Who says you have to do anything? Most people who see our welcoming porches think they could just sit in a rocker and let the world go by for a while. Bring that book you’ve been meaning to read and soak up the country atmosphere. Relax in our new hot tub, tucked just off the west porch. Or pack your hiking boots or an old pair of tennis shoes and walk the trails that crisscross our 14 wooded acres. You can visit our donkeys, Bubba and Sissy, and early morning or late evening, you may scare a deer, fox or cottontail.

If you’re determined to do something, museums, historic attractions, recreation and shopping are not far away. Depending on the season, you’ll find flower or foliage tours and other special events. See the NEWS page for updates. Here are some area highlights:

Tyler’s renowned Rose Garden, Caldwell Zoo (www.caldwellzoo.org), Tyler Museum of Art (www.tylermuseum.org), the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum (www.tylerhamm.org) and antique shopping are 20 minutes away. (www.tylertexas.com)

Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge (www.tigercreek.org), home of the big cats, is less than five minutes from our door, and if you’re here near the holidays, Santa Land, a drive-through lights exhibit, is only 12 minutes away.

In Lindale (www.lindalechamber.org), enjoy a variety of services at Identity Day Spa & Salon (www.identitydayspa.com).

Take short trips for antiquing to Gladewater (www.gladewaterchamber.com), Gilmer (www.gilmerareachamber.com) or Mineola (www.mineola.com). Canton, home of the famous First Mondays (www.firstmondaycanton.com), is 35 miles east on the Interstate.

Play golf at Garden Valley Golf Course (www.gardenvalleytx.com/golf/feehours.php), rated the No. 3 public course in Texas. Other courses are nearby, too, and we can help arrange tee times.

Tyler State Park (www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/tyler/) is just four miles from Dogwood Hill. Lake Hawkins (www.sra.dst.tx.us/basin/recreation.asp?page=site&ID=20) is about 10 miles away.

Visit the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/) outside Athens (www.athenstx.org).

Longview (www.visitlongviewtexas.com) hosts the Great Texas Balloon Race (www.gtbr.net) every summer, and Kilgore (www.kilgorechamber.com) boasts the East Texas Oil Museum (www.easttexasoilmuseum.com).