Kids Korner

Visit Oklahoma! National Memorial Bricktown Lake Hefner Take your pick. You can meet some real cowboys—and Native Americans. Go fishing, play golf, swim, or water-ski. Oklahoma is one state that’s got it all and there’s no better time to visit than this year when the state is throwing a huge birthday bash for itself to celebrate the state’s 100th Birthday. Visit www.travel.ok.com to see what you can do in Oklahoma.

Did You Know?

• Route 66, the fabled "Main Street of America," crosses Oklahoma for 392-plus miles. In fact, it was born here. The road's architect, Cyrus Avery, lived in Tulsa. Check out the neon-lit diners, drive-in theaters, mom-and-pop gas stations, as well as the National Route 66 museum. Check out www.elkcitychamber.com/museums.

• The largest Apatosaurus skeleton ever unearthed and the Cooper skull, the oldest painted object in the New World--are housed at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History in Norman. Part of the University of Oklahoma, the museum contains the most extensive collection of prehistoric artifacts outside the Smithsonian. Visit www.snomnh.ou.edu/ for more information.

• You can pay your respects at the outdoor national park honoring the 168 people who died during the tragic bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in 1995. Adjacent to the outdoor memorial are the recently completed Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum and the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/).

• You can watch the Oklahoma City Redhawks, an AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers at the AT@T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. Visit www.oklahomaredhawks.com.

• Once known as Indian Territory, Oklahoma is still home to more American Indians than any other state; 39 tribal headquarters and members of at least 67 tribes make their home in Oklahoma. The largest Native American festival in the world--Red Earth—is held every June in Oklahoma City (www.redearth.org).

• One of Oklahoma's famous foods is chicken-fried steak: Oklahoma beef, batter-fried, and smothered in cream gravy. The barbeque is great here too.

• You can stay in an authentic Cheyenne teepee at the new Cheyenne Cultural Center in Clinton and hear stories from members of the Cheyenne tribe (www.cheyenneculturalcenter.com).

• The name "Oklahoma" comes from the Choctaw words: "okla" meaning people and "humma" meaning red, so the state's name literally means “red people.” Visit www.travelok.com/about/StudentGuide.pdf to download a special students’ guide to the state.

• Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state, with over one million surface acres of water and 2,000 more miles of shoreline than the Atlantic and Gulf Coast combined! That means there are lots of water sports.

• Oklahoma is celebrating its 100th birthday as a state this fall with all kinds of parties and events across the state. Check out www.oklahomacentennial.com.

What Other Kids Say You Should Do While In Oklahoma . . .

Meet: Garrett (age 8) and Mason (age 6) who live in Oklahoma City. They are the children of Southwest Airlines Customer Service Supervisor, James. They said, “Oklahoma is really big, has nice people, and cool places to go.” Don't Miss: a Redhawks baseball game in Bricktown, riding the water taxis on the Riverwalk, or Six Flags Frontier City. Don't go home without going to the zoo, going to the Omniplex, or visiting the National Memorial. The best places to eat are Golden Palace, Cimarron Steak House, and Ted's Cafe Escondido. The best places to visit outside of Oklahoma City are the Children's Museum in Seminole and the Natural History Museum in Norman

Kids, Tell Your Parents . . .

• Check out the official Oklahoma website at www.travelok.com and the official website for Oklahoma City at www.okccvb.org/.

• A short walk from downtown is Oklahoma City's newly-renovated Bricktown Entertainment District, offering restaurants, shopping, night life, a canal with water taxis, and the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark (home of the Oklahoma City Redhawks).

• The Oklahoma City All Sports Association has sponsored or co-sponsored more than 100 events since its formation in 1957. Ongoing events each year include the Winter and Summer Sooner State Games, Big 12 Baseball Tournament, NCAA Women's College World Series, and the oldest holiday basketball tournament in the world--the All-College. For more information, visit www.okcallsports.org.

• The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz draw more than 9,000 fans a game in a season that runs from April through July with play-offs in August. All home games are played in the Ford Center (www.okcyarddawgz.com). You're just a drive away from the University of Oklahoma Sooners (Norman) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (Stillwater).

• For hockey fans, the Oklahoma City Blazers will play 35 home games beginning in mid-October. Individual game tickets range from $8 to $13 dollars with senior citizens over 65 and children under 12 receiving a $2 discount. Check out www.okcblazers.com.

• One of the nation's most thrilling rodeos, the International Finals Rodeo, is held at the State Fair Arena with the top 15 IPRA cowboys and cowgirls in seven events competing for world championships. There's always an exciting PRCA Championship Rodeo held each year during the State Fair of Oklahoma in September. Visit www.ipra.com.

• Pole Position Raceway has real head-to-head racing at one of the largest indoor tracks in the world. There are karts for adults (speed up to 40mph) and kids (approximately 15mph). All of the equipment is supplied (www.racep2r.com).

• City Arts Center provides interactive arts experiences through exhibitions, performances, classes and events (www.cityartscenter.org). City Arts Center is located in Oklahoma City at State Fair Park.

• At Frontier City Theme Park, you can stroll through an authentic 1880s western town and enjoy over 75 rides, shows, games and attractions. Experience the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral, and catch Frontier City's six live shows. Four thrilling coasters, the Renegade Rapids river raft ride, the perilous Tomahawk and MindBender, and the Mystery River Log Flume. Big fun for little mavericks at Paul Bunyan's Tiny Timber Town. Check out www.sixflags.com for more information.

• Harn Homestead Museum, an historic homestead, claimed during the Great land Run of 1889, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. School children often come to spend the day here to learn about farm life on the frontier (www.harnhomestead.com).

• Martin Park Nature Center, a 140-acre protected natural wildlife area, is home to dozens of indigenous mammals and 180 species of birds.

• National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum -- The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum embodies the spirit, passion and grit symbolized by the American West (www.nationalcowboymuseum.org).

• At the Omniplex, one price gets you into this huge complex, with four museums under one roof. The kids will love the hands-on science section, with over 300 interactive and educational exhibits, constantly updated. It has a number of special events for kids throughout the year (www.omniplex.org/).

• The Oklahoma City Zoo (www.okzoo.com) is ranked one of the top family-friendly zoos in the country, Check out the flamingo chicks!

• Orr Family Farm: There is a lot to do at Orr Family Farm, from riding the finest train in Oklahoma to fishing at Hidden Lake. Kids enjoy the horse carousel, gift shop, concessions and barnyard animals to pet and feed (www.orrfamilyfarm.com).

• Bricktown Water Taxi (www.watertaxi.com) runs a continuous loop along the one-mile Bricktown Canal. Water Taxi Ambassadors narrate points of interest along the way.

• Chesapeake Boathouse (www.chesapeakeboarhouse.org). The Chesapeake Boathouse offers rowing lessons, kayaking and dragon boating for ages 8 and up.

See Past Editions of Kids Korner.

By: Eileen Ogintz, Author of Taking the Kids™