Great value Oklahoma vacations

roommates and has been able to go on adventures around the town of Stillwater.

explore.”

The start of the 2023 fall semester is approaching quickly, it’s time to soak up as much Vitamin D as possible before classes are back in session.

Whether you prefer staying indoors or exploring Oklahoma’s beautiful landscape every chance you get, there are multiple places to visit instate for a great value price.

Going on vacations around the world during the summertime is not always ideal for financial reasons, but some native Oklahoma students at OSU have found ways to create a fun vacation instate for a cheaper price.

Meg Clowers is a junior studying secondary education, originally from Edmond. With a heavy work schedule, she described this summer as busy, but still enjoyable and fun-filled. She has been able to spend more time with her

“My most common way I have been decompressing this summer is by being in nature and trying to reconnect with my hobbies,” Clowers said.

“I think a lot of people could benefit from picking up old hobbies that might have taken a back seat during the school year.”

There are a multitude of small in-the-house hobbies often forgotten about.

Something as simple as painting, coloring, and playing cards are easy and fun ways to engage your mind and enjoy a night with friends.

Paint supplies from the local Dollar General range from $8.50 - $4.50; coloring books and cards can be found for the same price or less.

“My favorite at-home vacation is to visit local businesses and trying to find new things around town,” Clowers said. “I am super into history, so I like to try to learn more about the history of my hometown. You could easily take the whole day just to

If you have an interest in history like Clowers, there are over 50 arts, history, culture and heritage attractions across Oklahoma for reasonable prices. There is a section on the Travel Oklahoma website to view museums, state parks and numerous specific attractions regarding your specific interest, listed here. Clowers reflected on the lake being her all-time favorite vacation spot in Oklahoma, joking that you get bonus points if you or someone you know owns a boat. Getting to come home and play board games with friends after a day full of tubing and sunbathing is an experience she has cherished for some time. There are more than 200 lakes across the state to enjoy.

“Lake McMurtry and Carl Blackwell are great locations because they are so close to Stillwater, that you really don’t even need to stay anywhere,” Clowers said. “You can drive out that morning and come back that night. There are some really beautiful spots around the lake, the convenience alone makes it my favorite spot of the summer.

Clowers also suggested Medicine Park, which is located north of Lawton.

Kelsie Wood is a junior criminal psychology major, and she describes summer as the most relaxing time for her.

She loves the warm weather and enjoys being in nature as much as possible so naturally, this Shawnee resident was able to suggest beautiful vacation spots in the state.

“There are several beautiful places in Oklahoma to get away to,” Wood said. “One of my favorites is Sulphur or Turner Falls. Turner Falls especially is beautiful with the waterfall they have. The best thing is that it is free, if you just wanna spend a day there, besides paying for your own gas and if you want to bring food to have a picnic. They also include camping areas if you want to make a quick, cheap, weekend getaway.”

While Wood always enjoys floating the river and hanging out at local bars, she has always found peace in relaxing at home with her dog, Oscar, and being able to decompress in her own space. Having time to herself and being able to rest mentally is important for Wood, and she suggests students take time to spend downtime alone before the semester begins.

“I’ve just taken more time to myself mentally because school is draining throughout the semesters,” Wood said. “Summer is always helpful for me to regather myself and come out of it stronger and ready for the next school semester. I feel like other students could benefit by not stressing about what’s ahead, like the upcoming semester. Just live in the moment and take time for yourself to rest.”

Oklahoma has over 300 attractions to explore, find your new favorite Oklahoma landmark before summer ends. Visit Travel Oklahoma to learn more about great value getaways.

With summer racing by, so is Mario and his friends in the latest update to “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe”.

July 12 saw the release of the latest addition to Nintendo’s smash hit “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” in the form of downloadable content. The “Booster Course Pass” has been getting gradual updates since March of 2022, with the latest addition coming in the form of Wave five. With eight new courses for players to enjoy, here is a look at how each raceway stacks up.

8. Sunset Wilds

As a remake of a Gameboy Advance course, the track design was bound to be a bit limited to begin with. However, the course is not a bad time, but it is a very simple one. The Shy Guys digging in the middle of the course as obstacles are a fun little visual treat, however the gimmick of the course slowly getting darker and darker, the sunset that gives the course its name, is not seen in the remake of Sunset Wilds. Fun, but not a whole lot to write home about.

7. LA Laps

“Mario Kart Tour”, the Mario Kart game made for mobile devices, has had quite a few tracks remade throughout the DLC. While they can be a nice change of pace compared to more traditional courses, many of them keep the basic theme of cities from around the world. This makes it hard for the courses to remain memorable, and LA Laps is no different. A fun time that has a handful of California themes to it, but overall, one that may not stick with players compared to other courses in the past.

6. Vancouver Velocity Another “Tour” track added in, this one adds a bit of ice physics and night aesthetics to shake up the basic formula that can be found in these types of tracks. Starting off with driving across a suspension bridge to slipping and sliding through a hockey arena, Vancouver Velocity throws in a chilly environment to a rather warm selection of courses.

5. Moonview Highway

From “Mario Kart Wii” fame comes the fast-paced Moonview Highway. While there have been quite a few city courses throughout all the Mario Kart games, Moonview Highway was one that greatly needed the HD treatment. It finally has its time in the sun, and it worked for the better. The cars are easier to maneuver around, yet are still satisfying to avoid, and the frequent tunnels and speed pads are a thrill seekers dream. Overall, a step up from the original that came before it.

4. Athens Dash

The best “Mario Kart Tour” track based on location alone. Most courses focus on the track going horizontal, but this course flips the script, going for a vertical approach. As shells are taking aim at rival foes, the course takes aim at ancient landmarks, guiding players through ancient Greece. Racers climb the steps of the Parthenon and zip through rustic colosseums, making for one of the more unique desert courses. While it may take a bit to get used to it, the climb of this course is a thrilling ride.

3. Daisy Cruiser

Nothing says summer like a sunny cruise ship setting sail, so it is no surprise that the “Mario Kart Double Dash!!” classic, Daisy Cruiser, was included in this wave. The course is as fun as ever, with goombas relaxing in inner tubes on the pool deck, dining hall tables churning with the movement of the ship and the timeless cannon jump out of the ship’s horn. Daisy Cruiser is just pure, summertime fun with that chaotic Mario Kart flare.

2. Koopa Cape Koopa Cape was one of the best courses to come from “Mario Kart Wii”, so it is only fitting that it would wind up as one of the best courses in wave five. Koopa Cape is essentially a drivable water slide, also known as a 12-yearold’s dream. Twist and turns with the rapid flow of the river along with the boost given from the underwater tunnel creates a course to come back to time and time again.

1. Squeaky Clean Sprint

There’s a reason Nintendo showed off Squeaky Clean Sprint before any other course in wave five. This original course oozes charm with each turn, taking drivers through an entire bathroom setup. All sorts of Super Mario easter eggs line the walls, as well as fun little nods to how a typical bathroom is set up. Small details make this course, like the toy fish swimming in the bathtub, cassette tapes making the walls of areas of the track and soap making the floor just a bit more slippery at the end of the race. It may be hard to believe, but this course made being flushed down a drain a crazy fun experience. Overall top to bottom, Squeaky Clean Sprint squeaks out the number one spot as the best course found in wave five of the “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass”.