Oklahoma – (Updated 2024)

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Oklahoma

Discover Native American culture, Western heritage, and Southern charm.

Oklahoma sits at a special crossroads due to its intriguing blend of Native American culture, Western history, and authentic Southern charm, in addition to its location almost in the centre of the United States. Oklahoma’s cultural mashup is authentically American, complete with powwows, rodeos, Western museums, country music, Southern comfort food, and Route 66 artefacts. Not to mention that it’s all bundled up in a nice package with 33 state parks, untamed mountains, a plethora of wildlife, and those renowned wide plains. Vibrant Tulsa and Oklahoma City provide country living a metropolitan feel, and the welcoming residents will make sure you enjoy yourself while you explore it all.

Neon glow of the Route 66 Museum in Clinton

American Indian Lineage and Western Lifestyle
Oklahoma, home to 39 tribes, has the highest concentration of Native Americans in the United States. Attend a powwow to learn about the rich heritage of the area, or visit the Red Earth Art Center, which is home to the popular Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival held every June, as well as the Chickasaw Cultural Center, First Americans Museum, Five Civilized Tribes Museum, and Standing Bear Monument. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan are two must-see locations for Western art and culture. They both have exhibits on pioneer history and cowboy culture. Additional options to experience a little bit of the country include staying at a real, operational cattle ranch, going to a rodeo, and finding live country music almost every night of the week in most towns.

The Automobile Alley district glowing at night in Oklahoma City

Route 66 Points of Interest
Route 66 is the most mysterious road in the United States, and Oklahoma is home to more of it than any other state. One such stretch of road is the final 2.7-meter-wide “ribbon road,” which was constructed in 1922. Some quirky roadside monuments are the Coleman Theatre, which dates back to the Vaudeville era, a gigantic round barn, a large milk bottle on a little structure, a big blue whale, a totem pole park, and the 23-meter-tall Golden Driller statue in Tulsa, which is so distinctive that it was designated as a state monument in 1979. Visit the Route 66 Interpretive Center, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, or the National Route 66 Museum to see the vast collections of Mother Road artifacts. When it’s time to dine, grab a burger and one of the 700 flavor-infused sodas at Pops 66 Soda Ranch.

A horse waits at its hitching post in Kenton

Big City Living
Although Oklahoma is mostly a rural state with wide-open spaces and small communities, it is not entirely rural. Explore Bricktown, an entertainment hub in Oklahoma City that was formerly a warehouse neighborhood and is now home to bars, clubs, shops, restaurants, the Paycom Center, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, and a water taxi tour that round the center of Bricktown. Explore family-friendly destinations like the Science Museum Oklahoma in the Adventure District and the Oklahoma City Zoo. Take a picture of the amazing Skydance Bridge, a pedestrian walkway topped by a 60-meter sculpture that resembles a star. Ask the residents for advice on their best barbecue, chicken-fried steak, and fried onion burgers. Oklahoma City also boasts a thriving culinary culture. The Joint at Hard Rock Casino, Cain’s Ballroom, and the BOK Center host frequent performances in Tulsa, the second-largest city in Oklahoma. Even in the city, outdoor enthusiasts can discover activities for their needs. Take a hike in Turkey Mountain Urban Park, go cycling in the Tulsa River Parks, or go fishing in the Arkansas River below the dam.