We all know that kids and families need a way to burn off energy without heading outdoors during the cold weather months. Stay warm indoors while still having a great time at some of these family fun hot spots that will bring smiles to everyone.
Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium – Tulsa
For the plane and aeronautics lover in your family, a trip to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium in Tulsa is a must. Their interactive exhibits put you in the pilot’s seat of a cockpit, and the planetarium takes you on a real-time tour of the universe. This museum features both vintage and modern airplanes on display for high-flying fun that will make you forget about the winter cold nipping at your nose.
Oklahoma Aquarium – Jenks
A magical trek through an underwater world awaits aspiring oceanographers at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. This great family destination in Oklahoma is known for its walk-through shark exhibit with an “underwater” tunnel. Kids can also feed the stingrays and see all kinds of fresh and saltwater creatures including seahorses, jelly fish, eels, crabs, otters, turtles and many other exotic species.
Museum of Osteology – Oklahoma City
Can you identify a raccoon, monkey, falcon or lemur just from its skeleton? After a trip to the fascinating Museum of Osteology, you’ll be able to name hundreds of animals from their bones alone. Conveniently located in Oklahoma City, the educational exhibits that make up this museum cover two stories and thousands of square feet of floor space.
Sky Zone – Edmond
If the kids are bouncing off the walls, take them to Sky Zone in Edmond where they can jump as high as possible off hundreds of bouncy surfaces and even dunk a basketball by leaping up from a trampoline. Giant foam pit lets younger kids have all the fun with soft blocks to cushion their fall while older athletes can enjoy extreme dodge ball.
Sod House Museum – Aline
Harken back to yesteryear on the prairie with a visit to the Sod House Museum in Aline. Built by Marshal McCully in 1894, this fully-furnished “Soddy” is the last surviving house from the era still standing in Oklahoma. In addition to the sod house, the museum features authentic artifacts of early farm life along with a great collection of surviving farm implements.
Laugh Out Loud – Lawton
Enjoy a full day of all-in-one family fun at Lawton’s Laugh Out Loud. A variety of activities like bowling, laser tag, skating and video games will thrill kids of every age. Take a break from all the fun and fuel up on pizza or treats from the venue’s snack bar.
Insect Adventure – Stillwater
For an out-of-the-box experience during the colder months, bring the family to Insect Adventure in Stillwater. Instead of bugging out at the sight of them, gain a new appreciation for insects at this unique museum with fascinating exhibits and a live bug petting zoo. Learn about over 25 species of arthropods, hold a foot-long millipede or investigate a live honeybee hive. If your kids are especially adventurous, they’ll enjoy interacting with the museum’s friendly tarantula.
Science Museum Oklahoma – Oklahoma City
Science Museum Oklahoma is jam-packed with different ways to experience aviation, chemistry and biology. The museum’s live stage shows are full of awesome experiments and demonstrate how science applies to our everyday lives. It is also home to the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, where kids can try their skills on the balance beam.
Sam Noble Museum – Norman
Go four billion years back in time at the Sam Noble Museum. Visitors will learn about the massive creatures that once roamed the earth including dinosaurs, prehistoric bugs and aquatic “monsters.” Located on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, this museum houses the largest Pentaceratops skull in the world as well as walk-through timelines that illustrate the fascinating evolution of creatures that inhabit the planet. Don’t miss the hands-on Discovery Room, where kids can perform their own archaeological dig.
Leonardo’s Children’s Museum & Adventure Quest – Enid
The three story castle and playground with swings, slides and mazes at Leonardo’s Children’s Museum & Adventure Quest in Enid is only half of what this awesome attraction offers. When it gets too cold to run around outside, kids can head inside where they can feel a real dinosaur egg, learn to tell time with a sundial and let their creativity soar while making art.
Tulsa Children’s Museum Discovery Lab – Tulsa
The Tulsa Children’s Museum Discovery Lab is unlike any other children’s museum in the state. Kids can help add to the exhibits as they expand their knowledge of mechanics and engineering. The little ones can also put together take-home projects at the “Do-It-Yourself Maker Workshop.” The stations change frequently, so each visit is a new experience full of memories and indoor fun.
Stafford Air & Space Museum – Weatherford
The Stafford’s impressive collection of memorabilia from the age of space exploration features special pieces from the Smithsonian, including an actual Titan II rocket. Visit the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford to see an authentic Gemini fight suit, space food and items that were flown to the moon on Apollo 11. Kids and families will love the full-size plane replicas and fun flight simulation computers.
The Toy & Action Figure Museum – Pauls Valley
The Toy & Action Figure Museum in downtown Pauls Valley is truly a place to behold with over 13,000 pieces of memorabilia and pop culture icons in every corner. Check out the Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection and a tribute to World War II veterans featuring G.I. Joes. A museum filled with toys wouldn’t be complete without an area where kids can play with action figures and have a hands-on experience.
Lazer Zone Family Fun Center – Ada
It’s nonstop excitement at the Lazer Zone Family Fun Center in Ada. This complex has it all from black light bowling and mini-golf to batting cages and an intense laser tag course. After the kids spend some time playing arcade games, they can take their tickets to the prize station and grab a few goodies to take with them. Make a day of it and grab lunch at the concessions area filled with burgers, pizza and ice cream.
Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum – Seminole
The Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in Seminole has been welcoming kids and adults for decades. Role playing is an important part of the museum’s philosophy on learning, and different areas in the museum allow children to become pilots, doctors, firemen and more. During a visit, families can also take a train ride, get lost in the castle maze and have a blast on the playground.
