The state of Oklahoma sits in the South Central
part of America in the Great Plains and offers some spectacular
scenery as well as a host of activities and attractions. It’s
the 20th largest state in land area and the 28th most populated
as it’s home to just over 3.5 million people. It became the 46th
state to join the Union when it was admitted back in 1907.
Oklahoma City is both the state’s capital and largest city. Some
of the other major centers include Tulsa, Norman, Lawton, Broken
Arrow, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Stillwater, and Enid.
Oklahoma state generally enjoys hot summers and relatively mild
winters.
The state has a rich history, especially when it
comes to the old-west cowboy and Native American culture. There
are several fine museums where you can transport yourself back
in time to view the way things used to be and over 300 museums
in all. These include the Gilcrease Museum, the National Cowboy
Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum, the Museum of the
Great Plains, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Birthplace,
the Woolaroc Ranch, Museum and Wildlife Preserve, the
Philbrook Museum, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural
History, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and the Sherwin Miller
Museum of Jewish Art.
For outdoor enthusiasts, you’ll find dozens of
wonderful mountains, prairies, state parks, forests, and plains
to enjoy as the landscape is as varied as the culture. One of
the most interesting places to visit is Fort Cobb Lake State
Park as it is an spot to learn about the fur trade and cattle
industry.
There are 50 state and six national parks in
total along with national forests and grasslands. Some of the
most popular include Ouachita National Forest, the Tallgrass
Prairie Preserve, the Black Kettle National Grassland, the
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, the Chickasaw National
Recreation Area, the Santa Fe and Trail of Tears historic
trails, the Oklahoma City National Memorial, and the Fort Smith
and Washita Battlefield historic sites.
You’ll be able to see some interesting wildlife
in these places as there’s plenty of white-tailed deer, elk,
bobcats, coyotes, quail, bald eagles, doves, pheasants,
red-tailed hawks, American bison, badgers, armadillo, prairie
dogs, black bear, grey fox, red fox, river otters, and
alligators.
When it comes to the arts and cultural events,
music is pretty high on the list, especially jazz. The state is
also well known for its rich ballet history as witnessed by the
Tulsa Ballet and Oklahoma City Ballet. Some of the major events
include the Oklahoma Mozart Festival, the State Fair, the
Mayfest Festival, the Norman Music Festival, Oktoberfest, and
the Festival of the Arts. However, there are many more annual
ethnic events and festivals to enjoy.
There is only one major league sports franchise
in the state and that’s the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball
team of the NBA. But there are quite a few minor-pro teams in a
variety of sports, and like most states, college athletics are
also huge.
There’s a major airport in Oklahoma City as well
as Tulsa, if you’d like to fly in and there are several regional
airports throughout the state. Driving in and around Oklahoma is
a great way to visit the sites and take in the scenery as
traffic’s generally good and the road system is excellent.
There’s also an Amtrak rail station in Oklahoma City.
There’s quite a variety of hotels and motels to
choose from and you’ll find them in all price ranges.
Restaurants with local dishes and international food are also
plentiful and easy to find.
The state of Oklahoma offers so much in the way
of history, culture, scenery, and activities for visitors of all
ages and is a wonderful place to explore and enjoy.
About Oklahoma