Visit Oklahoma City: Oklahoma City National Memorial

The Oklahoma City National Memorial is dedicated to both the survivors and the lives that were lost in the tragic event that occurred on April 19, 1995.

It's free to visit and open 24 hours.

There is an adjacent museum that has an admission fee and limited hours, but we arrived to OKC upon the museum's closing, so we were unable to visit the museum.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial includes numerous symbolic areas in what was once the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Fifth Street, the Athenian Building and Oklahoma Water Resources Board

The Field of Empty Chairs pays respect to the 168 lives lost.

The Survivor Wall has plaques inscribed with the names of the over 600 survivors.  

The Survivor Tree remained standing after the attack, and is a symbol of hope and resilience. 

The gates at each end of the reflecting pool also have great significance.  One is marked 9:01, representing "the innocence before the attack," and the second gate is marked 9:03 - "the moment healing began."

The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a solemn place to visit.  You can't help but roam the grounds with a heavy heart.

But it is also a place of hope and healing.

Oklahoma City National Memorial
620 N Harvey Ave

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

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Visit Oklahoma: Mother Road Market

Mother Road Market is a food hall on Route 66 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

We stopped there to grab some snacks.

First we went to K66 General Store, where we got some sweets:

Tia's Superfood Triple Chocolate Chip Brownie

Oh Honey Sampler Box

The Sampler Box contained 6 different cookies - Basic Batch, Red, White & Velvet, Life of the Party, Gimme S'More, A Cream Come True, They "C" Me Rollin.  I had the Basic Batch (Chocolate Chip) - it was delish, and loaded with chocolate chips! 

We also got some juices from Pure Food + Juice:

We didn't have time to dine in, but they do have many other food vendors that serve everything from burgers to tacos.

Mother Road Market
1124 S Lewis Ave
Tulsa, OK 74104

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Visit Oklahoma: Pops!

Pops! is a must-stop on Route 66 while in Arcadia, Oklahoma.  This gas station x restaurant x convenience store x soda ranch is such a fun place to visit, even if you don't dine there!

We decided to have dinner there, and although it was a bit of a wait before we got seated, we browsed through the immense selection of sodas at Pops!

There were sodas on shelves, in refrigerated cases, lining the walls - they were everywhere, and in every flavor imaginable (we bought a 6-pack of various flavors to enjoy later).  

As for dinner, we ordered: 

Country Style Chicken Strips

The Chicken Strips were served with black pepper gravy, mashed potatoes, and Texas toast. 

Pops Sampler

The Pops Sampler consisted of Queso Fries, Fried Pickles, and a Chicken Quesadilla.

Norman Burger

The Norman Burger had white queso, pulled pork, BBQ sauce, and onion straws. 

Oklahoma Burger

The Oklahoma Burger was topped with Thousand Island dressing, provolone, smoked bacon, and fried onion strings. 

Be sure to order one of their Hand-Dipped Shakes!

Service was excellent and the food was great!

Pops! was a super fun stop in Oklahoma!

Pops!

660 OK-66

Arcadia, OK 73007

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Visit Tulsa: Hurts Donuts

Hurts Donuts originated in Missouri, and has several locations throughout other states, including Oklahoma.  We stopped at the location in Tulsa, which is open 24 hours (as are their other locations).  

Jesús

I got the signature Jesús - a white cake donut topped with vanilla frosting, cinnamon and sugar, and a caramel drizzle.  Such simple flavors, but so delish when combined!

S'Mores

Moose Munch

Cookies and Cream

Cookie Monster

Hurts Donuts has a huge variety of donuts - ring donuts, bars, long johns, red velvet cake donuts, and more!

If you love donuts, definitely check out a Hurts!

Hurts Donuts
111 S Detroit Ave

Tulsa, OK 74120

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Visit Tulsa: The Outsiders House Museum

If you've ever watched the 80s classic The Outsiders, the coming-of-age story of a group of adolescents and the socio-economic challenges they faced, then you'll want to visit The Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa, where the movie was actually filmed.

This film, which catapulted the careers of then-unknown actors (such as Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, and Tom Cruise) is beloved my many, and a visit to The Outsiders House Museum is a fantastic tribute to the film.

Having been saved from demolition, the property was not in the best of shape, but the current owners rebuilt and restored what they could, going great lengths to not only preserve what they could of the original home, but also secure the original props from the movie.  

We ended up booking a private tour, where we got to hear some really great tidbits about the history of the movie and the filming, as well as interesting information about the actors and the props.   Many of the actors have been and continue to visit the museum!

Hundreds of original props as well as memorabilia can be found all throughout the home.  

Throughout The Outsiders House are images of the movie that correspond to the different rooms in the home.  

The owners are very welcoming, allowing people to touch props and take photos so you can recreate popular scenes from the movie.

The owners are well-versed in everything The Outsiders, having watched the movie many times over, capturing individual clips to hunt down as much as they can from the original film, whether it be clothing or appliances.  

They have done a fantastic job, and a visit to The Outsiders House Museum was truly a step back in time, making me want to watch the movie all over again.

The Outsiders House Museum

731 N St Louis Ave

Tulsa, OK 74106
 

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Visit Tulsa: Ron's Hamburgers & Chili

Ron's Hamburgers & Chili is a mainstay in Oklahoma, crafting burgers and chili for nearly 5 decades.  There are numerous locations throughout Oklahoma (as well as in Texas and Arkansas).  

Sausage Cheeseburger

The Sausage Cheeseburger was voted Oklahoma's Best Burger. It consists of beef and country sausage combined with onions fried into the meat.

Chili

Their Chili is award-winning as well!   

French Fries

Fried Pickles

The Fried Pickles were so delish and so addicting! The serving was very generous!

Ron's Hamburgers & Chili

1440 S Denver Ave

Tulsa, OK 74119
 

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Visit Oklahoma: Reba's Place

While in the middle of a road trip, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere.  I was getting hungry, so I Googled "restaurants near me," and was very surprised to see that Reba's Place - yes, that Reba, was just 5 minutes away!

Turns out, we were in Atoka, where Reba McEntire grew up, and her restaurant, which opened up just a few months ago, has been revitalizing this town!

Reba's Place is a two-story restaurant complete with a stage for live entertainment.

We lucked out with seats immediately, despite having no reservations (the wait after we arrived was about 30 minutes).  

Pinto Beans and Cornbread

Bacon Cheeseburger

Cherry Coke BBQ Burger

The Cherry Coke BBQ Burger was topped with brown sugar candied bacon, smoked cheddar, haystack onion & jalapeño, and cherry coke BBQ sauce.

Fried Green Tomato Sandwich

I had the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich, which came with pimento cheese and chow chow relish (side note - I had just read an article about chow chow relish before my trip, so it was neat that I actually had some knowledge about this Southern condiment).  

The sandwich itself was great, but the tots - they were next level!

If you've ever watched The Voice, where Reba would give those selected on her team a gift of tots, you may wonder why she gives them tots (other than the fact that she says she loves them).

Well, I think I know - they are just that amazing!

They are crispy and seasoned like I've never had anywhere! In fact, it kind of ruined me, because now when I have tots elsewhere, I can only compare it to Reba's and how it's just nowhere near as good.

If you find yourself in Atoka, be sure to visit Reba's Place!

Reba's Place
301 E Court St

Atoka, OK 74525

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Visit Tulsa: Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy Store

Braum's is an ice cream shop / fast food restaurant based in Oklahoma, with numerous locations throughout the state (and in other surrounding states too!).  

It was our first meal and ice cream stop while in Tulsa.  

Chicken Strips

I had Chicken Strips.  Paired with Braum's Dipping Sauce - it was a quick and tasty meal!  

Chicken Strips Dinner

The Chicken Strips Dinner came with fries, country gravy, Braum's Dipping sauce, a roll, and a cookie!  

Deluxe Bacon Cheeseburger

Frozen Yogurt

M&M Sundae

Cappucino Chunky Chocolate

Peanut Butter Cup

PB and chocolate is my fave combo, so of course I got the Peanut Butter Cup ice cream!

Braum's also sells groceries, so it's really a one-stop shop!  

Be sure to visit while in Oklahoma!
 

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