Mary Beth Babcock: Route 66 is the American Highway.
When you come through Tulsa on Route 66, you’re gonna find Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios. You’re
gonna find T-shirts, keychains, souvenirs of all sorts and the 21-foot-tall roadside attraction,
a Buck Atom Space Cowboy Muffler Man. Some of the Route 66 roadside attractions
near Buck Atom’s includes the Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma, and you can actually walk
inside the blue whale’s mouth and look out the little holes up from the top of the blue whale.
The Golden Driller is a gigantic 75-foot-tall Oil Man. He was built for an oil exposition, but thank
goodness, he still is here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Right down the street from Buck Atom’s,
you’ve got the Mother Road Market, a really cool modern food hall. There’s
so many places to choose from to eat and we’ve got Route 66-themed miniature golf out back.
One of my favorites is definitely Chicken and the Wolf for their fried chicken. They’ve got hot,
hot chicken, or you can get it without the heat. Either way, it’s the most amazing chicken.
Another place you’re gonna find in the Mother Road Market is the Big Dipper Creamery, the ooey gooey
butter cake cream cheese ice cream…mmm…the best. The Philbrook Museum is a really incredible
place. You’re gonna see classical art from the past, current pieces,
sculptures; there’s an incredible, beautifully maintained garden that you can walk out back.
The Gathering Place is a must-stop while you’re in Tulsa. It’s a magical place. You can canoe
while you’re there. You can go see art while you’re there. You can appreciate the incredible
architecture. I love to go with no agenda and just explore. It is a true adventure.
I love Tulsa because of so many things that I can choose from to do. It’s
just an incredible place. Welcome to Tulsa, Oklahoma. You’re gonna have the best time.
Julie Underwood: When we talk about Chickasaw Country, it’s
actually the home of the Chickasaw people. We have many different creeks and lakes and many different
places you can hike and you can see all different animals. It’s just a wonderful place to be.
The Chickasaw Cultural Center is known as the heartbeat of the nation. At the Cultural Center,
you can learn where the Chickasaw people started, all the way up until current times.
You can visit the traditional village, try Indian tacos, see a live stomp dance demonstration. Stomp
dancing is a big part of my life because you know it’s what our ancestors would have done.
It’s the dances that were passed down to me. You know, it’s who I am, it’s a part
of me and it’s something I really enjoy. To me, some of the most important art to the
Chickasaw people are the traditional arts and crafts that were passed down from generation
to generation: the beaded collars, just beading in general. Any type of art or
craft that was passed down from generation to generation, I believe is the most important.
The Chickasaw National Recreation Area is very relaxing and it’s a just a great place
to unwind and just go for a walk. You can go to the Buffalo Trail, here in Sulphur,
and see buffalo as you’re walking, as you’re taking your hike. You know, the lake is beautiful;
kayaking on the lake is beautiful. It’s just very relaxing, meditating, calming.
The WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma, the world’s largest casino. You know,
you can spend the day at the golf course or you can go to the spa.
Bedré Chocolate is a Chickasaw-owned chocolate factory in Sulfur. I like to go by and pick
up their Caramel Macchiatos. It’s one of my favorites. And then you could drive, you know,
just down the road and go to the Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies and get you a wonderful fried pie.
My favorite is the peach, but they have many different types you can try and choose from.
Being Chickasaw, it’s a special feeling, it’s something that I’m very proud of,
coming from the ancestors that I did, I’m taught to be proud that I’m Chickasaw and I am proud.
A couple of Chickasaw phrases is: “Chiholloli” which is my favorite;
it’s “I love you.” “Chokma'shki” (“thank you”) and “Chipisalacho,” which is “see you later.”