This has been the year of micro-vacations for my family. Budgeting for and squeezing in lengthy week-long trips has gotten more complicated as our kids have gotten older and more invested in their various activities. Our weekend trips have provided a respite from the busyness of life in addition to being an intentional way to make memories with our teens.
Here are 3 close-to-home destinations to consider for your next weekend getaway or micro-vacation near Oklahoma City.
A Wild Family Adventure Close to Home
Just 2.5 hours north of OKC in Wichita, Kan, Tanganyika Wildlife Park offers exotic experiences and close encounters with rare and endangered animals. The park began as a place to care for rare birds and has grown to include over 40 exhibits featuring 10 interactive stations and more than 400 animals. Go on behind-the-scenes adventures and hang out with penguins, lemurs and more!
My fellow Weekend Warrior, Kirsten Holder, and her family visited the wildlife park. Read about their experience as a guide to help plan your visit!
All Aboard! Roll down to Fort Worth on the Heartland Flyer
Shake up your summer travel plans with a weekend getaway filled with nostalgia, cowboys and culture aboard the Heartland Flyer – destination Cowtown. With sights such as the Fort Worth Stockyards, art and science museums, the rodeo and more, you can easily fill a 3-day itinerary.
My favorite part of our weekend trip was outsourcing the driving responsibilities which meant more quality time from departure to departure. The roughly four-hour train ride provided a relaxing start and finish to our three days of fun.
Money-saving tip – Take advantage of the Heartland Flyer Anniversary Sale and get your fare for $25 or less when you travel from June 13-18. Also sign your kids up for the Heartland Flyer Kids Club which includes a certificate good for a complimentary round trip.
Travelin’ on Tulsa Time
There’s so much to do and experience in Tulsa that a quick road trip up the Turner Turnpike won’t disappoint! Tara Rittle, with Tulsa Kids, shares her favorite T-town hot spots which include unique shopping, museums, Gathering Place and Tulsa Zoo. Fellow Weekend Warrior Emiley Bainbridge took her kids to the Tulsa Zoo this spring. They had a wonderful time seeing their favorite animals and learning about how some animals adapt in various habitats.
Looking for things to do with your teen? Weekend Warrior Casey Shupe shared her family’s picks for things to do in Green Country, including my favorite, “Center of the Universe.”
Where is your family planning to visit this summer? Share your favorite close-to-home destinations in the comment section below. If you are looking for more micro-vacation destinations near the Oklahoma City metro, check out our travel section filled with Oklahoma road trips and more. OR sign up for our daily enewsletters to get our Travel Tuesday inspirations delivered to your inbox all summer.
