fiona tate author at My Family Travels
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8 Giant Oklahoma City Thrift Stores Where $40 Goes Shockingly Far

You walk in expecting to browse for ten minutes. Two hours later you are balancing a stack of vintage dishes, a jacket you did not plan to buy, and a lamp that somehow feels essential.

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This Oklahoma Drive-Through Safari Lets You Feed Bison Zebras, And Donkeys From Your Car Window

Imagine you're cruising down a dirt road, and a zebra just shoved its entire head through your car window. Nobody warned you. Nobody...

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This Small-Town Oklahoma Boutique Is A Treasure Trove Of Sassy Finds

You know how sometimes you walk into a store and immediately feel like it just gets you? Like someone with seriously good taste curated every single item with you in mind?

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The 10,000-Sq-Ft Mural Scavenger Hunt Hidden Under a Railroad Bridge in Oklahoma

Imagine standing beneath a railroad bridge, surrounded by an explosion of color that stretches as far as you can see in both directions. Most people drive right past this spot...

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Top 8 Chinese Restaurants In Oklahoma That Never Disappoint

I will admit it. When I first started looking for great Chinese food in Oklahoma, I was not expecting to be impressed. Then...

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This Oklahoma Backcountry Ranch Is A Thrill-Seeker’s Paradise

Imagine rolling Oklahoma backcountry, wide skies stretching to the horizon, and a ranch where outdoor adventure meets surprisingly refined hospitality.

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Oklahoma’s Catfish Spot That’s Totally Off the Hook With Flavor and Sides

There are places you stumble into by accident, and then there are places that stop you in your tracks the moment the smell hits you. You know the kind.

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Why This Oklahoma Lake Is Often Called The ‘Bermuda Triangle Of The State’

There is a lake in central Oklahoma that has earned itself a reputation far stranger than its calm surface suggests. People go missing on calm days, compasses behave oddly, and...

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The Mongolian Spot in Oklahoma Where Every Bowl Deserves a Shoutout

You know those meals that stick with you long after the plate is empty? I’m talking about the kind where you are part of the process, piling ingredients into a bowl, choosing...

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This Fairytale Oklahoma Castle Feels Like a Lakeside Wonderland

Perched on a rocky bluff above the sparkling waters of Lake Murray, Tucker Tower looks like something straight out of a storybook.

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This Oklahoma Museum Guards The Original Bill Of Rights And A Treasure Trove Of State History

Some museums feel like quiet, dusty rooms where time forgot to show up. And then there are places that stop you cold the moment you walk through the door, places where history...

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The Enormous Oklahoma Thrift Store Bargain Hunters Never Want To Leave

Most stores are quick in and out stops. Then there are the ones that pull you in and refuse to let you leave without exploring every corner.

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The Small-Town Oklahoma Restaurant With $28 Steaks Locals Swear Are The Best In The State

I almost drove right past this restaurant the first time. Amber is the kind of small Oklahoma town where you expect a quiet main street and not much else.

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The Cheesecakes at This Unassuming Oklahoma Cafe Are Next-Level Delicious

I did not expect to find one of the best cheesecakes in the state sitting in Bethany, Oklahoma. From the outside, it looks simple.

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The Giant Oklahoma Thrift Shop Where Bargain Hunters Go Wild

There are stores that just have a certain kind of magic, and Uptown Cheapskate Oklahoma City is exactly that kind of place. It sits on South Western Avenue and pulls in shoppers...

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This Oklahoma Visitor Center Is Your Entry Point To A Forgotten Mountain Range

I used to think I had Oklahoma figured out. Flat horizons, steady wind, long highways. Then I pulled off a road in southwest...

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This Oklahoma Smokehouse Is Bringing The Heat And The Meat

There's something about the smell of real smoke and slow-cooked meat that makes you pull off the highway without thinking twice.

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The Massive Thrift Store In Oklahoma Where $40 Feels Like a Steal

There is a thrift store in Del City, Oklahoma, that has people driving across the metro just to see what is inside. Value Village Thrift Store is not your average second-hand shop...

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This Giant Used Bookstore In Oklahoma Is A Page-Turning Marathon

The first time I stepped into Gardner's Used Books & Comics, I actually froze for a second. It just keeps going. Shelf...

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This Tiny Oklahoma Town Is Full of Route 66 History and Quirky Charm

I’ve driven through plenty of small towns that blur together after a while. Chandler didn’t. The moment I rolled into town...

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Inside a Small Oklahoma Boutique, This Café Is Winning Lunch in the Most Unexpected Way

Finding real food in small-town America can feel like searching for treasure. You know the drill: chain restaurants on every corner, the same menus, the same tired flavors.

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This Mother Road Oklahoma Museum Is Where History Hits The Gas

You know that feeling when you stumble onto something so genuine it makes every overproduced tourist trap look like a joke? That's exactly what happens when you roll up to this...

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Oklahoma’s Once-Peaceful Lake Is Now Stirring Controversy

Dahlgren Lake used to be the kind of place I’d head when I wanted zero drama. Toss a line in, listen to the water, maybe chat with a couple of regulars who had been fishing there...

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This Oklahoma Market Has Handmade Goods You Can’t Find Anywhere Else

I walked through the doors of the Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market on a bright Saturday morning and immediately felt transported back to my grandmother's weekend shopping trips....

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The Underground Cave Tour In Oklahoma Is a One-of-a-Kind Adventure You Can’t Miss

I used to roll my eyes a little when people described Oklahoma as nothing but flat prairie. I believed it too. Endless wheat...

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This Untamed Oklahoma Grassland Is Bigger, Quieter, And Wilder Than You’d Expect

The first time I drove through western Oklahoma, I remember thinking the horizon looked endless. The plains just kept going, sky melting into grass, and I almost missed Black Kettle...

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This Quirky Oklahoma Town Pumps Old-Time Charm, And Even Has A Gas Well On Main Street

The first time I rolled into Barnsdall, I felt like I’d driven straight into another era and nobody saw a reason to change a thing. It sits quietly in the hills of Osage County,...

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This Oklahoma BBQ Joint Serves Ribs So Tender, They’ll Stay on Your Mind All Week

You can smell it before you see it. That slow, steady hickory smoke hanging in the air is what pulled me toward Leo's BBQ. Since...

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This Unique Oklahoma Café Feels Like a Hidden Wonderland of Coffee and Art

You know that feeling when you think you are just grabbing coffee, and then you accidentally find a place you want to keep to yourself? That was me climbing the stairs to Perets...

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These Restaurants Hold The Title Of Oklahoma’s Most Expensive in 2026

I used to think you had to book a flight to find a truly expensive, over-the-top dining experience. Then I started looking closer at what is happening right here in Oklahoma.

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This Oklahoma Amish Store Is Where Locals Secretly Stockpile From

Some roadside stops barely register as you pass them. Others quietly rewrite your route. That is what happened the first time...

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This Massive Oklahoma Fabric Wonderland Is The Reason Crafters Are Hitting The Road This February

Imagine walking into a room where color climbs the walls and creativity feels contagious. That was my exact reaction the first time I stepped inside Threads of Tradition in Yukon.

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This Roadside Oklahoma BBQ Joint Serves Loaded Smokehouse Plates That Barely Fit on the Tray

Route 66 holds plenty of surprises for travelers cruising through Oklahoma, but few stops command the kind of devoted following that The Butcher BBQ Stand has earned over the years....

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This Family-Run Oklahoma Chocolate Shop Still Feels Like Stepping Back Into Childhood

Walking into Bedré Fine Chocolate in Davis feels like opening a storybook where every page smells like cocoa and happiness. This family-run chocolate shop, owned and operated...

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This Oklahoma Fabric Wonderland Will Make You Want To Start A New Project Immediately

Walking into Keepsake Fabric & Quilts in Moore feels like stepping into a creative sanctuary where every bolt of fabric whispers possibilities. When I discovered this quilting...

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This Oklahoma City Brunch Spot Channels Central Perk Energy This February

You know those mornings when all you want is good coffee, easy conversation, and a place that lets the day unfold at its own pace. That is exactly how I felt the first time I walked...

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These Romantic Getaways in Oklahoma Are All About Wide-Open Views and Zero Distractions

Romance in Oklahoma has nothing to do with packed schedules or flashy extras. It shows up when the road gets quiet, the views stretch out forever, and there is nothing pulling...

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9 Under-the-Radar Oklahoma Restaurants With Surprisingly Fresh Gulf-Style Shrimp, Oysters, and Po’ Boys

I used to think seafood in Oklahoma was something you tolerated, not something you sought out. Then I started paying attention to where locals actually eat when they want shrimp,...

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Oklahoma’s Amish-Style Bakery Where Comfort and Butter Make It a February Favorite

Front Porch Bakery sits along Route 66 in Claremore, Oklahoma, offering homemade comfort in every bite. This Amish-style spot has become a local treasure for anyone craving fresh...

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This Giant Oklahoma Fabric Wonderland Is Why Crafters Are Making Road Trips

I never expected to find myself driving across Oklahoma City just to visit a fabric store, but that was before I discovered Oklahoma Quiltworks at 9654 N May Ave.

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This Retro Oklahoma Diner Serves a Chicken-Fried Steak That Beats All Others

I have heard every argument imaginable about where Oklahoma’s best chicken-fried steak lives, and most of them miss the point. The real showdown happens when you slide into a...

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This Giant Oklahoma Junk Shop Has Treasure Hunters Driving in From Every Corner of the State

You know what people love to argue about? Whether vintage shopping is actually treasure hunting or just fancy thrift store browsing.

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11 Unassuming Spots in Oklahoma Serving Outrageously Fresh Seafood

Oklahoma and fresh seafood might sound like an unlikely pairing to some folks, but that assumption couldn't be more wrong. Landlocked doesn't mean limited when restaurant owners...

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This Oklahoma Antique Shop Is Packed With Architectural Oddities and a Name You Won’t Forget

Ever wonder where all those ornate doorknobs, vintage chandeliers, and stained glass windows from demolished mansions end up? Somewhere in Oklahoma City sits a treasure trove with...

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7 Best Barbecue Bologna Spots in Oklahoma That Locals Take Very Personally

Is smoked bologna a real barbecue contender, or just a nostalgic novelty that locals defend out of stubbornness? In Oklahoma, you'll start a heated debate if you suggest it's anything...

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How Tourists Ruined an Oklahoma Hidden Spot That Went Viral Overnight

Ever wonder what happens when a quiet natural gem gets blasted across every social media feed in existence? Natural Falls State Park in Oklahoma used to be the kind of place locals...

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This Once-Quiet Oklahoma Spot Is Now Tourist Ruined, According to Locals

The first time I went to Turner Falls Park, it felt like a secret someone trusted me with. Cold, clear water. The steady roar...

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Oklahoma Café Where Rescue Cats Rule While You Sip Your Coffee

Can we all agree that the best kind of therapy involves zero appointments, no judgment, and a whole lot of purring? Some folks swear by hiking trails or hot yoga, but what if you...

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People Will Chicken-Out of Any Plan to Drive for This No-Frills Oklahoma Fried Chicken

Some folks claim they'd drive across state lines for the perfect fried chicken, but when it comes to Nashbird in Oklahoma City, people aren't just willing to cancel plans, they're...

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This Unofficial Indian Taco Trail Is One of Oklahoma’s Best-Kept Food Secrets

What if the best tacos in Oklahoma aren't topped with cheddar and ground beef, but with beans, lettuce, and tradition? Forget the chain restaurants and drive-thru windows.

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