Visiting Rockwall, Tyler, need help (Dallas, Garland: rent, homes, movie theater)

[SOMUTCH]

Hi folks,

My wife and I are going to finally visit the Rockwall area and perhaps Tyler too. Just wondering if someone might give us a few "key things to see and do" to experience these towns.

We've been wanting to make this trip for several months and are finally gonna do it. We'll be there mid-August...I know, the heat is gonna kill us right? Actually we wanted to go in the Summer months to see for ourselves just how bad it can be. We're from Sacramento, Ca. so heat is really nothing new but that sticky stuff you folks have......

We'd like to see points of interest but are really looking to see the people of these communities. We want to see everyday life type stuff.

Any recommendations are welcome and thanks in advance for your help!

Chad

[SOMUTCH]

nobody?

[nsumner]

Can't tell you about Tyler, but are you specifically looking just at Rockwall or the surrounding areas? Dallas perhaps?

Rockwall is about lakeside living which means that you would have to go by the Harbor and enjoy an evening of free concert on the esplanade on Thursdays. May I even suggest staying at the Hilton Bella Harbor with a view of the water. May be rent a boat and go for a tour of the lake. Very close to Rockwall is mesquite where they have a Rodeo show on Friday and Saturday night. A lot of places to choose from for dinner too. There is also a working ranch if that is something that appeals to you Welcome to Double D Ranch!... memba city slikers?

Rockwall Harbor.com - Home

How long are you staying in the area? That would help to know if you have time in exploring Dallas as well...

Naima

[SOMUTCH]

Thanks for the info Naima. Actually, you and I have talked before and I regularly get your e-mail updates about current listings in Rockwall. We are finally going to see Rockwall but only have two days to do it.

I know it's short, but in this trip we will be in Georgia for 3 days, Tennessee for 2 days and the Texas for 2 before heading back home. I'm just trying to cram everything in that I can.

I'd prefer to see anything from Rockwall east.

I appreciate the information. We may call you should a particular property catch our eye.

Thanks again.

Chad

[Grainraiser]

There is a Bass pro shop right on the banks of Ray Hubbard that has a nice restaurant. You and family could have a nice dinner there overlooking the lake. They also have a great movie theater on the lake's edge that you can go to. I am sure there are more things to do but these would be a good start.

[SOMUTCH]

I didn't know Rockwall had a BassPro...I'll be there for sure.

Thank you!

[SOMUTCH]

Anybody else???

[Aquariagerl]

For Tyler, I would recommend the Tyler Rose Garden, but it will be dang hot at that time. I can't really think of anything else there this time of year. If you ever come during the spring, they have the Azalea Trail and tours of several of the antebellum-type homes.

[todd_a]

Tyler -

I live in Tyler and have lived here all my life with the exception of a short time in Dallas and in North Hollywood (when I was too young to remember it anyway)...

As mentioned above, you could go see the Rose Garden on Front Street by Harvey Convention Center. It is the biggest rose museum in the nation. "Approximately one-fifth of all commercial rose bushes produced in the United States are grown in Smith County, while over one-half of the nation's rose bushes are packaged and shipped from this area."

Also mentioned previously, the Azalea Trail in the Spring time is nice to see.
There are 2 lakes close to Tyler with a few public beaches and boat launches.
Tyler is home to Tyler Junior College which is a very nice 2 year college, and also to a branch of the University of Texas.
Tyler also has 3 major hospitals, 2 of which are very competitive so the medical abilities are pretty advanced for the size of the city.

Tyler is in a dry county, so if you drink, you will have to go to a bar or club and get a mebership. This is not a hindernace really and I have heard of this county being referred to as "the wettest dry county"...

There are several places to go for nightlife - If you prefer the club scene, there are a few places down town and a few others scattered around town also.

On Sunday mornings the churches and surrounding areas are busy and the rest of the city is only mildly active. If you want to see the town unterrupted, then Sunday mornings are a great time, however nothing much is open. If you want to see a lot of the people in Tyler, attend a church on Sunday morning.

Also, on Sunday evenings at about 6PM things come to a crawl around town and at 9 or 10PM on Sundays there is definitley nothing to do but it is nice and quiet.

There is one mall in Tyler and it is not huge but seems to have the more popular stores. It has been recently been remodeled.

There are several public parks and one with a nice concrete walking/biking trail that currently goes about 2.4 miles but they are carving another huge section out of the woods at the moment to lengthen it even more.

If you are interested in older cars, there are several car shows that happen throughout the year, and a monthly "cruise night" at a south Tyler Whataburger. The owner is a collector of classic cars and actually has one inside the Whataburger restaurant. You can see that aspect of the people if you go there on any 2nd Thursday of the month with the exception of the few months in the dead of winter.

Tyler is not Huge but it is not small either. It is not so small that everyone knows your business, but small enough that you will run into friends at the grocery store.

Tyler is located close enough to Dallas that you can easily drive there for the day to take in any shopping or other activities you may be drawn to Dalls for, and at the same time you would actually live in a smaller town with less crime, quicker travel to work or where ever, and other advantages that come with a smaller town. Tyler is also located an equal distance from Shreveport, LA, which has gambling casinos if that interests you.

If you have kids, the school system seems to be top rate, and I do know that they are very up to date from a technical standpoint as I know a few of the IT people from the district.

I'm not sure what to tell you because I am not aware of your interests, so I have just listed a few things off the top of my head here.

Hope this helps a little.

Todd

[jeffari-al-texani]

Originally Posted by SOMUTCH

I didn't know Rockwall had a BassPro...I'll be there for sure.

Thank you!

Rockwall doesn't have a BassPro...

it's on the other side of the lake, in Garland...

there is also a County Line BBQ over there...