Things to do in Oklahoma

August 1, 2019 6:46 AM

What should I plan to do/see during my short stay in Oklahoma?

I have been dreaming of visiting Oklahoma since reading The Grapes of Wrath in high school, and I'm finally going to be making the trip! We're flying into Dallas the evening of Sept 4th, and flying out of Dallas late Sept 9th (we will be renting a car). I've already got us booked our first night in Ardmore, OK, and then from there--it's all open.

Right now I'm thinking of hitting up Tulsa (Woody Guthrie Center, maybe checking out the Gathering Place). Would like to visit the National Cowboy Museum in OKC. Also considering going to the Great Salt Plains to do some crystal digging.

But I don't want to just stay in the major cities/center of the state! I want to go west!

I'm thinking of doing a detour to Dodge City, KS, and then also hitting the Black Mesa Preserve, and doing a whole run of the panhandle. I like open space, want to see the plains, ghost towns, obsolescence, bizarre roadside attractions (I use and love the Roadside America app, but if you have recommendations for others, I'll take them). I enjoy Dust Bowl history, and nature, and we like music-related things. If there are any paranormal sites around, that would be a bonus.

Most of our trips are centered around driving, so we're ready for this. Do you have any recommendations or suggestions?

Thank you!

posted by dearwassily to Travel & Transportation (16 answers total)

The tall grass prairie preserve is remarkable. Largest unbroken swath of sod in North America. (Never been plowed, so it’s how the ground was before farming took over. A different kind of earth.). Several hundred bison roam this preserve. When weather rolls in, it’s a primal place.
posted by Doc_Sock at 6:57 AM on August 1, 2019

I asked a similar question awhile ago with some good answers. Our favorites ended up being: the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Adventure Place, the Golden Driller, and Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park. Rock City Park, KS might be too far out of your way but it's great fun to scramble around on. Downtown Tulsa is lovely, with lots of art deco architecture PLUS the Center of the Universe!
posted by LeeLanded at 7:23 AM on August 1, 2019

I meant the Gathering Place, it's great! Also, out of your way again, but the Precious Moments Chapel totally lived up to the hype, it was one of the strangest places I've ever been in a lifetime of seeking out strange places.
posted by LeeLanded at 7:33 AM on August 1, 2019

When doing historical tourism in OK, please think about achieving a balance of places that, if not First Nations owned and operated, are respectful of and truthful about the history and culture -- which unfortunately a lot of tourism sites in OK are not. As this site points out, Oklahoma has been home to 67 Native American tribes and has some remarkable history. (I'm sure there are better sources but you get my point!)
posted by DarlingBri at 7:42 AM on August 1, 2019

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is great, even just for their Dale Chihuly collection. And the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is worth seeing. And the Museum of Osteology is really fun and interesting.
posted by neushoorn at 7:46 AM on August 1, 2019

It's the opposite of wide open spaces, but I can't not suggest a detour to the Ozarks. I'm sure there are lots of pretty places to hike in Eastern Oklahoma, but Natural Falls State Park is one I really enjoyed.

And yes, if you're in this part of the state, keep in mind you're on the land of the Cherokee Nation. Tahlequah houses a heritage center, museum, etc.
posted by toastedcheese at 8:34 AM on August 1, 2019

Crystal digging is a lot of fun! One thing I learned when I was there: dig in the depressions left from earlier diggers, you’ll find more around the edges. The drive there will get you through many open spaces, it’s really a beautiful country.

If you are in OKC the Museum of Osteology was a favorite of mine, so many cool skulls!
posted by lepus at 8:42 AM on August 1, 2019

OK is very proud of their route 66 history.
posted by brujita at 8:52 AM on August 1, 2019

I had an amazing time in Oklahoma City and surrounding area. One thing I can recommend, which had a real authentic-West feel, was going to the National Stockyards to see livestock auctions. The public can attend, and it is fairly amazing. You can walk on catwalks above the livestock pens to view cattle, goats, sheep, etc., and then sit in the auction house while ranchers bid on lots of live animals that are brought in group by group. It's fascinating and a glimpse of the food system that you just don't get too many places.

It's also near the Cattlemen's Cafe, which had great atmosphere and delicious food.
posted by Miko at 9:29 AM on August 1, 2019

Guthrie, 2 towns north of Oklahoma City on I-35, was the territorial and first state capital and maintains a historical downtown.

I’ve never been to Sequoyah’s cabin in Sallisaw (I-40 in eastern OK). Sequoyah brought writing to the Cherokee in the early 1800’s, via a syllabary he invented. (He did this before he moved to Oklahoma to that cabin, but still.) The Cherokee Nation bought the site from the Oklahoma Historical Society a couple of years ago.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 9:42 AM on August 1, 2019

Second the Gathering Place in Tulsa.

Also, especially if you're into natural beauty, the Ouachita Mountains (Broken Bow/Kiamichi) area in the southeast corner and the Arbuckle Mountains (Sulphur/Davis) area in the south central part of the state have the mountains and, IMO, most beautiful scenery.
posted by cross_impact at 9:54 AM on August 1, 2019

black mesa and dodge city should be saved for another trip. Black mesa is over 200 miles from me and I am in the western part of the state and i am 300 miles from dallas. definitely would quench your thirst for wide open spaces but really not alot out there to see for the time it would cost you to go there. The tallgrass prairie mentioned above is closer to tulsa.

Definitely the National Memorial and i love the Cowboy hall of fame (or western heritage or national cowboy museum, whatever they call it these days) and the stockyards.

if you want to go west, head south after your visit to the great salt plains. Stop in Clinton at the Mowhawk Lodge and the Route 66 museum. Then go on south the the Wichita Mountains and stay the night at Medicine Park and visit the refuge It would be an easy drive down to dallas for your flight from there.
posted by domino at 10:00 AM on August 1, 2019

Confirming the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, where last year they added a dust bowl virtual reality experience. Tulsa's Gathering Place is awesome if you have kids along.
posted by Snerd at 11:30 AM on August 1, 2019

You said you liked music-related things, so I'm going to suggest the Banjo Museum in OKC. More banjos than you can handle.
posted by queensissy at 11:31 AM on August 1, 2019

I love Turner Falls, about 30 miles north of Ardmore on I35. The nearby Chickasaw National Recreation Area is also pleasant, and it includes the hot springs that made up what was at one time the smallest national park, Platt National Park. If you've never heard of it I'm not surprised — It was pretty obscure even before it got absorbed by the CNRA in 1972.
posted by ubiquity at 12:14 PM on August 1, 2019

Not to far north from Ardmore, in Sulphur, is the the Chickasaw Cultural Center which is nice. If you head into Sulphur proper, near the entrance to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, there is the Vendome Well and Flower Park where you can drink some of the natural mineral water that was believed to have healing properties and gave the town of Sulphur its name.
posted by Quonab at 12:23 PM on August 1, 2019