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| Photo: Lisha Newman |
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Some of my fondest childhood memories are of father-son fishing trips, which began the day I turned two. Catching fish didn’t matter, but rather, it was the opportunity get out in the Oklahoma countryside and explore. We caught glimpses of a bobcat, beavers, coyotes, deer and eagles. Rolling over logs or rocks often uncovered snakes, and I learned how to flush a rabbit from a plum thicket simply by standing still. And if I caught fish, it was a bonus, almost as special as stopping at a store for a chocolate treat on the way home.
These days, when I take my son fishing, I look for ways to make it enjoyable for him. If the fish aren’t biting, we hike a nature trail or skip rocks across the water’s surface. We’re still searching for the perfect slingshot stick, and one of these days we’ll find it.
If you’re looking to get outside with the kids, here are some ideas for you to get your hands dirty.
Nature Centers
If you’re the kind of parent who cringes when you’re asked, “How fast can an armadillo run?” or, “Can foxes climb trees?” then a nature center is just the ticket. Here, you’ll find professional biologists and naturalists who can answer these questions, in addition to many others that your kids haven’t yet thought to ask.
Some of the best and most accessible nature centers are found in Oklahoma's State Parks. Tenkiller State Park features the Driftwood Nature Center, where Leann Bunn conducts a variety of activities for children. Steve Evans, naturalist at nearby Greenleaf State Park, conducts pontoon boat tours of scenic Greenleaf Lake, hay rides and astronomy programs.
At Beavers Bend State Park, naturalist Frank Griffith says children can see white-tailed deer, turkey, squirrels and rabbits as they enjoy hay rides, train rides and hiking in the park.
While the greatest variety of such activities is available during the warmer months, some, such as the one at Lake Murray State Park in Ardmore, feature several planned activities during winter. Park naturalist Mark Teders says the park conducts weekend family programs in December and January, including candle making, bird-feeder building, movies and an array of nature programs.
“These programs extend into February and March depending on the weather and the number of organized groups requesting specific programs to meet their needs,” says Teders.
Buffalo (American Bison) Viewing
Watching wild animals that we don’t often see can be both fascinating and educational. One of the most intriguing species to observe is one that was once synonymous with the Great Plains, the buffalo.
Standing six feet high at the shoulder and weighing up to a ton, the buffalo, also called the American Bison, once numbered more than 30 million and roamed North America in magnificent herds before being brought to the brink of extinction in the late 19th century. Today their numbers have rebounded to roughly 500,000 worldwide, and many of these animals are part of Oklahoma herds.
One of the best places to see the buffalo is at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, located in Osage County near Pawhuska. The Nature Conservancy has reintroduced these animals to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve – the largest remaining tract of protected tallgrass prairie remaining on Earth – realizing that buffalo are a vital part of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. If there is a more awe-inspiring, romantic landscape in Oklahoma, I don’t know of it.
Get the entire family outside to enjoy some exercise and fresh air.
The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve has a 10-mile Bison Loop, allowing you to drive and locate the roaming herds of buffalo. Along the way, there are several scenic turnouts where you can get out of your car to admire the view. The staff at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve recommends bringing a pair of binoculars to view distant bison and also advises remaining in your car if the buffalo are nearby. Being wild animals, they are unpredictable.
Other locations where you can view buffalo include the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur and southwest Oklahoma’s Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Chickasaw features a small herd, which can be viewed in the designated area right off U.S. 177, near the south side of the park.
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Lawton maintains a herd of 650 bison, but they’re scattered all over the 60,000-acre refuge. Because it is difficult to predict where the buffalo will be on any given day, it is best to inquire at the visitor center once you arrive.
Hiking and Rock Hopping
Hiking itself is a great way to get the entire family outside to enjoy some exercise and fresh air. Throw in some boulder hopping or rock climbing and it becomes a challenging and intriguing activity, especially for children.
One of the best places to combine these activities is at Robbers Cave State Park near Wilburton. Along with its namesake cave, which kids love to explore, the park boasts 12 miles of hiking trails. Some of the most intriguing points are those along the Robbers Cave Trail. This is a fairly easy, ¾-mile loop around the cave and rock-climbing areas, where you can branch off and enjoy some hiking through rock formations.
Another excellent area is the Charon’s Garden Wilderness Trail located at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Lawton. Start by finding the trail at the Sunset Picnic Area, which leads you to the Valley of the Boulders. At this point, you can make your own trail, as you’ll have to climb, hop and crawl over, under and around these irregular features. Don’t feel like you have to hike a certain distance to be successful. This is a very slow journey, and the enjoyment comes from the process of negotiating these obstacles.
Red Rock Canyon State Park, near Hinton, provides the perfect terrain for rappelling and hiking. This small and quiet park is hidden inside a canyon and surrounded by western Oklahoma farm country. The park consists of a wooded valley and small lake, which makes a great location for a picnic and an afternoon nap. The valley’s tall trees are like an oasis on the plains, and they support many bird species. If you’re not into rappelling, the park’s nature trails offer easy and convenient hiking and exploring for the kids.
Horseback Riding
Seeing the state from the back of a horse is not only an authentic way to enjoy nature with your children, it’s also very fun. Best of all, stables and equestrian trails are found in all corners of the state. Robbers Cave State Park is home to some of the most popular trails. The stables here can outfit older children with their own horses.
Thunderbird Riding Stables at Lake Thunderbird, east of Norman, equips children 6 and older with their own mounts. Younger children can ride double with an adult, provided the combined weight is 260 pounds or less. The stables also offer pony rides for small children. Thunderbird Riding Stables is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weather permitting, and features well-groomed trails through rolling, wooded hills.
Arbuckle Trail Rides of Sulphur takes guests on horseback adventures through the ancient Arbuckle Mountain range and even into the scenic Turner Falls area. This is a fun area to combine a horseback ride with hiking and even a swim beneath the falls.
My favorite riding trails can be found at Sequoyah State Park, where 300 acres of open and wooded areas virtually guarantee the family will spot a deer. Horseback riding for children and adults is available at the Sequoyah Riding Stables on Fort Gibson Lake. Kids ages 6 and older can ride their own horses, and younger children can either ride double with Mom or Dad, or the stables can provide them with their own ponies. These rides take about an hour and cover roughly four miles.
Just Because They’re Fun
Some destinations, such as Turner Falls Park near Davis, may not conduct organized activities, but their unique or intriguing attractions make them fun to visit. Home to a 77-foot waterfall, the park provides summertime fun with its natural swimming pool beneath the falls. Kids will enjoy swimming in this cool, clear, spring-fed pool, especially when the temperature reaches triple digits.
Natural Falls State Park at West Siloam Springs in eastern Oklahoma is home to its own 77-foot waterfall. Descend the trail and 47 steps to the base of the falls, where you can view and photograph this breathtaking feature from an observation deck. Also available are 1.5 miles of hiking and nature trails.
Alabaster Caverns State Park near Freedom is the place to explore a cave. You can take a guided tour through a lighted cavern, or you can obtain a permit and explore these caves by yourself. Either way, the kids are going to love it here. If you choose the latter, bring along the proper equipment, including a hardhat, flashlight, water bottle and boots above the ankle.
Quartz Mountain Nature Park in Lone Wolf offers the Eagle’s Roost ATV area on the north shore of Lake Altus-Lugert. This sandy, ATV-dedicated area is a great place for kids to ride, and during summer, you can park the ATVs on the beach and go swimming in the lake. You will have to bring your own four-wheeler or other ATV and helmets, as the park does not provide rentals.
There is also hiking and rock climbing at Quartz Mountain, featuring trails appropriate for all skill levels. “Hiking is not restricted to the marked trails in the mountains,” says Quartz Mountain’s Sue Hokanson, “so you can boulder hop or scramble almost anywhere you like in the park.”
Hokanson notes that the hiking trails going up into the mountains are moderate to strenuous, while those skirting the base are easy to moderate.
And if this isn’t enough, during summer, several fun attractions featuring water slides, go-carts and arcades are located just across the street from the park. Given the depth and variety of its attractions, Quartz Mountain may be the ultimate Oklahoma getaway for children of all ages.
