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Visiting East Texas & Piney Woods

East Texas features a number of friendly towns just waiting for your visit. Mineola, found at the junction of U.S. Highways 69 and 80, mixes outdoor paradise and familiar Texas traditions. Visit the beautiful Mineola Nature Preserve, open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset - offering your family hiking, biking and 20 miles of horseback riding. Longview is an hour East of Mineola at the confluence of Interstate 20, and U.S. Highways 259 and 80. North of the Sabine River, Longview is a town where famed festivals such as the Great Texas Balloon Race are celebrated. Choose from the hours of tranquility in Mineola, or the grand revelries of Longview in East Texas.

Mineola allows you to choose from inner city attractions such as a historic downtown walking tour. This self-guided excursion takes you past sites of yesteryear like the Select Theater. The Select begins their season in February with the comedy, “The Importance Of Being Earnest.” Mineola is packed with historic sites and museums, but has something for outdoor enthusiasts as well.

The Mineola Nature Preserve’s nearly 3,000 acres is home to such Texas wildlife as buffalo and longhorn cattle. Don’t miss a walk along an abandoned rail bed, or a trip down Johnny Bendy Trail to see a bustling beehive set behind safety glass. Work up an appetite and head to the intersection of Hwy 69 and 80 for lunch at Kitchen’s or the East Texas Burger Company. The Best Western hotel in Mineola provides convenient access to the preserve, making it easier to experience a day in the Mineola wilderness.

Longview, an hour East along U.S. Highway 80 is the town where celebrations are a way of life.

The 2011 AlleyFest is held the first weekend of June. Texans flock to Longview’s historic downtown known as "One Hundred Acres of Heritage" for car shows, live music, shopping and old-fashioned Texas cookery. Gates open 6:30 p.m. on Friday with $5 admission and free entrance for children under 12. Saturday admission is free from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. - come join the celebration of East Texas traditions in Longview.

Late July in Longview means the 2011 Great Texas Balloon Race has come to lift spirits. Since 1978, this world-class event offers the spectacle of balloon racing and the stunning “Balloon Glow” shows on Friday and Saturday night. Held at the East Texas Regional Airport, the Great Texas Balloon Race also features a Kid’s Land complete with a giant slide and bounce house. Admission to Kid’s Land is $5 for both Friday and Saturday. Texas travelers choose from two Best Western hotels in Longview, so pack up the kids and come see for yourself why Longview is called the Balloon Capitol of Texas.

With the beauty of Mineola and the festivities of Longview, you’re sure to have an unforgettable time in the Lone Star State.