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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Spring Thinking

Enough politics for the day, it's time to turn our twisted little minds elsewhere and consider the possibilities of the future - this spring, in particular.  For some, it will be the time to clean house, to get ready for the summer, while for others in the great state of Oklahoma, the fishing and hunting seasons begin.  So, let's take a look at what's out there...

Spring Turkey:  Spring turkey season starts up April 6th through May 6th for gun, with a special youth hunt the weekend of April 2nd and 3rd.  Turkey hunting is a lot of fun and is probably one of the more entertaining and exciting hunting trips available in Oklahoma.  And it is something that the whole family can enjoy because of the interactivity with the game.  Calling in the tom turkeys, watching them strut...it's all part of the adventure.  Check out the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's website.

Camping:  If you're like me, there's never a bad time to go camping.  I have done it in the winter during hunting seasons, during the spring, summer and fall.  It's affordable, fun and gets you out away from the blacktop for a little while.  There are countless parks and lakes in Oklahoma to do some camping and they are easy to find on the Internet as well.  There is the Army Corps of Engineer's page as well as the Oklahoma Parks Department pages to review potential locations. 

Fishing:  Crappie season is almost at hand and if you can take the cold winds while out on the boat, crappie fishing is not only fun, but the fish itself is mighty tasty. Oklahoma is well-known for its catfish, bass angling and then there's the legendary spoonbill fishing up at Grand Lake - there are so many species of fish in Oklahoma that it's tough to keep up.  Trout fishing has become increasingly popular and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has done a spectacular job of making sure there are plenty of fish and fishing habitat.

Horses:  It's that time again - time for horse racing at Remington Park.  While the casino isn't my bag, watching the horses race is exhilarating.  Not exactly a family-friendly location, but the horses are beautiful and the racing excitement unsurpassed. 

Baseball:  The Redhawks kick off their 2011 season April 7th, with their home games beginning April 15.  Redhawks baseball is clearly one of the most family-friendly entertainment venues in all of Oklahoma.  Next to perhaps the Zoo, Redhawks baseball is the most affordable and positive environments for the little ones where spring entertainment is concerned.  The Redhawks have tickets that are affordable and there really isn't a bad seat in the house.  Contrasted with the facility formerly known as the Ford Center, the Redhawks' ballpark is easily navigable and the seats are comfy.

Zoo:  Speaking of the Zoo, the schedule of events at the Oklahoma City Zoo continues to grow and truly, if you're looking for an all-day adventure with the family, the OKC Zoo is the place to go.  Generally speaking, most of the animals are out and about during the spring and the kids love seeing the critters doing their thing.  Well, parents do too...  Every season, the OKC Zoo has new attractions, new additions and more critters to eyeball and a season pass is worth every penny.

Little Sahara:  Look, summer is the time for Little Sahara, I know - but if you want to beat the rush to the dunes, spring is the time to do it.  Mostly locals during the spring and few out-of-staters coming in and tearing up the place.  Bust out the Polaris, the Arctic Cat or whatever your ATV of choice and head up to Little Sahara for a weekend your family won't soon forget.  But remember the helmet laws...

Ultimately, things are going to be a little tight this spring and summer.  The economy is still down and fuel prices are continuing to climb.  Today, gasoline in Oklahoma averaged just around $3/gallon and is slated to continue its upward climb.  Spending money in Oklahoma helps Oklahoma businesses.  Sure, it's sexy to go to the "Big D" and act the fool, but it's better for the economy of Oklahoma to be foolish right here in your back yard.