Spring break is always a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a little extra time with school-aged children and older students, but how do you decide what to do with all that youthful energy? If you’ve been searching for a great way to keep young minds engaged and young bodies active, Green Country has a wide array of fantastic options! Find the activity that’s right for you and your family below – or pick several!
Playgrounds for the Imagination
Opened in 2018, Tulsa’s Gathering Place is a one-of-a-kind treasure trove of fun for all ages. In addition to an array of outdoor activities including a skate park, a BMX pump track, and nature trails offering some stunning vistas, the Chapman Adventure Playground is a five-acre wonderland laced with towers, slides, sand boxes, and many other elements designed for children at various developmental stages. Burn off some energy with a game of basketball, volleyball, or street soccer at the Energy Transfer Sports Courts, or enjoy a leisurely stroll among seasonal blooms in one of several public gardens.
While you’re there, make a stop by the Discovery Lab to find a huge variety of activities sure to delight the little ones. This fantastic local resource specializes in hands-on exhibits supporting current classroom curricula in the sciences, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) fields, providing fun ways to explore informative topics like fluid dynamics, geology, and many more. Explore the indoor playground that includes a tunnel system made completely of clear packing tape and then slide down the huge packing tape slide. Not only are activities like these scientifically proven to improve a child’s academic success, they’re also scientifically classified as “super fun,” so don’t miss out on this amazing family attraction!
If you’ve got some little animal lovers to keep entertained, we’ve got some good news – Green Country is home to some fantastic animal attractions!
Tulsa Zoo
Rated one of the top family-friendly zoos in the entire nation, the Tulsa Zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals, including rare and endangered species like snow leopards, Malayan tigers, and Asian elephants, as well as a Children’s Zoo and a playground. Go for a ride on the zoo’s Safari Train, or take a spin on one of the 30 different animals at the Wildlife Carousel. Among the many other fascinating, carefully curated exhibits here, visitors can get an up-close look at a wide variety of marine life like African penguins and the inhabitants of Sea Lion Cove, then learn about the importance of protecting vulnerable species at the Conservation Center.
Oklahoma Aquarium
Dive into a world of underwater wonders with a spring break trip to visit the more than 100 exhibits of the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. These include the native species of Aquatic Oklahoma, home to creatures found in the state’s rivers and lakes such as the prehistoric paddlefish and the alligator snapping turtle – there’s even a feeding station where you can pick up some tasty veggies to feed the exhibit’s smaller turtles. The Polynesian Reef is home to an array of tropical fish of all shapes, sizes, and colors, and the aquarium’s Shark Adventure holds the western hemisphere’s largest captive collection of bull sharks in a clear-sided, 380,000-gallon tank complete with a walk-through tunnel.
Oasis Animal Adventures
Situated just inland from the beautiful shores of Grand Lake, Oasis Animal Adventures in Eucha is home to a huge menagerie of rare and exotic animals. Visitors will get the chance to meet and interact with everything from horses, ponies, and camels to zebras, kangaroos, coatimundi, and even Daisy the spider monkey, along with many other incredible creatures. Oasis also offers a certified animal therapy program for at-risk and special needs children and adults, providing a wonderful environment for animal lovers of every age and ability level.
You can find more information on all these and several other great animal attractions in Green Country here.
Northeast Oklahoma is home to more than 75 wonderful museums, a few of which offer exhibits and activities tailored specifically to younger visitors.
Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium
Visit the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium for an up-close look at aerospace marvels like the F-14 fighter jet and the space capsules used in the moon landings. Let your little one's imagination soar as they slide into the cockpit of the the fighter jet (be sure to snap some photos)! You'll find several hands-on interactive exhibits to spur their interest including the Manned Maneuvering Unit and the Shuttle Simulator. TASM visitors can also enjoy a virtual adventure in one of the museum’s flight simulators, or take in the wonder of the cosmos during one of its hourly planetarium shows in the massive domed theater.
Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve
Located in the Osage Hills southwest of Bartlesville, Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve is one of the area’s most popular destinations. Home to a world-class collection of western paintings and sculptures by artists such as Frederic Remington and Thomas Moran, museumgoers will also find a massive collection of arts and artifacts representing more than 30 Native American tribes.
And if you’ve got some little animal lovers to please, Woolaroc’s 3,700-acre wildlife preserve is home to more than 30 different kinds of native and exotic species including elk, llamas, zebras, and a free-roaming herd of bison. In addition to all this, the Woolaroc Animal Barn will open for the season on March 20th, providing a unique chance to meet and interact with a rotating variety of cute critters. Woolaroc also offers hiking trails and a Western-themed playground to help the little ones burn off excess energy and enjoy the outdoors.
Green Country is well-loved for many things, but some of our most popular attractions are the more than 15 incredible state parks to be found here. From the picturesque shores of our many lakes to the forested Osage Hills, these parks provide a multitude of opportunities to enjoy hiking, camping, swimming, wildlife watching, and more, with several offering a wide range of other activities as well.
Sequoyah State Park
Covering more than 200 miles of shoreline on Fort Gibson Lake, Sequoyah State Park is a favorite stop for those seeking a little time out on the water. The park’s full-service Paradise Cove Marina provides rentals of everything from kayaks to pontoon boats, as well as family-fun options like pedal boats and aqua trikes, and the onsite Sequoyah Riding Stables gives guided horseback trail rides through 300 gorgeous wooded acres. Hikers can choose from a variety of trail experiences, from the ¼-mile paved interpretive trail which runs by the park’s nature center to the 1 ½-mile loop of the Three Forks Trail, and mountain bikers can go for a spin on the 14-mile Whispering Pines Trail. In addition to all this, the Three Forks Nature Center at Sequoyah State Park provides educational experiences on the environment and ecology of the park and the surrounding region.
Natural Falls State Park
Point the car towards the Arkansas border to soak up some one-of-a-kind outdoor beauty at Natural Falls State Park. Although this entire area is beloved for its stunning Ozark foothills scenery, the park’s 77-foot waterfall draws visitors here year-round. Enjoy a hike along one of the easy trails leading up to a platform overlooking the falls, or take in the magical scenery down at their base. Several miles of nature trails thread the park’s pristine, heavily wooded terrain, and activities ranging from catch-and-release fishing to horseshoes, volleyball, and an 18-hole disc golf course are available to help burn off some of that youthful energy. You can even make a full week of it with a stay in one of the park’s yurts, which sleep four to six guests and are equipped with modern amenities like electricity, air conditioning, and several kitchen appliances.
Greenleaf State Park
Those interested in an amazing fishing opportunity to go along with their natural beauty won’t want to miss making a stop at Greenleaf State Park. Located about 30 minutes southeast of Muskogee, the sparkling waters of Greenleaf Lake provide an absolutely stunning backdrop for any camping trip, as well as excellent fishing for bass, catfish, crappie, and sunfish. Several historic cabins are available in gorgeous natural surroundings from the lakeshore to the surrounding woodlands, and families are invited to enjoy a range of activities like hiking the park’s trail system, casting a line in the kids’ fishing pond, and a round or two on the park’s minigolf course.
Sometimes you need to be pampered. Fortunately, Green Country is home to some fantastic resorts, offering everything from the true luxury experience to peaceful riverside cabins where you can escape the noise of the everyday, relax and unwind in the beauty of nature.
Shangri-La Resort
Situated on the picturesque shores of Grand Lake’s Monkey Island, the Shangri-La Resort has everything you could ask for in a luxury resort. Choose a single-king or double-queen room which features amenities like featherdown pillows, plush linens, and 50-inch HDTVs. Shangri-La includes The Anchor entertainment complex featuring a wide array of sports courts such as basketball, tennis, pickle ball, sand volleyball, and even a wiffleball field built to look like a smaller version of Fenway Park. Test your skills in the resort's escape room and massive arcade that features videogames, golf simulators and virtual reality experiences. The resort’s grounds are also home to the expansive marina of Sail Grand Waterfront, which provides rentals of everything from pontoon boats to jet skis. Get a bird's eye view over Grand Lake on a parasailing adventure with Sail Grand Waterfront or charter a yacht and make lasting memories with a luxurious tour of the lake. These are just a few of the activities and services offered by this incredible Grand Lake resort – pay it a visit to experience them all.
Marval Resort
Make the most of your spring break with a little rest and relaxation among the rolling foothills of the Oklahoma Ozarks at Marval Resort. Located on the shores of the lower Illinois River, they’ve got something for every kind of guest, from cozy riverfront cabins and lodges to full-hookup RV sites and a shady tent campground. A favorite with families, Marval offers a variety of fun for all ages, including a game room, a nine-hole mini-golf course, and a spacious playground. Cast a line on more than a mile of river shore property, play a game or two on the basketball or volleyball courts, or take in one of the flicks playing in the outdoor movie theater. Golf cart and pedal cart rentals are available to help you explore the grounds, after which you can grab a slice or a whole pie from Marval’s Pizza Shop.
Green Country is full of destinations and activities visitors of all ages are sure to love. Find more on our Family Activities page, or explore all the wonderful ways to enjoy the great outdoors here. You can also find plenty of fun spring break experiences on our Festivals & Events page.
