Oklahoma Vacation Ideas
Most of Oklahoma lies in the Great Plains.
With small mountain ranges, prairie, and eastern forests Oklahoma is a great place for fishing, caving, rock climbing, hiking and camping.
The Ozark National Forest
The Ozark and Ouachita National Forest comprise more than 1.8 million acres in central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The Forest runs along the Arkansas River Valley south to the Ouachita Mountains.
The Ozark Mountain forests are comprised chiefly of the Ouachita and Boston Mountains, whose forests are among the best developed oak-hickory forests in the United States.
The Ozark and Ouachita National Forest is one of the favorite places for visitors.
The Ozark Mountains are actually plateaus, uplifted as a unit, with few folds or faults. The ruggedness of these mountains is due to erosion of the plateaus by swift rivers rising in them.
The vegetative cover is upland hardwood of oak-hickory with scattered pine and brushy undergrowth, dominated by dogwood, maple, redbud, serviceberry and witch-hazel.
In the spring the dogwood and redbuds are in bloom, and in the fall the Forest turns into a brilliant display of oranges, reds, yellows and greens.
Oklahoma camping is a great opportunity to teach yourself and the children about the planets and the night sky.
One of my favorite things to do is look for constellations and for just a few dollars you can pick up a star finder. It's not hard to do and it is a lifetime of knowledge and fun for everyone.
Chickasaw National Park
Wander back in time to when the early American Indian came to this area to rest, relax at the water's edge, and hunt for their food from the abundant wildlife.
The "Peaceful Valley of Rippling Waters" appropriately describes Chickasaw National Recreation Area, known for its many mineral springs, cool water, flora, fauna, and wildlife.
Lake of the Arbuckles
The Lake of the Arbuckles is one of the best fishing lakes in Oklahoma for catfish, perch, bass, and crappie. Thirty-six miles of shoreline and protective coves are good for trotlines, the water is unusually clear, and trolling is popular.
Jester Cave
It's Surveyed length is33,022 ft. (6.25 miles) and is the longest gypsum cave in the United States. It's main trunk is just under two miles in length and it is believed that there is an authentic Jesse James signature carved on a piece of "breakdown" just inside the window section of the cave just inside the southernmost entrance.
Rock Climbing
Oklahoma has an abundance of rock (granite, sandstone, and limestone) and very few climbers! Oklahoma has it all, great bouldering, hard sport, trad, and even some aid routes. Routes on awesome granite up to 400 feet in height and vast fields of boulders provide more than enough "problems" to keep someone here for life.
Oklahoma is waiting for you to clime out of your cubicle and get to having some old fashion fun!