With summer break winding down, schools going back to class and fall bringing the promise of a cooler kind of fun, it’s a perfect time to make road-trip plans .
While Oklahoma City and Tulsa boast a vast array of well-documented attractions, Oklahoma is a big state with diverse landscapes, histories and communities worth exploring.
In that spirit, here are a dozen Sooner State communities where folks can find fun away from the big-city crowds:
Guthrie
Established after the Land Run of 1889, Oklahoma’s first capital wrangles abundant Victorian charm and territorial history. Part of the downtown Capitol Townsite Historic District is designated as a National Historic landmark , and the Logan County seat features several antique shops.
For history buffs, Guthrie boasts the Oklahoma Territorial Capital Sports Museum, Frontier Drugstore Museum and Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library . The latter is the go-to place to learn about famed robber-turned-mummy Elmer McCurdy, who inspired the recent hit Off-Broadway musical “Dead Outlaw.” The Boot Hill section of Guthrie’s Summit View Cemetery includes the graves of McCurdy, as well as Bill Doolin of the Doolin Gang.