The Citrus Peel

OK, I know you’re skeptical. How do I know? Because every time I tell someone I’m from Oklahoma, they look at me like I have five heads. We might not be as obscure as Ohio, but I find that just like the literary greats like Gertrude Stein and John Steinbeck, who thought of Oklahoma as a distant, rugged land for which to set their famous works, people today often think of Oklahoma as exotic – in a redneck, western sort of way. Still, it’s not the type of place you’d normally vacation to, that is, not unless you have a storage unit there you need to clean out (exactly the reason I took a trip there in the first place). But since it’s probably not the first place your thinking of planning a trip to, I’m here to convince you to do just that. So let me be your guide and tell you all that Oklahoma has to offer.

Abundant Natural Beauty

Oklahoma might not be your go to place when you think of breathtaking views, but she has her fair share of untouched beauty. One of the best parts about Oklahoma is how rural it is, and this means that many of her oak forests, prairies, and creeks are untouched by man and easily accessible.

Osage Hills State Park

Though I’m not originally from Osage County, my grandfather was born there, and I spent much of my time growing up there, enjoying the rolling hills covered in red oak forests and tall grass prairies. These are the foothills of the ancient Ozark mountains, and they are where I spent most of my vacation, reconnecting with nature in big sky country.

Northeastern Oklahoma, home to Tulsa and Bartlesville where I was staying, contains bountiful natural beauty. There are tons of state parks to be visited, but Osage Hills is a must see. Here you can see one of the many creeks that run through Osage County, gorgeous rock formations like the sandstone cliffs that border Sand Creek, and you can catch one of our brilliant sunsets lighting up the grasslands. Keep in mind that I visited during winter, which contains a beauty of its own, and it was very dry. I highly recommend catching the oak forests in spring when the Redbuds and Dogwoods are in bloom or early fall when the hills are lit up with fiery reds, oranges, and yellows. During these times, you might even be able to see the prairie aglow with Prairie Fire (Indian Paint Brushes) – my favorite wildflower.

The Tall Grass Prairie Preserve

The Great Plains once expanded from the Gulf of Mexico into Canada and were filled with herds of Bison, like the ones above. Now, only around 10-15% of the original Prairies and Savanna remain untouched urbanization. What is left is mostly located in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma, and if you have ever wanted to see what life would look like a few hundred years ago on the open plains, you can come to the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve. Here, Bison and deer roam free and unbothered by man. You can see for miles and hear nothing but the song of the wind, the screech of red-tailed hawks, and the grunting and grazing of these majestic beasts.

I would also note, you will see more red-tailed hawks that you have ever seen in your life, though they are less photogenic than the bison! I was almost totally alone on the preserve, save for one other couple who were enjoying the trails the preserve offers and some ranchers who used the gravel road to access the sprawling Barnard Ranch that butts up the preserve. It was pure peace, a place to truly feel your place in the universe. Here, I was just a creature blessed to be able to share space with the diverse array of life I witnessed. Several times, the experience felt surreal, witnessing the quiet expanse of the wild, and as one of the only one’s out there, it felt like sharing a secret with the land itself.

Celestial Bliss

Something I miss about Oklahoma every single day is her mind-boggling sunrises, sunsets, and vast, starry skies. They don’t call Oklahoma “Big Sky Country” for no reason. During the day, if you’re not in for one of our infamous thunderstorms, which make a music all their own and make brilliant, mountainous thunderheads, you’ll find wide blue skies, scattered with clouds like stretched cotton. I have an obsession with cloud formations, and if you do too, Oklahoma might be your paradise. During the morning and evening, due to the array of meteorological phenomena that we get, the clouds on the horizon are twice daily painted in blushing pinks, moody purples, and burning embers of red and orange. At night, the sky is scattered with a thousand diamonds. Being as rural as it is, if you’re out in the country – and not afraid of the pitch dark – you will witness dazzling night skies. Seriously. Nothing makes your problems feel smaller than realizing your place amongst a million stars.

Good Home Cookin’

If there is one thing Okies take seriously, it’s food. Something I’ve figure out since moving to Florida is that the food here…just isn’t as good. I can vouch with 100% certainty that you can roll into any ole bump-in-the-road town in Oklahoma and find world class home cookin’. From barbeque to chicken fried steak to the perfect cup of joe and the freshest ice cream, Oklahoma has got you covered. If you visit, you might want to bring your eatin’ pants.

Diner Food

It’s no surprise in a place that boasts a huge cattle ranching industry that Oklahoma offers some of the freshest beef around. My favorite way to enjoy it? Country Fried Steak. Brought to the US by German immigrants who were recreating Schnitzel, Country Fried Steak also known as Chicken Fried Steak is a sirloin steak beat thin, battered, deep fried, and served with white gravy over the top. While Texas claims this dish as theirs, just as Germany stole Schnitzel from Austria, we stole it from them. It’s my ultimate comfort food, and available at any diner in Oklahoma – of which we have plenty. I got this one from Boomerang Diner, a chain available in many Oklahoma small towns, and I absolutely devoured this.

Beyond Boomerang and Chicken Fried Steak, diners are plentiful in Oklahoma, and you know you’ve found a good one when the grandpas and ranch hands pour into the place before the sun has risen. Weeze’s Cafe in Bartlesville is one of those spots. Here, I had their perfect homemade biscuits and gravy, perfectly over easy eggs with Tabasco, and a polish sausage that sent my tastebuds to paradise. Everything was fresh, no doubt the polish sausage, a unique addition to a typical diner breakfast, was raised and butchered locally. And you just can’t beat the atmosphere of a waitress calling you “Honey” and the old men shootin’ the shit a few tables away.

Of course, I couldn’t make a post about food in Oklahoma and leave out the Pioneer Woman. The Mercantile in charming downtown Pawhuska serves some of the best breakfast around for a great price! Seriously, I’ve been dreaming about these pancakes with flavored butters for three years, and the sausage – which again has to be locally butchered – is bursting flavors of sage and porky goodness. I initially couldn’t decide between the biscuits and gravy and Edna Mae’s Pancakes – apparently a Drummond family recipe – so my sweet waiter offered to choose for me. He chose correctly, providing me with a complementary biscuit with butter and rhubarb preserves, Edna Maes amazing pancakes with three butters and syrups, and delicious sausage, eggs, and fried potatoes. Folks, you cannot beat this.

Coffee Spots

Either Florida is severely lacking in coffee shops or Oklahomans really love their coffee because all of the places I’ve been in Oklahoma are brimming with the coziest coffee shops around. I’m writing a separate post where I rank all of the coffee shops I visited on my trip, but here are the highlights in Oklahoma.

If you’re staying in Osage County, Outpost Coffee Co. in Bartlesville or the Mercantile in Pawhuska are both great choices.

If you’re in the Tulsa area you can’t miss Shades of Brown, Coffee House on Cherry Street (pictured above), Double Shot, or Fulton Street Coffee and Book Store.

Braum’s

There are many things I miss about home, but Braum’s might just top the list. Braum’s is a fast-food chain that offers ice cream and burgers, but all of the beef and dairy is provided by their farm in Tuttle, OK, ensuring you are getting the freshest meat and ice cream possible. They have a massive list of ice cream flavors to choose from – my favorite is Cappuccino Chunky Chocolate, and their burgers are better than any fast-food burger you’ll find. I prefer their junior burger with double meat, which I got with their perfect, crinkle cut fries, and a small mint-chocolate chip shake for, get this, $6.87. There’s a Braum’s in every town in Oklahoma, so stop in for some of the best ice cream you’ll get at a price you absolutely cannot believe. You can also tour their farm in Tuttle to check out their experimental ice cream flavors!

If You’re in Sooner Territory

I would be remiss if I did not mention this absolute gem in Norman, Oklahoma. Now, this is not unique to Oklahoma, but the Oklahoma City area does offer some amazing cuisine due to the variety of immigrants that live there. Magic Noodle is a small business that offers traditional Chinese cuisine. They specialize in these hand-pulled noodles that make my mouth water every time I think about them. The texture is bouncy and chewy, and they are flavored with the best chili oil you’ve ever had. The Xian Spicy Chili Oil Noodles offered me comfort through many semesters at OU, whose beautiful campus is down the street. If you’re in the Oklahoma City area, drive to Norman where you can see them preparing the noodles fresh. They also offer pan fried bao buns, soup dumplings, and scallion pancakes, all of which are absolutely spectacular.

After that I recommend checking out Gray Owl Coffee for one of their amazing deserts, coffees, and teas. I had a lemon scone (their scones are never dry!), a cardamom bun, and a French toast latte that was seriously life changing. The staff here is also excellent – the same people I remember from college still work there. It’s an employee-owned business with a cozy atmosphere, and I honestly haven’t found a coffee shop that tops it.

Culture

While it might not seem like it at first, Oklahoma offers a diverse array of cultural experiences and has a rich history. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to be in town during rodeo season, there is probably no better way to get to know the kind, yet rugged people who call Oklahoma home. The Will Rogers Rodeo grounds in Claremore, Oklahoma are where I grew up watching everything from bull riding to mutton busting, and they are also the place where the famous Will Rogers, who still holds the world record for trick roping, got his start.

If you don’t know who Will Rogers is, you should check out Claremore’s Will Rogers Museum or Will’s birthplace in Oologah. He was a pioneer of journalism, radio, and aviation, and he was friends with six U.S. President’s, including FDR, whose policies he helped advocate for. Will was proudly Cherokee and was also instrumental in helping to establish the Indian Hospital System. He was a huge celebrity during his time, acting in 42 films – silent and talkies – and had his own radio show where he was known for his witty takes on politics. His death in a plane crash in Alaska with Wiley Post, another famous Oklahoman, was front page news known as, “The Plane Crash Heard Round the World.” Unfortunately, his historic ranch in California was just claimed by the wildfires there, but much of his work is preserved in Claremore and Oologah for you to visit. Claremore is also where the musical/movie Oklahoma! is set, so you can also see the original surrey with the fringe on the top! if you visit.

Other Native American landmarks include Sequoyah’s Cabin, where he created the Cherokee Syllabary, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. I say I’m from Claremore, but technically I’m from Sequoyah, a little spot on Route 66 in the Cherokee Nation that’s named after him. The Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Muscogee Creek, and Osage nations are all headquartered in Oklahoma, and I highly recommend checking out their welcome centers, where you can learn more about their culture.

There are some amazing First Nation artists as well, and you can find their work at places like the Big Rain Art Gallery in Pawhuska and The Teton Trading Post in Bartlesville. I was able to snag this absolutely stunning pair of beadwork earrings from Teton Trading Post, which is run by the Delaware Tribe. This fabulous shop offers goods produced by local Lenape artists, and you absolutely cannot miss it. Check out the link to their website here: Teton Trade Cloth by Lenape | Reproduction Trade Cloth and Trade Beads.

If you’re in Tulsa, there is a variety of museums you can visit, including the Woody Guthrie Center and Bob Dylan Museum. However, my absolute favorite place is the Philbrook Art Museum. Although they were closed for a winter break during my visit, I have toured the museum, located inside of a historic mansion which was the site of Gatsby-like parties during prohibition, many times before. I was stunned every time by their collection which includes everything from Picasso to Thomas Moran to Native American Art. My favorite piece is The Little Shepardess by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, but my favorite part of the museum is their vast grounds, which will absolutely make you feel like you’re a Jane Austen character taking a turn around the gardens. If you’re in Tulsa and looking for a place to enjoy being outside in Nature, I highly recommend the Philbrook, the Gathering Place, or Woodward Park and the Tulsa Rose Gardens.

Low Cost, Kind People

Probably one of the best parts about my trip to Oklahoma (especially since I drove), is that gas costs $2.50 per gallon there. That’s around 75 cents cheaper than where I currently live in Florida, and gas isn’t the only thing that costs less in Oklahoma. I bought several meals that were less than $10 on my trip, all of which tasted great, were extremely filling, and accompanied by friendly service. Osage Hills State Park has some adorable cabins, and lots of camping with clean restrooms and showers. It and other campsites are a great and low cost choice if you love to camp or are taking an RV. My Air B and B, which was an absolute gem, cost me only $67 per night, and Sharon and Dan, my hosts were so kind and helpful. If you don’t mind staying out in the country, which I think is the best way to enjoy the beauty of Oklahoma, they have two Air B and B’s less than 10 minutes from downtown Bartlesville and only about 20 minutes from Pawhuska, home of the Pioneer Woman. Just look at how cute this place is! And all these beautiful horses were out to see me off on my journey home.

If there’s one thing I hear people who have been to Oklahoma say, it’s that, “Everyone is so friendly there.” The University of Oklahoma, my Alma Mater, was voted on of the happiest campuses in the country, (and fun fact, The Bizzell Library was ranked 18th in the world by Architectural Digest). It’s generally held that southerners and Midwesterners (of which I would say Oklahoma is a combination of) are some of the friendliest people around, so I suppose it’s not a surprise that kindness is in our culture. If you’re used to fast paced, traffic jammed places where people tend to be a bit more distant, Oklahoma is a breath of fresh air. The entire trip, I could not stop remarking on how little traffic there was, and almost everyone I spoke with engaged briefly in a conversation with me. It felt like the world slowed down, and it honestly took me from being someone who was a little fed up with the world to someone who found a way to reconnect with it.

The Rugged Truth

OK, so Oklahoma isn’t a once in a lifetime destination by any means, and if you live far away, it’s probably not worth the 18 hours I drove to and from Florida to get there for the average Joe. But Oklahoma does have two interstates that run through it, both East to West and North to South, AND the historic Route 66, which runs right through my hometown, making it a great place to stop on a road trip. Or, if you live in a neighboring state, like Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, or North Texas, it could make you a great long weekend getaway. Oklahomans are friendly, if not a bit rough around the edges at times, and will welcome you into their historic downtowns, small businesses, and diners with a warm smile and a, “How y’all doin’?” So, Oklahoma is just OK? Just like any other state and any other people, we have our own sort of beauty to offer. All you have to do visit.