YEAR VISITED: 2018
FAVORITE CITIES AND EXPERIENCES: We visited the Sooner State in 2018 and were unsure of what to expect. What we found was a mix of wild west landscape, wide open ranches, and Native American culture all under an oppressive heat. We were also pleasantly surprised by the hundreds of lakes dotting the landscape from state line to state line. While I would be lying if I said the Sooner State was on the top of our list of states to return to, we did enjoy our one night at Grand Lake World Mark in Afton. The resort was equipped with a golf course, lake, and beautiful outdoor pool. Grand Lake is located on Monkey Island in northeastern Oklahoma.
STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: We did not attend any sporting events.
ADVENTURE(S): On the way to Grand Lake, we stopped in Tulsa at the Center of the Universe. We discovered this spot by exploring the app Atlas Obscura, a fantastic resource for locating unique roadside attractions. The signs at the Center of the Universe advertises an, “acoustic phenomenon where if you stand in the center of the circular bricks and make noise, it sounds as if you are in your own private echo chamber.”
Furthermore, according to atlasobscura.com, “as the legend goes, a foghorn could be going off in the center of the circle and those on the outside wouldn’t hear it.” While we weren’t exactly sure how to test this infamous acoustic phenomenon, we had a blast playing around with the sound effects.
NOTABLE DESTINATIONS & STOPS: Our one night in Oklahoma was spent on Monkey Island in the northeastern portion of the state outside the little town of Afton. We stayed on Grand Lake and there were a number of resorts, golf courses, and marina’s around the lake. It really felt like a popular destination. We enjoyed people watching and the grounds of the resort contained a golf course, a marina, and a beautiful outdoor swimming pool. In fact we enjoyed it so much, we spent an entire afternoon relaxing pool side.
OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:
- The Holy City
- Washita Battlefield National Battlefield
- Oklahoma Sooner football game
‘Stros on the Road 