'''Oklahoma''' [http://www.travelok.com/] is a state in the Great Plains region of the United States of America. Oklahoma celebrates their centennial of statehood in 2007. [http://www.oklahomacentennial.com] Oklahoma became a state on November 16th, 1907.
Regions
Frontier Country
*Greater Oklahoma City
Great Plains Country
Green Country
Kiamichi Country
Lake and Trail Country
Red Carpet Country
Cities
Oklahoma City, State capital
Broken Arrow
Edmond an affluent suburb just north of Oklahoma City
Lawton Located adjacent to historic Fort Sill and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Moore a rapidly growing suburb just south of Oklahoma City
Norman Home of the University of Oklahoma
Shawnee Birthplace of Brad Pitt.
Stillwater Home of Oklahoma State University
Tulsa
Other destinations
'''Great Salt Plains State Park''' Northwest of Enid and near Jet [http://GreatSaltPlains.com/] Dig for Selenite crystals.
'''The Oklahoma Space Port''' at Burns Flat [http://www.okspaceport.state.ok.us/]
Understand
Oklahoma has a rich Native American past. In the 1830's Oklahoma was the end of '''The Trail of Tears''' [http://www.nps.gov/trte/] and over 16,000 Cherokee Indian people were forced to move from their eastern homes by the United States government and were relocated to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. In addition the '''Five Civilized Tribes''' were relocated from the southeastern United States. Oklahoma's name is taken from two Choctaw words. ''"okla"'' means people and ''"humma"'' meaning red, so Oklahoma literally means ''"red people"''. Thirty nine tribes and Indian nations have their headquarters in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has a recent pioneer past. There are people alive today in Oklahoma that remember it as a frontier. Oklahoma is most known to the outside world as the site of the tragic Oklahoma City Bombing. The cost of living is among the lowest in the US and such includes the cost of tourist related activities. Lodging, rental cars, fuel, and restaurants are lower in cost than nearly anywhere else in the US.
Talk
The Coastal Southern drawl is rare. The South Midlands accent is more common. This accent ranges from Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and into Texas. Cherokee is common in Tahlequah but English is dominant even there. The Indian tribes are completely integrated in Oklahoma and Indian languages are seldom heard outside Indian events. It is also very common to hear a "twangy" accent in most parts of the state. It sounds very similar to a Texas accent, but with a flair. A trained ear can distinguish between the Texas and Oklahoma accents. There is also a difference in accent between inhabitants of the larger cities and those of the smaller towns and rural areas.
Get in
Will Rogers World Airport located in Oklahoma City and Tulsa International Airport in Tulsa are the two major state airports for domestic and international air travel. Other minor airports with limited domestic transport are located in Lawton and (sometimes) Ponca City.
Get around
The major interstates of Oklahoma include:
Interstate 35 connecting Wichita, Kansas and Dallas, Texas via Oklahoma City.
Interstate 40 connecting Fort Smith, Arkansas and Amarillo, Texas, also via Oklahoma City.
Interstate 44 connecting Joplin, Missouri and Wichita Falls, Texas via Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
Also:
Historic US Route 66 closely parallel to I-44 between the Kansas state line to Oklahoma City and I-40 from Oklahoma City to the Texas state line.
See
'''Route 66''' Oklahoma has more miles of original Route 66 road-bed left than any other state.
'''Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum''' in Oklahoma City. The memorial is both one of the most visible attractions in the city as well as the saddest, which has posed some problems for the city's tourism department. The outdoor symbolic memorial is free and open 24 hours a day, while the very well done '''Memorial Museum ''', right next door, can be visited for a small fee.
'''Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge''' in Indiahoma. More than 50 mammal, 240 bird, 64 reptile and amphibian, 36 fish, and 806 plant species thrive on this important refuge.
The architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed several ... interesting ... buildings in Oklahoma and elsewhere. His tallest skyscraper is the Price Tower in Bartlesville.
'''National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum''' in Oklahoma City. Here you can walk down the streets of Prosperity Junction, a turn-of-the-century Western town. Visit The American Cowboy Gallery, the American Rodeo Gallery, and the Western Performers Gallery. Visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org for information on special exhibits.
'''Gilcrease Museum''' in Tulsa. The largest collection of Western art in the world.
'''Talimena Drive''' [http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/] from Talihina, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas. A 54 Mile scenic drive in Oklahoma and Arkansas along the ridge of the Ouachita Mountains and the Ouachita National Forest. The drive has frequent turnouts so you can enjoy the scenery. Convenient access to the drive near the mid-point can be accessed from Poteau by taking Hwy 59 south.
'''Oral Roberts University''' in Tulsa is among the nation's largest collections of futuristic architecture.
'''Lake Eufaula''' The largest lake in Oklahoma 102,000 acres of water.
Do
Oklahoma is known as a great place to live and visit. There are a lot of things to do in Oklahoma and it has all kinds of terrain. You will find mountains, pine woods and lakes in the eastern third of the state, plains and grasslands with rolling hills in the center of the state and in the west and panhandle it has plains and approaches more of a desert area. There are all kinds of activities available from hunting, fishing, hiking, to gambling in one of the hundred or so casinos and bingo parlors, and metro activities in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City is also home of the '''Cowboy Hall of Fame'''.
Oklahoma Aquarium. 00 Aquarium Drive, Jenks. 918)296-3474. ww.okaquarium.org. Check out more than 200 exhibits featuring thousands of salt and fresh water marine species and also mammals. The aquarium also houses the Karl and Beverly White Fishing Tackle Museum, billed as "the largest and most comprehensive fishing tackle collection in the world!"
Gambling
'''Firelake Casino''' in Shawnee.
'''Remington Park Racing & Casino''' Oklahoma City. Horse racing and slots.
'''Blue Ribbon Downs''', in Sallisaw. Horse racing.
'''Ada Gaming Center''' in Ada. Bingo, off-track.
'''Ardmore Gaming Center''' in Ardmore.
'''Blue Star Gaming and Casino''' in Ponca City.
'''Cherokee Casino - Catoosa''' in Catoosa.
'''Cherokee Casino - Roland''' in Roland.
'''Cherokee Casino - Siloam''', 7300 West US Highway 412, West Siloam Springs, ''+1 (918)'' 422-6301.
'''Choctaw Casino - Broken Bow''' in Broken Bow
'''Choctaw Casino - Durant''' in Durant.
'''Choctaw Casino - Pocola''' in Pocola.
'''Comanche Nation Games''' in Lawton.
'''Creek Nation Casino - Muskogee''' in Muskogee.
'''Creek Nation Casino - Tulsa''' in Tulsa.
'''Gaming Center''' and '''Thunderbird Wild Wild West Casino''' in Norman.
'''Grand Lake Casino''' in Grove.
'''Riverwind Casino''' in Norman.
'''The Stables''' and '''Buffalo Run Casino''' in Miami.
'''Winstar Casinos''' in Thackerville.
Eat
'''The Meers Store & Restaurant''', OK Highway 115, 1 1/2 miles north of the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, Meers ''+1 (580)'' 429-8051. [http://www.meersstore.com/]. Famous for '''Meersburger''' - 7" diameter burgers made exclusively from Texas Longhorn beef, raised on the family's ranch. Voted the Best Burgers in Oklahoma. A must see if you are near Lawton.
'''Buffalo Meat'''
Drink
Oklahoma Wineries
'''Nuyaka Creek Winery''' southeast of Bristow, OK Email: mailto:webmaster@nuyakacreek.com ''+1 (918)'' 756-8485 [http://www.nuyakacreek.com/]
'''Natura Winery''' Beggs, OK email: mailto:info@naturawinery.com ''+1 (918)'' 756-9463 [http://www.naturawinery.com/]
'''Tidal School Vineyards''' 54560 West Highway 16, Drumright, OK ''+1 866'' 258-1903 [http://www.tidalschool.com/]
'''Sparks Vineyard & Winery''' Route 1, Box 15, Sparks, OK Email: mailto:sparksvineyard@aol.com ''+1 (918)''866-2529 [http://www.sparksvineyard.com/main.html]
'''Summerside Vineyards''' 441251 E. Historic Route 66 Vinita, OK ''+1 888'' 508-9463 [http://www.summersidevineyards.com/]
'''Canadian River Winery''' 15 minutes south of Norman, Oklahoma on state highway 77 at Slaughterville Road. Email: mailto:CRWinery@aol.com ''+1 (405)'' 872-5565 [http://www.canadianriverwinery.com/] open Monday - Saturday 12:00 - 5:00 pm
'''Greenfield Vineyard & Winery''' Rt. 2 Box 877, Chandler, OK ''+1 (405)'' 258-0525 [http://www.greenfieldvineyard.com/]
'''Wakefield Country Inn & Winery''' [http://www.wakefieldcountryinn.com/ ] winery, spa and vineyard near Calvin, OK.
'''The Wine Village''' Located on SH66 Downtown Stroud, OK ''+1 (918)'' 987-0001 [http://www.thewinevillage.com/]
'''Sailing Horse Winery''' Located on in Eufaula, OK ''(918)'' 618-4824 [http://www.sailinghorse.com/]
'''Plain View Winery''' Located on in Lahoma, OK ''(580)'' 796-2902 [http://www.plainviewwinery.com/]
'''Plymouth Valley Cellars''' Located on in Fairview, OK ''(580)'' 227-3207 [http://www.PlymouthValleyCellars.com/]
'''StableRidge Vineyards''' Located at 2016 Route 66 West in Stroud, OK ''+1 (800)'' 359-3990 [http://www.stableridgevineyards.com/]
Sample some of Oklahoma's premier wines.
Wichita Mountains of Southwest Oklahoma
These mountains are older than the Rockies, now ancient and worn down, but beautiful and majestic. The Wichitas are the site of the oldest National Wildlife Refuge in the United States, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. It is the second most visited refuge in the national wildlife refuge system and attracts more than 2 million visitors annually. At the turn of the century, the American Buffalo was nearly extinct. President Theodore Roosevelt became concerned. Through the efforts of the American Bison Society and the New York Zoological Society, an offer was made to donate 15 bison to the Wichita National Forest and Game Preserve. Congress set aside $15,000 for this purpose, and on October 11, 1907, 15 of the finest buffalo from the New York Zoological Park were shipped by rail to Oklahoma. Seven days later, these six bulls and nine cows had safely returned to the plains and mountains. Today, The current bison herd is maintained at approximately 650 animals. Along with bison, there many other species of wildlife - more than 50 mammal (including elk and deer), 240 bird, 64 reptile and amphibian, 36 fish, and 806 plant species thrive on this important refuge. The Wichitas attract rock climbers from the entire region, particularly Texas because of it's amazing granite peaks and faces. Mt. Scott has a paved road all the way to the top, and provides a great view of southwest Oklahoma. Also in the area you can catch America's longest running passion play each Easter weekend at the Holy City of the Wichitas, hike the Charon's Garden Wilderness Area, camp alongside beautiful lakes, and be sure to try the famous Meersburger at the Meers Store north of the Refuge. The small historic town of Medicine Park is located at the main entry to the wildlife refuge on State Highway 49. It is widely known as "America's Cobblestone Community" and was Oklahoma's first planned tourism resort, founded July 4th, 1908. Today, the community is experiencing a major revitalization and attracts thousands to visit it's quaint shops, dine in restaurants, taverns, winery and stay in it's bed & breakfast inns and numerous cottages. The area of the Wichita Mountains has recently been designated as The Wichita Mountains National Scenic Byway. For more information on the area check out The Wichita Mountains Cobblestone Gazette E-Magazine at http://www.cobbelstonegazette.com
Stay safe
Oklahoma is in ''"Tornado Alley"''. Check the Tornado safety page if you are visiting Oklahoma. Oklahoma possesses state-of-the-art radar and warning systems for tracking severe weather. It is, arguably, the best system in the country. A traveler can readily obtain up-to-date weather information via television, radio, or the Internet. Being vigilant of Oklahoma weather is particularly important during the spring storm season.
Crime is not a big problem in Oklahoma. It is safe to walk in the evenings in almost all Oklahoma cities. Some care should be taken in the major cities of Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, and Lawton due to a higher crime rate in some areas of these cities. There are many areas of Oklahoma City that are not well lit at night. Travelers should exercise common sense in walking in well lit areas, staying on busy streets, removing valuables from vehicles, and locking vehicles.
Most Oklahomans will readily help anyone in need regardless of whether they are known to them or a stranger. There is very little "ice" among people in Oklahoma. A traveler in need of assistance should expect a helpful and friendly attitude.
Travelers in need of assistance on the highway may contact the Oklahoma Highway Patrol by dialing *55 on their cellphones
Get out
Ozarks visit the Ozark hill county of Southwest Missouri and Northern Arkansas.