Uncovering Lake Texoma’s Submerged Ghost Towns
The photo from a 1939 issue of The Oklahoman showed a pavilion in front of a John Taylor Dry Goods store in Woodville, Oklahoma – a town that, at the time, was situated on the north side of the…
Travel
Uncovering Hidden Civilization In Plain Sight
In his recent four-part documentary Exterminate All the Brutes, director Raoul Peck explores the deeply flawed popular understanding of what Native American culture looked like before European contact. As a result of European conquest, 55 million Natives were killed…
Blissful feasting in southwest Louisiana
Travel excites the senses. Tiny bells tinkle on the eaves of a Thai temple; the vast panorama of the Grand Canyon thrills the eyes; a scent on the breeze signals the nearness of the seashore. But for me, few…
Steeped in History
A stay at new bed and breakfast The Monastery at Forest Park is a way of coming into close contact with a remarkable past. Once home to Oklahoma oilman and politician Robert S. Kerr, the nearly century-old property at…
Bentonville Bounty
Apples probably aren’t the first thing you think about when you hear “Bentonville, Arkansas.” But back in the early 20th century, Benton County – with Bentonville as its seat – had the largest number of bearing apple trees of…
Copenhagen: What to see in Denmark’s largest city
Danny Kaye got it wrong when he sang, “Wonderful, wonderful Copen-hah-gen.” He’s not alone. But to say it like the Danish do, it’s “Copen-hay-gen.” What he got right was the “wonderful” part. The Danish capital is full of delights.…
Five to Drive from the 405
Everybody needs a getaway. Whether you’re looking for a rock-star retreat, top-drawer digs or royal rustic accommodations, here are five of your best bets. And they’re all within a day’s drive from the 405. Memphis: Big Cypress Lodge If…
The Graham Getaway
Whether you want to cowboy up or just kick back, Wildcatter Ranch in Graham, Texas, is the perfect spot to do either – or both. Town founder Col. E.S. Graham bought the land on which the ranch is situated…
Hidden Oklahoma
So, the story goes that there is a tunnel under the HiLo Club at 1221 NW 50th in Oklahoma City, through which bootleggers used to smuggle alcohol and later – in the 1950s and 1960s – that gay couples…
Montecito Serenade
The compact community of Montecito, California, is “so beautiful it’s like a screensaver,” says Seneca Beverly, a barista at the seaside town’s Rosewood Miramar Beach resort. Montecito, with a population just under 10,000, sits picturesquely in the shadow of…
Summer Hiking Guide
Wichita Wonderland The Wichita National Wildlife Refuge is a true Oklahoma treasure, featuring spectacular scenery, interesting animals and room to ramble. With 15 miles of designated trails and wilderness areas for more intrepid and experienced hikers, the area accommodates…
Head ’Em Up …
In the 1860s, trader Jesse Chisholm forged his way north from the Red River into Kansas to establish the famed Chisholm Trail. At the confluence of the Arkansas and the Little Arkansas Rivers, he founded a trading post that…
Lodi’s Wonderful Wine Reverie
Say “Lodi” and someone is bound to channel Creedence Clearwater Revival and respond with “Oh, Lord – stuck in Lodi again.” All I have to say is, “You should be so lucky!” Located in California’s Central Valley, Lodi, east…
The Springfield Charm
If you’re looking for a big-time destination in a small town, I have just the place for you: Springfield, Missouri, just over four hours northeast of Oklahoma City, is a one-size-fits-most kind of town. Indoors, outdoors and underground, history,…
Sooner State Splendor
Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell on sharing Oklahoma’s beauty
Exploring the Cape Cod of the Mid-West
When Oklahomans think of a get-away, Wisconsin is probably not on their minds. What a shame. While we head for Padre Island, Upper Midwesterners head to Door County, that little peninsula that separates Green Bay from Lake Michigan.…
