5 of the Best Ways to Experience Oklahoma

Each state has its own culture and feel. Oklahoma is no different. It’s a state filled with many amazing attractions, beautiful locations, and fabulous people. For outsiders, they may hear Oklahoma and think of the Sooner State, the panhandle, and tornadoes. However, this unique state offers so much more. If you’re looking for the best way to experience Oklahoma, you might consider partaking in a few things that make Oklahoma the state it is.

Eating some authentic Oklahoman food, spending time in their amazing outdoor landscape, traveling the famed Route 66, exploring their history, and watching some college football are all some great ways to experience Oklahoma like a local.

Go to a Food Festival

Oklahoma is serious about its food. For that reason, one of the best ways to experience Oklahoma is by experiencing their amazing cuizene. From barbecue to seafood, the food you’ll find in Oklahoma is rich in southern cooking culture. Crawfish, burgers, chili, tacos, and more. There are a ton of festivals around the state to choose from that will provide you with an authentic Oklahoman food atmosphere.

• Frederick Fantastic Oyster Fry and Craft Show — Frederick, Oklahoma

It’s been 25 years that Frederick has hosted the oyster fry, serving thousands of people each year with zero history of running out of oysters. There’s always a craft show next door featuring vendors from across the country. The oysters are caught in Port Lavaca, Texas and brought back to Oklahoma to be breaded and fried.

• Burger Day Festival — El Reno, Oklahoma

The Burger Day Festival is a tribute to the fried onion hamburger, cooked daily in El Reno since the early 1900’s. Not only will you get to try a variety of amazing burgers, you’ll also witness the cooking of the world’s largest fried onion burger, weighing in at 750 pounds — which will also be divided up and passed out to the crowd. There’s also music, events, and other attractions making it a great festival for the whole family.

• World’s Largest Calf Fry Festival & Cook-Off — Vinita, Oklahoma

The Calf Fry Festival and Cook-Off is for cooking calf fries, also known as Rocky Mountain Oysters. 2018 is the 39th year of this festival where they feature cowboy cuisine, entertainment, crafts, games, and more.

Spend Time in the Outdoors

Oklahoma has an amazing array of outdoor recreation opportunities. There are national parks, wildlife refuge areas, and terrain built for nearly every type of outdoor recreation. There are great places to bike, hike, climb, fish, ride ATVs, boat, camp, and hunt. The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge is home to an array of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish, among others. Beavers Bend State Park is home to Broken Bow Lake and a ton of lake recreation and activity. There are many places to ride horses or take amazing photographs of Oklahoma’s landscape. Oklahoma’s plains, lakes, rivers, and mountains are what makes this state what it is.

Travel Route 66

Route 66 is known by many names: the Main Street of America, the Will Rogers Highway, or the Mother Road. It’s one of the original highways within the U.S. and nearly 400 miles of it crosses through Oklahoma. Driving on Route 66 through is a staple of Oklahoma, so it’s a great experience for soaking in the culture and attractions that this great state has to offer. Not only is Route 66 iconic in itself, it’s also home to some pretty amazing roadside attractions.

• The Blue Whale — Catoosa, Oklahoma

The Blue Whale originally marked a swimming hole attraction, but today it’s mainly just a Route 66 staple. It’s perfect for a photo opp and a picnic along this iconic roadway.

• Pops — Arcadia, Oklahoma

Pops is a more recent addition to roadside attractions along this highway and it opened in 2007. It’s marked by a giant, 66 foot tall neon soda bottle. You can get gas, eat at the diner, and choose a soda from the list of 650 soda flavors.

• Oklahoma Route 66 Museum — Clinton, Oklahoma

This museum is all about the roots of Route 66, the transportation industry, and the culture of the Mother Road. This museum features a lot of historical information and memorabilia, but also some fun exhibits like the collection of unique items found on Route 66 over the years.

Explore Oklahoma History

Oklahoma culture has many different facets and one of them is it’s amazing history. Oklahoma’s history has roots in Native American culture, ranching, the Civil War, and the Great Depression, among others. You can see Sequoyah’s Cabin in Sallisaw, Oklahoma — the home of the man who created a written language for the Cherokee Nation. The Fort Washita military post in Durant, Oklahoma. This site was a post for the Confederate troops during the Civil War. Just outside of Spiro, Oklahoma is the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center which houses the the remains of an advanced prehistoric Native American civilization. These are just a few examples of historical attractions in Oklahoma. Truthfully, the state is rich in historical finds and attractions for everyone.      

Watch Some Football

Oklahoma’s only professional sports team is the Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA. However, they also have several minor league teams. All of these teams and sports franchises are amazingly popular. However, many Oklahomans will tell you that the main focus in Oklahoma sports lies with the collegiate sports. Namely, college football. The University of Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys are the state’s most prominent football teams. Going to a game or even watching one on TV with fellow fans at a sports bar is an experience in itself. Oklahoma takes its collegiate football very seriously and watching a game with the locals will exemplify the passion and intensity of the sport in this state.

At Broken Bow Cabin Lodging…

At Broken Bow Cabin Lodging, you’re also experiencing an amazing area of Oklahoma known as Beavers Bend Resort Park. Guests are able to find the perfect cabin for them, participate in the outdoor activity that suits them, and experience one of the amazing wonders that Oklahoma has to offer: it’s outdoor recreation. Near Broken Bow Cabin Lodging are a ton of area attractions that also highlight the state of Oklahoma including canoeing, fishing, and horseback riding. The area is amazing and there’s no way to describe it accurately without experiencing it first hand.

Each state’s culture showcases a bit of it’s personality. For Oklahoma, that personality is friendly, adventurous, and tenacious. Oklahomans know how to eat, take pride in their state, and love the outdoors. For those visiting Oklahoma, there are a few ways to do it best, but there’s no way to do it wrong.