Fun-filled getaway in Oklahoma vacation home rentals
Located in America's Great Plains region, the state of Oklahoma boasts a diverse landscape. There's the great outdoors, with its rugged mountains, fragrant pine forests and endless grasslands. Then there's the bright lights and bustle of its steely capital, Oklahoma City. Steeped in a rich cowboy and Native American heritage, Oklahoma celebrates both facets of its past in places like the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum. Whether you're visiting for outdoor adventures or casino and city hijinks, an Oklahoma vacation rental gives you time to stick around and enjoy it all, especially if you're passing through on Route 66.
Monuments and museums in Oklahoma
Want to be close to the state's star attractions? Your best bet is an Oklahoma vacation rental in the capital. There's a great deal to see here, including Myriad Botanical Gardens, which feature a vast cylindrical conservatory filled with tropical plants and flowers, and Oklahoma City Zoo, which boasts a menagerie of almost 2,000 animals, including gorillas and snow leopards. Basketball fans will want to catch an NBA game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, while most visitors will want to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Situated on a peaceful green parcel where the Murrah Building once stood, it remembers those who died in the 1995 bomb attack with a variety of moving monuments.
Activities near Oklahoma vacation homes
If you're not one for camping, Oklahoma vacation rentals provide a more-comfortable base for adventures in the great outdoors. The wild landscape offers something for everyone, with everything from hiking and fishing to guided treks on horseback through forested trails. If you're feeling lucky, you'll find a trove of casinos, while the state's restaurants serve up must-try local dishes that range from sizzling steaks to fried pies. If you're into history and culture, Oklahoma City has plenty of museums to visit, while shopping and nightlife opportunities abound in the state's capital too.
Keeping tabs on the weather in Oklahoma
Contrasting air currents in the state create a recipe for severe weather conditions, ranging from thunderstorms and hail to tornados. Though Oklahoma is located in the Tornado Alley region, you can keep yourself safe by keeping tabs on local weather reports and taking the necessary precautions. When all is calm, Oklahoma experiences a humid subtropical climate in the central, southern and eastern parts of the state, a humid continental climate in the north and a semi-arid climate in the west. July and August are typically the hottest months. Prefer milder weather? It's best to visit in October, when everything cools down.
Getting out and about in Oklahoma
Oklahoma boasts 50 state parks, 6 national parks and many other protected areas. The landscape provides a playground for adventure seekers and wildlife enthusiasts alike, with its towering mountains, peaceful pinewoods, restful lakes and expansive plains. The Wichita Mountains in the southwest predate the Rockies and are home to the oldest national wildlife refuge in the USA. Here, you'll find a 650-strong herd of bison, alongside elk, deer and birdlife and a flourishing mix of native flora. It's also a popular spot for rock climbers, who come to tackle the Wichita range's weathered granite faces.
Transportation options to and around Oklahoma
Fly into Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), the closest airport, located 6.9 mi (11.2 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that's convenient for your trip, you might consider flying into Oklahoma City, OK (PWA-Wiley Post), which is 8 mi (12.8 km) away.
If you're traveling by train, Santa Fe Depot, Norman Station and Purcell Station are the main stations that serve the city.