julian hayes author at My Family Travels
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10 Oklahoma Unexpected Spots Most Locals Don’t Even Know About

Oklahoma is one of those states that people drive through without stopping, and honestly, that's their loss. Beneath the flat...

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This Century-Old Oklahoma Iron Bridge Is A Scenic Stop For Walkers And Cyclists

Every once in a while you come across a place that makes you pause without even meaning to. That is exactly what happens when you see an old iron bridge stretching across calm...

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The Tiny Oklahoma Town Locals Wish Would Stay a Secret

Some places feel like they exist mostly for the people who live nearby. You will not see billboards pointing the way, tour buses lined up outside, or crowds competing for the perfect...

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Eat All-Day Breakfast Like It’s 1950 at This Retro Oklahoma Diner

You walk through a door and suddenly it's 1950 again. The music is upbeat, the booths are cozy, and the smell of a fresh homemade breakfast hits you before you even sit down.

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This Oklahoma Diner Has Absolutely Perfected the Classic Chicken Fried Steak

I have had plenty of meals that fade the second I walk out the door. Then there are the ones that stick with you, the kind you keep thinking about later without even trying.

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This Hidden Oklahoma Park Might Be the Lakeside Escape You’ve Been Dreaming Of

Sometimes you stumble onto a place and immediately think, why did it take me so long to get here? Imagine a mix of tall trees lining the road as you drive in, deer grazing near...

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This Oklahoma Classic Has Been Frying Up Chicken Fried Steak For Nearly A Century

Some places seem to ignore the passage of time. Trends come and go, the economy rises and falls, and food fads sweep through the country, yet they keep serving the same meals to...

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This Picturesque State Park In Oklahoma Is So Little Known, Even Locals Rarely Stumble Across It

Most people drive right past it without a second glance, and honestly, that might be exactly what makes it so special. Somewhere in eastern Oklahoma near the Ouachita foothills,...

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This Small-Town Oklahoma Diner Serves Catfish, Onion Burgers, and a Strawberry Cake Locals Can’t Resist

Imagine you're driving through a small Oklahoma town, stomach growling, and you spot a little diner that looks like it's been feeding the community for generations. You almost...

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This Stunning Oklahoma Canyon Was Once Sacred Ground For The Cheyenne People

The first time you see the canyon walls rise out of the Oklahoma plains, it feels unexpected. Rugged cliffs and layered rock formations break up the rolling prairie, creating a...

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This Surreal Oklahoma Cave Is One Of The State’s Best-Kept Secrets

Oklahoma doesn't get nearly enough credit for its wild, unexpected landscapes. Most people picture flat plains and oil rigs, but then there's this place that flips that image completely...

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This Modern Oklahoma Bakery Uses A 36-Hour Sourdough Process For Its Signature Pizza Squares

Forget everything you thought you knew about bakeries. There is a spot in Oklahoma City where the smell hits you before you even open the door, where the bread is alive in the...

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The Average Oklahoman Has Only Visited 6 of These 15 Must-See Spots

Oklahoma hides its best places in plain sight, and most people drive right past them without a second glance. Ask any local if they have seen everything the state has to offer,...

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The Easy Oklahoma Hike That Leads You Across A Hidden Suspension Bridge

The first time I walked this trail in southern Oklahoma, I could hear the water before I could see it. The path wound through tall shade trees, the sound of a creek getting louder...

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This Massive Oklahoma Haunted Attraction Lets Horror Fans Spend The Night

If you think haunted houses are just a quick walk-through with a few foggy hallways and someone in a rubber mask, this one in Oklahoma is about to completely change your mind....

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This Oklahoma Wildlife Ranch Lets You Hand-Feed Giraffes and Meet Exotic Animals Up Close

Somewhere off a quiet road in Wanette, Oklahoma, there is a place where you can hand-feed a giraffe, feed and pet fruit bats in the bat cave, and spend the night with lemurs just...

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This Abandoned Oklahoma Frontier Town Is A Haunting Time Capsule

Every now and then you stumble onto a place that makes you pause and wonder how it managed to stay off your radar for so long. There is a quiet stretch of southeastern Oklahoma...

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The Haunted Oklahoma Military Fort Packed With Bone-Chilling Ghost Stories

The second you step through the gate, you can almost feel the weight of history pressing down on your shoulders. Old military forts have a way of doing that, especially ones that...

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This Oklahoma BBQ Joint Surprises With Out-of-This-World German Chocolate Cake

I almost drove right past this Oklahoma BBQ joint the first time. It does not scream for attention. No flashy signs, no trendy...

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Inside An Elite Oklahoma Steakhouse Serving Ribeye Fit For Royalty

The second you walk into Boulevard Steakhouse in Edmond, you can tell this is not just dinner. The lighting, the quiet hum of conversation, the way the staff moves with confidence,...

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A Laid-Back Oklahoma Spot Perfect for Coffee Lovers and Their Dogs

Look, I'm going to be honest with you. Finding a place that genuinely welcomes your furry best friend while serving legitimately good food is like striking gold.

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A Hidden Oklahoma Springs Oasis Perfect for Peace and Adventure

Most people drive through Sulphur, Oklahoma without stopping, and honestly, that is their loss. Antelope Springs is one of those rare places that feels like a secret the locals...

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This Cozy Oklahoma Spot Is Serving Plates That Deserve Their Own Punctuation

I’ve had that moment where I walk into a place and immediately think, how is this not all over my feed? That’s exactly what happened the first time I stepped into a downtown...

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The Tiny Oklahoma Town Known for Airshows, Fizzy Treats, and Throwback Charm

Plenty of drivers cruise straight through Frederick, Oklahoma without ever slowing down, which is a mistake they probably don't realize they are making.

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This Oklahoma Burrito Is All Beef, No Fillers, And Locals Can’t Get Enough

Some restaurants earn their reputation quietly, one loyal customer at a time, and Abuelita Rosa's Mexican Restaurant in Shawnee, Oklahoma is exactly that kind of place.

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The World’s Largest Concrete Totem Pole Stands Proud in a Hidden Oklahoma Park

I was not prepared for the first glimpse of Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park. One minute I was cruising a quiet stretch of highway in northeast Oklahoma, the next I was pulling over...

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The Burgers At This No-Frills Joint in Oklahoma Are Being Called One of the Best in America

Look, I'm not one to throw around superlatives lightly, but after eating my way through what felt like every burger joint from coast to coast, I finally found myself standing in...

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This Enormous Thrift Store in Oklahoma Lets You Treasure Hunt for Hours

Walking into a thrift store the size of a football field changes everything you thought you knew about secondhand shopping. Best Thrift in Oklahoma City is not your grandmother's...

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This Scenic Oklahoma Mountain Retreat Is The Escape Your Bucket List’s Been Waiting For

You know that feeling when you stumble across a place that makes you question everything you thought you knew about a state? That's the Wichita Mountains for you.

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Tacos, Tamales, and Total Flavor, This Oklahoma Mexican Spot Is Salsa-mazing

You can tell a place has roots when the welcome starts before you even open a menu. That was my first impression at Chelino's Mexican Restaurant in Oklahoma City.

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Oklahoma Wildlife Haven Isn’t So Wild Anymore, Tourist Crowds Are Taking Over

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge used to feel like a secret. A place where migratory birds outnumbered people, where the landscape stretched white and endless under a big Oklahoma...

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This Small Oklahoma Town Is Proof You Don’t Need Big Crowds For Big Character

There's something magnetic about a place that refuses to apologize for being small. Alva sits in the northwest corner of Oklahoma, population just over 5,000, and it carries itself...

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Drive Through Oklahoma’s Mountains On An Adventure You’ll Never Forget

I definitely didn’t grow up thinking Oklahoma had mountains worth bragging about. If you had asked me, I would have pictured flat highways stretching forever, oil rigs on the...

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Once a Peaceful Oasis, This Oklahoma Lake Is Now Swarmed by Tourists

I first visited Skipout Lake back when you could count the number of campers on one hand. Secluded in the northwestern corner of Oklahoma near the Texas border, this small reservoir...

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Tourists Ruined This Quiet Oklahoma Woodland, and Locals Just Walk Away

I drove out to Washita National Wildlife Refuge expecting the kind of peaceful solitude that Oklahoma's wide-open spaces promise. Instead, I found something unsettling: a place...

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Endless Fish Fry Fridays That Put This Oklahoma Spot On The Map

You ready to chase a small-town tradition that actually lives up to the hype? Moore’s Fish Farm in Inola keeps it simple and gets it right.

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This Route 66 Oklahoma Landmark Is Revving Up A Vintage Motorcycle Treasure Hunt

I was not looking for anything special when I pulled off Route 66 near Warwick, but that is usually how the best discoveries happen.

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This Vintage Oklahoma Train Ride Feels Like Traveling Back in Time

I still remember the first time I stepped onto the grounds of the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City and felt like I'd walked straight into a different era. The scent of...

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This Under-the-Radar Oklahoma State Park Feels Like a Lake Escape Locals Aren’t Advertising

Locals in eastern Oklahoma have been keeping a secret, and honestly, who can blame them? Greenleaf State Park sits tucked near Braggs, offering 930 acres of forested beauty wrapped...

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This Backroad Oklahoma Stop Is Serving Outrageously Delicious Fried Chicken and Okra

Some road trips are planned around landmarks. Others end up revolving around fried chicken. That is how I found myself in Okarche,...

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This Oklahoma Swinging Bridge Turns A Simple Walk Into A Heart-Pounding Experience

Some steps make you pause before you take them. The Swinging Bridge in Pawhuska was one of those moments for me. I grabbed the...

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This Oklahoma All-You-Can-Eat Korean BBQ Lets You Meat Your Limits, A February Must-Try

The first time I sat down at Maple Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, I realized pretty quickly that this was not a meal you just sit through. The grill in the middle of the table pulls...

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This Oklahoma Country Diner Is Quietly Winning Over Coffee Lovers and Breakfast Regulars Alike

Is there anything better than finding a breakfast spot that actually delivers what it promises without the fuss, the wait, or the wallet damage?

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This Peaceful Oklahoma River Cruise Is the Chillest Surprise Hiding in Plain Sight

Right in the middle of the urban buzz, there's a waterway so calm it feels like you've stumbled into a secret escape route from the everyday grind. Oklahoma River Cruises at Bricktown...

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This Massive Steak in Oklahoma Is the Kind of Classic Locals Swear By

Oklahoma City holds a dining treasure that has been serving hungry patrons since 1910, and locals cannot stop talking about it. Cattlemen's Steakhouse sits in the heart of Stockyards...

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This Little-Known Oklahoma Artesian Well Is Where the State’s Purest Water Comes From

I never thought a roadside water source would become one of my favorite stops in Oklahoma, but here we are. The deVine Water Artesian Well sits quietly along Highway 11 near Burlington,...

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This Oklahoma Ramen Bowl Is a Full-Blown Foodie Surprise, Consider Yourself Broth-erly Warned

I always thought ramen was just a grab-and-go kind of thing: fast, cheap, maybe a little sad. Then I found JINYA Ramen Bar, and wow… it completely changed the game.

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8 Low-Key Oklahoma Seafood Joints Where the Catfish Tastes Straight Off the Dock

Most people assume great seafood only happens near an ocean. But Oklahoma locals know better. Across the state, unassuming...

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Sleep Aboard a WWII Submarine in Oklahoma and Pretend You’re on a Secret Mission

Sleeping on a submarine sounds like something you'd do in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, not landlocked Oklahoma. Hidden in Muskogee, a genuine World War II combat submarine...

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Oklahoma Foodie Surprise Is Hiding in Plain Sight, and Locals Know It

Some folks spend their whole lives searching for the perfect burger, and others just happen to stumble into El Reno and find it waiting on a griddle. If you think all diners are...

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