julian hayes author at My Family Travels
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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...

Read More    9 min read

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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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How Oklahoma’s Amish Cheese Is Still Made the Slow Way, With Hand-Stirred Curds and Zero Shortcuts

Think you've tasted real cheese? We're talking about authentic Amish cheese, hand-stirred in copper kettles, aged to perfection, and created without a single modern shortcut.

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Oklahoma’s Skeleton-Packed Museum That’s Jaw-Dropping in the Creepiest Way

Think museums are boring? Think again. Inside an unassuming building in Oklahoma City is a collection that will make your jaw...

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This Unassuming Oklahoma Mexican Cafe Is the Kind of Place Locals Don’t Explain, They Just Send You

Some restaurants announce themselves with neon signs and billboards. Others let their reputation do the talking. Pecina's Mexican...

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So Wide Open It Feels Empty, This Oklahoma State Park Makes You Wonder Where Everyone Went

Oklahoma has some incredible state parks, but here's the real question: why do so many people drive right past one of the most unique landscapes in the entire state?

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This Oklahoma Restaurant Feels Like a Matrix Glitch You’re Supposed to Walk Into

Ever stumbled upon a place so wildly unexpected you wonder if reality just hiccuped? Tulsa has one of those spots, hiding in plain sight on South Lewis Avenue.

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This Oklahoma Ghost Town Checked Out Early and Never Came Back to Clock In

Some towns simply vanish from the map, Sparks, Oklahoma, is one that punched its last time card and never looked back. Once...

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This Vintage Oklahoma Hamburger Stand Is One of the Last Places Making Root Beer From Scratch

Oklahoma locals know the best secrets aren't always shouted from the rooftops, but is this vintage hamburger stand truly serving the state's best scratch-made root beer, or are...

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This Amish Bakery in Oklahoma Is Sold Out Long Before Noon

Tucked into the heart of northeastern Oklahoma, Chouteau sits quietly along historic routes that once carried travelers between bustling cities and rural plains. Today, the small...

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Why Oklahoma’s Lake Dam Spillways Are Now Overrun by Visitors Who Were Never Meant to Find Them

Is Oklahoma hiding the coolest hangout spots in plain sight, or are we all just late to the party? Spillways across the state have gone from forgotten infrastructure to viral sensation,...

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This Oklahoma All-You-Can-Eat Foodie Surprise Looks Ordinary Until the First Bite

Oklahoma locals have been debating this one for years: can a single buffet really nail every type of cuisine under one roof, or is it just another overhyped all-you-can-eat trap...

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This Oklahoma State Park Feels Like a Total Geographic Mistake

Oklahoma locals have been whispering about a state park that looks like Mother Nature got her geography all mixed up, and honestly, they might be onto something.

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This Oklahoma All-You-Can-Eat Catfish Fry Is One of the State’s Best-Kept Secrets

Tucked away in the wide-open country outside Elk City, Oklahoma, sits a roadhouse that locals have been whispering about for decades. Simon's Catch is the kind of place you stumble...

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This Oklahoma Lake Town Is a Foodie Surprise Few People Expect

Tucked away in southeastern Oklahoma, Hochatown is a tiny lake town that most folks drive past without a second thought. But here's the thing: this unassuming spot near Broken...

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The Middle-of-Nowhere Café in Oklahoma Locals Say Is Worth Every Mile

Tucked along a stretch of historic Route 66 in Stroud, Oklahoma, Rock Café stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of America's Mother Road. The small town of Stroud sits...

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These Small-Town Oklahoma Fried Chicken Stops Are Worth Every Mile

Oklahoma stretches wide and welcoming, a place where small towns keep traditions alive and hospitality runs deep. Rolling plains meet quiet Main Streets lined with vintage storefronts,...

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This Low-Key Oklahoma Buffet Is a Standing Weekend Tradition

Oklahoma City holds a quiet charm that extends beyond its modern skyline and sprawling urban neighborhoods. Tucked into the fabric...

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These Are the Traditional Amish Meals You Can Still Find in Rural Oklahoma

Tucked into the quiet corners of rural Oklahoma, Amish communities have preserved a way of cooking that values simplicity, sustenance, and the kind of flavors that linger long...

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This Oklahoma Buffet Thrives Without Ever Advertising

Tucked into a strip mall along South Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nelson's Buffeteria has been serving up honest, hearty comfort food since 1929. This family-run institution...

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These Hidden Hole-in-the-Wall Spots Across Oklahoma Turn Skeptics Into Regulars

Oklahoma stretches across prairies, small towns, and winding highways where surprises hide in plain sight. Beyond the bustling...

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The Low-Key Oklahoma Restaurant Locals Refuse to Tag Online

Oklahoma City holds secrets that only the locals know about, and Florence's Restaurant sits quietly at the top of that list. Tucked...

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If You Need a Reset Button for Real Life, This Quiet Oklahoma Town Delivers

Sulphur sits tucked into the rolling hills of southern Oklahoma, a small town where the pace slows and the air feels different. Named...

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