Greetings from the Sooner State! I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Oklahoma and while I have traveled all over the world, I will tell you there are endless options right here in the heart of America. In this article, I will take you through the beautiful state of Oklahoma to show you my top five areas to visit.
#1: Route 66
Route 66 winds from Chicago to LA (I hope you are singing already) and runs completely through the state of Oklahoma with the most surviving miles of any U.S. state. It is also known as the Will Rogers highway, the Main Street of America or my personal favorite, the Mother Road.
From the Route 66 Museum, full of history in Clinton on the western side of the state, to the Rock Cafe in Stroud on the eastern side of the state, there is so much to see. The Rock Cafe was also the inspiration for Flo’s V8 Cafe in the Disney Pixar box office hit, “Cars” back in 2006 and you can find autographs and movie memorabilia here when you stop for a great bite to eat on your trip across the state.
Between these two destinations as you cross right through the center of the state on Route 66, be sure to visit Arcadia! Home to Pops, an iconic destination where you can choose from the largest selection of bottled soda (over 700 bottles) to enjoy with a meal or create your own six-pack to take home, and The Arcadia Round Barn, a historic landmark and tourist attraction. Both of these stops make for great photo ops. You can definitely get your kicks here in Oklahoma while traveling this stretch of the historic highway.
#2: Osage County
Yes, the entire county. This county alone hosts so many amazing activities. The Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve and The Tallgrass Prairie Reserve will take you back in time to the roots of Oklahoma as you observe the scenery and wildlife. You will not be disappointed if you include Pawhuska in your Osage tour, home of Ree Drummond.
You will want to stop at the Pioneer Woman Mercantile and you can even tour the Drummond Ranch Lodge where her Food Network show is filmed. Speaking of filming, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Martin Scorsese’s newest project starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, is also set to film in Pawhuska.
Just on the border of the county is Bartlesville, home to the Price Tower, Frank Lloyd Wright’s only realized high rise. Be sure to book a night here, enjoy drinks in the Copper Bar on one of the top floors, and definitely take the tour of the now hotel and arts center to absorb all of the history behind this amazing building.
Frank Phillips Home is another place to stop while you are in town and it is on the national historic register. Big things are happening in this small county alone.
#3: Tulsa
T-town as we natives call it, is also nicknamed the “Oil Capital of the World,” (make sure to stop for a photo op with the Golden Driller while you are here) and most commonly referred to as “Green Country.” Already the second-largest city in the state, it is growing at a rapid rate with so much to see and do, from historic sites that have been around since the early 20th century such as “Black Wall Street” in the historic Greenwood District to new and amazing places such as the multi-million dollar project the Gathering Place.
Tulsa offers a plethora of museums such as The Woody Guthrie Center which opened in 2013 and the Bob Dylan Center opening in 2021. Home to The Texas Playboys is the historic music venue Cain’s Ballroom which remains one of the best places to enjoy a concert. From the Blue Dome District to Cherry Street to the Riverwalk, do not pass up the opportunity to say you visited the “Center of the Universe” (located just north of downtown).
#4: Oklahoma City
The state capital located right in the heart of America is one capital full of so much history. OKC, as most call it, has been home to the NBA Thunder since 2008. While technically in the Great Plains region of the state, the center of the city itself is very urban with so much to offer.
At the top of the list is the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Here you can educate yourself and pay your respects to the victims of the 1995 terrorist attack.
Just a short walk south of downtown is the newest addition to the city, Scissortail Park, a 40-acre outdoor recreation space. There are so many museums to visit and the new OKC Streetcar makes it fun and convenient to see it all!
Be sure to take in a ride on the Bricktown canal too! Each tour guide has a little something new to offer and I highly recommend a day ride and a night ride. An all-day canal boat ticket is good for unlimited rides all day long, so why wouldn’t you experience it both ways?!
Stockyards City, founded in 1910, is sure to transport you back to the days of the Wild Wild West from shops to the most storied restaurant in Oklahoma City, Cattlemen’s, which is over 100 years old, and home to the Oklahoma Rodeo Opry with a fresh show every Saturday night. You might even catch the author of this article up on stage from time to time.
#5: Medicine Park/Wichita Mountains
Medicine Park was founded in 1908 as Oklahoma’s first resort town. The town is surrounded by beautiful mountains, plains, lakes, hiking trails and is filled with quaint cobblestone streets.
One of the top things to do here is visit the town’s swimming hole. It is located in the center of downtown on Bath Lake with beautiful waterfalls and features shallow and deep areas allowing you to sit, stand or swim. Most visitors prefer to spend their time floating while enjoying the scenery. In the winter, this is a popular place to fish for trout.
Part two of your visit here would be to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. On this prairie you will find bison, elk, longhorn cattle, white-tailed deer and of course, prairie dogs! Aside from hiking, you can find bicycle paths, fishing and campsites.
There are also 15 lakes in the Medicine Park area complete with boat ramps for enjoying a day on the water. Located nearby and definitely worth visiting is the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum in Lawton.
As you can see, Oklahoma has so much to offer and I highly encourage you to visit this wonderful state where everything is OK! Have you been to Oklahoma? Did I miss anything that should have been on this top 5 list? If so, comment below.
For more information or to book your next vacation to Oklahoma, please contact Susan Reid at susan@kingdomdestinations.com.
