Winona is a small city in Smith County founded in 1870 as organized by the Winona Liberty Baptist Church. The community quickly began to grow, reaching some 150 inhabitants before the turn of the 20th century, including a dentist, a physician, and a railroad agent. A new general store, a cotton gin and a mill all became part of the community, also.
Winona has certainly grown since then, even through major setbacks like multiple untimely lightning strikes and the Great Depression. In the 2010 census, the city’s population was 576.
A small city like this makes it easy to feel at home. And, just as in any active home, there’s always something you can find to do when you want to get out and have fun. Here are our picks for the top 3 things to do in and near Winona, TX.
Here are our three favorite things to do in Winona, TX:
Caldwell Zoo
Located in Tyler, TX, the Caldwell Zoo is a fantastic little gem for the people of East Texas. With over 3,400 animals, this zoo offers a great time for the whole family. Visitors get to learn about these animals, their habitats, and nature in general.
You can have a great time feeding the giraffes and admiring the gigantic elephants, and then get to know some little guys, too. There is a petting zoo with friendly goats plus an enclosed bird exhibit where the birds will literally land on your hand to eat the popsicle stick you offer them! A sandbox area with benches is a great place to take a break and let the kids play, too.
The Caldwell Zoo is beautifully designed and offers a varied set of exhibits for everyone to enjoy. It’s located at 2203 Martin Luther King Blvd, Tyler, TX 75702, and their phone number is 903-593-0121.
Blueberry Hill Farms
If you’re a fan of blueberries, a visit to Blueberry Hill Farms is an absolute must! This true, red barn farm is full of blueberry bushes—more than you’ll be able to count. You can buy professionally-picked blueberries in the country house, or you can grab a pail and go and pick some berries yourself. There are water stations set up throughout the fields to help keep you hydrated, and you can get some blueberry ice cream and blueberry lemonade back at the country house to cool off after working hard filling your bucket.
Make sure to try the blueberry pastries, too. The blueberry pie is absolutely to die for! Have some coffee with your pastry to kick back and relax before you head home. Just think of all of the ways you can use all of those blueberries!
The Blueberry Hill Farms is located at 10268 FM 314, Edom, Texas 75756, and can be reached at 903-852-6175.
Times Square Grand Slam
Times Square Grand Slam is where you can go to find a little bit of fun for everyone! There’s a movie theater to lean back and relax, an arcade to lose yourself in all of the games, bowling lanes to show off your form, and even laser tag to get you heart rate up a little.
Don’t worry if you get hungry, because the kitchen is open from 9 a.m. until late. Enjoy some breakfast or brunch in the morning, some brick oven pizza at night, and many things in between. Cocktails are also available at the bar.
You’ll find the square at 5201 S. Broadway, Tyler, Texas 75703, and can call ahead at 903-581-1818.
