Welcome back. With the closing of most of the trade shows where I have been scheduled for book signings as well as many area museums, I have been thinking what better time for a road trip? But there is a problem, with so many great spots a person could go to in the area, the question is which one to choose.
I would start with Woolaroc for both the scenery and the animals. It is still open but with things changing so rapidly I suggest you call before you go at (918)-336-0307.
As of this writing area lakes are all open too and for you readers who are having a bout of cabin fever you might think about a day trip to one of them. Copan and Hulah lakes both have plenty of nice picnic tables and if you are ready for spring you will find that the grass and trees are already turning green. If you want to go a little further, up in Parsons, Kansas you’ll find the Parsons city lake which offers plenty of free spots where you can stop and enjoy mother nature.
To the east is one of my favorite local destinations, Oolagah Lake where the views are magnificent. Oolagah of course is the home of Will Rogers and I understand his birthplace the Dog Iron Ranch is still open to visitors.
Going west you come to another of my favorite spots, Osage Hills State Park which has its own lake that is perfect for fishing and kayaking. Osage Hills also has many great picnic spots and hiking trails. Down the road a ways you will find Bluestem Lake which is over by Pawhuska and well worth the drive. Friends there tell me the fishing is great and it’s not unusual to spot a bald eagle or two circling around the lake.
The Nature Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve sits outside of Pawhuska and it is another wonderful place to visit in the spring. Anywhere along the drive you may run into a bunch of free ranging bison and this is the time of year when they are having babies. You may also see an elusive prairie chicken or two, birds which were once plentiful and now have become quite rare. While you’re at the preserve you can tour the old Chapman Barnard Ranch headquarters and see where cowboy actor Ben Johnson grew up while his dad was the ranch foreman.
If you’re still looking for more you might also think about visiting Hominy which is just another short drive away. There is a wonderful lake close to town with great views and Hominy is where the original Drummond family home is located. A must see for any history buff, the home has many of the original furnishings and an extensive exhibit about the family’s role in settling Oklahoma.
Yes folks, gas is cheap and you’ll be able to avoid close contact with others as we have been instructed so what better time to cheer yourself up spending some time in the great outdoors.
I’ll end with a vision I had this week. Many of you long time readers know I often refer to myself in jest as a scout, tracker, translator and interpreter and so this week I am going to make two predictions. First, the Tower Center at Unity Square project that is under construction between the Price Tower and the Community Center is going to change the face of Bartlesville tremendously by attracting even more people to the downtown area. I know you may have already heard of this project but I’m predicting it will have even more of an impact than they think!
Second, by this time next year food banks around the country will start receiving their largest donations ever as the result of the stocking up on food that people are doing everywhere.
Till next time I’ll see ya down the road….