[mackinac81]

Hey guys,

I'm planning to visit relatives in Tulsa/Bartlesville in April, but I'd like to see more of Oklahoma too. I have a week of vacation to use, and would like to know the following.

1. What is there to do and see in Oklahoma City?
2. Where is the best place in the state to see the open spaces, hills and plains?
3. Is there anything to see in the Panhandle? I've always been intrigued by it, but is it too far from Tulsa to be worth the trip?
4. Are there any good state/national parks (read: scenic) with campgrounds you'd recommend? Here in Michigan we have a lot.
5. Any good museums or points of interest in OK worth checking out? I'm a big history buff, so anything along those lines would be sweet.

Any advice on this or other stuff would be more than welcome...

Thanks!
Mackinac

[linicx]

I believe you will like Grove, OK. It is about 120 miles ENE or Tulsa near the MO/KS/AR border. It is in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains on Grand Lake in what was once northern Cherokee Teritory, The oldest Catholic Church is not longer catholic, but it does have non-denominational services on weekends in the summer. It was built by Chief Splitlog for his wife.. The first time she was in the church was when her casket was carried through the doorway. Full-blood Cherokee Stand Wattie was the last CSA General to surrender. He is buried near Grove. This is a little of the history.

Grove has an authentic Japanese Garden and the wortd's largest antique museuem - which is a recreated turn of the century town built on the shores of the lake. It even has the jail, the dentist office, the church and buildings filled with antiques. It is filled with history. .

You can see water, flatland, and beaututul forested bluffs iin and around Grove. If the Cherokee Queens are running you can take a cruise on the lake. Or you can hire a fishing guild. In the fall the white pelicans come to feed on shad and stay about 6 weeks. A really good guilde can take uo close enough to touch one.

TomCat Corner always has fresh smoked BBQ that you can buy by the sandwich or by the pound. Braum's has better hamburgers than McDonald's and the ice cream is very good. There is a Chinese Buffet that isn't too bad. My favorite place is the old Drake's on Main Street on weekends. The breakfast buffet is small but it is delicious. Andit is alwys busy.

Bernice Honey Creek State Park is awesome. Launch a boat, RV and camping - primitive or electic, pump out station, showers, phone, walking trails, picnin shelters, and it is on the shores of Grand Lake. The coons like it too; they are little theives.

If you like natural beauty, open space, water and history, you can find it n Grover. And you can also find a casino and a whole lot more. If you are a sailor the only launch is at Grand Lake Saling Club, a member only group. But, you can usally persuade one of the board to allow you to launch and park the trailer. They are a very nice group of folks who are usually very hospitable to traveling day or overnight sailors. The lake give sailors plenty of challenge, as does the 200 Bass fishing tournaments every year.

The south end of the lake down by Disney has the World's largest multiple-arch dam in the world.
It is something else to see when they open the 'gates" to lowr thelake level..

I lived in Grove for years and never got tired of the people or the place. The new library is awesome. It has a very nice genealogy section.

If you come in April you must take a side trip to Honor Park at Muskogee because the entire park celebrates the Azelea Festiva;. It is filled with the beautiful little bloomers. The Five Tribes museum is near the entrance of the park, too. Talequah is the Cherokee tribal headquarters. The drive to Talequah along the Illinois River is beautiful and makes the trip worthwhile.

I've driven 1-40 through OKC to Texas many times. It is flat, boring, red clay after you leave OKC. I like to stay at the Best Wesern in Shamrock Texas which is on the western OK border. I also like the Ranc House Motel at Sweetwater, Texas too. It's were T. Boone Pickens is erecting 4,000 windmills.

I hope this is enough information to pique your curiousity. Grove is worth the trip.

[mackinac81]

Originally posted by linicx
I believe you will like Grove, OK. It is about 120 miles ENE or Tulsa near the MO/KS/AR border. It is in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains on Grand Lake in what was once northern Cherokee Teritory, The oldest Catholic Church is not longer catholic, but it does have non-denominational services on weekends in the summer. It was built by Chief Splitlog for his wife.. The first time she was in the church was when her casket was carried through the doorway. Full-blood Cherokee Stand Wattie was the last CSA General to surrender. He is buried near Grove. This is a little of the history.

Grove has an authentic Japanese Garden and the wortd's largest antique museuem - which is a recreated turn of the century town built on the shores of the lake. It even has the jail, the dentist office, the church and buildings filled with antiques. It is filled with history. .

You can see water, flatland, and beaututul forested bluffs iin and around Grove. If the Cherokee Queens are running you can take a cruise on the lake. Or you can hire a fishing guild. In the fall the white pelicans come to feed on shad and stay about 6 weeks. A really good guilde can take uo close enough to touch one.

TomCat Corner always has fresh smoked BBQ that you can buy by the sandwich or by the pound. Braum's has better hamburgers than McDonald's and the ice cream is very good. There is a Chinese Buffet that isn't too bad. My favorite place is the old Drake's on Main Street on weekends. The breakfast buffet is small but it is delicious. Andit is alwys busy.

Bernice Honey Creek State Park is awesome. Launch a boat, RV and camping - primitive or electic, pump out station, showers, phone, walking trails, picnin shelters, and it is on the shores of Grand Lake. The coons like it too; they are little theives.

If you like natural beauty, open space, water and history, you can find it n Grover. And you can also find a casino and a whole lot more. If you are a sailor the only launch is at Grand Lake Saling Club, a member only group. But, you can usally persuade one of the board to allow you to launch and park the trailer. They are a very nice group of folks who are usually very hospitable to traveling day or overnight sailors. The lake give sailors plenty of challenge, as does the 200 Bass fishing tournaments every year.

The south end of the lake down by Disney has the World's largest multiple-arch dam in the world.
It is something else to see when they open the 'gates" to lowr thelake level..

I lived in Grove for years and never got tired of the people or the place. The new library is awesome. It has a very nice genealogy section.

If you come in April you must take a side trip to Honor Park at Muskogee because the entire park celebrates the Azelea Festiva;. It is filled with the beautiful little bloomers. The Five Tribes museum is near the entrance of the park, too. Talequah is the Cherokee tribal headquarters. The drive to Talequah along the Illinois River is beautiful and makes the trip worthwhile.

I've driven 1-40 through OKC to Texas many times. It is flat, boring, red clay after you leave OKC. I like to stay at the Best Wesern in Shamrock Texas which is on the western OK border. I also like the Ranc House Motel at Sweetwater, Texas too. It's were T. Boone Pickens is erecting 4,000 windmills.

I hope this is enough information to pique your curiousity. Grove is worth the trip.

yeah my curiosity is piqued...thanks linicx! I'll keep this stuff in mind.

Another thing: I learned there's a Will Rogers museum in Claremore, and a Pioneer woman museum in Ponca City. Has anyone been to these? Are they worth seeing? Also are there historic points of interest worth seeing? And do people camp in Oklahoma? It's a big thing here in the upper midwest. Is it safe with rattlesnakes, tarantulas and such?

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

yeah my curiosity is piqued...thanks linicx! I'll keep this stuff in mind.

Another thing: I learned there's a Will Rogers museum in Claremore, and a Pioneer woman museum in Ponca City. Has anyone been to these? Are they worth seeing? Also are there historic points of interest worth seeing? And do people camp in Oklahoma? It's a big thing here in the upper midwest. Is it safe with rattlesnakes, tarantulas and such?

I've never heard of any rattlesnakes or tarantulas complaining about not feeling safe.

[HeatherDawn]

Camp away. You might get stormed on in April, though. Unless this drought holds on til then (hope not!).

[Goodpasture]

Claremore has the Will Rogers Museum, which is great, They also have the J M Davis Gun Museum.....the largest gun museum in the world. The pioneer woman museum will take about two hours to go through. Also, don't forget to go through the Capital Building.....it is beautiful and has a lot of art. Speaking of art, Philbrook in Tulsa will be gorgeous in April, and Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa is one of the premier western art museums in the world. The Price Tower in Bartlesville is the only high rise office building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The city of Tahlequah has lots of Cherokee buildings including the original Supreme Court and legislature buildings. And seeing street signs written in Cherokee is kid of nice.....and if you go to Tahlequah, you may want to raft, canoe, or Kayak the Illinois River. South west of Bartlesville is Woolaroc, originally a ranch owned by Phillips of Phillips 66 (actually Philbrook was one of the Phillips family mansions), well worth visiting. If you are going west, Roman Nose State Park is worth the trip. Of course you can go down to Anadarko area and visit Geronimo's and Quannah Parker's resting places.....And Ft Sill has their original jail cells. If you know the exact dates, you can google the BOK Center and see if there are any events coming up you might like. If you are going to be here the first weekend of April the worlds largest gun show is going to be at the QT Expo center in Tulsa. 10 acres indoors of nothing but guns. The Cowboy Hall of Fame in OKC is pretty interesting as well.

Outside of that I can't think of a thing to do.

[malfunction]

I will make a vouch for Claremore and the Will Rogers museum. That's one of the most fantastic arrays of exhibits you'll ever see. If you get a chance, stop by the Hammon House restaurant there in town. Their pie selections are absolutely huge.

[dekes1969]

campung would be solid in anyplace in the quachita national forest of se oklahoma here is the link for them USDA Forest Service - Ouachita National Forest enjoy !!!!

[Goodpasture]

this is all really nice (except maybe the camping in the quachita's.......can't be too careful in bigfoot country).....but he has a week.....what's he going to do the other 4 days?

[Ponderosa]

Try to take in a tornado. I was there last spring and the watches and warnings every other day scared me good. You'll need a map because they announce everything by town/county name and not being from there, you don't know if they are talking about your location or what. Never did see one though.