Skip the crowds: These hidden gems are the 6 most overlooked in Oklahoma, says World Atlas

Alexia Aston, The Oklahoman
·4 min read
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Oklahoma boasts nearly 200 cities and over 400 towns, each with its own unique flavor and tourism draws.

But some hidden gems haven't quite been discovered by tourists and offer incredible experiences without the crowds.

According to World Atlas, a website publishing content about resources and entertainment on geography, these are the communities most overlooked by tourists in the state:

Medicine Park, Oklahoma's first resort town

Medicine Park, located in southwestern Oklahoma, is Oklahoma's first resort town.

World Atlas cites the town's man-made Bath Lake Swimming Hole, the Medicine Park Aquarium and Natural Science Center and Mrs. Chadwick's Bakery as draws to the area.

Near Medicine Park is the Wichita Wildlife Mountain Refuge, which is a 59,000-acre preserve dedicated to protecting American Bison, and the Holy City of the Wichitas.

Medicine Park also features opportunities to camp, fish, hike and boat, among other outdoor activities.

Inside the town are several businesses where visitors can shop for t-shirts, toys, handmade goods and many other retail items.

More: 10 must-see places in Oklahoma to add to your travel bucket list

Guthrie

Guthrie sits in Oklahoma's central region and has a population of almost 11,000, according to World Atlas.

The Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie on Friday, April 1, 2022.
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie on Friday, April 1, 2022.

The former capital of the Oklahoma territory, Guthrie is home to the Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore Museum and the Oklahoma Territorial Museum.

World Atlas highlights Guthrie's self-guided walking tours of the city which showcases how President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal affected the area's infrastructure.

Guthrie musem: He was an outlaw. Then, he was a mummy. Now, Elmer McCurdy has his own musical

Outside of Guthrie's historical activities, the city also hosts two acclaimed golf courses: the Cimarron National Golf Club and Cedar Valley Golf Course.

The city also features the Beacon Drive-In Theatre.

Broken Bow and Hochatown

World Atlas cites outdoor and athletic activities in the communities of Broken Bow and Hochatown as reasons for inclusion on the list.

Stags Leap Lodge in Broken Bow is Oklahoma's most expensive Airbnb, according to a report from Best Brokers.
Stags Leap Lodge in Broken Bow is Oklahoma's most expensive Airbnb, according to a report from Best Brokers.

The southeastern Oklahoma communities offer opportunities for swimming, boating, paddle boarding, canoeing and kayaking as they sit next to Broken Bow Lake and Mountain Fork River, reports World Atlas.

There are also horseback rides through mountain trails with Riverman Trail Rides and the Rugaru Adventures zipline park.

A few miles north of Broken Bow sits Beavers Bend State Park which is home to hiking trails and the Ouachita National Forest, according to World Atlas.

More: The best small town in the state is in southeast Oklahoma, according to Southern Living

Pauls Valley

Pauls Valley is home to the Santa Fe Depot Museum, which holds a history of Oklahoma railways and displays a fully restored train station built in 1905, memorabilia and photographs, according to World Atlas.

The city also hosts the Toy and Action Figure Museum, which is home to the Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection.

The Toy & Action Figure Museum is at 111 S Chickasaw St. in Pauls Valley
The Toy & Action Figure Museum is at 111 S Chickasaw St. in Pauls Valley

Additionally, the city features the Pauls Valley Water Park which boasts a 5,600 square-foot multi-use pool, a lazy river and waterslides, according to World Atlas.

Pauls Valley also offers visitors a chance to gamble at the Jet Stream Casino, which is open every day for 24 hours.

More: World Atlas names these 8 cities the best places to live in Oklahoma. Do you agree?

Eufaula

Eufaula is home to the largest lake in the state, Lake Eufaula, which hosts angling tournaments, poker runs and a wakeboarding summit, according to World Atlas.

The city also features an ATV trail composed of Canadian River Valley sand, World Atlas highlights, and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp Resort.

The resort offers RV sites, a miniature gold course, swimming beaches and a sand volleyball court among other outdoor activities.

More: 5 gorgeous national parks within driving distance of Oklahoma City

Sulphur

According to World Atlas, Sulphur was named after the mineral springs located in the region, which contains three major spas: Echo Canyon Resort Spa, Sole'renity Spa and Artesian Spa.

World Atlas called Sulphur "southern Oklahoma's premiere vacation destination for pampering, relaxation, aroma therapy and physical restoration."

The 2024 Artesian Arts Festival will take place April 13 at the Artesian Plaza, adjacent to the Artesian Hotel and Spa in Sulphur.
The 2024 Artesian Arts Festival will take place April 13 at the Artesian Plaza, adjacent to the Artesian Hotel and Spa in Sulphur.

The city also has institutions such as the ARTesian Gallery and Studios and the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

Near the city is the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, and World Atlas highlights the Lake of the Arbuckles, Veterans Lake and Travertine Nature Center.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 6 most overlooked towns to visit in Oklahoma, according to World Atlas