This summer season, now we have determined to spend a couple of months in Oklahoma with household. Usually, Oklahoma wouldn’t be on my listing of locations to go to in summer season due to the acute warmth, however we’ve discovered ourselves lacking household currently and we would have liked to straighten some issues out with our rig anyway, so right here we’re, revisiting a few of our favourite Oklahoma points of interest.
Some folks would possibly suppose Oklahoma can be a boring place to hang around, however the reality of the matter is, there are literally plenty of nice issues to do in Oklahoma with children. We’ve already explored these superb locations with our little adventurers, and I’m right here to make use of our experiences to information you thru visiting Oklahoma’s prime points of interest with children.
The Greatest Time to Go to Oklahoma
First, let’s speak about when it is best to go to Oklahoma. The reply is not summer season. Significantly, July and August typically see temperatures over 100 levels (°F)! As an alternative, I extremely advocate visiting within the fall, which is when our household normally pays the household a go to. We discover that the top of September by way of the top of November tends to offer glorious tenting climate on this a part of the nation.
Apart from fall, spring will also be good in Oklahoma. Simply bear in mind that twister season begins on the finish of April and runs by way of the start of June. Because of this whereas the daytime temperatures will probably be beautiful, you’ll must deal with an honest quantity of thunder, lightning, rain, and hail, and you might even have to cover from tornadoes.
Along with our annual fall go to, we additionally have a tendency to go to as soon as within the spring, however these storms are by no means one thing I sit up for.
Household-Pleasant Information to Visiting Oklahoma Sights
Now that you recognize when to go to Oklahoma, let’s speak about the perfect issues to do in Oklahoma with children and how you can navigate these Oklahoma points of interest with the little ones in tow.
The Gathering Place
The Gathering Place is probably the most unbelievable city park we’ve ever been to, and I’d be prepared to wager it’s among the many finest within the nation. The park is house to a wide range of play areas, together with a whole Swing Hill, an entire Slide Vale, and a water play space referred to as Charlie’s Water Mountain. For hours of playtime enjoyable, you should definitely hit up Chapman Journey Playground as nicely.
As a result of this park is so monumental, I extremely advocate packing a picnic lunch to take pleasure in throughout your time there. A stroller is a should for younger youngsters. Convey skateboards, bikes, and so forth in case your children would possibly benefit from the skatepark!
If it is advisable park your RV, the thirty third Place Car parking zone has house, however you’ll want to examine your route for low clearance bridges and tunnels forward of time. Some folks declare it’s higher to drop your RV off at Riverwind On line casino earlier than heading downtown.
Jenks Aquarium
Not too removed from Tulsa in a city referred to as Jenks, there’s a good aquarium that our household has loved a number of instances through the years. It isn’t the largest aquarium on the market by any stretch, however it’s intimate, the workers there are educated, and so they provide alternatives for memorable actions.
I extremely advocate looking on the feed schedule earlier than you go and planning your day round watching among the animals be fed. We particularly love watching the playful otters chow down.
If the children must burn off some vitality after exploring the reveals, head exterior to the playground. This construction options a few of my children’ favourite choices, together with a brilliant enjoyable curler slide!
Science Museum Oklahoma
Simply the perfect attraction in Oklahoma Metropolis, Science Museum Oklahoma is a must-do in the event you’ll be within the space with children. This is a gigantic science middle, and is likely one of the finest we’ve seen in our 9 years of touring (and we use our ASTC cross as a lot as potential!).
Our children adore the CurioCity part, particularly the big interactive playground. The Tinkering Storage can be common, because it presents every kind of alternatives to construct and create, one thing each of my kiddos adore. When you have an area lover in your group, the planetarium present ought to be in your to-do listing, and the stay exhibits are at all times successful.
Science Museum Oklahoma has an unlimited eating space, so packing and consuming lunch within the museum is just not an issue. There may be additionally the choice of shopping for meals there, however it’s extremely costly.
This museum is part of the ASTC reciprocal program, so if in case you have an ASTC cross, you should definitely use it at no cost entry! Parking is free and the lot is giant (with overflow out there), but it surely does replenish on weekends and through faculty breaks.
Oklahoma Metropolis Zoo
Proper subsequent door to Science Museum Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Metropolis Zoo is one other OKC must-see attraction. Whereas we just like the science museum higher, I’ve to confess the zoo can be actually, rather well achieved and would possibly simply be among the many prime 10 within the nation.
We completely love the elephant presentation and the giraffe feeding. Our 4-year-old adores the petting zoo and the Endangered Species Carousel, and the caretaker chats are at all times worthwhile. After all, you’ll want to find time for the 2 superior playgrounds within the zoo throughout your go to.
The zoo can simply be a full day attraction. Because of this, we advocate packing snacks and a lunch, in addition to a stroller for little legs which are prone to get drained.
This zoo is a part of the AZA reciprocal program, so it can save you 50% if in case you have an AZA cross. As is the case with the science museum, parking is free and the lot is giant (with overflow out there), but it surely does replenish on weekends and through faculty breaks.
Observe: In order for you an inexpensive, straightforward meal after visiting the zoo or the science museum, there’s a McDonald’s with an indoor playground simply down the highway, in addition to a Sonic Drive-In with an outside playground.
Wichita Mountains Nationwide Wildlife Refuge
In search of some outdoorsy enjoyable? Head as much as Lawton to go to the Wichita Mountains Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. This place is gorgeous, and the bison and elk who name the land house are so tremendous cool to see roaming round.
Throughout your time within the park, we extremely advocate trying out the customer middle to be taught extra concerning the land, the historical past of the place, and the crops and animals that decision the park house. A drive up Mount Scott is one other must-do and presents some beautiful views. There are many trails for mountain climbing (one thing you actually gained’t discover within the OKC space) and the assorted lakes provide alternatives for fishing and paddling.
As a result of potable water is difficult to return by on the park (the truth is, there could also be none in any respect), you’ll want to pack loads of water. We stock a pair gallons of water at the back of our automobile because of this. As you may think, cell service is spotty, so obtain maps forward of time and don’t depend on retaining in contact with journey companions by way of telephone. Plan to spend the entire day (or extra, in the event you can) and pack loads of meals. Admission is free!
Chickasaw Cultural Heart
One way or the other, we hadn’t made it right down to Sulphur to take a look at the Chickasaw Cultural Heart till very not too long ago. What we discovered was great!
The middle options a big and nicely maintained campus. The video is proven in an superior, state-of-the-art theater with an enormous display and is an effective way to start out a go to, because it explores among the historical past of the Chickasaw tribe. We additionally actually loved the little residing historical past village (although there have been no reenactors throughout our go to) and located the data offered about every constructing fascinating.
The spotlight of our day was the stomp dance demonstration, which allowed us to observe some conventional stomp dancing and even take part a few dances. This was so cool, particularly for the dancers in our group (we visited with a number of units of household pals).
Admission to the cultural middle is free, however some actions (just like the museum) do price a small quantity. Parking can be free and is in a big lot that would probably match an RV. The middle sits proper subsequent to the Chickasaw Nationwide Recreation Space—there’s really a walkway from one to the opposite—so combining the 2 right into a single day-trip is feasible, however it could be higher to offer every attraction a full day in the event you can.
Chickasaw Nationwide Recreation Space
Final on my listing of Oklahoma points of interest is the Chickasaw Nationwide Recreation Space. That is one other Sulphur attraction that we one way or the other missed till not too long ago, and just like the cultural middle, it’s nicely price seeing.
Run by the Nationwide Park Service, this park is as nicely maintained and offered as you’d count on from an NPS web site. We began within the Travertine Nature Heart the place the children acquired Junior Ranger books and we watched a film concerning the park. From there, we took a ranger-guided hike that was completely unbelievable. A consultant from the Chickasaw tribe was serving to lead the hike and was extraordinarily educated concerning the space and the historical past of the park.
For the children, the perfect half about this go to was our swim at Little Niagara. This spot included picnic tables and shade, restrooms, a shallow part for the littles, a deeper space for sturdy swimmers, and even a spot to “slide” down the falls. Simply bear in mind that our youngsters did find yourself with small leeches after enjoying within the shaded, nonetheless waters.
This can be a nice park to go to with children. I extremely advocate beginning within the nature middle like we did to get a really feel for what there’s to do and going from there. Pack swim stuff, sunscreen, bug spray, water, strolling footwear, and a lunch and you have to be good to go! Admission is free, however RV parking is extraordinarily restricted (possibly even unavailable utterly) until tenting within the park.
Child-Pleasant Oklahoma Campgrounds
Clearly, you have to someplace to park your rig whereas spending time within the state and exploring Oklahoma points of interest. We normally park on my grandma’s land, so this isn’t one thing we take into consideration typically. That mentioned, now we have spent a while in Oklahoma campgrounds up to now 9 years, so I do have some ideas for locations to camp with children.
Oklahoma Metropolis East KOA Vacation
We’ve stayed on the Oklahoma Metropolis East KOA a couple of completely different instances and have loved our stays every time. We stayed a couple of months at a time every time we parked right here and paid the (surprisingly inexpensive) month-to-month fee. The day by day fee is a bit excessive, however that’s to be anticipated from a KOA.
We actually, actually love the person bathe rooms at this campground, and the small however nicely stored pool is a godsend throughout the scorching months. Websites function full hookups, there’s a small playground within the park, and a canine park is accessible. The simple entry to the interstate can be good.
Wes Watkins Reservoir
Situated even additional east from OKC, Wes Watkins Reservoir is an effective alternative in the event you solely want to remain for a couple of days. At solely $25 an evening, it’s extremely inexpensive and the websites are clear and nicely shaded. It’s additionally good to have entry to the swimming seaside on the reservoir.
The bathhouses do go away one thing to be desired and there aren’t any sewer hookups on the websites, so showering is a little bit of a ache whereas staying right here, but when it’s just for a couple of days, it’s potential to bathe within the rig and dump tanks on the dump station on the best way out.
Chickasaw Nationwide Recreation Space
We’ve by no means stayed right here, however we did drive by one of many campgrounds throughout our day journey and it regarded great. I’ve added it to my listing of campsites to take a look at sooner or later, and I like to recommend you do the identical in the event you plan to spend any time in Sulphur.
In line with the NPS web site, this park is house to six completely different campgrounds. Of those, The Level Campground and Buckhorn Campground have water and electrical hookups—in addition to bathhouses—and appear to be the perfect wager for RVers.
Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Space
Lastly, there’s Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Space (LETRA). This campground is situated within the Wichita Mountains and is definitely one my household visited typically once I was a child. It options clear restrooms with showers, full-hookup websites, and delightful mountain and lake views.
We adored the water slides and the swimming seaside once I was little, and I think about my children would really feel the identical at present. The onsite mini golf seems to be like quite a lot of enjoyable, and the camp retailer is useful for certain.
We’ve by no means stayed in Tulsa (aside from one in a single day in a Cracker Barrel parking zone), so I don’t have any campground suggestions in that space, however I do know there are loads of choices.
As you’ll be able to see, there are literally plenty of glorious Oklahoma points of interest. Any of those can be tremendous enjoyable issues to do in Oklahoma with children, however truthfully, my husband and I take pleasure in doing most of this stuff on our personal as nicely. Which of them will you add to your journey itinerary?
