Top 5 Oklahoma Day Trips: Explore the Sooner State
Oklahoma, like, is so much more than just, you know, flyover country; it’s, actually, a place packed with cool spots for short trips that can really show you the heart of the state. From stunning natural wonders to cool bits of history and cute little towns, there’s quite a bit to find if you just give it a look. So, if you’re looking for some easy getaways from, say, Oklahoma City or Tulsa, here are five really amazing Oklahoma day trips that, to be honest, you might really just enjoy!
1. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge: Nature’s Playground
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is really, truly, a jewel and definitely offers a seriously amazing escape into a beautiful landscape. This area, honestly, is one of the oldest managed wildlife areas in the United States, too, and it gives a real chance to connect with the great outdoors, with views, activities and a whole host of animal life that honestly will leave you smiling. So you get all this, and its only roughly a 2-hour drive from Oklahoma City, and what’s cool is that makes it super easy for, like, a day trip to reset your batteries!
What you can do
One activity could be you drive up Mount Scott for a completely breathtaking view of the Refuge and, actually, the areas around. Alternatively, you might try your luck hiking through several different routes, such as the easier ones around Quanah Parker Lake, or test yourself on some pretty wild rock-climbing spots if that seems good to you. Seeing the wildlife is, of course, high on everyone’s list, too; look for bison grazing across the prairies and prairie dogs going nuts near their burrows. Basically, just be sure to grab some amazing pictures!
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2. Turner Falls Park: Waterfall Wonder
Turner Falls Park, like, is a real oasis sitting over in the Arbuckle Mountains of southern Oklahoma and is generally thought of, probably correctly, as one of the state’s tallest waterfalls. Now, in the summer, this park actually serves as a pretty popular swimming hole. Even still, though, this spot gives everyone, even beyond just swimmers and sunbathers, a really welcome chance to relax close to beautiful natural surroundings.
What you can do
As a main attraction you’ll see a striking 77-foot waterfall cascades into natural pools, giving you that nice swimming opportunity and is pretty popular with people who want to just kick back. But, aside from that, you can check out a castle that’s fallen apart, explore the three caves that they’ve got around, or enjoy one of their spots for picnics they’ve marked out across the area. It definitely would make an enjoyable outdoor day, don’t you think?
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3. Guthrie: Step Back in Time
Okay, Guthrie has, kind of, a special charm all its own; as the first capital city of Oklahoma, it’s truly a real treasure trove filled to the brim with super amazing architecture and some really vibrant history that you definitely don’t want to overlook! So, in contrast to a lot of these other day trips, Guthrie, kind of, provides, instead of some, just a more introspective look at, you know, times of the past that honestly makes you think. What’s more is that it’s super close too– just, very, about a 30-minute car ride north of Oklahoma City, which is great for a super fast change of pace.
What you can do
Take a nice, leisurely walk around downtown to admire the super cool Victorian buildings, many of which actually still are pretty well-preserved. Pop into the Oklahoma Territorial Museum, which has exhibits all about what happened with the territory when the “Land Run” occurred in 1889, or visit the State Capital Publishing Museum, all set inside an old newspaper office, giving you, for a brief time, that feeling of being a fly on the wall, getting, too, a close view on Oklahoma’s press days. For just a nice outing in the evening, so that everyone has time to chill, definitely go to a show at the historic Pollard Theatre; after all, live performance art is always, usually, nice!
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4. Beavers Bend State Park: Outdoor Adventure Awaits
Over towards southeastern Oklahoma sits Beavers Bend State Park, and like, its just fantastic. What makes it stand out is how mountainous and timber-packed the Ouachita area there actually is, and what it does for people hoping to just have, like, an incredible experience in the woods. Its distance could feel far– so, just, nearly a three-hour car drive, you know, coming from Dallas or Oklahoma City–but honestly, if you can stick with the drive, what you experience while out there can prove completely memorable.
What you can do
Set up your hiking equipment for hitting on a range of pathways which go by lakes, cliffs and a multitude of things. For the kind of tourist which craves a tranquil pastime, rent, instead, a kayak or paddleboard down Broken Bow Lake; or maybe go fish downstream at Mountain Fork River, highly famous to all of the region’s trout lovers out there. Furthermore, should your stay stretch onwards into more than a brief outing during daytime exclusively, then certainly think hard whether overnight camping within Beavers Bend sounds perfect – they provide an assortment of places tailored to any preference level too!
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5. Gloss Mountain State Park: Glimpse of the American Southwest
Out toward the Northwestern part here, in Oklahoma rests a genuinely unique tourist location referred to as Gloss Mountain State Park: honestly, what differentiates itself totally versus other places throughout is the majestic mountain scenery normally tied only straight with Southwestern landscapes overall! It definitely doesn’t require tons either so that everybody could go over because traveling time sums to not much, just somewhat past close 2 whole hrs up ahead, specifically as soon coming away stemming starting from central spots which cover even places so densely populated exactly that pertaining OK capital place either.
What you can do
You actually could trek up towards both peaks to drink at completely encompassing surrounding perspective vantage factors where ever all landscapes could get revealed as sprawling outside in most magnificent methods, thus allowing possibilities relating catching stunning photography. When things get somewhat steamy from that OK sun above afterwards maybe you feel tempted on heading below in search out certain comfortable spots made suitable when throwing outdoors type picnic lunches including all associated goodies thus making a great chill-break shortly right then. At that very spot, also consider thoroughly scoping over chances about going nearby adjacent parts to go have certain understanding concerning areas local background so you understand what all this terrain stands as over.
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