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Western Adventure

(Wilburton, Oklahoma City, Freedom)

Day 1

Check in at Belle Starr View Lodge at Robbers Cave State Park, 5 miles N of Wilburton on Highway 2, (918) 465-2562. The 20-room lodge features televisions and coffee makers in each guest room with sweeping views of the San Bois Mountains. Cabins are also available. Robbers Cave State Park is a favorite among rappellers, cave explorers, equestrians and outdoor lovers. The park enjoys notoriety as a former hideout of Jesse James and Belle Starr. Miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails can be found here, along with an outfitter and riding stables offering horse rentals and hayrides. Mini-golf, paddle boats, a nature center and gift shop, swimming pool and various food concessions are on site. Fishing is also popular in the park's three lakes and wildlife is abundant throughout the area. The Robbers Cave Fall Festival is held annually the third weekend in October, attracting some 60,000 visitors to the area. Lodge/cabin rates: $53-98.

Dinner at Pete's Place in nearby Krebs, east of McAlester on Highway 270, (918) 423-2042. This former mining town is now known as Oklahoma's "Little Italy" and is famous for its great Italian cuisine. Entrees are served family style and include spaghetti, meatballs, ravioli, salad, an anti-pasta plate and garlic bread. Expect a wait on weekends, but it's well worth it. Entrees: $12-$23.

Day 2

Breakfast at the Side Saddle Café, 2900 Carlton Loop (at Robbers Cave State Park), (918) 465-1191. This new restaurant offers steaks, chicken, salads, burgers and daily lunch specials. Catering available. Entrees: $5-$15.

Check out of Belle Starr View Lodge, drive to Oklahoma City and check in at the Renaissance Hotel, 10 N. Broadway, (405) 228-8000. Within walking distance of the Bricktown entertainment district, this downtown Marriott property offers an indoor swimming pool, exercise room, salon, in-room movies, on site restaurant, cafe and lounge. Call for room rates.

Tour the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., (405) 478-2250. If you haven't been to this outstanding museum in a while, you're definitely due for another visit. Having tripled in size over the past seven years and experienced a name change (was formerly known as the National Cowboy Hall of Fame), this sprawling complex features several major exhibition galleries, a life-size western town, large-scale sculptures and works of art, landscaped gardens, a fabulous gift shop and restaurant. Every Memorial Day weekend, the museum hosts the Chuck Wagon Gathering & Children's Cowboy Festival, a fun-filled family event featuring cowboy fare, entertainment and activities. Adults $8.50, Seniors $7, Children (6-12) $4, Children 5 and under FREE. Hours: 9am-5pm daily.

Explore Stockyards City, the site of the world's largest stock and feeder cattle market. Located at Agnew and Exchange, just southwest of downtown, the area caters to cowboys and ranchers with western gear, clothing and outfitter shops. On Monday and Tuesday mornings, visitors can sit in on the live cattle auctions. Don't miss a stop at Langston's, 2224 Exchange Ave., (800) 658-2831, the largest seller of Levi and Wrangler jeans per location in the Southwest. From boots to hats, you'll find all your western wear needs here.

Dinner at Cattlemen's Steakhouse, 1309 S. Agnew Ave., (405) 236-0416. An Oklahoma tradition since 1910, its name is as legendary as its steaks. As the oldest continuously-operating restaurant in the state, Cattlemen's is a must-stop while in the Stockyards City district. Entrees: $11-$27.

For an evening of great western entertainment, check out the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie. Call 800-595-7433 for schedule of events.

Day 3

Breakfast or lunch at Stockyards City Café, 2225A Exchange Ave, (405) 604-3308. Known for their delicious pastries and desserts, you'll find a tempting array of breakfast or lunch items; open Mon-Fri only. Entrees: $5-$8.

Spend the day at Frontier City, I-35 Service Road (between NE 122nd St and Wilshire Blvd), (405) 478-2412, a western-themed amusement park and member of the Six Flags family. More than 50 thrilling rides are available, including four roller coasters and two water rides, along with wild west shows, western shops and eateries and a kiddie area. A nightly fireworks performance is scheduled throughout the summer and special concerts and festivals at the park are also planned on selected days. Adults $27.99, Juniors (under 48") $18.99, Children under 2 FREE. Parking charge. Call for operating hours and special discount offers.

Dinner at Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy, 17 E. Sheridan, (405) 235-1422. Located in the heart of Bricktown, you'll find an inviting interior courtyard, traditional Mexican dishes and house specialties of fajitas, steak and seafood. Entrees: $8-$18.

Finish the day with a Bricktown Water Taxi canal tour, (405) 236-8666. Passengers may board at any stop along the canal. Operators give a 40 minute roundtrip narrated tour along the canal route; dinner cruises and private charters also available. All Day Pass $6, Seniors $5, Children (5 and under) $1.

Day 4

Check out of Renaissance Hotel and drive to Freedom in northwest Oklahoma. Check in at Cedar Canyon Lodge, located at entrance to Alabaster Caverns State Park on Highway 50, (580) 621-3257. This rustic, six-unit lodge offers spacious, western-decorated guest rooms with sweeping porch views of big, blue sky and wide open spaces. The Stables Café & Cantina is frequented often by local ranchers and rodeo performers, and the ranch offers great trail riding opportunities (horses are available for rentals) on its 10,000 plus acreage. Or, grab a fishing pole and head to their stocked pond where you'll find trout, bass, perch and crappie. A mini-golf course is also on site. Daily trail rides, western cookouts, rodeos, music concerts and other events are regularly scheduled at the ranch between March and December. Rates: $85-$125. Call for event schedule and info on special packages.

Day 5

Tour Alabaster Caverns State Park, Highway 50 across from Cedar Canyon Lodge, (580) 621-3381, site of the largest gypsum cave in the world. A 3/4 mile guided tour of the 200-million-year-old alabaster cave reveals selenite crystals, pink alabaster and perhaps a few of the five species of bats which inhabit the caves. NOTE: the caves will be closing June 1, 2004 for installation of a new lighting system and won't reopen until October 1, 2004.

Lunch at Café Bahnhof in nearby Waynoka, 131 E. Cecil St., (580) 824-0063. Specializing in authentic German food, this restaurant draws patrons from around the region for its fine European cuisine. Entrees: $5-$19.

Fasten your seat belt for one of Oklahoma's most exciting state park adventures. Little Sahara State Park, 4 miles S of Waynoka on Highway 281, (580) 824-1471, offers 1,450 acres of rideable sand dunes ranging in height from 25 to 75 feet, providing the perfect oasis for off-road enthusiasts. $7 daily access fee, dune tours available: Adults $20, Children (under 16) $15.

Evening cookout on ranch, or dine at the Stables Café & Cantina, located at Cedar Canyon Lodge, (580) 621-3257. The large rock fireplace, unique furnishings and western hospitality make it a great place to unwind and satisfy hungry appetites. Open seven days a week. Entrees: $4-20.

Day 6

Drive into Freedom, a unique frontier town with western-themed storefronts along Main Street. The Freedom Museum, open Sat-Sun from 2-4pm, displays exhibits and historical artifacts, machinery and antiques about the area. The town celebrates its annual Rodeo & Old Cowhand Reunion August 19-21, with a chuckwagon feed and a melodrama of the "The Great Freedom Bank Robbery & Shootout" among other activities.

Lunch at Cherokee Station in Cherokee, 1710 S. Grand, (580) 596-2882. Enjoy mouth-watering steaks, chicken, salads, sandwiches and more. Lunch served Tue-Sat from 11:30am-2pm, dinner from 5:30-9pm, Sunday buffet from 11:45am-2pm. Entrees: $6-18.

Tour the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, 17 miles E of Cherokee, (580) 626-4794, where you'll find around 300 species of birds locking to the salt plains, marshes and reservoir year-round. There's a visitor's center, hiking trail with observation tower, Eagle Roost Nature Trail, and a 2.5 mile auto tour. From April 1 through October 15, even adults like to play in the mud at the refuge's great salt plains, digging up the tea-colored selenite "hourglass" crystals found just below the surface. Cabins and campsites are available at adjacent Great Salt Plains State Park. FREE admission. Recommended items for crystal digging: jug of water (for rinsing and cleaning up), small shovel and sunscreen. Expect to get a little wet and dirty.

Finish the day horseback riding with an experienced wrangler guide or hiking around the ranch at Cedar Canyon Lodge, where you'll find breathtaking views of canyons, mesas, creeks and wildlife. Or just relax on your porch for a memorable sunset. For another dinner alternative, try the Plainview Steakhouse, 12 miles W of Freedom on Highway 64, (580) 621-3607.