Oklahoma City

...that has been thrust on Oklahoma in recent years due to the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building and the devastating F5+ tornado we had last year, then you've probably heard a few heartwarming stories of how friendly Oklahomans are. I can proudly attest to the fact that it is that way ALL the time, not just during times of tragedy. If you're visiting from out of town, be sure to talk to some people who live here. Whether it's a convenient store ...
...right place. Lodging in the Oklahoma City metro area is very reasonable. Expect to pay anywhere from $39-$79 (US Dollars) per night for most nationally known chain hotels. If you want an extra special stay, search the internet for some nice B&B's in and around the city. Most are housed in historical victorian-era homes and run about the same as room at the Marriott

Oklahoma City Zoo: Oklahoma City boasts a terrific zoo and I've heard ... more

I'll be honest - if you're looking for breathtaking scenery around every curve then you probably wouldn't like Oklahoma. For one, there aren't many curves in the road. That would require hills or some other geological formation for the transportation department to design a road other than straight. If you're looking for a city that never sleeps, Broadway-caliber theatre or celebrity attractions then you probably wouldn't like Oklahoma. Remember you're pretty much in the heart of the bible belt and although there's plenty of parties and nightclubs to be had - per capita, it's probably lower than most.

But, if you're looking for...

...a place that's friendly, you've found the right place. With the national spotlight that has been thrust on Oklahoma in recent years due to the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building and the devastating F5+ tornado we had last year, then you've probably heard a few heartwarming stories of how friendly Oklahomans are. I can proudly attest to the fact that it is that way ALL the time, not just during times of tragedy. If you're visiting from out of town, be sure to talk to some people who live here. Whether it's a convenient store you stop in to pick up staples, the hotel clerk who checked you in or the gift shop gallery owner where you picked up a Frankoma coaster shaped like our panhandled state. You'll see what I mean by friendly and don't be surprised if you're invited over to someone's house for dinner even though you just met them - that's just the way we are.

...a place that's affordable to bring the family, you've found the right place. Lodging in the Oklahoma City metro area is very reasonable. Expect to pay anywhere from $39-$79 (US Dollars) per night for most nationally known chain hotels. If you want an extra special stay, search the internet for some nice B&B's in and around the city. Most are housed in historical victorian-era homes and run about the same as room at the Marriott

Oklahoma City Zoo: Oklahoma City boasts a terrific zoo and I've heard from other people who have visited that they were really surprised at how nice it was. It features an aquatic center with a live dolphin and sea lion show that runs 3 times per day. The "Cat Overlook" and "Great Ape Escape" are two new exhibits where you can observe lions, tigers, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, etc., in their natural habitat vs. small caged enclosures. There is a wonderful Children's Petting Zoo, a lake with excellent picnic, playground and shade areas (save $$ and bring a picnic cooler you can check in to a locker storage area), Herpetarium house, Pachyderm building, and an Aviary building. There are nice restaurants, snack areas and a train that will take you to the farthest reaches of the zoo where some of the larger animals are kept in vast fenced in areas (and believe me it is worth the $1 (US Dollars) per person vs. walking 3 miles to see them). Wear comfy shoes - this zoo sits on 110 acres!
http://www.okczoo.com

The Omniplex and OmniDome: The Omniplex is a hands-on science museum with fun activities for children of all ages. Both my 3 year old and 10 year old find things to do and explore there and we've never been able to spend less than 6 hours there --- and still have never seen or done it all in one day. In addition to hundreds of hands-on science activities, there is an aviation museum, Apollo Space Shuttle exhibit, photo galleries, HUGE toy train exhibit, African Artists' gallery, Berlin Wall display, Conservatory, Botanical Gardens, and an OmniDome that features the movies projected on a huge sphere where you really feel as though you're riding the roller-coaster, soaring across Mt. Everest, or descending into a volcano. Again, where comfortable shoes - this indoor monster is equivalent to 2 acres in square footage.
http://www.omniplex.org

Lazy E Arena: If you've never seen a belt-buckle as big as your head then you have to go here, because I guarantee you, you will. Lazy E is a world accla
imed rodeo arena and often is the host to many world and national rodeo events. Here you'll find everything from team roping, bull riding, barrel racing - from World class level down to the little league cowboys. You'll feel like an outcast here if you're not wearing Wranglers or ropers --- and watch where you're steppin, if you know what I mean.
http://www.lazye.com/arena

White Water: This is probably my kids' favorite place to go in the summertime and it's worth the money we spend on a season pass. Located right off I-40 on the west side, White Water is a large water amusement park. It's got your typical water attractions, death-drop slides, tons of twisted tube slides, oversized "Big Kahuna" slides, and ocean wave pool. But the two things I like most is the kiddie area and the lazy river. The kiddie area is kind of hidden unless you're looking for it. You have to go up some stairs and over a bridge, then back down some stairs to find the hidden little retreat - and it's a place for smaller kids only. It has a real shallow baby pool, and then a larger shallow pool, that gets maybe 2' deep towards one side --- but plenty of room for the large number of kids who are there. It has smaller sized character slides, a shower palm tree that rains a soft spray, small fountains to play in, little water animals to climb on, jump off, and play around. There are tons of lounge chairs, but it's best to get there early and camp out in the prime spots. Since it's enclosed from the main area, you don't have the traffic of larger, more aggressive kids running through, splashing and terrorizing the littler ones and there are plenty of parents around to hustle out the ones who do sneak in. You'll have to rent some rafts if you want to get the good-sized ones, or you can always get the smaller ones out of the "freebie" pile, but you may have to wait in line on busy days. This brings me to my second favorite feature - the lazy river. It's a canal of a river that's about 4' deep and has a nice current that's propelled by jets in the floors and walls. You can just recline in a raft and let the current carry you around and around and around. It sneaks through the whole park and there are about 3 places to exit and enter into it. Fun for big and small kids - my 3 yr old is content to just hold on to me and the raft and enjoy it as well. The park also has a cooler check in point and a nice shady area with trees and picnic tables to eat lunch - well worth it because the concession stands here are pretty high.
http://www.sixflags.com/whitewaterbay/

Oh, and you've might heard of the phrase "land of the red man" while that refers to our native Indian history -- I think it's better fitting for modern times for it to refer to the red dirt we have here. Red clay, everywhere! Hence, another review needs to be written on stain removers and how to get red dirt stains out of your childrens laundry after you visit here. 

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