We wanted to show the kid Caddo lake so we drove from Dallas to do a tour with Captain Ron…read more Ron is a down home friendly guy who obviously loves people, his job, and Caddo lake. During the 90 minute boat tour, he was enthusiastic and passionate about the lake. He really seemed to enjoy sharing his immense knowledge the lake, both real and legend. I learned a lot and he made the tour very interesting. The day we went it was a bit chilly and overcast. It had just rained so the lake water was muddy, and therefore we did not see much wildlife, just a busy beaver and some blue herons. You can go during the summer when the water is clearer and see turtles and dragon flies. During the summer, the climate is much hotter and humid and there is little air flow on the lake, so be prepared to sweat. Cool and overcast actually was preferable IMO. The wife and I had toured the lake about a decade ago and we left from the northern part of the lake. Our opinion is that despite the fact that Captain Ron did a great job, the northern part of the lake is more interesting than the southern part where Captain Ron is now located.

Had the best experience on the water today. Did a late afternoon tour w/ Captain Ron. Very sweet…read moreguy...full of fun lil facts, stops to admire birds, explain the scenery...just an all around great experience. So glad we booked this. Do yourself a favor...book the experience!! When back in town...will definitely shoot for a full moon tour!!!

This was a really cool tour and the host was awesome! Full of knowledge and happy to answer any…read morequestions. We felt very welcome and enjoyed our visit.

Overall: 3/5 Paranormal Activity…read more5/5 Tour I dragged my bestie with me all the way from Austin this weekend just to do some ghost tours in Jefferson, and it was worth it! The house was not NEARLY as active as I had hoped it would be, I did have the spirit of Daphne Young trying to communicate with me a majority of the tour though! The owner of the house/tour guide was super informative and kind. You could tell he loves giving tours, loves his home, and loves all the spirits that reside there. It was a super fun way to spend our Sunday morning/afternoon!

This was an outstanding experience. They usually run a steamboat but it was getting re-regulated so…read morewe went on a pontoon boat instead. But what made the experience was not the boat but the guide. Ron is a certified captain in the Coast Guard and extremely knowledgeable about the lake and the area. He made the tour interesting, fun, and entertaining. It is hard to believe that a place like Caddo Lake exists in Texas, just a couple of hours from Dallas. It is like going back in time to a different era. Unbelievably beautiful--highly recommended.

We did an afternoon tour in the pontoon boat during a short mid-October stay in Shreveport. It was…read moreonly an hour's drive to his location from there. We shared the boat with two other couples, delighted that one couple brought their dog and cat (in a carrier). Mike was friendly and very knowledgable about the lake biology and local history. While we explored the beautiful environment for over almost two hours, he regaled us with informative and humorous stories, answering any questions we had. At one point he unexpectedly stopped the boat just to put up the canopy to make sure the cat didn't get too hot. That really showed his thoughtful nature. Thanks, Mike, for a great time!

We came from Dallas to the Caddo Lake area for a weekend excursion. The website was clear, and a…read moreboat tour for 2 adults and 1 dog was easy to book (done via phone). Upon arrival at the place, Mike greeted us outside. To our surprise, we got a completely private tour, which we especially appreciated in the setting of COVID. We walked back to the dock and boarded the platoon boat. Mike's boat was spacious and very comfortable with cushioned swivel chairs at the front so that we could get the best view of the scenery. Mike was patient and friendly. Because he is a local, he was able to tell us a lot of cool information about the history and the endemic wildlife in the area. He took us through the most scenic parts of the river, and we had a blast. Mike provides one of the few dog-friendly boat tours that I could find in the area, and I am so glad we chose him. It was a lot of fun and I would highly recommend it to anyone!

A beautiful maintained preservation with more than 600 animals about an hour away from Tyler,…read moreTexas. And 3 hours from Austin, Texas. My children aged 8 and 15 had the best time! Feeding, observing, getting a really close look and feel of these beautiful, mainly Safari animals. Some were impressively large like the bison, longhorn, buffalo, zebra's, camels with extremely long tongues and large teeth! It was quite pricey, because you get charged per person and not per car. It rang up $79 total for our party of four. I would definitely recommend to bring wipes for your hands, to clean up, and a car wash afterwards because your car will be covered in saliva. This was quite the experience and very well loved!

The drive thru Safari was a lot of fun.It's such a beautiful place! They have over 700 different…read moreanimals and some of them are huge! The animals are very used to people and some of them are pretty brave and will stick their head in tour window! The camel even bit my mirror when I didn't give it any pellets! There's a really nice welcome center with two sweet ladies that work there. Bathrooms are clean and they have some snacks and souvenirs. We'd definitely go back!

If there was a way to give Howard a 10/5, I would. He is the most knowledgeable tour guide on Caddo…read moreLake and he customizes each tour to your needs. He knows where the spots are to take AMAZING photos and he can tell you the incredible and interesting history of this weird place. I have gone 3 times with him out on Caddo and each time I learn something new and see brand new places that I have never been before. Every season is a good time to go but I would suggest spring or summer for nice weather. I would recommend this tour to everyone! Thanks Howard!!

East Texas is Beautiful Country! If you love the Great Outdoors, you'll enjoy Fishing on Caddo…read moreLake! Did I hear Someone say "FLY FISHING!" .. Talk about Relaxing! Take the Family - Bring the Friends - and Enjoy the Pontoon Boat Tours on Caddo Lake and Big Cypress Bayou! ... The Big Dreamer Tours with Howard Leftwich is indeed a Big Dream to Remember! ... He has Fly and Conventional Fishing with Tours on the Caddo Lake and Big Cypress Bayou! ... And if you aren't up-to-speed, he offers Fly casting Lessons provided at no charge! ... Big Dreamer Tours! Big Dreamer Fishing! A Vacation to Enjoy for Years to Come!

John knows this lake like the back of his hand and has so much knowledge and experience. You can't…read morego wrong booking with him. He's fun, polite and will give you memories to treasure!

John Winn is a living legend on Caddo Lake. My wife and I were immediately struck by his immense…read moreknowledge of the lake, and how highly regarded he was by his peers and the locals we met on our kayaking trip. His kayaks were so much fun, and he gave my wife and I lots of tips on what to look for while on the lake (we saw so many white egrets and great blue herons!). We'd totally do it again, and recommend renting with John for anyone else!

Very laid back and personal tour. Small boat, only 8 people and totally non commercial. Mike new…read morethe area history and was very personable. Fairly priced for a great tour of a beautiful and unique area.

I love anything that has to do with water. (Its even my job!) So, Michael Landrum took his big…read morepontoon boat, ripped out all the seating, and put in a bunch of wicker lounge chairs. Comfortable! Michael will take you out on the lake for 1 1/2 hours, giving you the history of the lake, and telling you about the biggest bald cypress forest in the world. It really is! Glenda and I enjoyed every second of the trip. The lake and trees are absolutely beautiful. The Spanish moss is one of Mother Nature's miracles! With all the rain, the lake is 2.5 feet over normal. Saw several docks under water. Never saw an alligator, but we looked! Michael has a picture of a 14 footer! Just imagine. A 250 ft freighter starts in Jefferson, Texas, and a couple of days later is on the coast in New Orleans! Yep. This used to happen! We definitely recommend Michael 's tour. You'll enjoy it!

Don't come here looking for a lot of shade because roses need a lot of sun to bloom!…read more I grew up in the era where Tyler roses were kind of a big deal. If you had a Mother's Day or Mom's birthday to buy flowers, for it was a big deal to give her Tyler roses. If you were sweet other girl at school, it was also a big deal, if you not only gave her roses, but roses directly from Tyler. I had always wanted to see this Rose capital of the world. It was an easy day trip from Dallas and gave me the opportunity to see this Ground Zero from some thing that has a strong memory for me growing up. The gardens were beautiful, and when the breeze was just right, the fragrance was amazing. But I have to admit I was a little disappointed that it was not like our Arboretum, Or something like that. Nevertheless, it was worth the trip and took me down memory lane!

A beautiful and tranquil park, free and open to the public. Though the roses weren't fully out at…read morethis time of year, since we're in Azalea season, there was still plenty to walk around and do. There are a bunch of different spaces to visit, and it is well maintained. While we were there, a 3-year-old kid and his grandma were walking around, and the kid seemed to have no object permanence. He would trip and fall into a bush, get back up, and fall into the same bush again. It's not important to this review, but it was hilarious and worth sharing. Anyways, this place is a must-visit for locals and visitors! RIYL: Roses

this is amazing not only because off Jeff but our towns crazy history is terribly interesting!read more

Creepy and fun at the same time. My bf and I have been to a few ghost tours/walks and this one is…read moreon top of the list. You can purchase your ticket at the Lindsey Railroad Museum. They will open their door an hour before the tour. if you come in early you will have the opportunity to tour the railroad museum. The tour starts exactly at 9pm and will last approximately 90minutes. Before the tour starts they will offer you emf devices. It's up to you of you wanna take it not. The tour guides are history nerds, they research the facts and make sure that everything is accurate. This is a really great tour!