Monday, June 23, 2008

OKlahoma is OK & More!



How was the Edwards family vacation to Oklahoma? It was better than OK ... it was great! 4 days in the Sooner state led us to the following places and created these memories:

  • The Marais des Cygnes Massacre site where a five free-state men were killed by pro-slavery men in 1858 ... a solemn pause for history in the state of Kansas.
  • Big Brutus ... a 16 story tall piece of mining equipment near West Mineral, KS ... but we couldn't "dig" the $8 visitor price tag.
  • Visiting the homestead of Laura Ingalls Wilder near Independence, KS. Couldn't find a wheat field to run down though.
  • Stayed in a comfy Kamping Kabin at a Tulsa KOA amidst a violent thunderstorm. Had to wait for the lightning to stop before we could run and use the bathroom.
  • Walked through downtown Tulsa admiring the art deco, skyscraper lobbies, tunnels, and clocks that displayed Tulsa time.
  • Witnessed an echoing phenomenon at the Center of the Universe ... eerie and spooky! Paige has her own theory as to why ...
  • Got wet at the Big Splash Waterpark Friday night. We couldn't pull Tyson away from the wave pool and Cody found the courage to go down the Silver Bullet slide ... once.
  • Tyson took a ride in an F-16 and launched the Space Shuttle at the Tulsa Air Space Museum. We caught our breath afterwards by taking in a show at the planetarium.
  • Saw other quirky Roadside America sites such as the Golden Driller and the world's largest set of praying hands.
  • Found four (4) of Cody's ancestors (great-great-great-great grandparents) in the small towns of Havana and Altoona, KS.
  • Did summer school work at a local library with wi-fi connection.
  • Took in an outdoor musical production of "Oklahoma!" at Discoveryland USA, national home of Roger and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! ... great show, great food, but watch out for the bbq sauce - comes out a little fast when squeezed too hard.
We have a new appreciation for our neighbors to the south and look forward to another state-filled-good time next year.

To see all 39 pictures in the Official OK Vacation photo album, click here.

No comments: