Several East Texas cities are gaining attention for being cool even though not everyone is aware of how awesome they are.

Tyler didn't make The 12 Most Underrated Cities in Texas list on Only in Your State, but here's why that was a big mistake.

A couple of East Texas cities did make the list for being among the best hidden gems. The website Only In Your State, says Jefferson and Canton are among the most underrated cities in Texas.

If you want to get noticed, get some haunted spaces!  Jefferson continually gets recognized for its haunted ghost tours and spooky houses, and that's a draw for visitors. And, even though Jefferson isn't one of the biggest cities in Texas, it is one of the hidden treasures because of its ability to freak us out and make us curious.

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Canton is famous of course for one of the world's largest flea markets - First Monday Trade Days, which draws 300,000 people to East Texas once a month.  We all might benefit from that, with the travelers passing through.

Other awesome Texas towns that fly under the radar include Medina, Fredericksburg, and Bandera in the Hill Country, plus Salado, Wimberly, Goliad, and Waxahachie.

Tyler is left off the list, but it might smoke some of those other towns.

Dream Vacation Magazine says these are the best things about Tyler:

  • Tyler Rose Garden. ...
  • Caldwell Zoo. ...
  • Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge. ...
  • Discovery Science Place, Tyler, Texas. ...
  • Tyler State Park. ...
  • Historic Aviation Memorial Museum. ...
  • Center for Earth & Space Science Education. ...
  • Azalea Residential Historic District...

And what about the new Bergfeld Park Amphitheater?  That will quickly become another great venue to soak up outdoor events.  And it's purdy.

Tyler has giraffes, 35,000 rose bushes, oodles of camping and fishing space, and some sciency things that make us smart too.  AND, Lola's Sandwiches and Stanley's Pit Barbecue.  Heck yeah.  We may not be haunted and we don't have a huge flea market, but we've got plenty of recreation, museums, and beer to soak in.  Oh, and football season is not far off.  Friday night lights, along with a fishing trip and some beers on a Saturday in the fall puts Tyler right up there with any cool Texas town.

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