Three Fall Break Getaways
The highway is calling! Pack your bags and hit the road for a quick fall break road trip.
1. Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the ultimate kid-friendly getaway. At around three hours from Tulsa, the drive isn’t bad, but you wouldn’t necessarily want to go there and back in a single day — especially if you want to pack in the fun.
This month, we’d recommend a visit to Botanica, Wichita’s beautiful botanic gardens. Walk the Rainbow Trail into the Downing Children’s Garden, where you’ll find Granny Jean’s Treehouse, the Monster Woods and other engaging features. Plus, the last three weekends in October are BOOtanica, complete with improv in the Haunted Shakespeare Garden, the Spooky Woodland Light Show, a scarecrow display, shadow dancing, etc.
Photo courtesy Botanica
For history buffs, there’s the Old Cowtown Museum, a recreated, fully immersive town from the late-1800s. If you visit on the tail end of Fall Break (Oct. 18-19), Cowtown’s Hay, Hooves and Halloween event sees the streets come…alive?…with zombie cowboys, ghosts and ghouls. Or, step even further back in time at the Museum of World Treasures in downtown Wichita, where a wide array of artifacts span centuries, all the way back to the time of prehistoric times.
More into science and nature? Here are three great options: Exploration Place (science museum); Field Station: Dinosaurs (dinosaur sculptures, mini golf and other entertainment in neighboring Derby, KS); and of course, the Sedgwick County Zoo. From Oct. 15-Dec. 21, you can even visit the zoo on select evenings for Wild Lights, when “one-of-a-kind Asian Lantern sculptures…light up the Zoo during the WILDEST nights in town.” (scz.org)
2. Dogwood Canyon and Big Cedar Lodge
Want to “get away from it all”? Consider a trip to Big Cedar Lodge or Dogwood Canyon, both located in southwestern Missouri near Branson. At Dogwood Canyon, online day passes start at $13 for kids ages 4-11, and $18 for adults. Add-on activities include Wildlife Tram Tours, horseback riding, and an autumn special – evening Owl Prowls! Meet a live owl, learn about owl pellets, enjoy hot dogs and s’mores, then take a hike to listen for real owls. Educational activities included with your daily admission include access to the Treehouse, Conservation Center, a virtual scavenger hunt and more.
Top of the Rock. Photo courtesy Johnny Morris. Nature Resorts
Unlike Dogwood Canyon, Big Cedar Lodge offers onsite accommodations. However, Big Cedar’s Fun Mountain — offering a ropes and zipline course, go-karts, arcade, underwater-themed bowling (and childcare!) — is open to the public. Some activities may be available only on weekends, so plan accordingly.
For a more natural environment, visit Top of the Rock, where you can explore the 2.5-mile Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail, home to nine waterfalls and other gorgeous features like the eponymous cave. Your ticket includes admission to the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum.
3. Oklahoma City
Much like Tulsa, there’s always something new to do in Oklahoma City. This fall, visit the First Americans Museum to be among the first to explore the new FAMily Discovery Center, a “giant, illustrated pop-up book” introducing kids to Oklahoma’s native wildlife through interactive activities like a climbing area. Special fall break events at FAM include the Indigenous Peoples Day celebration Oct. 13.
Myriad Botanical Gardens always hosts an incredible pumpkin display throughout October, and this year’s theme is “The Museum of Pumpkinville.” Different areas of the garden will feature pumpkin displays based on famous works of art, space exploration, natural history and more.
And if you just can’t get enough of pumpkins, Orr Family Farm is a major draw throughout the autumn months. This year’s season runs Sept. 20-Nov. 8; activities include massive photo ops, carnival rides, a maze, pony, train and hayrides, zip-lining, etc. Pumpkin Farm Nights in October allow guests to experience the fun after dark.
