children’s museum that promotes learning through hands-on exhibits and creative play.
Library/Book Stores
Elsewhere Books (Whitehouse)
Gladewater Books (Gladewater)
Pea Picker Bookstore (Tyler)
A Wicked Read (Canton)
Malls
Broadway Square (Tyler)
The Village at Cumberland Park (Tyler)
Longview Mall (Longview)
Mini Golf
Putt-Putt Golf & Games (Longview)
Lunar Mini Golf of Tyler (Tyler)
Creekside Mini Golf (Winnsboro)
Movies/Theaters
Times Square Grand Slam (Tyler)
GoOutdoorMovies East Texas (Longview)
Studio Movie Grill (Tyler)
AMC CLASSIC Tyler 14 (Tyler)
Regal Tyler Rose (Tyler)
Marshall Cinema (Marshall)
City Lights Palestine (Dogwood 6) (Palestine)
Bright Star Cinemas (Sulphur Springs)
Museums/History
American Freedom Museum (Bullard) – Learn about American military history and explore exhibits featuring artifacts from the Revolutionary War to modern-day conflicts.
Goodman-LeGrand House & Museum (Tyler)
Tyler Rose Museum & Gift Shop (Tyler)
Cotton Belt Depot Museum (Tyler)
Historical Aviation Memorial Museum (Tyler) – This aviation museum features vintage aircraft and offers educational exhibits about flight history and the military.
Kilgore College East Texas Oil Museum (Kilgore) – This museum brings to life the history of the Texas oil boom with interactive exhibits and replica oil rigs.
Vanishing Texana Museum (Jacksonville)
The Gladewater Museum (Gladewater) – Dive into the rich oil and railroad history of East Texas with kid-friendly exhibits and activities.
Museum of East Texas (Lufkin)
Camp Ford Historical Park (Tyler)
The McClendon House (Tyler)
Gregg County Historical Museum (Longview)
Mineola Historical Museum (Mineola)
The Discovery Science Place (Tyler) – The Discovery Science Place is a hands-on museum where kids can explore interactive exhibits that ignite curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math. With areas for building, experimenting, and even a pretend medical clinic, it’s a fun and educational stop for kids of all ages.
Nature Centers
Tyler Nature Center (Tyler)
Port Jefferson History & Nature Center (Jefferson)
Open Gymnastics
Texas East Kids (Tyler)
GymTyler Gymnastics (Tyler)
East Texas Twisters (Canton)
Parks
Tyler State Park (Tyler) – A great spot for camping, hiking, swimming, and fishing in a serene, natural setting.
Faulkner Park (Tyler and Lindale)
Lindsey Park (Tyler)
Rose Rudman Park (Tyler) – A family-friendly walking and biking trail that winds through wooded areas, perfect for outdoor exercise.
City Park (Whitehouse)
Martin Creek Lake State Park (Tatum)
Love’s Lookout Texas (Jacksonville)
The Children’s Park (Tyler)
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park (Pittsburg) – Known for its fishing and water sports, this state park also offers camping, hiking trails, and birdwatching opportunities.
Bergfeld Park (Tyler)
Kilgore City Park (Kilgore)
Davey Dogwood Park (Palestine)
Paul Boorman Trail Park (Longview) – Enjoy a family bike ride or leisurely walk along this scenic trail with plenty of nature views and wildlife.
Pools and Waterparks
Waterpark at The Villages (Flint)
Splash Kingdom Paradise Island (Canton)
Whatz-Up Water Park (Seven Points)
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park (Tyler) – Stay the weekend at this fun-filled resort offering camping, cabins, swimming pools, and visits from Yogi Bear himself!
Skating
Kilgore Skateland (Kilgore)
Gilmer Starplex (Gilmer)
Skateland USA (Jacksonville)
Good Times Skate & Go Karts (Athens)
Skate Ranch (Lufkin)
REO Starplex and Event Center (Longview)
Roundup Roller Rink (Grand Saline)
Skate-O-Rama (Nacoghdoches)
Splash Pads
Joe Layne Family Splash Pad (Troup)
City Park (Whitehouse)
Lear Park – Jack M Mann Splash Pad (Longview)
Fun Forest Park (Tyler)
Darden Harvest Park (Lindale)
Faulkner Park (Tyler)
Kilgore City Park (Kilgore)
Trains
Texas State Railroad (Rusk)
Texas State Railroad (Palestine) – Hop aboard this historic train for themed rides, including seasonal events like the Polar Express.
Trampolines
iJump Tyler Trampoline Park (Tyler)
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park (Tyler)
Air U Trampoline Park (Longview)
Hijinx Trampoline Park (Lufkin)
East Texas is filled with adventure, history, and excitement for families looking to make lifelong memories. Whether you’re zipping through treetops, exploring a museum, or relaxing by a lake, there are endless ways to enjoy quality time together in this beautiful region!
The Ultimate List of East Texas Family Fun
