Beach hopping
With my three kids in tow, we visited not one, not two, but three beaches at Arcadia Lake. The lake is comprised of three separate parks — Spring Creek, Edmond and Central State — each with its own recreation wonderland of docks, playgrounds and, yes, swimming holes.
With 26 miles of shoreline, Arcadia Lake felt big enough for exploration, but small enough to not feel lost, despite having to drive through three gates to enter each area. However, one receipt will get you access to all.
As my tween daughter said, “I didn’t think we had beaches in Oklahoma!” I replied, “What’s your definition of a beach?” Because if it’s sand (albeit a little rocky), next to a body of water, with nearby restrooms and a snack stand, then, baby, we’ve got beaches!
Our first stop was Spring Creek.
Admission is the same at each gate: $7 for a car with up to five occupants.
The cove-shaped beach is tree-lined, with plenty of grass and shade. About a hundred guests splashed, lounged and picnicked at the site and the lake water was cold, which was a relief in the 99-degree heat.
The red playground was completely shaded, and Rusty’s snack shack serves up fare until 8 p.m. Typically, you get ripped off at snack stands, but not at Rusty’s. How does a .50 bag of chips sound? Or a hot dog for a buck? Coolers are welcome, but no alcohol or glass is allowed on the beach.
Edmond Park was less crowded and provided a beautiful vista. But, we found some broken glass on the shore, and the sand was mostly rocky, so swim shoes would be a stellar idea.
The grassy hill was a nice spot for watching boats whiz by and relaxing under the shade. While there wasn’t a snack stand, each park has trails, a pavilion and plenty of picnic benches.
Behind beach gate No. 3, we found Central State Park, which provides a “wisp” of a beach, picnic tables right next to the water and Rusty’s Store. The store provides more than the snack shack, including charcoal and fish hooks. This park had the most picnickers, bicyclists and big gatherings, perhaps because of the ample shade and the choice location.
Fishing, boating, water skiing and jet skiing all have designated spots around the lake, and the multi-use trail and equestrian trail provide even more opportunities for adventure in one spot. The lake is stocked with catfish, blue gill and bass, but it’s BYOB — bring your own boat — since the lake doesn’t offer watercraft rentals.
If you want to make a weekend of it, the parks have overnight camping available at both primitive and RV-friendly sites. All the campsites are first-come, first served.
The best part of our day adventure was realizing that being close to home can also mean being close to nature, where s’mores and spooky stories around a fire ring can make an unforgettable memory. While we may not have forgotten we were in Oklahoma, it did make us realize that being in Oklahoma can be cool, even when the temps are hot. —Malena Lott
Water (and) parks
The storefront of Pauls Valley’s Toy and Action Figure Museum had me a
little nervous. It looked like it may have been a Sears in a past life —
not exactly the place you’d expect to find a museum.
But
once inside, you forget all about what might have been and focus on
what it is. All around, up above and stacked high are toys, action
figures and other odds ’n’ ends that only a serious collector would
think to save.
Pauls
Valley is about 60 miles south of Oklahoma City and a perfect stop on
the way to the outdoor playground of Sulphur and Davis. We thought it’d
be a blip on the map, but we ended up spending close to an hour inside
the museum.
The
focus of the Toy and Action Figure Museum is pretty self-explanatory,
but what you don’t account for is just how overwhelming it can all be —
and I mean that in a good way. Just check out the “Bat Cave” in the
back, dedicated completely to Batman. Or, simply wander around,
wondering who saves some of the stuff on display (like the lineup of
adult-sized superhero undies or the unopened bag of Batman tortilla
chips). It’s bright, colorful and a ton of fun.
Nearby,
fuel up for the trip farther south at Bob’s Pig Shop, a Pauls Valley
institution since 1933. The restaurant is smack in the middle of a
neighborhood and has the look of someone’s homebased diner that got out
of control.
If
you’re going for authenticity, don’t pass up the pig sandwich, a chopped
pork sandwich topped with a relish that has been on the menu since
opening day. And don’t leave without trying some of the cobbler —
blackberry on the day we visited.
Avoid
the interstate for the county roads that take you south, then east,
toward Sulphur, home to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area and the
new Chickasaw Cultural Center.
The
wooded trails and cool springs of the national recreation area are
perfect for wandering during these hot months. But be warned: The
natural swimming holes inside the park can get really crowded on the
weekends. (Although, the people-watching is fantastic.) Find the
swimming holes along the stream just off the road on the way to the visitor’s center.
Make the trip
Here’s how far you can expect to go and what to do when you get there. (To keep things simple, we’ve calculated mileage from the center of Oklahoma City.)
Arcadia Lake - 17.8 miles -edmondok.com/parks/arcadialake
Sulphur - 84.5 miles -paulsvalley.com -nps.gov/chic/index.htm -chickasawculturalcenter.com -arbucklewilderness.com
Wichita Mountains, 92.6 miles -fws.gov/southwest/ refuges/oklahoma/wichitamountains -theholycitylawton.com -meersstore.com
Nearby,
the new Chickasaw Cultural Center is really well-done. The Chikasha
Poya exhibit center is small, but interesting and educational, and the
Spirit Forest you walk through to get to the exhibit space is very cool.
The room is dimly lit, and the “trees” that open their branches
overhead make it feel like you’re walking through an ancient forest.
It’s pretty spectacular. But the real beauty of the cultural center is
the expansive outdoor grounds, dotted with water features, art and
gardens. The highlight is the bridge and viewing platform that overlook
the traditional village.
It’s
easy to make a weekend out of it in the area, especially when you
consider nearby Davis, just a few miles down the road toward Interstate
35. The outdoor adventures continue at the ever-popular Arbuckle
Wilderness, a drive-through animal park that seems like a throwback to
the types of spots you’d see on the Mother Road.
With
a smorgasbord of attractions, a variety of places to stay (everything
from camping to resorts) and even some fine dining — check out The Cliff
in Davis! — this compact area of Oklahoma is endlessly accessible and
an easy getaway. —Jenny Coon Peterson
Mountain time
It took somewhere
on the order of half a billion years — give or take — to carve out one
of Oklahoma’s most popular road trip destinations. The rounded granite
hills of the Wichita Mountains, near Lawton, began to arise long before
the dinosaurs and took on their current appearance only after eons of
weathering.
“Take
your time” serves as a good mantra on a road trip to the Wichitas.
Blasting down Interstate 44 will get you there faster, but routes abound
that allow the scenery to unfold and places to stopand
enjoy it. Come down State Highway 115 through Mountain View, for
example, or follow U.S. Highway 81 through Rush Springs. Stop for
watermelon.
It’s
hard not to get excited once those mountains are in sight. Native
Okies, prairie dwellers by habit, are gravitationally attracted to
anything that breaks a flat skyline. But a drive through the Wichita
Mountains Wildlife Refuge can result in a number of exciting sights.
First
stop is the Quanah Parker Nature and Visitor Center. With interactive
displays on the history and wild life of the Wichitas, it is the place
to plan the rest of your trip. Guided tours are offered throughout the
year.
You
won’t need a guide to notice most of the area’s fauna, however.
Longhorn cattle roam free, and the area is home to a herd of American
Bison. Both occasionally cause minor traffic backups when crossing the
road. Animal lovers flock to the area’s prairie dogs, the highly social
rodents whose sprawling “towns” can be viewed from the side of the road.
One
of these towns lies at the entrance to one of the mountains’ most
popular sites, Holy City. The 66-acre park is home to one of America’s
longest-running Easter pageants, started in 1926 by the Rev. A.M.
Wallock. Holy City, as it exists today, was built in the 1930s using
area stones. A statue, “The Christ of the Wichitas,” stands vigil over
the site.
Another
kind of religious experience is just up the road atop Mt. Scott, one of
the highest points in the state. The winding road to the summit ends in
a mountaintop parking lot with scenic vistas overlooking historic Fort
Sill, Lake Lawtonka and the rest of the mountain range.
Staring
in awe at the work of a half billion years’ creation can work up an
appetite. Which is why no trip to the Wichitas is complete without a
trek to Meers, the former gold rush town (there was no actual gold; just
a rush) nestled just to the northwest of Mt. Scott.
This
hamlet is the home of the famous Meers Burger, a gargantuan burger
handcrafted from Texas longhorn beef. Wash that down with a teamonade
(iced tea and lemonade) and save a tiny bit of room for fried peaches.
Meers accepts no credit cards, so come armed with cash and a very empty
stomach.
And, after all that wildlife, all that splendor and all that food, hop back on the highway for the trip home. You’ve earned it. —Nathan Gunter
