On Board to Oklahoma; a Compilation of All Our Trips

When you think of a road trip for an adventure, Oklahoma is not the first state that would come to mind. But surprisingly, there are a lot of things to do in Oklahoma. Since it’s not a far drive from Dallas, we take trips there more often now. More surprisingly, there are more than 10 people who live there (including my sister and bro-in-law.) Here are a list of the things we have done in OK and plan on doing in the near future.

The National Wildlife Refuge System in Oklahoma includes many parks and places like Deep Fork, Salt Plains, Wichita Mountains, Ozark Plateau, Little River, Washita National Wildlife Refuge and more! There are many things to do in these locations such as fishing, hunting, wildlife photography, bird watching, hiking, walking or biking trails, paddling and more!

Broken Bow Cabins

We went to Broken Bow, OK for my husband’s 30th birthday bash with a few friends and spent the weekend at the cabins. The cabin was wonderful and had everything you could possibly use in your own house. The kitchen had mostly every appliance, utensils and gadgets we needed to cook. The living space was very tidy and rooms were spacious enough for couples. The extra outdoor games and the campfire area outside were a great final touch!
We spent the weekend hiking the trails of Beavers Bend State Park and enjoying the cold waters of the Mountain Fork River. From evening until after midnight, we sat around and enjoyed the campfire and the company!

There were only a few things we needed to bring for the cabin trip, including food. We packed so much food and went all out on all the meals with steak, ribs, brisket, chicken, sausage and more! Besides the food, we did have a few other things, which I highly recommend you take for a cabin trip (or any long road trips).

Portable Car Jump Starter

This is important to have in your car because in most areas with forests, cabins and lakes, there is limited to no internet connection or range to reach out for any help in the case your car battery dies. Having this jump starter allows you to jump start the car yourself with the battery pack instead of having to wait on someone else and use their car. The USB port for charging smaller items and the strong LED flashlight features on this starter also comes in handy for road trips like this.

BBQ Grill Set

Most cabins have a grill, but not a grill tool set, so we had to bring our own. I found this highly recommended Stainless steel set one on Amazon. However, the one we used for the weekend was a cheaper set from Walmart, similar to this, Walmart 17pc Grilling Tool Set that also includes everything you will need for the grill. The skewers worked great for smores…yum:)

Ice chest & Ice Packs

Ice chests are a must for cabin trips because you need to bring all your food to the cabins (and take home the left overs). Walmart has this 75 qt Wheeled Ice Chest which would have been great for our trip. We could have fit everything into one ice chest and rolled it instead of carrying several smaller ones. You can always pick up some ice (at a gas station further from the cabin rentals) or Amazon offers this best selling ice packs for smaller ice chests.

LED flashlight

For any outdoorsy trip, it’s important to have a flashlight in your car or in the tool/safety kit with you. This LED one is great because it can be used secondarily as a tool to break your car glass in the case of an emergency. It’s water resistant and has 5 adjustable modes.

Air fryer

We took our air fryer with us to the cabins because we weren’t sure if they had one there. It came in handy for hot dogs, fries, chicken and more while the grill was being occupied with other things. It’s very convenient because we didn’t have to keep an eye on it. Just put the food in there and forget about it until it beeps. Overall, it’s a safe, efficient and quick way to get food warmed up or cooked. I’m definitely glad that we took it with us as we were a group of six.

What else?

Besides these must have items above, you also need charcoal, lighter fluid, bug spray, sunscreen, etc. You can get these from the local Walmart there or check out my Must Have post. You also need to bring your own booze. Even though there are plenty of liquor stores nearby, you’ll save a good amount if you purchase them prior to your trip.

Tip: The shops closer to the cabins are twice as expensive as the ones that are further away. Plan ahead and buy all the things you need before heading out to the cabins.

Now the main question:

How do you book a cabin and plan your trip?

Broken Bow makes that party easy and has all their cabin rentals and information online. The one we booked was from this website and there are many similar sites that are also directly linked to them. There may be other ways to book, but when places like this have direct websites, I prefer not to book through a third party.
To plan your activities, look into the state parks nearby such as Beaver Bend State Park or Hochatown State Park. We stopped at the Forest Heritage Center, which is a museum and information center! Though we didn’t explore the museum, they were able to give us plenty of information on activities to do in the area. They had a variety of water sports, such as kayaking and land activities like horse back riding. If you want something a little different, there are several wine shops, wineries and breweries nearby. There are even many activities for children, such as petting zoo, go karting and ziplining!

Would we do it again?

For sure! It was a great experience and we had wished we stayed an extra night there! We’re already looking into planning our next cabin trip, with our family this time!

Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma (one of the larger reservoirs in the US) east of the Red River, which divides the OK and TX borders. Technically, part of these bodies of water is also located in Texas. But for the sake of not cutting OK’s only possible blog post short, I’ll let them have it. Although there are many things to do in Lake Texoma, camping and fishing are probably the favorite and most common of the activities.

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City; OKC has several interesting places to visit including the Oklahoma State Capitol and the Centennial Land Run Monument. The OKC National Memorial & Museum is a must visit if your in town and want to learn some OKC history. I wasn’t aware of the details of the 1995 bombing until we visited the site. Although it’s an emotional site, it’s wonderful to see all the victims still being remembered and honored.

Addresses:
Oklahoma State Capitol: 2300 N Lincoln Blvd, OKC
Centennial Land Run Monument: 200 Centennial Ave, OKC
Memorial & Museum: 620 N Harvey Ave, OKC

Arcadia, OK

Another fun place to visit nearby OKC is the Pops 66 Soda Ranch. It is located right off of highway 66, in the town of Arcadia, Northeast of OKC. This place has a wide variety of coca colas ranging from root beer to bacon soda! If you’re going in a group like we did, I recommend each person getting a different flavor. This way, you can get a taste several soda flavors without it being too overwhelming. The flavors vary in strength, so even if you like bacon, you might not enjoy bacon soda or vice versa. It also has a small restaurant inside as well as some photo op outside with the huge soda bottle (not pictured).

Address: 660 W. Highway 66, Arcadia, OK.
If you’re interested in knowing more, check out their website here!

Scissortail Park

For the evening, we headed to Scissortail park in the middle of OKC and had a great time. There was so much going on; people walking/jogging, kids playing in the park area and events going on. We started off with pedal boating during the sunset, which offered a great view. The prices were reasonable; about $12 per boat for 45 minutes. Although the wait was about 20 minutes, it was worth it. It was a relaxing yet fun activity, great for young adults or families. Then we walked around the park and attempted some of the activities there for kids:) We waited until dark to walk across the bridge to see the scissor-tailed figure up close.

Myriad Botanical Gardens

We got a chance to check out the Myraid Botanical Garden this time around and it was great. Even though there weren’t as many flowers in October, there was still a lot to see. We spent so much time just standing and watching the big pond filled with Koi fish and little ducklings.

Would we go again? Yes, I would love to go back during the spring time when it’s not as cold and when the flowers will be blooming.
Is it kid friendly? Most of it is safe, however you do have to keep an eye on them when you are close to the water area. There isn’t a barrier between the pathway and the water, which can be a problem with toddlers.

The Devon Tower ( also known as Devon Energy Center, pictured on the left) is the tallest building in Oklahoma at 50 stories high. It stands tall over the Botanical Garden and downtown OKC. It also served as a great background for my pictures 😉

Where to eat in OKC?

Here are a few of our favorites in Oklahoma City and neighboring cities!

Empire Slice House is hands down one of the best pizza places I’ve been to. The place was packed and had a New York feel to it, which was great. We were able to split the pie into two types of pizza; so we chose the notorious P.I.G and the Evil Empire. Both were great and we were stuffed after just two slices each. Their pizzas are huge and one pizza fed the four of us.

Would we go back? For sure. It’s only the best pizza in town. The prices were also very reasonable considering how big the slices were. The service was also on point.
Address: 1804 NW 16th, Oklahoma City

The Garage Burgers and Beer, OKC

My sister and bro in law took me to The Garage to try out their burgers. And boy, were they amazing! They have about 3 locations just within the OKC area and after having their burgers, you can see why. They even have gluten free bun options and a vegan burger that’s just as good! I mean, come on! Definitely a must try and re-visit kind of place!

Stay tuned for the following places that are on our list for upcoming things to do in Oklahoma! Follow me on Instagram @travelmania360 for new posts!
<<COMING SOON>>
Kitchen No. 324
Oklahoma City Zoo
Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park
Tiger Safari
Turner Falls Park & Cabins (holding off on this secondary to the recent incidents that happened here)

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May 7, 2019May 20, 2021

Punta Cana, the Most Popular Destination in Dominican Republic

Punta Cana was my husband’s and my first international trip together after we got married. We chose to do a resort in Cap Cana this time and even though parts of the resort were under construction, the views it offered was none the less amazing. The beautiful shore, the crystal clear waters, watching the sunrise from our balcony and the sunset laying in the pool was pure bliss<3

One of my favorite activities in Punta Cana was swimming with the Dolphins at Dolphin Discovery. I booked my ticket online and they threw in an offer for free pictures if I booked right then. The interaction was limited as it was with a bigger group, but it was just wonderful to see the dolphins. Understanding the debate of animal cruelty in training and being against it, I would have to say that these dolphins looked very happy. They were very calm and interacted in a way that I would like to think is normal. The leader was also affectionate to the animal and was not rushing us or being rude to the dolphin.

Would I do this again elsewhere? Probably not… I think it’s a great experience the first time and not something I would enjoy to do over again.
With that being said, Dolphin Discovery is a great place to meet these wonderful animals for your first time. They offer pick up and drop off to most resorts and hotels (in the Punta Cana location at least.)
Address: Carretera De Veron Bavaro La Altagracia Province Higuey Town, 23301
Click here for their website.

Our most favorite activity in Punta Cana!

We chose Flintstones Buggy Adventure for a buggy excursion and it was great! My husband rode the buggy the whole way and back and he loved it. Thanks to my short legs and the mud in my eyes, I was not able to ride it. I still had a great time enjoying the scenery and ride! We had a small group of five, so our tour guides took their time and were very thorough. Half way through, we stopped at a cave and hiked through it. We learned a lot about cave formation and more earth science (which seemed terribly boring back in high school). We also had a photographer the whole time, capturing every bit of the tour. The company also offered pick up and drop off to most hotels and resorts in the area. This was very convenient for us, because we didn’t have to worry about anything.

Covering up to keep the mud and dirt out of our eyes, nose and mouth!

Address: Avenida Papo Aveja Bavaro, DR.
Phone: +1 849-754-6487. I was able to communicate with them through wattsapp.
Click here for their website or email them at info@flintstonesbuggyadventure.com. To get your pictures on a cd, it was around $50, at the time we went.

What to know before booking a buggy ride!

So… would we do this again? Definitely, It was so much fun! But there are a few things we brought with us that allowed us to fully enjoy the excursion. And a few things we didn’t have, which we will not forget next time around!
1. Bandana: Pick one up at the dollar store or get a whole pack Amazon. Double up and switch out if you mind mud in your face or mouth.
2. Sunglasses: Leave your expensive ones at home and bring a cheap one. This one is cheap, yet still offers a lot of coverage.
3. Proper clothing: I would recommend double layer and covering arms and legs all the way. We didn’t do this and it wasn’t terrible. The mud eventually dried and became dirt that you can wipe off, but if that grossed you out, cover up!

4. Footware: You must have shoes that you can wash out or throw away after the excursion. You wont want to take it back on the plane, unless you have time to wash and dry it before your flight. For the tour, I wore my famous black crocs and my husband wore his black crocs. I don’t care how much they have gone out of style. I wear these crocs so often that it’s totally worth the money (and creepy stares).
Another option is the Mishansha Water Shoes which are unisex and better looking.

5. Sun tan lotion & mosquito spray: Read my favorite brands in my Travel Must Haves post.
6. Plastic bag: We had our extra clothes and other things in a regular bag. They were mostly drenched once we were done with the tour. If I knew earlier, I would have brought something like this, to keep all our things clean.

Day trip to the Capital of Dominican Republic!

For our last day, we booked a private taxi for a tour to the capital of DR, Santo Domingo. It was a two hour drive, but it was worth it. We were able to see what the real Dominican Republic looks like as Punta Cana was very much touristy. Our first stop was the Faro a Colon, which is museum and monument honoring Christopher Columbus. It was interesting to see all the places he explored and artifacts. It was well worth it for the money, if you enjoy learning a little history!

Later, we toured the Independencia Park and went souvenir shopping down the long strips of stores nearby. We also visited a chocolate museum (or two) for insight on how they made chocolate and coffee infused alcoholic drinks. (And for the free samples:) We walked to the Basilica Cathedral of Santa María la Menor, however were not able to go in. They were having a mass and we were not in church attire. Opps!

What else, you ask?

We spent the evening at Columbus Park, people watching and enjoying all the activities going on around the area. This was my favorite part of the day as everyone was busy doing their own things. Some people working hard for a living, while others, taking their family out for an evening of fun. Then there is another group just sitting around without a care in the world. On our way back to Punta Cana, we made one last stop and visited the Dominican Republic National Aquarium. We spend around two hours at the Aquarium, enjoying the variety of animals. We also stood outside in awe of the beautiful view of the Caribbean sea from that location.

After tasting all the coffee and chocolate infused drinks at the museums, we ended up purchasing one of each. I tried looking for the same kind online and found the coffee infused one here: Coffee infused Vodka!

Food

Another thing we did a lot of was eat (nothing new here)! Punta Cana is famous for their seafood since it is surrounded by water. Our favorites in Punta Cana was the shrimp, fish and calamari. It’s also famous for plantains, yuka and a lot of other starchy vegetables, both cooked or fried.

-One of our favorite restaurants to eat at was Restaurante Nakamura, which was combined with a casino. We found it the first night we were there and went back another two to three times. The food, service and atmosphere was great and they even had free taxi service to and from our resort.
-We also ate at Trattoria Y Pizzeria El Pórtico located inside Cap Cana more than once. Both times when we came back from a tour and were very hungry. We did not think that pizza would be a big thing in Punta Cana. Due to the influence of Spain, there were a lot of great pizza restaurants and this was one of them!

-Another restaurant we ate at more than once was Api Beach Bar. It had a great, relaxing view and friendly service. We had the fish and calamari ceviche with fried tapioca fries.
-We toured the Blue Mall located next to the airport, however we felt it was very Americanized. So, we walked down a highway (my idea) and found a fun, lively center called Punta Cana Village. It had a lot of restaurants and stores and was a good place to hang around. We stopped by La Casita de Yeya for a snack, and had some authentic chicken empanadas!

A lot of these restaurants don’t have websites, so I am attaching their google maps link for your reference! We did eat at several other restaurants. However, these were our favorite among them and the ones we would recommend you try out if you’re in the area!

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May 7, 2019January 18, 2021

Our adventurous girls getaway to the land of Costa Rica!

Costa Rica was another one of my most adventurous trips, from figuring out the public transportation to taking the most strenuous hike yet! I went to Costa Rica on a girls getaway with my childhood friend, Asha and my sister, Jasmin. We were there for 6 days and started off by touring the capital city streets in San Jose. Later, we went for some adventures in La Fortuna and were taken away by the beauty of Monteverde! We airbnb’d the whole trip and took buses in between cities, communicating in the little Spanish we knew. Here is a list of adventures we had in Costa Rica, what to know and how to be prepared for it!

Alejuela & San Jose

We stayed in Alejuela and San Jose for the first two nights and figured out some of how the city works. We got to visit some beautiful churches and learn a little about the history of Costa Rica through tours. One thing that we loved about Costa Rica is how friendly the people are and how they are willing to help the tourists. A taxi driver helped us find the right bus to get on, even after we refused his taxi service. We later learned that tourism is a big income in this country and everyone works together to keep up the reputation of their country.

La Fortuna, Costa Rica

While in La Fortuna, we stayed at a great Airbnb called Home Vacations that had a variety of tours and trips available, with decent prices and transportation included. We chose to do a coffee plantation trip the day we got there and it was great. It was a very detailed and thorough tour from the time a cocoa plant sprouts to how it is made into chocolate. We tasted several fruits and drinks before the tour and some natural bitter chocolate and a hot chocolate drink after the tour. The following day was one of the most adventurous, as we hiked through the rain forest and lava formations to the base of the Arenal Volano. And let me tell you, this was no walk at the park. It was the most strenuous hikes I have done and the end result was well worth it. After hiking back down, we had a typical Costa Rican lunch and a relaxing stop at a natural hot spring.

If you are in La Fortuna, CR and need a great place to stay, a variety of adventures and hassle free travel accommodations, check out Eder & Allen at:
Home Vacations in La Fortuna, San Carlos, Costa Rica
Email; info@arenalhomes.com
Phone: +506 8558-7530
www.homevacationscr.com

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La Fortuna has a touristy yet local downtown area, consisting of a few blocks. It was filled with restaurants, a small park and lots of activities going on late into the evening. A few of the restaurants we ate at were Restaurante La Parada, Cafeteria MyCoffee and Lava Lounge. Though most had Americanized tourist appealing food, their service, culture and atmosphere made it feel unique.

Monteverde, Costa Rica

Our last stop was the evergreen, most beautiful Monteverde!! I wish I had planned for more time there, but the time we had there was very precious. We had a great Airbnb location with an amazing view (see picture above) and an awesome host! It had a very home away from home feel to it, with a wonderful host and a friendly four legged friend. We sat on the grass with some hot black coffee and a home made snack and watched as the sun plunged into the mountains.. it was breathtaking!

What to know before going to Costa Rica?

There are a few things to keep in mind before heading out to Costa Rica, a few things I wish we had did and looked more into prior to getting there.

Numero Uno: Currency.
It’s fairly easy to get currency transferred as the airport (high exchange rates) or at banks if you show your passport or ID. However, the currency change itself is what is confusing. The currency in Costa Rica is called colones and the conversion is every 1 USD equals around 580 colones. If you pay in dollars, that gets rounded down to 500 colones for each dollar to “make it easier on the tourist’. The best way to work around this is to see what the CR bill looks like and know the conversion prior to going.

Here is the breakdown again.
~5800 “mil colones”= $10 USD . But if you pay in USD, $10 USD= 5000 mil colones.
CR bills available; 1000 mil, 2000 mil, 4000 mil, 5000 mil, 10000 mil, 20000 mil and 50000 mil.

Numero Dos: Credit Card
Wherever you can, pay with your no-fee credit card. Most of CR only takes VISA; no master card or discover. Most places that do take credit card don’t take returns, even if it’s just a few minutes later (true story). So plan accordingly!

Numero tres: Walking/Hiking shoes
All this hiking forests is no joke, so make sure you have a sturdy pair of shoes on you. Because there are water activities in between, it’s hard to find a good pair that will work for both. On the whole Volcano tour, I wore my all famous black Crocs…which may be out of style but definitely comfortable throughout the hike and for any water activities. I ended up wearing this for majority of the trip afterwards and hoped no one noticed 🙂

For a detailed list of things to pack along your trip, check out my Must Have Traveling items post!

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Would I go to Costa Rica again?

Definitely! Costa Rica really has so much to offer. It’s a great destination for couples, families, friends and even if you’re traveling solo! I felt there is so much more to do in Costa Rica that I did not get to do this time around. If I have another chance to go to Costa Rica, I will definitely go once more!

Pura Vida!
~Travelmania360~

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February 20, 2019September 17, 2019

Top things to do Boston, Massachusetts

BOSTON, Massachusetts!!!

Boston is a great place for a getaway trip, with so much US history and outdoor fun! Make sure to spend more than a weekend there, because there is just so much to see and do. To get the most of this great city, you can pick up a city pass and visit up to 4 of the top site seeing attractions OR get a Go Boston card and get access to around 40 sites and attractions! Both the times I visited Boston, I was on a time crunch and so I went to the following places and bought my tickets individually (most were free!).

Inside the Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library Courtyard

1. Visit the Boston Public Library

Even if you don’t crack open a book, this library will make you want to stay there as long as you can. The beautiful architecture of the building alone is breathtaking, but if that’s not enough, there are luscious gardens and more walkways and sceneries to explore, all for free!
Address: 700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116
Cost; FREE!
Hours; Open 9AM-9PM Mon-Thu, Closes at 5pm Fri-Sun, Opens 1pm on Sundays.

2. Travel along the Boston Freedom Trail

If you enjoy traveling through history, this is the perfect day activity for you. The Boston Freedom Trail includes many museums, parks, churches, historic places, statues and more. There are plenty of guided tours offered, but if you like to go on your own pace, you can take this tour without a guide.
The sites include;
– The Boston Common (includes many statues and attractions, includes the Boston Public Gardens) * Go here first and pick up a map from the visitor center.
– The Granary Burying Ground (across the street from the Boston Common)
– Benjamin Franklin Statue
– The Faneiul Hall (go in the evenings)
– Bunker Hill Monument
– Paul Revere House (Has a fee to enter; cash only)
– USS Constitution (Fee to enter the actual museum, but all other parts of it are free)
– Massachusetts State House (Free)
– King’s Chapel and Burying Ground
– Old Corner Bookstore
– Park Street Church
– Old South Meeting House
– Boston Massacre Memorial
– Old North Church
– Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
– Old State House
Here are some pictures of some of the attractions along the Freedom trail!

The George Washington Statue in the Boston Common
The Make Way for Ducklings Statue in the Boston Common
Bunker Hill Monument
If you’re doing the tour on foot, you’ll cross this bridge to get to a few of the sites.
Not a part of the Freedom Trail, but this church was so beautiful and on the way!

3. Visit the Mapparium

The Mapparium is located inside the Mary Baker Eddy Library and its a nice little activity, if you like geography and history. Although it was smaller than I expected, it’s a neat 3D set up, where as if you are looking out from inside a globe. You can’t go inside and explore on your own, but they have guided tours every 20 minutes, so it’s not a long wait.

Address: 200 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115
Hours: 10AM-5PM daily
Cost: $6 for full ticket. Reduced $4 for seniors, children/youth, students with ID, military and any special needs assistants.

4. Bike along the Minuteman Bikeway during the Fall!

One morning, we set out to explore Lexington and any historical sites there. We started off in the Lexington Visitors Center (open 9-5 daily) and were able to get a map and lots of information about the area. Soon later, we came across some minuteman bikes, which were only a dollar per hour! Once we saw the beautiful scenery ahead of us, there was no doubt… we downloaded the bike app, got our bikes and started off on the bikeway. The vibrant colors of the leaves and the sound and just everything about it was breath taking. I don’t think these pictures do justice to how beautiful it actually was.

5. EAT Seafood

Seafood is the must try food in Boston because of it’s easy access to the fresh seafood at any time of the year. After a morning of biking, we stopped for a quick lunch at Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant on Massachusetts Ave in Lexington, which also houses many other wonderful stores and restaurants. It was a little chilly, so we had their clam chowder, which was delicious!

Later that evening, we walked through Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which consists of many stores and restaurants along with souvenir shops and a variety of food booths. They have many seafood, American and even Asian options to choose from. After trying a few booths, we also had several desserts to make up for all that hard biking we did earlier that day;)

From Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant
From a stand in the Marketplace

6. Museum of Science

The museum of Science in Cambridge is a large museum with 3 floors cut off into different sections, some of which included pre-historic era, Science and space. We bought tickets for the exhibitions and a 4D experience and it was definitely worth it. Along with 4D films, they also have IMAX informational films, a butterfly garden and planetarium shows. We ended up spending about 3-4 hours here and doing all the small fun activities they offered, including heat and light experiments, sound/motion games and questionnaires on birds and animals.

Address: 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114
Cost: Exhibition Halls are $28, additional for other sections.
Hours: 9AM-5PM daily, 9AM-9PM on Fridays. You can check on their website for any additional section closings on their official website.

7. Fenway Park
Even though we didn’t get to make a stop here, the Fenway Baseball Park is one of the most visited sites in Boston. Home to the Boston Red Sox and as one of the oldest ballparks in the MLB, its highly recommended for both baseball fans. Tours start around $20 to see the baseball stadium and tickets to games vary from $20 to $500, depending on the game and seating area.

Address: 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215

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