Oklahoma
Discover Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state in the Great Plains region of the United States of America. Oklahoma has a rich Native American past. There are all kinds of activities available from hunting, fishing, hiking, to gambling in one of the hundred or so casinos and bingo parlors, and metro activities in Tulsa and Oklahoma City In the 1830s, Oklahoma was the end of The Trail of Tears: over 16,000 Cherokee Indian people were forced to move from their eastern homes by the United States government and were relocated to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. In addition the Five Civilized Tribes were relocated from the southeastern United States. Oklahoma's name is taken from two Choctaw words. "okla" means people and "humma" meaning red, so Oklahoma literally means "red people". Thirty nine tribes and Indian nations have their headquarters in Oklahoma.
What to Experience in Oklahoma
Taste of Oklahoma...
Oklahoma food has two main influences, both imported from neighboring regions: Oklahoma's agricultural strengths are in cattle ranching and wheat farming, and the popularity of beef and carbohydrate-rich foods reflects this. As a landlocked state, seafood is available only if it's flown or trucked in. Deep-fried catfish is the most popular fish, and some restaurants raise their own to be certain of freshness. Especially in the eastern half of the state, which gets more rain, you can get locally grown produce normally associated with southern states, such as peaches, watermelons, and pecans during the appropriate seasons. If you're looking for something that you won't find just anywhere, keep an eye out for fried okra. If you're looking for something truly unusual, then Rocky Mountain oysters are served at Stillwater's annual festival, The Calf Fry, as well as at some steakhouses. Rocky Mountain oysters are also called calf fries (if they're from cattle) or lamb fries (from sheep). To finish off the meal, consider a piece of pecan pie or peach pie, or go out for ice cream. Braum's Ice Cream, a regional chain based in Tuttle and with more than a hundred stores throughout the state, is "the" place to get ice cream in Oklahoma. If your interests run towards the old-school style, then deep-fried hand pies and root beer floats are venerable Oklahoma traditions. For breakfast, large plates of eggs, meat, and potatoes are available in every part of the state.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsWill Rogers World Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City and Tulsa International Airport (TUL) in Tulsa are the two major state airports for domestic and international air travel. Minor airports with limited domestic transport are in Lawton and (sometimes) Ponca City. Along with Texas, Oregon, and Missouri, Oklahoma is one of the few U.S. states that allow foot traffic on all toll-free Interstate highways. This makes hitchhiking relatively easy. Oklahoma is known as a great place to live and visit. There are a lot of things to do in Oklahoma and it has all kinds of terrain. You will find mountains, pine woods and lakes in the eastern third of the state, plains and grasslands with rolling hills in the center of the state and plains and semidesert in the west and panhandle.Oklahoma City is also home of the Cowboy Hall of Fame. There are over eighty casinos in Oklahoma including the largest casino in North America, WinStar World Casino and Resort....
Regions
Explore AreasIn the 1830s, Oklahoma was the end of The Trail of Tears: over 16,000 Cherokee Indian people were forced to move from their eastern homes by the United States government and were relocated to Indian T…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Along with Texas, Oregon, and Missouri, Oklahoma is one of the few U.S. states that allow foot traffic on all toll-free Interstate highways. This makes hitchhiking relatively easy. Oklahoma is known as a great place to live and visit. There are a lot of things to do in Oklahoma and it has all kinds of terrain. You will find mountains, pine woods and lakes in the eastern third of the state, plains and grasslands with rolling hills in the center of the state and plains and semidesert in the west and panhandle.Oklahoma City is also home of the Cowboy Hall of Fame. There are over eighty casinos in Oklahoma including the largest casino in North America, WinStar World Casino and Resort. In addition there are three para-mutual race tracks for the horse-racing fan. In addition to slot machines, most of the casinos have gaming tables.
Language & Talk
The Coastal Southern drawl is rare. The South Midlands accent is more common. This accent ranges from Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and into Texas. Cherokee is common in Tahlequah but English is dominant even there. The Indian tribes are completely integrated in Oklahoma and Indian languages are seldom heard outside Indian events. It is also very common to hear a "twangy" accent in most parts of the state. It sounds very similar to a Texas accent, but with a flair. A trained ear can distinguish between the Texas and Oklahoma accents. There is also a difference in accent between inhabitants of the larger cities and those of the smaller towns and rural areas.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Crime against travelers is not a big problem in Oklahoma. It is safe to walk in the evenings in almost all Oklahoma cities. Some care should be taken in the major cities of Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, and Lawton due to a higher crime rate in some areas of these cities. There are many areas of Oklahoma City that are not well lit at night or which have no sidewalks. Travelers should exercise common sense in walking in well-lit areas, staying on busy streets, removing valuables from vehicles, and locking vehicles. Most Oklahomans will readily help anyone in need, regardless of whether they are known to them or a stranger. There is very little "ice" among people in Oklahoma. A traveler in need of assistance should expect a helpful and friendly attitude. Travelers in need of assistance on the highway may contact the Oklahoma Highway Patrol by dialing *55 on their cellphones. Oklahoma is in "tornado alley".
Glimpses of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
OKC
Antelope Hills in Northwest Oklahoma.
a red gate in a grassy field with a sunset in the background
brown and green grass field under white clouds and blue sky during daytime
a windmill in a field with a sky background
a green field with a few clouds in the sky
A beautiful fall day at Mount Scott.
A supercell thunderstorm over the Oklahoma prairie.
Storms building in the dusk sky over Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City
OKC
Antelope Hills in Northwest Oklahoma.