EDITORIAL: Enjoy what Oklahoma has to offer

As school draws to a close and the weather gets warmer, it’s a good time to gather the family and head out to enjoy the great outdoors and what Oklahoma has to offer.

Northwest Oklahoma is home to several fine state parks that appeal to a variety of interests. All are close enough to make a fun one-day excursion.

One of the more popular destinations in our area is Salt Plains State Park, and the adjacent Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.

The state park offers camping, fishing, bird watching and hiking, and equestrians can bring their own horses to ride on designated trails.

The refuge offers the popular crystal digging site, which is located southwest of the lake, and access roads are available six miles west of Jet or three miles south of Cherokee. The crystal digging area is open from April 1 to Oct. 15 from sunrise to sunset. The crystals usually form into an hourglass shape, and Oklahoma is the only place in the world where the hourglass-shaped selenite crystal can be found.

Other state parks in Northwest Oklahoma are:

• Roman Nose State Park, near Watonga, which offers camping, cabins, golf, hiking, fishing, canoeing, paddle boats, mountain biking, horseback riding and swimming at the restored pool. There also is a lodge, with 22 rooms and a restaurant.

• Gloss Mountain State Park, west of Enid, which offers a trail to the top of Cathedral Mountain, offering a view of the surrounding area. There also are restrooms, pavilions, picnic areas, grills and a public water supply.

• Little Sahara State Park, near Waynoka, the main attraction is dune buggy and ATV riding across the sand dunes. There also are RV sites with water, electric and sewer hookups, tent sites, picnic areas and comfort stations.

There also is the new privately-owned America’s Oasis resort adjacent to the park, which offers an indoor/outdoor venue for concerts and other activities; a drag strip; a track for beginners to ride before they head to the sand dunes; cabins; and RV camping.

• Alabaster Caverns, near Freedom, which offers guided tours of the only gypsum show cave in the United States. It also offers RV and tent sites, picnic area, hiking trails and group shelters.

• Boiling Springs State Park, near Woodward, which offers RV, cabins and tent campsites, as well as picnic tables and grills, a pool and a system of hiking and mountain trails. A privately-owned golf course is located adjacent to the park.

Of course, there are many other parks around the state, too.

Take advantage of what’s out there. Get out and enjoy Oklahoma.