Autumn in Oklahoma is by far my favorite time of the year. It brings the electricity of football season and a welcome relief from our sizzling Sooner summers. Now's the time to get out and share the fun of Oklahoma's fall festivals with your family and enjoy the serenity of changing colors as nature prepares for winter. Here are some suggestions to celebrate the season.

Fall Foliage
The last two weeks of October and the first two weeks of November are expected to be the best time for viewing the state's most brilliant displays of red and orange-and I'm not just referring to the Sooners and the Cowboys. Oklahoma's spectacular fall foliage is a wonderful reason to pack a picnic and pile the kids in the car for a Sunday drive like no other. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department's web site, www.travelok.com, offers several foliage tour routes across the state. Just don't forget your camera.

Red Rock Canyon State Park, State Highway 8, south of Hinton
Along this 10-mile route, you will view the red stone canyon walls that serve as cover for the massive trees and present a dramatic landmark amid the Western Oklahoma plains. Hiking and camping are available at the park.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, northwest of Lawton off Highway 9
Astonishing granite formations set the backdrop for the post and blackjack oaks' amazing fall colors displayed throughout this 20-mile drive. You will also see the resident buffalo herd and other interesting wildlife. For a panoramic view of the area, drive to the top of Mount Scott, located on the eastern edge of the refuge. The visitor's center offers audio driving tours on CD or cassette so you can listen as you drive. Plan to stretch your legs on one of the hiking or biking trails, or stop to watch the adorable prairie dogs.

Forgo the picnic and head north on Highway 115 to Meers for lunch. This old frontier gold mining ghost town is the home of the Meers Store and its famous oversized “Meers burgers,” tasty barbecue, and homemade cobblers. It is worth the trip. While in the area, visit the early-day cobblestone resort town of Medicine Park or the nation's largest collection of military artifacts at the Fort Sill Museum in Lawton.

Roman Nose State Park and Resort, State Highway 8A, north of Watonga
This seven-mile drive features rushing springs, chalk buttes, and ancient mesas. Once a winter campground of the Cheyenne, the beautiful park is known for its rich Indian history. Interesting nearby attractions include the Watonga Cheese Factory and the T.B. Ferguson Home, residence of one of Oklahoma's early-day territorial governors.

Schedule your trip for an early October weekend and enjoy the Watonga Cheese Festival. You'll find plenty of fun for everyone-a carnival, parade, live entertainment, classic car show, street dancing, rodeo, juried art show, craft and antique booths, cheese tasting, tours, a “Rat Race” 5K and one-mile run, and a medieval faire. Free shuttles take visitors to all the venues. Open 9am-6pm, two-day admission is just $3 and children under age 12 are admitted free. For details check out their web site or call 580-623-5452.

Robbers Cave State Park, State Highway 2, north of Wilburton
Robbers Cave in Southeast Oklahoma boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. A fall visit provides plenty of activities including hiking, horseback riding, and rappelling. The Robbers Cave Fall Festival and Car Show, October 17-19, attracts tens of thousands of people who appreciate classic automobiles. Food vendors, several hundred craft booths, and children's carnival rides and activities make it a fun event for the whole family. The town of Wilburton holds a giant garage sale and main street flea market that weekend too. Guests are encouraged to park downtown and take advantage of the free shuttle buses to and from the park.

In Your Own Backyard
More fun awaits you after the leaves have finished their stunning show and fallen to the ground. And you don't have to “leave” town for this activity-jumping in a huge pile of leaves! It's been a fall tradition in my family for decades. Forget the new-fangled leaf blowers and grab a rake (it's a great workout!). Then reward your hard work with a family frolic in the big crunchy piles. Follow up that brisk exercise with a tall glass of apple cider.

Pumpkin Picking
Another must-do autumn activity is picking out a pumpkin. Bypass the grocery store and make a family outing to one of the area pumpkin patches. Not only is it fun, but it also provides one of the best photo opportunities of the year. Alternatively, many local churches and civic groups host pumpkin patches as fundraisers.

Hayrides & Horses
The cool autumn weather and the vivid fall foliage makes the perfect setting for horseback riding and hayrides. Thunderbird Stables in Norman offers novice to experienced riders 500 acres of wooded trails and lush pastures overlooking Lake Thunderbird. Two-hour hayrides take guests to an open-pit bonfire to prepare their food of choice. Reservations are required for both activities. One-hour horseback rids are $17 per person. The minimum fee for hayrides is $150 (up to 25 people). Thunderbird Riding Stables is located 13 miles east of Norman on SH-9 in the Clear Bay area of Lake Thunderbird State Park. For more information, call 321-5768 or log on to their web site.

Katherine Leidy is a freelance writer and public relations professional. She and her husband, Robert, have a five-year-old daughter, Allison, and reside in Norman. The fall colors at her home are appropriately crimson and cream.