Ahhh, camping. As the blanket of night approaches, a symphony of crickets chirp all around. Fireflies dance on a gentle summer breeze. Above, millions of shimmering stars illuminate the darkened sky as you and your kids roast marshmallows over a crackling campfire.

If you’ve already been bitten by the camping bug or are ready to give it a try, you don’t have to travel far for outdoor adventure and family fun. Here are what I consider to be the top ten Oklahoma family camping sites. Each offers a wide variety of activities for kids of all ages.

1. Beavers Bend State Park
Located in southeastern Oklahoma adjacent to Broken Bow Lake, this nature lovers’ paradise offers train rides, miniature golf, hay rides, hiking, canoeing, and a nature center. You may even catch a glimpse of an eagle soaring overhead.

2. Lake Texoma

Enjoy this beautiful lake’s two wildlife refuges, two state parks, first-class golfing, riding stables, sailing, personal watercraft, and hiking. The Texomaland Fun Park (580-564-2340) offers go karts, bumper boats, batting cages, and mini-golf.

3. Greenleaf State Park

This serene family-oriented getaway provides a kids’ fishing pond stocked with rainbow trout for those 16 and under and/or those physically disabled, a swimming pool, party barge tours, a playground, and hay rides.

4. Red Rock Canyon State Park

Once a stop on the famous California Road Trail, campsites are located down in the canyon. This site is popular for rappelling and exploration and offers a swimming pool and fishing pond.

5. Roman Nose

Near Watonga and once a favorite area of the Cheyenne Tribe, Roman Nose overlooks ancient mesas and offers plenty of fun activities, from sleeping in a teepee to equestrian horse riding.

6. Wichita Mountains

This is a place where the white-tailed deer and buffalo roam. One of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, the Wichitas offer camping back country, rock climbing and rappelling at Mt. Scott, fishing, and the opportunity to view wildlife in their natural habitat.

7. Tenkiller State Park

Admire the beauty of limestone cliffs and explore the underwater scuba park complete with a submerged school bus, sunken boats, and a recently added aircraft fuselage.

8. Ouachita National Forest

Fish, deer, and Bigfoot? Oh my! Here you’ll find rugged, unpaved forest roads providing dirt bike and four-wheel enthusiasts exploration of some of Oklahoma’s most scenic terrain. Really adventurous? Try hang gliding.

9. Great Salt Plains State Park

The only place in the world to dig for “hourglass selenite” crystals. Treasure hunters also enjoy a wilderness area, swimming, boating, and hiking.

Editor’s Note: At press time, no crystal digging was being allowed due to pollutants in the area. See www.fws.gov/SaltPlains for updates.

10. Robbers Cave State Park

A legendary hideout for outlaws such as the James brothers and Belle Starr, here you’ll find rock climbing, equestrian trails, a nature center, and swimming pool to keep things cool.

For more information on these parks, visit www.TourOklahoma.com.

Kim Rogers is a freelance writer who lives with her husband and two sons in Edmond. A graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma, she has written for newsletters, newspapers, and magazines.

Getting ready for your first family camping trip? Consider these tips before you go:

• Camping Amenities. The family-friendly environment of most campgrounds often includes activities such as fishing, swimming, hiking, and nature programs. Family campgrounds provide restrooms, showers, and potable water. Some have stores and rent fishing poles, paddle boats, canoes, and other equipment.
• Eating in the Wild. Most campgrounds provide grills, fire rings, and picnic tables. A basic cooking set can be made up of no more than a bag of charcoal, a few pots and pans, and a spatula. Start with simple options like sandwiches, hamburgers, and pre-packaged meals. With each camping trip, try more adventurous recipes and add the necessary cookware.
• Dressing for the Occasion. For most family trips, a selection of T-shirts, shorts, jeans, swim suits, jackets, and sweatshirts will suffice. Pack knowing items will get dirty—that’s part of the fun!
• Protecting Your Feet. Quality boots are a good investment for many families. When shopping for boots, look for solid ankle support and tread to keep you from slipping. Purchase boots in stores where people familiar with hiking are trained to fit them properly. Buy socks and liners made of wool or other materials that will cushion feet and absorb moisture.
• The Right Equipment. Before investing in equipment, try to borrow tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, and stoves to determine what suits your family. To save money, check yard sales or camping clubs for used equipment.

Jennifer Woodford works with DeHavilland and Associates, an educational consulting firm.

Campfire photos:
© Photographer: Johann Helgason | Agency: Dreamstime.com

© Photographer: Naude | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Backpacking

Do your kids love bugs and being outdoors? Backpacking might be the hobby for them. Billy and Marci Dennis of Outback Guides provide trips to Beavers Bend, Greenleaf, and Robbers Cave State Parks. They group families with same-age children together so that the difficulty of the trip is age-appropriate. Marci says that every trip is a biology and botany lesson where children are introduced to “bugs, snails, shells, and mushrooms.” Kids will often meet her “bottle rats”-baby squirrels she frequently bottle feeds on her backpacking trips. Trip dates and prices are available at outbackguides.com. Most two-day trips run about $295 per person including guide, food, and camping gear. Outback Guides can customize trips to include canoeing and kayaking. Call 918-446-5956 for further information.

Rock Climbing

My boys got a taste for rock climbing by rappelling at Red Rock Canyon with the Boy Scouts. Now, to keep me from climbing the walls at home, they frequent OKC Rocks at 200 SE 4th Street in Oklahoma City. Located in an old grain elevator, OKC Rocks offers climbing routes with difficulty levels from novice to expert. I have always found the facility to be well-staffed and well-supervised. OKC Rocks is open Monday-Friday from 4-10pm; Saturday-Sunday from noon-6pm. They offer a variety of pass packages with very reasonable family rates. Novices can rent all necessary equipment on site. Climbing information and prices can be found at okcrocks.com or by calling 319-1400.

Horseback Riding

Horses and summer are always a great combination, and Thunderbird Riding Stables, just 13 miles east of Norman on Highway 9, is a great place to introduce your children to exploring the outdoors on horseback. The stables provide both guided rides for novices and open rides for experienced riders. All rides are $17 per person, per hour. Thunderbird also offers summer horse camps just for kids. The morning camps will be held June 5-8, 19-23, and 26-30 for $200 per child. For details about camps, call Bobby or Cindy at 321-5768 or check out their web site, thunderbirdridingstables.com. Call at least two days ahead if your family wants to ride on a camp day. The stables are open 8am-4pm Monday-Friday and 8am-5:30pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Mountain Bikes, Motocross, and ATVs

Does your family prefer wheels to hooves? Bring your two- or four-wheeled vehicles to the Stillwater Cycle Park, 6500 W 56th Street in Stillwater, and enjoy 500 acres of riding area. This park is truly all-terrain with tracks running through woods and creeks. Buy season or day passes at the Stillwater Parks, Events, and Recreation Department, 315 E 9th. Riders are required to wear helmets, and all bikes must have a spark arrester. Call 405-747-8070 for more information.

For a change of scenery, Lance Harzman of Little Sahara Power Sports invites all ATV owners to ride the dunes at Little Sahara State Park. The cost is only $7 per day per driver. Lance says there is nothing like a night ride when the moon is full. Your vehicle must meet all park safety requirements. Call 580-824-1471 or log onto lspsonline.com for more information about ATV fun and on camping facilities at or near Little Sahara.

Go-Kart Racing

Regardless of your age, Rodney Berryhill assures me there is a race for you at Norman's Oklahoma Motor Sports Complex. If you have never raced, take time to see one before you buckle into your own kart. The complex, located at 3501 S Interstate Drive, holds races twice a month on Saturday nights. Call 579-5278 or check championkart.com for race days. Admission is free and the atmosphere is much like that at high school football games-concessions and noisy fans. During the week, ages 10 and older may rent karts at the complex. Staffers will provide basic instruction for beginners. The complex is a popular birthday party spot, and they can accommodate large groups.

If you don't find the adventure you crave listed here, explore the travelok.com web site section on activities. Whether your family wants to adventure on their own two feet, on horseback, or atop four wheels, you can find a guide, instruction, or just a place to roam free in Oklahoma.

Pam Washington is the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Central Oklahoma. She and her husband Mike have been married for six years and have traveled Oklahoma with their blended family of five children.

One of my favorites is the Robbers Cave Fall Festival in Wilburton, October 20-22. It always offers an extensive arts and crafts show; this year they expect over 200 exhibitors. The festival offers live music, a carnival, and a quilt show. Saturday features a classic car show, but if the weather holds, the fall foliage at this beautiful state park will be enough to make the trip worthwhile. 918-465-3400.

Running each weekend all month, are a variety of spooky activities at The Castle in Muskogee. All 60 acres and the interior of the castle are transformed into a Halloween-themed park. Activities include a haunted hayride suitable for all ages and Casa Morte, a tour through the castle recommended for those 12 and older. Events are priced separately, but you can save a bundle by visiting their web site, www.okcastle.com and printing coupons.

Here are more great festivals for you and your family to enjoy.

October 7-8: Octoberoberfest-Ponca City, Marland Mansion Estate grounds. (580-767-0420 or www.marlandmansion.com)

October 7-8: King Arthur Faire, Stroud Lake. Reenacting the legend of King Arthur, live jousting, arts and crafts, music, kids activities, and games. Admission: $7.00 for 12 and up, $5 for 6-12, under 6 free. (918-968-0459)

October 7: Chouteau Days, Salina. This festival recreates, through living history, early fur trading culture. (918-434-5394)

October 13-14: Watonga Cheese Festival. One of the best festivals which features arts and crafts, a cheese recipe contest, a made in Oklahoma tent, carnival for the kids, and a street dance. (580-623-5452 or www.watonga.com)

October 7: Pumpkin Festival-Cordell. Start the day with a pumpkin pancake breakfast, then stay for the parade, crafts, and free games for the kids from 7am-6pm. (580-832-3538)

September 10: Shalom Fest-Tulsa. Held at the Temple Israel located at 2004 E 22nd Pl, just south of Utica Square, this festival offers tours of the temple, children's activities, and traditional Jewish food. (918-747-1309 or www.shalomfest.com)

October 15-21: Arbuckle Mountain Fall Bluegrass Jam-Wynnewood. Held in Arbuckle Mountain Park. the music lasts from 10am to midnight. (405-665-5226)

October 19-22: Octoberfest-Tulsa. Held at the Riverwest Festival Park, this festival features bands from Germany and Austria, children's activities, and a carnival. Admission: $3.00 per person, children under 12 free. (918-744-9700 or www.tulsaoktoberfest.org)

October 21-22: Car show and arts festival-Stigler. Arts and crafts and food concessions on 10/21-22; car show 10/22. (918-967-8681 or www.stiglerchamber.org)

October 21-22: An Affair of the Heart-OKC, State Fair Park. Arts, crafts, and food for the shop˜til you drop crowd. (632-2652 or www.aaoth.com)

Through October 30: Corn Maize - P Bar Farms - Weatherford. Farm education is their goal but the 12-acre cornfield maze is the challenge. Thursday & Friday 5-10pm, Saturday 10am-10pm, Sunday 1-6pm. (722-4401, www.PBarFarms.com)

Pam is Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Central Oklahoma. She and her husband Mike have been married for six years and have traveled Oklahoma with their blended family of five children.