This summer season, we now have determined to spend just a few months in Oklahoma with household. Usually, Oklahoma wouldn’t be on my checklist of locations to go to in summer season because of the intense warmth, however we’ve discovered ourselves lacking household these days 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 individuals would possibly suppose Oklahoma can be a boring place to hang around, however the fact of the matter is, there are literally a variety of nice issues to do in Oklahoma with children. We’ve already explored these wonderful locations with our little adventurers, and I’m right here to make use of our experiences to information you thru visiting Oklahoma’s high points of interest with children.
The Greatest Time to Go to Oklahoma
First, let’s discuss when it is best to go to Oklahoma. The reply is not summer season. Severely, July and August usually see temperatures over 100 levels (°F)! As a substitute, I extremely advocate visiting within the fall, which is when our household often pays the household a go to. We discover that the tip of September by means of the tip of November tends to offer glorious tenting climate on this a part of the nation.
Aside from fall, spring may also be good in Oklahoma. Simply bear in mind that twister season begins on the finish of April and runs by means of the start of June. Because of this whereas the daytime temperatures will possible be beautiful, you’ll must take care of a good quantity of thunder, lightning, rain, and hail, and it’s possible you’ll 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 stay up for.
Household-Pleasant Information to Visiting Oklahoma Points of interest
Now that you understand when to go to Oklahoma, let’s discuss the very best issues to do in Oklahoma with children and navigate these Oklahoma points of interest with the little ones in tow.
The Gathering Place
The Gathering Place is probably the most unimaginable 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, a complete Slide Vale, and a water play space known as Charlie’s Water Mountain. For hours of playtime enjoyable, you’ll want to 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 kids. Carry skateboards, bikes, and many others in case your children would possibly benefit from the skatepark!
If you should park your RV, the thirty third Place Car parking zone has area, however you’ll want to examine your route for low clearance bridges and tunnels forward of time. Some individuals 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 known as Jenks, there’s a good aquarium that our household has loved a number of occasions over time. It isn’t the largest aquarium on the market by any stretch, however it’s intimate, the employees 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 displays, head exterior to the playground. This construction options a few of my children’ favourite choices, together with an excellent enjoyable curler slide!
Science Museum Oklahoma
Simply the very best attraction in Oklahoma Metropolis, Science Museum Oklahoma is a must-do should you’ll be within the space with children. This is a gigantic science middle, and is without doubt one of the finest we’ve seen in our 9 years of touring (and we use our ASTC cross as a lot as attainable!).
Our children adore the CurioCity part, particularly the big interactive playground. The Tinkering Storage can be well-liked, because it presents all types of alternatives to construct and create, one thing each of my kiddos adore. If in case you have an area lover in your group, the planetarium present ought to be in your to-do checklist, and the reside exhibits are all the time a success.
Science Museum Oklahoma has an infinite eating space, so packing and consuming lunch within the museum just isn’t 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’ll want to use it without cost entry! Parking is free and the lot is giant (with overflow obtainable), nevertheless it does refill on weekends and through college 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, very well finished and would possibly simply be among the many high 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 all the time worthwhile. In fact, 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 can be more likely 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 obtainable), nevertheless it does refill on weekends and through college breaks.
Observe: If you need 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 out of doors 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 testing the customer middle to be taught extra in regards to the land, the historical past of the place, and the vegetation and animals that decision the park house. A drive up Mount Scott is one other must-do and presents some attractive views. There are many trails for mountain climbing (one thing you actually gained’t discover within the OKC space) and the varied lakes provide alternatives for fishing and paddling.
As a result of potable water is tough to return by on the park (actually, there could also be none in any respect), you’ll want to pack loads of water. We stock a pair gallons of water behind our automotive because of this. As you may think, cell service is spotty, so obtain maps forward of time and don’t depend on preserving in contact with journey companions through telephone. Plan to spend the entire day (or extra, should you can) and pack loads of meals. Admission is free!
Chickasaw Cultural Middle
By some means, we hadn’t made it all the way down to Sulphur to take a look at the Chickasaw Cultural Middle till very lately. What we discovered was fantastic!
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 supplied 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 value a small quantity. Parking can be free and is in a big lot that might possible match an RV. The middle sits proper subsequent to the Chickasaw Nationwide Recreation Space—there may be truly 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 provide every attraction a full day should you can.
Chickasaw Nationwide Recreation Space
Final on my checklist 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 lately, 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 anticipate from an NPS web site. We began within the Travertine Nature Middle the place the children obtained Junior Ranger books and we watched a film in regards to 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 in regards to the space and the historical past of the park.
For the children, the very best 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 robust swimmers, and even a spot to “slide” down the falls. Simply bear in mind that our children did find yourself with small leeches after enjoying within the shaded, nonetheless waters.
It is 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 may be to do and going from there. Pack swim stuff, sunscreen, bug spray, water, strolling sneakers, and a lunch and you ought to be good to go! Admission is free, however RV parking is extraordinarily restricted (possibly even unavailable fully) except tenting within the park.
Child-Pleasant Oklahoma Campgrounds
Clearly, you will want someplace to park your rig whereas spending time within the state and exploring Oklahoma points of interest. We often park on my grandma’s land, so this isn’t one thing we take into consideration usually. That mentioned, we now have spent a while in Oklahoma campgrounds previously 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 just a few completely different occasions and have loved our stays every time. We stayed just a few months at a time every time we parked right here and paid the (surprisingly reasonably priced) month-to-month fee. The each 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 saved pool is a godsend through the sizzling months. Websites function full hookups, there’s a small playground within the park, and a canine park is out there. The straightforward entry to the interstate can be good.
Wes Watkins Reservoir
Situated even additional east from OKC, Wes Watkins Reservoir is an effective selection should you solely want to remain for just a few days. At solely $25 an evening, it’s extremely reasonably priced 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 are not 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 just a few days, it’s attainable 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 appeared fantastic. I’ve added it to my checklist of campsites to take a look at sooner or later, and I like to recommend you do the identical should you plan to spend any time in Sulphur.
Based on 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 very best wager for RVers.
Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Space
Lastly, there may be Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Space (LETRA). This campground is situated within the Wichita Mountains and is definitely one my household visited usually after I was a child. It options clear restrooms with showers, full-hookup websites, and exquisite mountain and lake views.
We adored the water slides and the swimming seaside after I was little, and I think about my children would really feel the identical as we speak. The onsite mini golf appears to be like like quite a lot of enjoyable, and the camp retailer is helpful for positive.
We’ve by no means stayed in Tulsa (except for 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 may see, there are literally a variety 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?