Warm May weather beckons Oklahomans outside to explore the great outdoors and rediscover nature. Venturing outside doesn’t always have to mean planning a hike or overnight camping trip, though. Here are a few unexpected ways you and your family can reconnect with the outdoors this month.
Splash Around
This month might not offer warm enough weather for swimming just yet, but it will definitely be warm enough for a little splashing. Oklahoma City boasts plenty of opportunities to get wet and a top pick is the Myriad Botanical Gardens. The east side of the downtown park has a fun water feature in front of the Ice House restaurant where kids love to get their feet wet while parents munch on burgers and fries. To see other reader recommendations for splash pads and pools, click here.
Pack a Picnic
Unpack your meal on the banks of the Oklahoma River and take in beautiful views of the water and the Oklahoma City skyline. A free playground at the Boathouse District (725 S. Lincoln Blvd.) provides endless fun before or after you eat. The playground features a state-of-the-art NEOS 360 Interactive Play Station, a playground that lures kids into a competitive game where they’re encouraged to move and think. Find our other top picnic spots here.
Eat on a Patio
Ideal patio dining weather usually doesn’t last long in Oklahoma City, but May is the perfect time to request outdoor seating at your favorite restaurant. One of our favorites for families is The Wedge (4709 N. Western Ave.). Their spacious patio offers tables in the sun or shade and a kid-friendly area stretches beyond the outdoor dining area to include a fun wooden platform to play on and a small garden where kids can see how some of their favorite pizza toppings are grown. Find more great patio dining destinations here.
Explore a State Park
Oklahoma is home to 34 state parks boasting varied landscapes and thrilling adventures. From sand dunes and glistening lakes to salt plains and forests, you’re sure to find a unique destination, perfect for your family’s interests. Start your new state park habit at Lake Thunderbird State Park (13101 Alameda Dr., Norman), the closest park to the metro area. The park features a scenic lake, hiking and biking trails, swim beaches and playgrounds. Find more family-friendly state park experiences and details about a new state program to get kids active at state parks here.
Pick your own Produce
Blackberries and strawberries at area farms will likely be ripe by the end of May. Take the whole family out to a farm like Buffalo Creek Berry Farm (9211 Sloan Rd., Mustang) to pick berries now then return in late summer to find tomatoes, peppers, onions, okra, squash and more. The farm is open for picking from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and from 2 to 7 p.m. Sundays. Find more you-pick opportunities here.
