Typically missed by vacationers and overshadowed by neighboring states like Texas and New Mexico, Oklahoma is an underrated trip vacation spot in america. It’s a state teeming with historical past from its Native American roots and powerful cowboy tradition, and it’s blessed with scenic vistas and unparalleled views of the South Central area. From gazing on the majestic Wichita Mountains to strolling by historic downtowns, uncover the attraction of The Sooner State by 12 of its most ideally suited cities. These small cities are thought-about comparatively secure and much from overcrowded, providing the right locations to retreat for an extended weekend trip in 2024.

Guthrie

As Oklahoma’s former state capital, Guthrie is a cornucopia of Oklahoma’s historical past and points of interest, beginning with its historic downtown. The town has been engaged on making it the most important Historic Preservation District within the nation, which guests can expertise by its First Capital Trolley Tour, Guthrie Ghost Stroll, and a go to to Guthrie’s first drugstore.

Whereas in Guthrie, guests may also have customized cowboy boots made and dine like a cowboy at Stables Cafe. With tons of themed designs and a beautiful ambiance, it’s a good spot to spend time with household and buddies. For some extra enjoyable, one can go to throughout April for the town’s birthday celebration through the ‘89er Days Pageant. Lodging is out there close by on the mansion-like Dominion Home Boutique Resort or the quainter mattress and breakfast expertise of Arcadian Getaways.

Sulphur

Named after the sulfur-rich waters surrounding the town, Sulphur is especially recognized by vacationers because the gateway to the Chickasaw Nationwide Recreation Space. This nature space is Oklahoma’s oldest nationwide park and a major location within the state for tenting, trekking, and even swimming—when you don’t thoughts the sulfur odor from the springs. For many who wish to tour the world just like the pioneers, do the Arbuckle Path Rides excursions on horseback, a novel expertise stuffed with adrenaline-pumping enjoyment.

After a day spent open air, enrich your thoughts with a tour of the Chickasaw Cultural Middle to study in regards to the Chickasaw individuals and their tradition. For lodging, campers can spend the weekend on the Level Campground, whereas those that need one thing fancy can pamper themselves at The Artesian Resort. Nonetheless, don’t go away Sulphur with no memento from Bromide Mountain Firm, recognized for its quirky and cute items.

Pawhuska

Pawhuska has not too long ago been within the highlight due to Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Meals Community’s Ree Drummond, each of which introduced fairly the eye to this little Oklahoma city. Nonetheless, there’s extra to Pawhuska than its time within the limelight, like its Osage Nation Museum, which particulars Native American heritage by attention-grabbing reveals. For a broader expertise, hop on the “Roaming The Osage Tour,” a 90-minute guided tour by Pawhuska’s pure and historic spots.

Alternatively, if you wish to expertise the city’s celeb standing, spend the evening at Ree Drummond’s The Pioneer Girl Boarding Home for a “cowboy luxurious” resort keep and store at Sister’s Attic, which had a brief look in Scorsese’s film. Different must-visit Pawhuska spots embody the Constantine Theater, Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum, and Wolf Creek Ranch, providing the whole lot from native historical past to out of doors actions.

Drugs Park

Drugs Park’s main attraction is its proximity to the Wichita Mountains, beautiful views of Drugs Creek and Lake Lawtonka, and its cobblestone resort fame. Begin your keep on the lovely cabins of BirdHouse Cottages, which overlooks Drugs Creek, earlier than driving to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge for a weekend of mountain climbing and wildlife watching.

Nonetheless, guests who wish to keep inside city can spend a day with the animals at Drugs Park Aquarium & Pure Sciences Middle. House to over 90 reveals with animals like electrical eels, bobcats, blue-eyed coyotes, and otters, it’s enjoyable for the entire household. You can even strive an escape room with buddies at Escape The Park and rejoice your escape with drinks at Park Tavern. Earlier than ending your Drugs Park trip, be sure to strive comfortable American meals at The Previous Plantation Restaurant, recognized for its genuine vibe.

El Reno

Whereas El Reno is thought for its navy historical past and restored genuine trolley that also runs round city, what makes it one of many ideally suited Oklahoma locations is its onion burgers. Everybody loves El Reno’s burgers a lot that the city created an annual pageant—the El Reno Most important Avenue Fried Onion Burger Day Pageant each Could—to rejoice this culinary invention.

Robert’s Grill and Johnnie’s Grill are the highest two spots for onion burgers, whereas Oklahoma’s Braum’s is the go-to dessert place. After chowing down on these El Reno delights, burn some energy at Lake El Reno earlier than retiring to Prairie Land Ranch’s rustic rental residence. For those who’d relatively scare these burger energy away, go to El Reno round October for a spine-tingling Haunted Trolley Tour.

Weatherford

Weatherford is the best Oklahoma getaway for historical past and science lovers due to its huge American historical past and area museums. The Oklahoma Heartland of America Museum alone homes three themed buildings (a diner, a schoolhouse, and a blacksmith’s store) that element america’ evolution as a nation through the years. You’ll see artifacts from Native People, reveals in regards to the Nice Despair, previous telephone cubicles, and even the unique Route 66 diner.

In the meantime, the Stafford Air and House Museum has round 63,000 sq ft of shows exhibiting completely different plane, rocket ships, area meals, Apollo 11 artifacts, flight simulations, and even the precise stress swimsuit utilized by Normal Stafford for Apollo 10. Probably not into science and historical past? South of Weatherford additionally has Crowder Lake for outdoorsy people and JC Cowboys for individuals who wish to dance and dine. After all of the enjoyable, e book Finest Western Plus Weatherford for a cushty keep on the town.

Waynoka

Adventurers don’t need to journey far to expertise a desert paradise, as Oklahoma’s Waynoka is residence to the Little Sahara State Park. With 1,600 acres of sand dunes, this city is ideal for filth bike drifting, dune buggy using, and even tenting. Fanatics can lease off-road autos through Stewart Sandsports and ATV Leases and reserve the After Dune Delight rental residence to be close to the desert all through a weekend trip.

Apart from Waynoka’s mini desert, the city additionally has the historic Waynoka Air Rail Museum that reveals native locomotive historical past, in addition to the annual Cimarron River Stampede Rodeo. The latter is a three-day occasion each August crammed with bull using, barrel racing, and bareback using achieved by rodeo professionals. Drop by McGill’s Cowhand Chuckwagon Cafe for its “cowboy sundae” to rejoice the event.

Sapulpa

Fondly referred to as the “Coronary heart of Historic Route 66”, Sapulpa is a automobile fanatic haven for its Route 66 historical past, automobile reveals, and even car-themed points of interest. Start your vehicle-focused Sapulpa trip by reserving the weekend at Tee Pee Drive-In’s Spartan trailers and luxuriate in an evening below the celebs with its Nineteen Fifties-style drive-in theater.

To relive the glory days of America’s historic freeway, drive to the Route 66 Auto Museum and luxuriate in enjoyable points of interest like its array of classic automobiles and the world’s tallest fuel pump. Feeling peckish? Zoom to Sapulpa’s Sonic for a traditional style of drive-in meals, or unwind on the saloon-style eatery of Crossroads Cookery. Cap off your Sapulpa trip with some Route 66 memorabilia at Gasoline Alley Classics. The shop’s trinkets will add some pizzazz to your storage.

Altus

For traditional small-town Oklahoman attraction, look no additional than Altus, residence of the Nice Plains Stampede Rodeo and Farm Fest Chili Cook dinner-Off. The annual rodeo occasion occurs each August and showcases the city’s professional cowboys as they journey, wrestle, and cord majestic steeds in entrance of an adoring Altus crowd. In the meantime, the cook-off celebrates the city’s agricultural heritage in one of the best ways potential: barbecue and chili-making contests.

Altus was based within the Nineteenth century by pioneers who initially earned their maintain by promoting buttermilk. The Museum of the Western Prairie recounts the city’s heritage by its 35,000 pioneer artifacts, an illustration of its working windmill, and a tour of its early Nineteenth-century ranch home. Whereas staying on the town, you may camp at Altus Metropolis Reservoir to get lakeside views and water actions or e book a couple of nights through Vacation Inn Categorical or Hampton Inn and Suites for contemporary lodging.

Stillwater

Nestled between Oklahoma’s two largest cities—Oklahoma Metropolis and Tulsa—Stillwater is a bustling faculty city recognized for its pleasant group and museums. As the house of Oklahoma State College (OSU), the city invitations vacationers to study a factor or two by its museums and college excursions.

The Stillwater Historical past Museum on the Sheerar focuses on Stillwater’s origins, whereas the Heritage Corridor Sports activities Museum and the Nationwide Wrestling Corridor of Fame and Museum cater to sports activities followers. Into vintage tractors? The Pfeiffer Museum is ideal for that area of interest curiosity. Aside from historical past, the revolutionary college presents many actions, together with a stroll by its Botanical Backyard and exhibitions of pupil artworks by the Gardiner Gallery of Artwork. For an intimate keep throughout the college, the Atherton Resort is a wonderful lodging selection for experiencing OSU’s fashionable magnificence.

Jenks

Two issues make Jenks some of the ideally suited Oklahoma locations: the Oklahoma Aquarium and its assortment of vintage retailers. With 1000’s of aquatic creatures, over 100 marine shows, and one of many largest indoor ocean reveals in america, the Oklahoma Aquarium is a factor of magnificence. Lookup whenever you stroll by its underwater tunnel to see sharks swimming alongside you.

Wandering by its Most important Avenue is a collector’s dream, as Jenks’ downtown is lined with retailers and boutiques providing classic and vintage wares. You’ll discover heirloom furnishings at Attic Treasures, expertly curated classic decors at Miss McGillicutty’s Antiques, and vintage quilts and tablecloths from River Metropolis Buying and selling Publish. Make a classic expertise in Jenks even higher by staying on the Victorian Woman Mattress and Breakfast.

Tahlequah

With its wealthy Cherokee historical past, historic downtown, and water actions, Tahlequah has the whole lot you’ll need for an distinctive Oklahoma trip. A good way to start out your weekend getaway is to get acquainted with Tahlequah’s Native American heritage by the Cherokee Nationwide Historical past Museum. Hailed because the Capital of the Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah homes different Cherokee institutes just like the Cherokee Nationwide Supreme Court docket Museum and Cherokee Jail Museum.

After a day absorbing historical past, it’s good to unwind with a little bit of procuring through City Creek Mercantile and Briar Patch Market, Tahlequah’s very personal vintage shops downtown. Because the day ends, Vacation Inn Categorical Tahlequah or the Purdy Cabins a couple of miles outdoors of city are nice picks for non permanent abodes.

Ultimate Ideas On Oklahoma

Oklahoma takes its nationwide parks and museums critically, as proven by how its residents and native authorities deal with its picturesque landscapes and Native American heritage. Folks unfamiliar with this state’s historical past and wildlife typically get caught off-guard at how bountiful its vacationer points of interest are. These small cities additionally show that you simply don’t need to go to the larger cities to go to probably the most ideally suited Oklahoma locations. From annual rodeos and vintage retailers to school museums, mini deserts, and Hollywood film settings, Oklahoma’s tiny cities are brimming with points of interest ready for in-the-know vacationers to go to.