BoomerGirl Diary

So I did a column on Lincoln, Neb., and gave it to a friend who’d wanted a getaway with her grandkids.

“I wrote this just for you,” I told her.

“Oh,” she said, reading it over. “This sounds pretty good. But my sister in Winfield called and so we may go that direction.…”

Norman. Whenever I hear the name I think of that ridiculous song from…. When? The '70s? “Norman…oooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh … Norman… Norman’s in luv.”

Somehow I don’t think it was a song the city appreciated.

I never thought about Norman, Okla., as a possible destination. It’s a few exits off I-35 en route to Texas. Until I stopped. And stayed for a few days. Now I can’t pass without nostalgia and wishing I had some time for a visit.

Norman has about the best Museum of Natural History in the Midwest. With over 50,000 ft. of exhibit space, huge dinosaurs (fighting dinosaurs so lifelike I felt a primitive flight reflex kicking in), ecosystems so cool you forget you might be learning something, and the culture of the native tribes that were the true caretakers of the great plains. www.snomnh.ou.edu

There is also a delightful little zoo, quite different from the usual zoo. Little River Zoo is secluded in the woods next to Lake Thunderbird State Park. You walk wood-chip trails past cages, and have personal guides tell you about the animals. Most are rescued, and touching is allowed (for some.) For kids, the chance to hold a monkey is way cooler than seeing one through bars. Out in the country so make sure you have directions and a cell in case you get turned around. www.littleriverzoo.com.

For some down time on the lake, try Lake Thunderbird State Park, which has 86 miles of shoreline, some great beaches, fishing, boating, water sports, horseback riding, nature trails and hike-and-bike. The park office is at (405) 360-3572. Have lunch or dinner at Clear Bay Café, right on the water, with three decks and two patios, open Wednesday through Friday evenings and days and evening on weekends, but only from mid-May to mid-Sept. It rocks, and since musicians often just show up and jam, you can often find free music.

For some culture, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is truly exceptional, especially after the massive expansion in ’05. Their French Impressionist collection takes up an entire large wing, and they also feature over 400 major works from the Taos Colony, plus Native American art. www.ou.edu/fjjma.

There are plenty of good restaurants, in the Campus Corner area by O.U., downtown, and anywhere else. With kids, I think breakfast at Ozzie’s Diner at the Max Westheimer Airport is fun. Watch small planes take off and land, and have a made-to-order-all-you-can-eat breakfast (no, not a buffet, what you want, when you want it.) Last time I checked it was still under $5!