We live in northern Oklahoma, and we'll be driving whereever we go. We aren't wanting anything longer than a week (including our driving time) and we need ideas on where to go! If you're close to Oklahoma, even somewhat, tell me what's to do in your state and a place that's great to visit there. My kids are 11 and 13 and up for almost anything, we're just really drawing a blank. We've done searches, etc., but want to hear something first hand. Thanks in advance everyone!

tulsa zoo was always my favorite

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Branson, Eureka Springs, cave tour of Northwest Arkansas and Southwest MO. Go to a state park and camp or reserve a cabin. We did one vacation in Oklahoma City and another one in Tulsa. Go to Woolaroc by Bartlesville. Wichita has a few good museums and a good zoo. Drive down to Dallas/Forth Worth.

We've been to Woolaroc a gabillion times, Eureka Springs and Branson too. We've been to every zoo in a hundred mile radius, basically everything Oklahoma has to offer. We rode the Heartland Flyer from OKC to Dallas/Ft. Worth over Spring Break. I will check in to the state parks/campsites, though. Thanks for the suggestions.

Where ever you decide use Hotwire.com I have great luck with them!!
I also vote Branson, we have been many times but there is still much to see and do.

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Love, J.

What about a float trip down the River at Tahlequah. There used to be a Trail of tears play there. I haven't seen it advertised yet.

What about Palo Duro Canyon down near Lubbock, TX? Or you could head over to Santa Fe, NM if you want a longer drive.

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

When we lived in OKC, we also drove to Eureka Springs several times for vacation. I wasn't crazy about Branson, but I loved Eureka Springs. I would check online and you can probably find some good deals. One time we rented motorscooters and rode around the town; I loved it. You'll want to take in the Passion Play, and my son just enjoyed going to the Christ of the Ozarks statue. Oh, and I thought about something else. Someone mentioned Tulsa. Is Bell's Amusement Park still there? My son's class went there on their end of the year field trip in the sixth grade ( of course, that was 15 years ago!), and he really enjoyed it.

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Bells is gone. The city didn't renew their lease at the fair ground about 2 years ago. They do have a water park and the new BOK center with different concerts.

I remember Bells! Went there in jr. high, but that was 22 years ago. We've been to Eureka Springs twice, and saw the Christ of the Ozarks statue, but not the Passion Play. We've been to Branson before, and it was fun, but MAN, I cannot stand everywhere you go, sales people bombarding you to sit through this or that seminar about time sharing condos.....noone took no very well! lol Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We really want to travel out of Oklahoma, just not sure where. Seems we always head south/southeast. Thanks again.

hopeing to take the kids to gentry this trip to visit family but not sure they raised their prices again not long ago

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When I still lived at home north central ok, one summer we went up to Colorado Springs/Manitou Springs for a week. There was a lot to do up there. Seems like it took us a full day to travel

I am in Ft Worth, Tx. We will be driving to Pigeon Forge Tn. My kids are 11 & 12. In order to keep things low budget, we decided to do a timeshare presentation (we love to say NO and get free goodies - and got 3 nites at the Ramada Inn for $89 (I then found a $20 coupon - so $69) which also includes a show and dinner for the 4 of us. They have Dollywood, lots of arcades and Go Cart tracks - whats cool about the tracs are they are 2-3-4- levels high rather than long. I discovered this place 3 years ago when driving home from Canada. Lots of fun, cooler than here, etc. Shopping, rivers/creeks - a fun place.

Good luck in finding your vacation spot,
Katamasmom

Do not have any ideas right now but I am so happy to see you posting I missed ya much sweetie.. The only thoughts that come to mind is Lancaster Pennsylvania or Amish country very reliable and very affordable again missed ya much peace and welcome back... Catherine

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Hey Woman!! I haven't been on the computer much, and deactivated my facebook acct. Too much time on there!! haha Missed you too. My 13 yr old son wants to go to New York so bad he can't stand it, ya wanna put us up for a few days?? hahaha, I am KIDDING!! Too far for us right now. Pennsylvania would be awesome too, but we want something no more than a full days drive, ya know?

And katamasmom, we've considered Dollywood.....still may do that. I hate how up in the air we all are! I'll be so glad when we decide on something and start planning it.

I can very enthusiastically suggest that you try Branson again. We've been going to Branson for many years and while there are timeshare hawkers, we've never, ever had a problem with them. Just don't make eye contact, say no and keep moving. There's lots of good shows, Silver Dollar City, White Water just to name a few fun filled things to do. You can't beat the hotel/motel rates and there's lots of good eating to be done. If you're into shopping there's Tanger Outlet and the Branson Landing. Go and Ride the Ducks or see Dixie Stampede. Noah the Musical is a wonderful show at the new Sight and Sound Theater. I could go on and on.

Living a fw hours for P. Forge and I wont go. Traffic is awful dureing tourist season. Loved the aqarium there but Ick! heheh Hope you find a place. I'm just going to Ark for a couple weeks

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Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
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My other favorites
www.paperbackswap.com
www.wheresgeorge.com
www.geocaching.com

St. Louis can be a good place to go. Some things, like the zoo are free. Also free the last I checked, but I think there is a charge for parking is Grant's Farm run by Busch, with animal show, tram ride, museum and free beer. I haven't been in a long time but I think that info still holds true.

The Arch is very inexpensive. And the Westward expansion museum in the feet is wonderful. The movie, "The Making, (or maybe building), of the Arch" is a great way to cool off and take a rest. I've see that movie a dozen times and still enjoy it. At the base of the Arch there are river boats that go out on sightseeing jaunts several times a day.

The Busch Brewery Tour, not too far from the Arch used to be free. I think it still is.

The Art Museum, (in Forest Park), is inexpensive and I think there is one morning a week when it's free, and depending on the time of year, there are free seats at the Muny Opera in Forest Park. The Muny gets touring musicals in the summer. Forest Park has paddle boats and a nice little restaurant right on the edge of the lake where you take the paddle boats out. The Museum of Science is nearby as is the Planetarium. The free zoo, does cost money if you want to ride the train or enter the Children's Zoo and I think there are shows that cost money too.

One of my favorite places, but not free, is the City Museum. It's hard to describe, but it's very clever, lots of fun for all ages, and can take up a whole day.

There is also Six Flags, of course not free. If you buy your ticket late in the day I think you can get in the next day free. They have a nice water park and my daughter gets a season pass just for that. A lot cheaper than joining the neighborhood pool.

There are many museums, house tours, shopping areas, historic areas, and the Missouri Botanical Garden, if that is something that interests any of you. And if you feel like spending some money, there is always a baseball game.

We love the Anheuser-Busch brewery tour in Merrimack, NH - I bet St. Louis would be great. The tour is nice, the grounds are absolutely beautiful, and the Clydesdale stables are pretty neat too. "Look at the size of those.......hoofs!"

FYI, if you're a military family, Anheuser-Busch offers one day free admission to any of their family theme parks for military members and up to three direct dependents. All the Warrior has to do is visit the web page and register. What a neat way to thank our heroes for their service to our country. http://www.herosalute.com/cavatx/index.html

cj/

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Dont bother with the Chattanooga zoo, you'll be in and out in 30 minutes if it's anything like when i was there last time, Nashville or Atlanta zoo better. Or how about the big aquarium in atlanta?

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Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
http://bookcrossing.com

My other favorites
www.paperbackswap.com
www.wheresgeorge.com
www.geocaching.com

ditto.

St. Louis is a GREAT city for vacation. We would do long weekends there when I lived in the midwest.

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