Each year, that glorious week on the March calendar beckons families away from the daily grind into the warmer temperatures of spring. As the days lengthen and inch closer to the bright rays of summer, Oklahoma is primed and ready to host traveling families during a much-needed break. Cast away any lingering winter blues with a myriad of kid-friendly destinations and activities in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City Zoo
Celebrate the rebirth of spring by visiting one of the state’s most popular attractions, the Oklahoma City Zoo. Turn the kids loose in the zoo’s acclaimed Children’s Zoo area, where they can pet adorable barnyard animals, feed nectar to hungry lorikeets, scramble around climbing areas and splash in a stunning waterfall. With over 2,500 animals on 110 acres, you’ll have no problem bouncing from one activity to the next. Visit the zoo’s Great EscApe exhibit and monkey around with resident gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans or drop by the Cat Forest and Lion Overlook to get close-up views of the world's big cats. Explore the 8-acre Oklahoma Trails Exhibit featuring the state's own wildlife stars including bears, cougars and bobcats, and swing by the 9.5-acre Elephant Habitat. Be sure to catch an exciting performance of the sea lion show, and take a ride on the Safari Tram, Centennial Choo Choo or Endangered Species Carousel.
Toy & Action Figure Museum
Perfect for visitors of all ages, the Toy & Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley will captivate both children and adults with over 11,000 classic action figures plucked from the pages of pop culture. Revisit your childhood with displays of popular toys from the 1950s and beyond, and bring the kids by to experience interactive play areas. Step into the famous Bat Cave, an area dedicated entirely to the lure of Batman. Don’t forget to snap a photo of the breathtaking Collector’s Bedroom display, where thousands of action figures line every inch of wall and floor space.
Leonardo’s Children's Museum
Travel to Enid for hands-on science and one-of-a-kind activities at Leonardo’s Children's Museum. Children of all ages will enjoy building in the replica carpentry shop or creating their own masterpiece in the art studio. Spend the day observing exotic creatures in the animal area or dig for ancient fossils in the museum’s excavation pit. Discover fun ways to learn about basic scientific themes such as gravity and acceleration. After exploring the endless activities available inside, lead the kids outdoors to Adventure Quest, a three-story castle that is one of the largest playgrounds of its kind in the world.
Alabaster Caverns State Park
Alabaster Caverns State Park near Freedom offers a guided cave tour through the world’s largest gypsum cave that is open to the public. For a unique Spring Break experience, head to this park and plunge headfirst into adventure beneath the Earth’s surface. Take a tour of the ¾ mile-long cavern, hear stories from the past from knowledgeable tour guides and don’t forget to watch out for bats!
Sam Noble Museum
The Sam Noble Museum in Norman is a can’t-miss with the kids. Watch their eyes open wide with wonder as they cast their gaze upward to the enormous dinosaur skeletons found in the museum’s Hall of Ancient Life. Visitors will also find the Guinness record-holding largest dinosaur skull on a fully-mounted Pentaceratops, giant creepy-crawly prehistoric bugs and a walk-through limestone cave. Kids will love riding the museum’s glass dino-vators right up to dino eye level, as well as exploring plenty of hands-on activities in the museum’s Discovery Room. Be sure to take part in their free Spring Break Escape activities that enhance your family's experience.
Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium
Let your imagination run wild as you climb into the cockpit of a fighter jet or fly a scale model through a wind tunnel at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium. Visitors to this museum will enjoy rare vintage airplanes on display, as well as a myriad of interactive exhibits. Take the controls on a flight simulator, maneuver robotic arms like astronauts in space, or view video exhibits stationed throughout the museum. Visit the world-class planetarium and take a journey through space, discovering constellations and the beauty of Oklahoma’s night skies in the 50-ft. dome.
Science Museum Oklahoma
Whether sliding down the world’s tallest spiral slide or catching an explosive live science show, Oklahoma City’s Science Museum Oklahoma is one of the best ideas for Spring Break featuring hours upon hours of family-friendly, educational entertainment. Explore tools and create your own project in the museum’s Tinkering Garage exhibit. With over eight acres of hands-on exhibits and 350 displays, this museum lives up to its moniker as an “amusement park for the mind.”
Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum
Turn the kids loose at the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in Seminole and discover why this Oklahoma gem is where kids play to learn. Your children can take a trip down the imagination highway as they explore a wide variety of grown-up careers in a fun, engaging way. Kids can bang the gavel as a judge, try their hand at onscreen newscasting or serve as a cashier in a grocery store. The whole family will have fun trying to encase themselves in a soap bubble or navigating the large outdoor maze.
Oklahoma Aquarium
Take a trip beneath the ocean’s surface and come face-to-face with an impressive array of diverse aquatic creatures including jellyfish, eels and playful river otters at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. With over 100 exhibits and an underwater viewing tunnel featuring the world's largest captive bull sharks swimming overhead, this aquarium is a sure-fire hit this Spring Break. Stop by one of the aquarium’s touch tanks to feel the slippery skin of stingrays and small sharks!
Tulsa Zoo
Travel to Tulsa to view rare and exotic animals from around the globe at the Tulsa Zoo. Surround yourself with the wildlife of native jungles, and experience the warm temperatures of the tropics with a trip through the zoo’s Tropical Rainforest exhibit. A visit to this award-winning zoo would not be complete without an excursion through the state-of-the-art African penguin exhibit or the zoo’s popular Elephant Encounter, where visitors are treated to lively demonstrations by Asian elephants. From bouncy kangaroos to playful sea lions, the Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum is a perfect destination to celebrate the abundance of new life during Spring Break.
Oklahoma State Parks
If a peaceful cabin in the woods is more your style this Spring Break, surround yourself with natural beauty by making a reservation at an Oklahoma state park. Well-appointed cabins and lodge rooms are available at some of Oklahoma’s favorite getaways like Beavers Bend, Western Hills, Greenleaf, Tenkiller and Roman Nose. Scenic RV and tent campsites are also available for camping under the stars. Special Spring Break activities include games for children, arts and crafts, hiking, horseback riding, fishing and nature programs. Oklahoma’s state parks are chock-full of fun and entertaining activities and remain one of the best values around for families.
