Oklahoma

Home to America’s first big oil boom, this state drips with American history. From Sooners, to ranchers and wildcat oil drillers, you’ll need more than one “beautiful morning” (shameless “Oklahoma” musical reference) to take it all in.
Start your Oklahoma adventure in Tulsa, with an old fashioned BBQ dinner and a show at Discoveryland. Named a “National Treasure” by InStyle magazine, this family destination alternates professional performances of classics “Oklahoma” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” on weekend nights all summer long. You can choose to just see the show or come early for the BBQ dinner.
From there, head on down I-44 about 100 miles to Oklahoma City and soak in more of the old west at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. This must-see attraction was created to preserve and interpret the heritage of the American West, and has been doing so for more than half a century.
After taking in the history of the cowman, head north on I-35 then east on State Rte 51 to Stillwater to see how farmers plied their trade in days gone by at the Pfeiffer Farm Collection, featuring antique farm implements (call for appointment). While you’re in town, grapplers among you will enjoy learning more about America’s history of Greco-Roman-style wrestling at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Got an itch to go spelunking? Then head west on I-16 to the City of Freedom, and head over to Alabaster Caverns State Park. One of the largest of its kind, the Alabaster Cavern stretches for three-quarters of a mile into the earth, which leaves plenty of space to explore. With a cave this big, it might be easy to get lost, so thankfully the park recently put in a lighting system that not only helps people find their way around, but also highlights the natural beauty of the Alabaster rock. The City of Freedom also boasts a site that help shape American archaeology; the Burnham Dig. Unearthed at this site were extremely rare fossils of extinct mammals, like wooly mammoths, and ancient tools used by men prior to the Ice Age. Most of these artifacts can be seen at the Freedom Museum, along with a large barb wire exhibit, and the most extensive collection of late 1800s house-wares and farm equipment in the country.
www.travelok.com; 800/652-6552.