Mountians Oklahoma Style

March madness is upon us! A weekend getaway seemed the thing to do. So we took our new Challenger on a trip to the mountains. Oklahoma Mountains, that is!

The view from the road up was pretty amazing!

The road up Mt. Scott is a fun ride. It circles around with breathtaking views of the landscape below. There are lots of places to pull out of the lane of traffic and take pictures. We also noted a lot of hikers and climbers in the rocks and one group even had their dog with them on the climb.

The road seemed popular to motorcyclists too, and even one brave soul on a bicycle (no motor).

Back on ground level we saw a lot of longhorn cattle and some Buffalo grazing in open range. We stopped for longhorn crossing more than once!
The Wichita Mountain Park has a nice visitor center for a refreshing stop. We also noted a location for prairie dog watching that seemed to be popular with the young park visitors.

Earlier in the day we stopped at Quartz Mountain park, also a pretty place. This was the view from a walking bridge that lead from the lodge to an arts and cultural center.

We really enjoyed this area of Oklahoma, as always there is something to see and do in our great state. So next time you get a yearning for mountains, go Oklahoma Style!

Escape to Kansas!

Looking for a lazy way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Labor Day 2010 found us in Great Bend KS, and after a leisurely breakfast at a Perkins near our motel, we took a short jaunt up to Hoisington where the parade was lining up. Of course our interest was the classic cars.

After a short stay there we returned to Great Bend and stopped at their ZOO. Yes, Great Bend has a zoo, and we had been there over 30 years ago with our then small children. It proved to be a welcome stopping point on a trip from Iowa to Oklahoma. Of course as with all things, it didn't seem the same as it was, but we did enjoy seeing the big cats.

This big guy wasn't bothered at all by people checking him out.

Give him some shade and he's a happy camper!

these two were pretty amazing to watch as well.

Great Bend Kansas is located on Highway 281 about center Kansas.

While I don't generally recommend chain restaurants, the Perkins here is an exception to that rule. We had evening, breakfast and lunch there and enjoyed each meal. The service was way, way above average, and be sure to check out their dessert selections!

Home Town Pride

Most of the time I think I have to travel somewhere to find interesting and cool things to see. This time I stayed right at home in Waynoka and watched a community really come together to get ready for company.

Every five years Waynoka hosts an all school alumni reunion. 2010 is the year everyone comes home. Our local chamber took a look around and tried to see the town through the eyes of a visitor. We needed some pizzaz! All of the light poles in the downtown area were in sad need of some paint, so we started with a paint the pole party. No theme, no assigned design or even pole, though downtown businesses were given the opportunity to adopt the pole nearest their business. We thought we would have a hard time getting the downtown square done before the reunion on Labor Day weekend. Artists came from everywhere to share their talents, some didn't even live "in town" but in the larger farming community we share. NO two poles are alike, everyone brought their own ideas to the pole.

What an awesome sight, Tuesday night when I locked up the liquor store to go home at 9 p.m. there were people everywhere still painting on their poles! We ran out of downtown poles to adopt, so we are reaching further out in the community. I got some pictures of the poles and in a few instances the people painting.

Our little town will have something new and creative to see, both for the returning alumni and for our tourists who will be starting the fall season at Little Sahara.

GOOD JOB WAYNOKA!

Shorty's at Buffalo, OK

Shorty's Cafe in Buffalo Ok is a new restaurant, located on highway 64 on the south side of town. Deven has spent about a year renovating the old LaMunyon Cafe and the end result is well worth the wait!

We stopped for lunch recently and had some amazing food! Pictured here is the Philly Steak Sandwich with some yummy onion rings.

This is a steak sandwich, heavy on the steak, light on the bun! And while it was very good, I couldn't eat the whole thing, so go there with your appetite firmly charged up!

yes, this is real size!

Shorty's has done an awesome job with the decor inside as well, setting an old western theme that includes a neat poster of the Sons of the Pioneers and good ole' western swing music playing quietly in the background. The walls have an aged appearance and the bathrooms are unique. I won't tell you, you, you just have to go see for yourself!

Shorty's is open for lunch and dinner most days. Deven tells me she is still working to set hours that will meet her customer's needs. If you are passing through Buffalo watch for Shorty's Cafe and stop in for a great meal!

Cherokee, Ok

As, I travel through Red Carpet Country, I am continually amazed at the new places that I am finding. The newest find is The Farmer's Table. It has been open about 4 months. It is a deli sandwich shop, with a daily specials, comfortable little place, located in Cherokee, it is one block to the west behind the library off of Main street. It is owned by Doyce Hager and his wife Rachel. Some of in this area may remember Doyce, he was our Schwan's delivery man for several years. They seem to be enjoying a booming business and the food was great. Good Luck to Doyce and his wife.

Traveling Woods County

I have been traveling for Red Carpet Country selling ads for next years visitors guide. In my travels I have been to the Sod House, Aline, Ok. The changes they have made are really great so if you haven't been there in a while it is a good place for a day trip. They have added a lot of items to the building and have many more ideas to come.
Another place that I visited was Freedom, OK, their museum is really wonderful. See the historical bones that were found near Freedom, and other items that people have donated to them, things that made the trip in the run possibly. Some at least came in the covered wagons. It is another wonderful day trip.
Sorry, no pics for this trip, maybe the next great place that I visit I will be able to take some pics. There is a lot of great places to visit right here in Woods County or close by. You will be able to take your kids somewhere before school starts again and give them a little history while they enjoy it. Happy traveling.

Shady Lady in Perry

The Shady Lady is a restaurant, meeting place and catering facility located in Perry OK. The historic building was once a boarding house, and form the outside appears to have had periodic additions.

We had a delicious lunch, here is a reuben plate and of course I had eaten part of it before I decided to take the picture! couldn't wait, it was wonderful!

There was a wonderful cookbook there with special Shady Lady recipes.


and would you look at this pie!