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Heart of Oklahoma

(Ardmore, Norman, Edmond)

Day 1

Arrive in Ardmore and check in at Shiloh Morning Inn, (888) 554-7674, a luxury bed and breakfast custom built on 73 secluded acres. Each suite features plush pillow-top king-size beds, gas fireplaces, TV/VCR, mini-fridges, sitting areas, hot tubs or whirlpool tubs for two, and private patios. A full multi-course breakfast is served each morning in the dining room, and a library stocked with hundreds of books and over 200 movies is available for guests. Two private cottages are also available. Rates: $139-$269.
Cruise around Lake Murray on a pontoon boat from Lake Murray Marina, (580) 223-9339. With nearly 6,000 acres and 150 miles of natural shoreline, visitors can explore, tour, swim or fish this beautiful spring-fed lake.
Drive into Ardmore for a stop at the Goddard Center for Visual & Performing Arts, 401 SW 1st, (580) 226-0909. Four art galleries housing photography, lithographs, sculpture and western and Native American paintings, with a library and theatre also on site. Open Mon-Fri 9am-4pm and on weekends from 1-4pm.
Take some time to pamper yourself at The Therapy Center Day Spa Salon, 691 12th Ave NW, (580) 223-6060, where you'll find a variety of massage therapies, and facial and body treatments for every need and price range.
Dinner at Fireside Dining, 2 miles east of I-35 (Exit 24) on Highway 77 at Lake Murray Village, (580) 226-4070. Casual dining in an intimate atmosphere; known for their prime rib and offering a variety of steaks, seafood, pasta dishes and great appetizers. Open Tue-Sat at 5-9pm. Entrees: $14-25.

Day 2

Breakfast at Shiloh Morning Inn.
Drive into Ardmore and tour the Greater Southwest Historical Museum, 35 Sunset Drive, (580) 226-3857, featuring artifacts from 17 states and a detailed look at life from Indian Territory times to the 1930s. Military items from the Civil War to the Persian Gulf War are also on display. FREE admission. Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm.
Drive to Sulphur and stop at the Arbuckle Emporium, 218 W. Muskogee, (580) 622-3005. Located in the historic business district and restored to exemplify early Sulphur, circa 1906, this unique shop offers gift items, hand-crafted merchandise, artwork, and made-in-Oklahoma food products.
Pick up your picnic lunch basket at The Secret Garden Tearoom, located in the rear of the shop, and head for the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, State Highway 7 and US Highway 177, (580) 622-3163. Managed by the National Park Service, this 640-acre recreation site was deeded to the federal government by the Chickasaw Tribe and features mineral and freshwater springs throughout the grounds, miles of hiking trails, the Travertine Nature Center and several scenic picnic spots and campgrounds. Waders and swimmers head to the sandy beach of Rock Creek and Travertine Creek, also known as Little Niagra. Lake of the Arbuckles, the park's dominant feature, offers boating, swimming and fishing opportunities.

Day 3

Breakfast at Shiloh Morning Inn; check out and drive to Norman.
Tour the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua, (405) 325-4712, where you'll stand eye to eye with a dinosaur, learn about native cultures or explore archaeological wonders. Newly built in 2000, this facility features more than 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, including the world's longest Apatosaurus, a museum café and gift shop, and a hands-on discovery room. Adults $4, Children (6-17) $2, Children 5 and under FREE. Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm.
Lunch at The Mont, 1300 Classen Blvd, (405) 329-3330. Located just one block east of the University of Oklahoma campus, this cozy restaurant has won several awards over the years and is a local favorite. Their brick patio welcomes outdoor diners with its beautiful landscaping and misting system during summer months. Open Sun-Sat 11am-2am. Entrees: $5-$14.
Check in at The Montford Inn, 322 Tonhawa Street, (800) 321-8969. This delightfully romantic and relaxing inn has everything the discriminating guest has come to expect: elegance, comfort, attention to detail, charm and location. All rooms include fireplaces, cable television, complimentary refreshments and built-in closets, and selected rooms feature jetted tubs, two-person Jacuzzis, walk-in showers, outdoor hot tubs and canopied king beds. Rates: $90-$219.
Take a tour of Canadian River Vineyards & Winery, Highway 77 South, (405) 872-5565. One of Oklahoma's newest wineries, visitors can tour the vineyards, sample the wines and relax on the outdoor patio.
Tour Jacobson House Native Art Center, 609 Chautauqua Avenue, (405) 366-1667, the historic home of artist and former OU Art Director, Oscar Jacobson. The first art authority to recognize Native American art as fine art, Jacobson nurtured the talent of many Indians, including the internationally recognized "Kiowa Five." Today, visitors will find art exhibits, cultural activities, lectures, workshops and educational events offered to the public. FREE admission.
Dinner at Legend's Restaurant, 1313 W. Lindsay, (405) 329-8888. Norman's dining room for 35 years, this fine dining establishment offers fresh seafood, choice beef, sandwiches, pastas and fabulous desserts. Entrees: $7-$25.

Day 4

Breakfast at The Montford.
Tour Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 410 W. Boyd, (405) 325-3272. One of the nation's finest university art museums with permanent collections featuring American, Native American, and Contemporary art as well as icons and photography. In 2000, the Weitzenhoffer Collection of French Impressionism was donated to the museum, which includes works by masters such Degas, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and others. NOTE: Galleries are closed until Fall 2004 for a $14 million renovation and expansion project.
Tour the Crucible Foundry & Sculpture Garden, 110 East Tonhawa, (405) 579-2700. Using a graceful mix of art and science, the Crucible uses the latest innovations in the lost-wax method to perform the ancient art of casting monumental bronze sculpture. Visit the sculpture garden to see art come alive, where bronze fountains gently splash to complete the symphony of sight and sound. FREE admission. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm.
Visit the Firehouse Art Center, 444 S. Flood Avenue, (405) 329-4523. Housed in a former fire station, the art center offers classes for adults and children, hosts several special events throughout the year, and features a gift gallery with unique items including turned wood, blown glass, pottery, fine jewelry and much more. FREE admission. Tue-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-5pm.

Day 5

Breakfast at The Montford; check out and drive to Oklahoma City.
Stop at Myriad Botanical Gardens for tour, Reno & Robinson, (405) 297-3995. This 17-acre oasis is located in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City with beautifully landscaped rolling hills surrounding a sunken lake. The centerpiece of the gardens is the seven-story Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, featuring a fascinating collection of palm trees, flowers and exotic plants from around the globe. A gift shop is also on site. Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun noon-6pm. Admission fee.
Lunch at Panera Bread in Edmond, 1472 S. Bryant, (405) 844-5525. A bakery-café offering more than a dozen delicious varieties of bread, baked fresh each day, as well as bagels, croissants, muffins and pastries. Sandwiches, salads and hearty homemade soups also available.
Enjoy some shopping in downtown Edmond, where you'll find more than 50 retail shops offering rare antiques, specialty clothing, custom jewelry, one-of-a-kind gifts, and the latest in electronics and home furnishings.

Check into the Arcadian Inn Bed & Breakfast, 328 E. First, (405) 348-6347. This romantic, sophisticated inn welcomes guests with its wrap-around porch and historic charm, to-die-for breakfasts and luxurious guest rooms. Amenities include private baths with showers, Jacuzzis for two, fluffy robes, CD stereos, fresh homemade cookies, Arcadian Inn bath salts and candles. Enjoy breakfast privately in your suite or in the sunny dining room. Rates: $119-$229.

Dinner at Cascata Ristorante Italiano, 801 Signal Ridge Road, (405) 216-9880. Rich in Italian décor and atmosphere, the favorite spots in the house are a raised platform where a marble relief sculpture waterfall is located, and the chef's table in the restaurant's kitchen (where the chef gets to plan the evening's menu). Dishes are unique to the northern and central regions of Italy and are exquisitely prepared and presented. Reservations recommended. Open for lunch Tue-Fri, and dinner Tue-Sat. Entrees: $11-$32.

Finish the evening with an outdoor performance of Oklahoma's Shakespeare in the Park, 9th & Bryant, (405) 340-1222. Three productions are performed each summer, each for four weeks, at Hafer Park's outdoor stage area. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinners. Performances are Thu-Sat at 8pm. Call for production and rate info.

Day 6

Breakfast at the Arcadian Inn.
Play the links at Coffee Creek Golf Club, 4000 N. Kelly, (405) 340-4653. Rated by Golf Digest as one of Oklahoma's Top 10 courses, you'll find a quiet country club atmosphere carefully crafted out of the most scenic portions of a former horse ranch. Golf carts are also equipped with the ProShot GPS Yardage System.
Spend the afternoon in Guthrie, a historic territorial community just 20 minutes north of Edmond. Antique shopping, carriage rides, charming eateries, and unique museums await visitors to this former capital city. Contact the Guthrie Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 299-1889 for more information.
Dinner at Boulevard Steakhouse, 505 S. Boulevard, (405) 715-2333, where steak and potatoes reach a new level. Serving only USDA-graded prime beef, diners will find menu items ranging from filets, rib eye and porterhouse to sea bass, salmon and Australian lobster. Boasting an 850-item wine list, the restaurant has received the Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence numerous times. Reservations suggested but not necessary. Entrees: $22-$39.
Top off the evening with an entertaining jazz concert at the UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E. 5th St., (405) 359-7989, offering professional world class entertainment and student performances in a relaxed style atmosphere patterned after jazz clubs in New Orleans. Known for its outstanding jazz studies program, the University of Central Oklahoma jazz ensembles, groups, combos and individual students consistently receive top awards and honors at jazz events throughout the country. Call for show times and prices.