5-Day Fall Break Planner - MetroFamily Magazine
MetroFamily Magazine

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5-Day Fall Break Planner

by Lindsay Cuomo

Reading Time: 5 minutes 

No matter when (or how long) your Fall Break is this year, add one or all of these OKC metro outings to your schedule.

 

Day 1. Bring history to life!

Even though the kids have a day off from school, that doesn’t mean they can’t have fun learning! Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning and playing at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s (1700 NW 63rd St) outdoor play space, Liichokoshkomo. The multi-million dollar interactive space tells the stories of some pioneering people who made the West their home. Designed by a movie set company, you can explore a train depot, trading post and different Native structures like towering cliff dwellings and a Kiowa tipi.

Prosperity Junction, a replica turn-of-the-twentieth-century cattle town, is another kid favorite where families can stroll down a main street lined with life-size shops and businesses. Museum admission is $20 for adults and $12 for kids ages 6 to 17. Kids 5 and under get in free.

Just a few minutes to the south, the Oklahoma State Capitol (2300 N Lincoln Blvd) welcomes families for self-guided tours on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Explore the unique architecture of the nearly 100-year-old building as well as public art, the Oklahoma Veterans Memorial and a working oil well. Learn about the history of the building and Oklahoma’s state government at the Oklahoma State Capitol Museum.

Extend the fun with a stop at Harn Homestead (1721 N Lincoln Blvd), an outdoor museum exploring territorial life in Oklahoma. Don’t miss nearby William Freemont Harn Park (NE 16th St & N Stiles), a farm-themed park with a pretend tractor and a rooster play structure.


Day 2. Explore downtown hot spots!

Oklahoma Contemporary

Oklahoma Contemporary (11 NW 11th St) has an outdoor art exhibit called Multiple Voices by Eva Schlegel, known for engineering steel and mirrors into spectacular, architectonic sculptures. Schlegel combined pieces from three Oklahoma poets into a new structure inspired by Oklahoma Contemporary’s architecture. Head inside to see Colors of Freedom, works of art by young Ukrainians. Museum admission is always free.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art has the largest public collection of Chihuly glass in the world! See his striking work, plus artworks by legendary Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Tickets are $12.95 plus tax for adults and free for members and kids 17 & under.

Next, fuel up with a picnic at Scissortail Park (655 S Robinson Ave). Scout out a picturesque spot on the Great Lawn or head south to Scissortail Lower Park which features Overlook Hill, sports courts and a nature-focus playground. Afterward, get the sillies out with a game of pickleball or head north to take a spin around Sky Rink, an outdoor roller skating surface. You can also rent a pedal boat and cruise the park’s lake.

Continue your fun with a tour of Myriad Gardens (301 W Reno Ave) Pumpkinville, a mini-village made out of pumpkins, gourds, haystacks, cornstalks and mums. Admission is $9 and is free for members & kids 2 & under.


Day 3. Museum hop in Norman!

Learn about the interesting creatures that roamed the earth at Sam Noble Museum (2401 Chautauqua Ave, Norman). Sam Noble has five galleries filled with engaging sights including a two-story dino fight scene and a record-breaking skeleton of a Pentaceratops with a 10-and-a-half-foot-tall skull. Open until Dec. 1, Prehistoric Visions explores the deeply rooted relationship between art and paleontology

The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art (555 Elm Ave, Norman) has an exhibition on display this fall focused on wildlife. Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art explores the diverse ways contemporary artists use animal imagery. The museum admission is $12 for adults and free for kids 17 & under.

Enjoy the outdoors by stopping at Reaves Park (2501 Jenkins Ave, Norman). The park features a large wooden play structure and plenty of space to roam as well as a few geocaching treasures to hunt for.


Day 4. Experience Edmond!

Travel back in time at the Edmond History Museum. Learn about Edmond’s firsts, impactful events and influential people. Nearby is the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse (124 E 2nd St, Edmond), which was the first schoolhouse built in Oklahoma. The structure is free to visit and tours are provided by the Edmond Historic Preservation Trust. Follow them on Facebook for updates on tour dates.

Pack up a picnic to enjoy at Mitch Park (1501 W Covell Rd, Edmond). For older kids, the onsite disc golf course or skate park provides options for active fun, while little ones can explore several playgrounds and watch the ducks near the pond. Or simply take a leisurely stroll around the 5 miles of multi-use paved trails while enjoying the fall foliage.


Day 5. Level up on outdoor fun!

Start your day with a morning hike at Martin Park Nature Center. This nature hotspot has been an annual Family Favorite for many years! Its convenient location, inclusive amenities and serene trails make the park an hub for exploration.

Nothing says outdoor fall fun more than a visit to a pumpkin patch and the metro is home to several options! Chester’s Pumpkin Patch is a short drive north from Martin Park where you can get your fill of farm fun from hayrides and barnyard games to a petting zoo, pony rides and more. For a patch near you, check out our comprehensive list at metrofamilymagazine.com/pumpkin-patches.

For a more unique adventure, head south to Magnolia Blossom Ranch (2901 NW 16th St, Newcastle) where the cure-all for all awaits: an afternoon with alpacas! Enjoy feeding, petting and playing with these gentle giants while you tour the farm, learn about their care and hear the benefits of their silky-soft fleece. Advance reservations are required and accommodate one family at a time.

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