To spring break and back (in one day)

Spring break is almost here! I remember the excitement I felt when I was a student—especially in college—about having an entire week off from the grind and the opportunity to travel.

But now, things are a little different. For a few years, as a professional woman, the arrival of spring break didn’t even make an impression on me. I took my vacation when I took my vacation, and most often, it was not in March. Then, I started working from home when I had kids, and suddenly, I was reintroduced to the weeklong hiatus from everything school.

Am I excited about a week with no preschool? Of course! Absolutely! It’s awesome!

Okay, so maybe I’m trying too hard. The real issue is that I’ve got to find time to get a little work done, but I also want to make an effort to do some special activities with the kiddos. We’re not headed for any weeklong vacation, but I got to thinking, there must be some awesome day trips that would feel like an actual trip, but without the expensive hotels, tanks of gas, and a weeks-worth of meals.

So here are three options you could drive to and back in a single day. My kids, both under the age of four, may be a little young yet for these, but I get excited just thinking about the fun of these future adventures.  

1.    Tulsa. The second largest city in Oklahoma will feel like a trip to a big city, but you won’t need to spend too much time on the highway (it’s just an hour and a half from Edmond). The city offers a zoo, aquarium, air and space museum, water park, art museums, and several  beautiful parks. Of course, OKC has most of those things too, but Tulsa offers a chance to get out of town without going too far afield.

2.     AlabasterCaverns State Park. It’s been a few years since I’ve visited this attraction, but let me tell you, for any spelunking enthusiasts (or not, I mean, you don’t have to love caves to enjoy it) this is a hotspot. The three-quarter mile cavern is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tours run on the hour. The drive is just under three hours from Edmond, so it’s probably not a bad idea to plan a breakfast and/or dinner stop to add to the fun.

3.     Arbuckle Wilderness. Then there’s the always popular Arbuckle Wilderness. Also just an hour and a half from Edmond, this destination is a kid-pleaser for sure. With roaming exotic animals, go-karts, rides, and their Safari store, everyone is bound to have a little fun.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, as Oklahoma has so much to offer for every age. Sometimes it just takes cozying up to Google for an hour or talking to in-the-know friends to find a creative outing that makes for an exciting trip—one where everyone still sleeps in his or her own bed at the end of the day.