Looking to fill a day with fun while staying close to home? The Metro area has many attractions to help you entertain even the most difficult, easily-bored child. At some destinations you spend the day inside, others call you outdoors; but all of these venues promise a fun, educational experience that's nearby and affordable.

Martin Park Nature Center
Just off Memorial Road between Meridian and MacArthur is Martin Park Nature Center where children can get up close and personal with all kinds of birds, squirrels, prairie dogs, butterflies, and bugs. The park is open from 9am-6pm Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is free, and you can hike with your kids at your leisure. There are 3.5 miles of gravel hiking trails with some moderate slopes. The park offers special guided tours for just $2 per person-call ahead (755-0676) to find out what topics are being covered each day. In addition to the outside animal viewing, the park maintains an indoor, hands-on museum where children can view small animal homes. Picnic tables are available, so pack a lunch and plan to spend the morning outside and the hot afternoon in the museum. 

Cole's Garden
Looking for a leisurely stroll with the little ones? Cole's Garden is stroller-friendly and perfect for quiet time for Mom or Dad. Here you'll find a series of gardens featuring plants and statuary from various regions of the world. Spend the day wandering through The Princess Garden's lush flowers and shrubs, The Aztec Garden's Mayan gods and arid landscapes, and the Near East Garden's Arabian-style temple with a glittering golden dome. Open 9-5 Monday-Saturday, the garden, located at 1415 NE 63rd Street, across from National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, is a great escape. Admission is $5 for ages 12 and up; children 11 and under are free. Call 478-1529 or visit the Coles Garden web site for more information.
 
RedHawks Baseball
Take them out to the ball game! Our team will play at home for nine days in July, so go to the Oklahoma Redhawks web site, choose your night, and buy your tickets online. General admission is $6, Terrance Reserved seating is $9, the Field Box is $11, and posh seating in The Club is $15. If you have small children, consider general admission and take a blanket to sit on the hill where children are encouraged to run around while you enjoy the game. Every home game has a theme and giveaways for early arrivals are common. Call 218-1000 for more information.
 
Oklahoma River Water Taxi
If you want a full day escape, park the car near the SBC Bricktown Ballpark and catch the Oklahoma River Water Taxi which runs every 10-15 minutes from the dock just across from the third base entrance. An all day pass, available at the ballpark's kiosk or at watertaxi.com/oklahoma, is just $6.50 per person, $5.50 for age 65 and over, or $1 for children 5 and under. A round trip takes about 40 minutes, and the ambassadors give a great, and frequently humorous, tour. Jump off the taxi to have lunch at one of Bricktown's many eateries on the canal, then take the taxi to Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and spend some time enjoying the fish tank, browsing the camping gear, and identifying the animals mounted around the store. Later, get back on the taxi and head to the ballpark for hotdogs and popcorn. For more information on the water taxis, call 234-8262.
 
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Too hot or rainy for a day out? Head to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Located at 415 Couch Drive in downtown OKC, the 110,000 square foot facility has 15 exhibition galleries, a theater, cafe, and museum store. I have found the museum very child friendly and it is a great place to spend an afternoon with children whether they're toddlers (ask for a Discovery Pack) or teens. During the summer months, the museum offers art camps especially for children. Go to their web site and click on events to review all the July and August camps, weekend workshops, and Art Together experiences and to register online. Visit travelok.com for a 1/2 off admission coupon with the purchase of another ticket. Call 236-3100 for more information.

Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
Why drive all the way to Shawnee to take the kids to a museum? Mummies. Mabee-Gerrer has not one, but two Ptolemaic mummies and the most extensive Egyptian collections in the region. The mummies are popular with scouting groups, so don't be surprised if you see a crowd. In addition to the mummies, Mabee-Gerrer has everyday objects and fine art from most ancient cultures and the medieval world. Visit the Mabee-Gerrer web site for a listing of temporary exhibitions. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday 1-4pm. Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for ages 6-17; free for ages 5 and under. Call 405-878-5300 for more information.
 
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.