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Exploring Oklahoma

This year, we have stepped up our commitment to helping families have fun around the state. Check out our NEW Exploring Oklahoma with Children publication. Have this invaluable guide mailed to you through the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, TravelOK.com or 800-652-6552. They are also available at every state Tourism Information Center (see list below). Finally, you can find the digital edition below and much more information at ExploringOK.com.

Our sincere thanks to the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department for their sponsorship of this project!

The twelve Tourism Information Centers operated by the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department are located:

• In the OKC metro on I-35 at Exit 137 at 12229 N I-35 Service Rd
• In the State Capitol at NE 23rd and Lincoln Blvd
• In Midwest City on I-40 at Exit 157 at 7200 SE 29th.
• Near Erick on I-40, 9 miles east of the TX border
• Near Colbert on US-69/75, 2 miles north of the TX border
• Near Thackerville on I-35, 4 miles north of the TX border
• Near Walters on I-44, 30 miles north of the TX border
• On the Cherokee Turnpike/US-412, 13 miles west of the AR border
• Near Sallisaw on I-40, 17 miles west of the AR border
• Near Blackwell on I-35, 10 miles south of the KS border
• Near Miami at Exit 313 on I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike, 22 miles southwest of the MO border
• In the Tulsa metro on I-44 at Exit 238, at 16200 E Skelly Dr

  • Perfect Romantic Getaways That Are Close to Home

    Moms and dads, we have so many things to worry about, don’t we? With jobs and children and activities and more, it seems like the last thing we have time for is a romantic getaway.

    But there are a few businesses tucked away in Edmond that seek to help put the romance back in your marriage. There's no better time to explore romance than in February, when Valentine's Day naturally turns our thoughts to love.

  • Explore Natural History in Norman

    The winter chill may limit outdoor activities causing kids to get a little squirmy. Use the opportunity to take kids on an indoor educational adventure instead. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History located at the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman is a great sensory experience for kids and parents.
  • Celebrate a Territorial Christmas in Guthrie

    Take your family back in time, literally, during Guthrie’s annual month-long Territorial Christmas Celebration. And this year, you can take advantage of Amtrack’s Heartland Flyer Christmas Train December 10-12, when passengers arriving in Guthrie will be greeted with a Christmas-themed party complete with music and local residents dressed in Victorian-era attire.
  • Little River Zoo: Take a walk on the wild side

    Norman’s Little River Zoo is a refuge for rescued animals that can no longer live in the wild and an educational healing place for people, especially children. I’d heard about Little River Zoo for some time and always wanted to visit. Finally, on a recent early fall day that was too pretty to stay inside, my husband and I decided to make a date out of it. We were not disappointed.
  • Three Fall Festivals perfect for Family Fun

    With the arrival of fall comes a chill in the air, colorful foliage and football—all favorites of my family. Attending any one of the many local festivals scheduled this time of year is another. Besides the unique food, these festivals are family-friendly outreach events that educate and support the communities they serve. Following are a few diverse options that our family always enjoy.
  • Fall Tours at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

    Fall is soon approaching. While some will be sorry to see summer go, I am personally welcoming the colorful and cool transition to fall. Fortunately, we have the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, an attraction that provides unique and family-friendly tour options including bugling elk, fall foliage and star gazing.
  • Riding the Chisholm Trail in Duncan

    A recent weekend tennis tournament gave my family the opportunity to visit Duncan, about 80 miles southwest of the Metro. The downtime between our son’s matches gave me a chance to explore the area for day getaway activities. Established along the famous Chisholm Trail, Duncan has the bragging rights to an award-winning interactive museum celebrating this cattle drive and trader trail.
  • Ponca City, perfect for families and so close to home

    Was I pleasantly surprised by my recent visit to Ponca City. I’ve not been to this city since a friend’s wedding many years ago, but had I done my research earlier, this would have been on our family’s summer activity “must see and do” list when our kids were young. Ideally, an overnight stay is needed. But, only 90 miles from the Oklahoma City Metro makes Ponca City an easy destination to come back to for multiple visits.
  • Digging into Oklahoma's past

    Move over Indiana Jones—there’s a new treasure hunter in town! Thanks to the annual Spring Dig coordinated by the Oklahoma Anthropological Society (OAS), it could be you. You and your family may uncover the secret to Oklahoma’s past, not to mention a new passion. What an exciting way for you and the other treasure hunters in your group to explore Oklahoma—by digging into it!
  • Family fun at the Drive-In movie

    Finding that you need a small loan to take your family to the movies these days? Concession prices alone can cost more than the tickets. During these current economic challenges, who wants to pay such high prices? For a fun alternative, take your kids (or date) on a nostalgic trip to the drive-in theater.
  • Paintball in Oklahoma: Fun for all

    Trying to come up with a fun 16th birthday celebration or a way to keep teenagers entertained during spring break can be pretty challenging. But, I found one—paintball. My husband and I took ten boys to Adventure Zone, a paintball field in Guthrie, Oklahoma, for our son’s 16th birthday and they had a blast. Now, you may be wondering what paintball is and what it has to do with our Exploring Oklahoma series. Read on.
  • Romantic Guthrie

    Trying to dream up the perfect gift for your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Since this month’s heart-filled holiday falls on a Saturday, a short trip for two may be the perfect way to say “I love you.” Guthrie, the Bed & Breakfast Capital of Oklahoma, is the perfect setting for Mom and Dad to get revitalized.
  • Letterbox for Stillwater

    The Stillwater Children's Museum has hidden a letterbox for MetroFamily readers, and they’ve put their own spin on the activity. Enjoy this tour of Stillwater, leading to the hidden letterbox. Most of all, have fun!
  • Discover Stillwater

    Getting the winter cabin fever blues? Consider a Stillwater getaway. Beyond Oklahoma State University-related events, most families are not aware of the many attractions offered in the town, an easy drive north on I-35 from the Oklahoma City Metro. Whether for a day trip or an extended weekend, you will find educational and family-friendly fun abounding here.
  • The Heartland Flyer

    When we talk about travel, we usually talk about destinations, but this month’s column is all about the journey! Riding Oklahoma’s passenger train, the Heartland Flyer, is the tenth and final thing on my list of travel resolutions for the year. I am a bit of a train enthusiast, so this won’t be a first-time journey for me.
  • Happy Camping

    Four years ago, my husband bought me a tent for my birthday. We liked the idea of being “camping people”; we made big plans. The tent has never been out of its box. Year after year, camping remains on my list of Oklahoma travel resolutions, but like any good resolution-breaker, I have excuses, and I think you should hear me out before you judge.
  • Fall Festivals for All

    Truly big events like the Olympics might only come around every four years, but hardly a weekend goes by when there isn’t a travel-worthy festival happening somewhere in Oklahoma. Whether it’s rattlesnakes, watermelons, pelicans, or cheese, communities like to celebrate whatever they do the best or have the most of, so this month’s travel resolution is to get out there and party with them! Here are a few of my top picks for families
  • Eat at Meers

    I have to admit that of all the items on my list of Oklahoma Travel Resolutions, eating a Meersburger is the only one I consider mandatory. There could be a certain amount of bias at work here, as I grew up in southwest Oklahoma, not far from the infamous Meers Store.
  • Farm Fresh Oklahoma

    These days, more and more people are interested in knowing where their food comes from and how it grows. Eating locally-raised meats and produce makes it easier to track your dinner back to the farmer who produced it. It also opens the door to several fun travel opportunities, which brings me to this month’s travel resolution: visit a place that makes or grows your food.
  • MetroFamily's Top Ten Indoor and Outdoor Fun

    In honor of our 10th anniversary comes our next Top Ten list: the MetroFamily Top 10 Indoor & Outdoor Fun Activities.
  • Sports in the Metro

    My original goal to increase my understanding of Oklahoma sports was to attend a major college football game or perhaps catch the Blazers for a taste of hockey, but ice rinks and shoulder pads don’t espouse spring. Since baseball is one sport I have already checked off my list, I decided to look further afield and find some athletic endeavors with which I was less familiar.
  • Explore Tulsa with Kids

    When I made my list of Oklahoma travel resolutions in January, there were some holes in my Oklahoma repertoire that seemed understandable, like the fact that I haven’t seen all 11 of Oklahoma’s eco regions. But what kind of travel-loving local has never explored Tulsa—one of the state’s two major metropolitan areas? As humbled as I am by this admission, I’m sure that I am not the only one who is Tulsa-deficient, so let’s plan our trip together. Maybe I’ll see you there!
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