Text and Photos by Ann Augunas

Like many other states in the Midwest, Iowa or Kansas for instance, Oklahoma seems to be one of those unassuming places across our country one simply passes through on the way to someplace else. I’d venture that most easterners, myself included, wouldn’t have put it on their must-see travel list unless business or family reasons prompted a visit.

Then I attended a writer’s conference in Oklahoma City and discovered a happening place where the spirit of the American west and urban sophistication blend very nicely in what is a truly progressive, capital city. Among the many surprises it holds are its vibrant cultural and social scene, world-class museums, outstanding art galleries, great restaurants and interesting attractions, things any avid traveler would enjoy. By the time I left for home, my perception of Oklahoma as a ho-hum place where the wind whips across the plains past myriad oil rigs dotting a dry and dusty landscape, had certainly changed.

It occurred to me that to really know a place one needs to look at the history that shaped it and so I determined that once I settled in I would take it upon myself to do some reading to better appreciate what was around us. I found the search enlightening.

Briefly, Oklahoma is known geographically as a land of extreme contrasts. Its dusty prairies and “humpbacked cows” might have left the Spanish explorer Coronado extremely disappointed as he searched for great wealth, further exploration would have revealed mountain ranges, pristine lakes, high plains, pine forests and verdant river valleys. Alas for him, he found no gold but how ironic to know that flowing beneath the surface of the land was a precious black substance, liquid gold, which would have to wait for modern-day explorers to make its discovery.

According to historians, Oklahoma’s history is an ancient one, claiming that some 10,000 years ago, nomadic tribes followed great herds of mastodon and bison across the land. For centuries the Plains were home to the Comanche, Apache and Kiowa Indians, among others but it all changed after the Louisiana Purchase. In 1803 the government took control of the land and from the 1820’s - 1842, began a forced migration of tribes living east of the Mississippi into the interior of the land. It was not our nation’s finest moment.

As time progressed, Oklahoma would rise and fall, become wealthy and enjoy great progress. The railroad crossed the land in 1872. The famous Land Run of 1889 opened the territory to the white settler and the same year, the first producing oil well opened. Statehood came in 1907. The 1930’s brought drought, the Depression and ruination for farmers, and a slowing of oil production resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs. Twenty-nine banks failed in 1987, and in 1995 a terrorist bomb killed 168 people in OKC. Through it all Oklahomans stood strong and became an inspiration to the nation.

History aside, here’s what I found in OKC. Arriving a day and a half early for the conference left me plenty of time to familiarize myself with my surroundings and so, on what was a particularly sunny day, I set off for a self-guided, walking tour, opting to stay close to the hotel, The Skirvin Hilton, a famous and gracious dowager (1911) with a story of its own to tell. Our home for the week, it was within a comfortable walking distance to most of the important sights in the area.

I headed to Bricktown, formerly a tired, old warehouse area and depot for goods entering and leaving the city. Now, thanks to a large redevelopment effort, it’s OKC’s hip hot spot, boasting some fun eateries, eclectic watering holes, a few shops, and attractions such as the Bricktown Ballpark on Mickey Mantle Drive, and the Water Taxi Ride adjacent to Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant directly across the street from the Ballpark. Bricktown generates an energy that makes it a sure-fire hit with everyone.

One of the things that really took me by surprise was the number and world-class status of museums in and around OKC, too many to even list. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art in the downtown Arts District, is a 7-year old beauty housing a permanent collection of European and American art and the most comprehensive collection of Dale Chihuly glassworks in the world. Chihuly’s wife, Leslie, is an Oklahoman, hence the museum connection. Close by, The National Memorial and Museum, is a beautifully moving but heart-rending tribute to the senseless bombing that took place in 1995.

Further away from town, The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a spectacular place filled with stunning sculptures, works by the likes of Remington and Charles Russell, gorgeous artwork, cowboy memorabilia, and one of the finest collections of American firearms in the West. Beautiful, outdoor gardens and a children’s area are a nice addition. All of the above are places that should be seen by every visitor to the city.

And if time allows, the famous Paseo Arts District is another place worth a visit. You can spend hours there shopping, dining, and watching artisans at their work.

There’s a lot more to guarantee a wonderful, family-friendly experience in Oklahoma.More surprising facts include 11,611 miles of shoreline, a number almost the total length of the world’s 3 longest rivers, the Nile, Yangtze and the Amazon (did someone say dry!). It has more man-made lakes than any other state and the length of its rivers and streams is almost equal to three times the circumference of Earth and one-third the distance to the moon. The 11 different eco-regions (terrains) also include 2 deserts and 4 mountain ranges. Furthermore there are 50 state parks, 426 drivable miles of Route 66, and 40 wineries (adults only!). If your preference is camping, fishing, hiking, biking, boating, golfing, dune-buggy racing, picnicking, or all of the above, Oklahoma, while still a small part of America the beautiful, has it all. Who knew!

To see some of this for yourself visit www.traveloklahoma.com or www.tourok.com; Videos show various parts of the state and its offerings, and you may request free brochures, find coupons to print, and discover family-friendly pack.