Things to Do in Winona, Texas

In town, Winona's life revolves around its community — the Winona Community Center on Dallas Street, school events and 'Wildcat' sports, and the churches and gatherings that knit a small town together. It's a place to enjoy a slower pace, friendly faces, and the rhythms of rural East Texas.

The surrounding countryside offers the outdoors close at hand: the Piney Woods, country roads good for scenic drives, and the lakes of the Tyler area — including Lake Tyler to the south and Lake Hawkins to the northwest and others within a short drive — for fishing and boating. For a quiet town, the natural recreation of the region is never far away.

Winona's biggest advantage is its closeness to Tyler, the commercial and cultural hub of East Texas, about a dozen miles southwest. There you'll find the famous Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, the Caldwell Zoo, the Tyler Museum of Art, a planetarium, the Discovery Science Place, shopping, dining, and the events of a small city — all an easy drive from Winona.

With Interstate 20 just south of town and State Highway 155 running through it, Winona residents have quick access not only to Tyler but to the whole region, making the town a convenient and quiet home base for exploring East Texas.

Winona's location makes it a fine launching point for the classic day trips of the region. To the north and east, historic Jefferson offers antiques, historic homes, and nearby Caddo Lake; Gladewater bills itself as the antique capital of East Texas and hosts events like Gusher Days; and Gilmer is home to the famous East Texas Yamboree festival, the Historic Upshur Museum, and Lake Gilmer.

Whether it's a morning of antiquing, an afternoon on a lake, or a festival weekend, the towns and attractions within an easy drive give Winona residents plenty to explore beyond their quiet hometown.