A 100-acre spring-fed lake ringed with 100-foot pines, two hours from home — and the week we'd be there, Tyler throws its biggest party of the year. The 93rd Texas Rose Festival runs Oct 15–18: the Municipal Rose Garden (38,000 bushes) at peak, an arts & crafts fair, and the Rose Parade rolling through downtown Saturday morning.
Garden and parade viewing are free; ticketed events (coronation, Queen's Tea) optional. Downtown Tyler and camp are 20 minutes apart.
Canoe, kayak, and paddle-boat rentals at the park store; crappie and bass off the pier — no license needed in the park.
13 miles of hiking and legit mountain-bike singletrack under the pines — bring the boys' bikes.
Not yet verified night-by-night — festival week will pressure the weekend. Say the word and I'll pull the per-site calendar the same way I did for Beavers Bend. Tent and water/electric loops run ~$20–25/night plus daily entry.