Nearby Spring Break Destinations
Now is a great time for families and groups of friends to start planning their getaways
By: Sheryl Sowell | Category: Other | Issue: January 2009
The Tulsa metro area is surrounded by wonderful spring break trip options that are 200 miles or less away.
Spring break will be here soon, so now is a great time for families and groups of friends to start planning their getaways. The Tulsa metropolitan area offers unique, fun, beautiful and exciting places to visit that are only about 50 to 200 miles away. Road trip, anyone?
Davis, Oklahoma (152 miles from Tulsa in the Arbuckle Mountains) houses two of the state’s most prominent tourist attractions. Turner Falls Park is a wonderland of nature trails, caves, geological marvels and picnic areas, as well as Oklahoma’s largest waterfall. The recently renovated Arbuckle Wilderness Exotic Animal Theme Park offers a safari-like adventure filled with giraffes, lions, tigers and more wandering in habitats similar to their natural homes. For more information, visit www.davisok.org.
Edmond, Oklahoma (about 97 miles from Tulsa near OKC) offers numerous public sculptures and art to enjoy, Frontier City, the state’s oldest and largest theme park, the Kirkpatrick Center, containing seven museums, and the Oklahoma City Zoo. Go online to www.visitedmondok.com to find out more. Mitch Park in Edmond is hosting a spring break camp March 6-20, featuring arts & crafts, pottery, dodge ball, tag games, theme day, team building and brain games, fun relays and much more. Call (405) 359-4630 to register.
Branson, Missouri (157 miles from Tulsa) is known as the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World.” Branson has 52 live entertainment theaters, in addition to dozens of museums and attractions. Go to www.branson.com to find out more vacation options. Silver Dollar City, which has previously been voted the number one theme park in the world, is hosting Family Spring Break Days March 19-27. Visit www.silverdollarcity.com to learn more.
Fort Smith, Arkansas – 105 miles from Tulsa – is a famous Old West town that combines its wild, exciting history with the hospitality and charm of the New South era. Visitors receive a glimpse into the past as they tour by trolley, riverboat or train the historic sites, including the U.S. National Cemetery and the many beautiful Victorian mansions. Downtown provides extensive shopping opportunities in antiques, arts & crafts, and curio. Fort Smith is also a prime location for nature enthusiasts, offering fishing, camping, hiking and more. Visit them on the web at www.fortsmith.org.
Wichita, Kansas is an excellent big-city option 130 miles from Tulsa, offering 36 museums, more that 24 tourist attractions, 20 live theaters, 35 art galleries, 32 golf courses and more than a thousand restaurants. For more information on the many adventures available in Wichita, go to www.visitwichita.com.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas (125 miles from Tulsa), has been called one of the top 25 cultural destinations in the country and offers art galleries, a vital nightlife, award-winning restaurants and shops galore. To read more about this nearby vacation hotspot, visit www.eurekasprings.org or www.eurekasprings.com.
About 163 miles from Tulsa is Oklahoma’s Kiamichi Country, which includes Ouachita National Forest, Beavers Bend State Park, Broken Bow Lake and Talimena Scenic Drive. This southeastern corner of the state is lush and dazzling, offering a huge range of outdoor recreational activities, hiking trails and wildlife. In addition to natural adventures is an interesting discovery – large rune stones thought to have been carved by the Vikings. For more info, go to www.kiamichicountry.com.
Bernice State Park is on the northwestern corner of Grand Lake about 78 miles from Tulsa and is an outdoor lover’s dream. It is hosting its annual Spring Break Out March 16-20, with fun events happening daily from 2 to 4 p.m. Call (918) 257-8330 for more details.
The Great Salt Plains, one of Oklahoma’s most mesmerizing landscapes, is 126 miles from Tulsa. Visitors are drawn here for the diverse terrain that includes salt flats, wetlands and prairies, where the bird-watching and fishing opportunities are excellent. The Great Plains Trail consists of 13 highway-based driving loops that allow travelers to view the scenery and multitude of wildlife present in western Oklahoma. To learn more, visit www.greatsaltplains.com.
Bartlesville, OK is a great day trip option. A short 47 miles from Tulsa, the city boasts many one-of-kind attractions and restaurants, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s only skyscraper – The Price Tower – and Woolaroc Ranch, Museum & Wildlife Preserve. Go to www.visitbartlesville.com for more information.
Now get to planning your spring break fun!
About Author Sheryl Sowell
Sheryl Sowell was born and raised in Tulsa, OK. She graduated from Will Rogers High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Northeastern State University in 2007. She has worked for Value News as editor, writer and advertising copywriter since 2008. She enjoys meeting and interviewing people for Value News articles, learning about their backgrounds, and helping to promote their businesses and local events. In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying new recipes and crafts from Pinterest, attending concerts and sporting events, and spending time with family and friends. Sheryl lives in Tulsa with her fiancé Paul, their daughter Scarlett, and their two dogs, Gunner and Boo.
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