Oklahoma Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to Unique Places

I had to travel to Oklahoma for a business trip, and as i often do i like to spend a extra day seeing some of the local sites. I took a side trip to Guthrie, and really had a slice of history wich was just what i was looking for. I would have never done this, if i had not read this book. So for me, it was a gem.

Oklahoma doesn't get much tourist attention, so a guidebook to the pleasures of traveling there is most welcome. This is far from a complete guide, but rather a potpourri of places to visit, eat, and stay. The book divides Oklahoma into seven regions and covers the attractions of each region, especially in small towns and rural areas. Down-home, long-established restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts are well-described. Sidebars sprinkled liberally through the text provide a historical overview of Oklahoma, especially of its cowboy and Indian heritage. There is no Grand Canyon or Yosemite in Oklahoma. The natural attractions are modest. For those from more congested states, the charm of Oklahoma is open empty country and friendly people, clear blue skies, and weather that is pretty good on the average -- but the weather in Oklahoma is rarely average. "The immensity of the plains can exhilarate or overwhelm travelers," says the author. That's about right. Oklahoma is a good place to take a random drive down a country road. Amidst the endless prairie, the oil wells, and the wheat fields, there's usually a valley oasis of woodland, a rocky mesa, one of Oklahoma's big man-made lakes, or an old town with a restaurant that features chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes. This book will give you some ideas on places to go and things to do. Smallchief

This is a well-written book and worthwhile for what it contains, but what it does not include is inexplicable. What about Ada, Queen City of the Chicksaw Nation? It's on the map in the book (as it should be) but no mention of it whatsover in the text. This lovely town is important to Oklahoma's history and worth a visit with its many historic buildings and turn-of-the-century downtown.

The charm of this book is the way the author describes the history and background of the state. It is more than just facts. Her descriptions of the state make one want to go to Oklahoma!