The 10 Best Retirement Activities in Oklahoma!
If you’re looking to spend your retirement days getting involved in hobbies and passions you didn’t have the time to do previously, Oklahoma is a wonderful place to do it. Reader’s Digest lists Oklahoma as a great place to retire. The median price for a home is under $100,000. The cost of living is 14 percent lower than the national average. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Check out these 10 awesome retirement activities in Oklahoma!
Take up golfing
In Oklahoma, you can find golf courses in every community. Most have senior discounts on weekdays. Oklahoma City public courses are excellent options for seniors on limited incomes. At Earlywine, Lake Hefner, and Trosper, the senior rate is just $15.75 on weekdays.
Oklahoma Senior Games
The Oklahoma Senior Games are designed for adults 50 and older to compete in an Olympic-style sports event. The games occur in the fall every year, but you’ll want to begin training much earlier. With 70 different events in 16 individual and team sports, there’s sure to be something that you enjoy.
Mentor young students
The Jenks school district partners with a local senior living center to have two classrooms of kindergarten and pre-K students receive elder mentors that attend the center. Many local churches and senior centers have similar partnerships. This relationship offers the children academic and social development skills. For seniors, it eliminates boredom and loneliness.
Become a member at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Founded in 1955, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a nonprofit organization and relies on the support of members and private funding. Located in Oklahoma City, it is one of the most popular museums in the state. Now that you have more time freed up, consider becoming a member. The museum is dedicated to preserving the diverse history of the fascinating American West. Visit the museum website to find out how you can join.
Birdwatching at Red Slough Wildlife Management Area
Oklahoma is home to some of the best birdwatching in the states, because it has so many different habitats, from wetlands, prairies, hardwoods and desert. One of the best destinations is the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area in McCurtain County. With more than 300 species in this site, you’re sure to find some birds you won’t see anywhere else.
Join LIFE’s Senior Center
Senior centers are a great place to stay active and enjoy a wide variety of activities when you retire. Most communities have a senior center that offers exercise, meals, programs and games. Tulsa’s LIFE Senior Center has two locations (East Side and Southminster). Available activities include yoga, tai chi, aquatics, creative writing, music fundamentals, luncheons, day trips, and more!
Volunteer through Oklahoma Senior Corps
The Oklahoma Senior Corps matches persons 55 and older with local programs that need volunteers. It also has a senior companion program, where volunteers over 60 are matched with an individual who is home-bound or has limited mobility. This is not personal care, but for friendship and connections.
Try your hand at Salt Creek Casino
At SaltCreek Casino, on Thursdays, senior citizens are eligible to earn $15 in bonus play and a free lunch special. Many other Oklahoma casinos have special deals for seniors. Norman, Oklahoma’s Riverwind Casino has a free breakfast buffet on Wednesdays for adults over 50 who qualify by playing the week before.
Become a member of the Oklahoma Historical Society
Always been a history buff? With a dedication to collect, preserve, and share, the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is a great way to get involved in the community. Now, you have the opportunity to join the historical society. The benefits of a basic membership include admission to OHS museums and sites, a one-year subscription to “the Chronicles of Oklahoma,” “Mistletoe Leaves,” and “OHS Extra!”, a right to vote for members on the OHS Board of Directors, and much more!
Visit the Myriad Botanical Gardens
The Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City make for a wonderful place to unwind and relax your mind. There are plenty of programs to get involved in at the gardens, too. Go on a walking tour, go to a tree sale and planting workshop, and more. You can also consider becoming a member which provides benefits such as free admission, discounts, and more. You can also volunteer with the Myriad Gardens Education Department where you can assist with tours and children’s education classes.
