Visiting Oklahoma or thinking about it? Enjoy my Top 3 Favorite Things to do in Oklahoma!
Love to travel? Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Oklahoma!
I’m a small town Oklahoma girl at heart. Even though I have lived in the Dallas, Texas area for over 25 years, I grew up in Oklahoma and still consider it home! I was recently invited to attend The Wine Forum of Oklahoma and wanted to tell you about my trip home. Traveling is one of my favorite things to do and I’m excited to be writing more about my family trips here on the blog.
Oklahoma might not be a place you think of when planning your next vacation, but it should be! There are so many beautiful locations and fun things to do. Today, I’m sharing three of my favorite things to do when I visit my family and friends in Oklahoma.
The next time you take a family trip or happen to be driving through Oklahoma, keep these things in mind!
1. Visit Stillwater
One of my favorite Oklahoma towns is Stillwater! It’s an adorable college town that is a must see when traveling to Oklahoma! There are many fun things to do in Stillwater, but my personal favorite is visiting Oklahoma State University. I graduated from OSU and have always thought it was one of the prettiest college campuses I have ever seen.
On my recent trip, I got to stay at The Atherton Hotel, a newly renovated boutique hotel on campus. I was so impressed with the beautiful design, delicious food and gorgeous patio! This is the perfect weekend getaway spot.
Not only is The Atherton Hotel right on campus, but walking distance to the best shops and restaurants around town. Inside the hotel is an upscale steak house, make sure to get reservations in advance. If you need a quick bite, I loved the food at the hotel bar! You can sit on the comfy chairs and dine on amazing appetizers, or enjoy a full meal.
The Atherton is full of charm, and of course a lot of the university’s signature color… orange! They even have a TV in the bathroom so you don’t miss a thing. Ha!
I could have slept all day in their comfortable beds, but if you do venture out, getting cheese fries and a souvenir t-shirt at Eskimo Joe’s is a must!
Be sure to check out the Visit Stillwater website for upcoming events.
2. The Wine Forum of Oklahoma
If you are a wine lover, attending The Wine Forum of Oklahoma should be top on your list of things to do! Each spring, the Oklahoma State University School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration puts on this amazing event. This year’s Wine Forum hosted 28 wineries from all over the world!
You’ll learn all about wine through educational classes, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and fantastic food. I especially enjoyed the champagne tasting! I learned so much!
The Wine Forum gives students the opportunity to plan, implement and manage a major event as part of the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration curriculum. Not only are you getting to enjoy a fabulous event, your ticket cost goes to providing scholarships and professional development for the students.
Aren’t these wine bottle gifts adorable?
I enjoyed meeting reps from my favorite vineyards and so many fun people who also shared my love of wine! It was great to run into my good friends Tina and Lance. From Parkhill’s South Liquors & Wine and Parkhill’s Liquors. That’s the fun thing about being from Oklahoma, you always run into someone you know!
Mark your calendars for visiting Stillwater next spring. The Wine Forum of Oklahoma and The Atherton Hotel would be a great couples getaway or girl’s weekend!
3. Visit Pawhuska
In case you didn’t already know, I grew up in the cute small town of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. My grandparents have lived there since they were kids. My grandma has lived in the same house for over 50 years! I’ve written about my life growing up in a small town and trips home many times. There is really no place like Pawhuska!
With it’s historic downtown, rolling hills, Osage Indian Nation, Tallgrass Prairie Preserve and all round friendly folks, visitors tend to fall in love with the town’s charm right away.
Now that Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, has opened her amazing new restaurant, bakery and store, the town is even more fun! I was excited to see it was featured by Country Living.
Breakfast at The Mercantile is my all time favorite. I have to go get one of Ree’s famous cinnamon rolls every time I’m home!
Here’s a tip, if you are outside in line for breakfast and don’t want to wait for a cinnamon roll, enter the shop’s main door and head upstairs to the bakery to enjoy coffee and cinnamon rolls without a line.
If you see my band teacher, Mr. Reber, tell him I said hello! He’s lived in Pawhuska for a long time and at The Merc every morning with a smile and a great story for you! Isn’t he cute?
There are so many fun things you can do when visiting Oklahoma, but these three things are the top of my list!
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~ This article was written in partnership with Visit Stillwater, all opinions are my own.
I love this. I will go to Oklahoma soon. I will follow all your tips.
Thanks! That would be great if it was twice a year. I’ll find out and update this post if so.
Great Post, I really would like to go!
It was my understanding the Wine Forum was a Bi-annual event, not every year. You might double check that. Interesting how two famous bloggers/photographers have such a connection to Pawhuska, OK.