From Singing Cowboys to Today’s Country Legends
This tour explores Oklahoma’s unique musical past and present. From the songs of the common man written by legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie to the chart-topping hits of country superstars Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton, Oklahomans have long been churning out tunes that touch world. Music has long been an integral part of the Oklahoma experience.
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Next, visit the American Banjo Museum, housing the largest collection of banjos on public display in the world and is the only museum dedicated to just the banjo. Enjoy a self-guided tour through banjo history from its humble African roots through its heyday during the roaring ’20s to its present-day voice in bluegrass, folk, jazz and world music. Then, take a seat in the performance venue modeled after one of the wildly popular banjo nightclubs of the 1960s, known as Your Father’s Mustache, to enjoy lunch followed with a banjo performance.
The afternoon also includes a visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial, dedicated to the victims of the bombing in Oklahoma City of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
Dinner is included this evening at Toby Keith’s ‘I Love This Bar’ Restaurant. Named for the country singer’s hit single, Toby Keith’s ‘I Love This Bar & Grill’ offers a down-home dining and entertainment experience right in the middle of OKC’s historic Bricktown. Come as you are for daily beer specials and good, old-fashioned country favorites like chicken fried steak, pork chops topped with homemade jalapeño peach jam – even calf fries! (B,L,D)
Following your visit to the mural, stop at the Stephens County Historical Museum to learn their stories. Enjoy lunch on own today in Duncan.
While in Duncan, you also tour the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, an interactive adventure for cowboys and cowgirls of all ages. The historic Chisholm Trail led cattle from south Texas to northern states. It played a significant role in the development of the American West, driving millions of cattle through Oklahoma between 1867 to 1877.
Here, you’ll be introduced to an assortment of historical figures who helped carve out this famous route. Visitors to the center are greeted by life-size sculptures of cowboys driving longhorns along the trail. Step inside to find the trail drawn out on a path to give visitors a sense of the trail’s geography and the cultural impact it had on the region.
This afternoon, stop in the small southern town of Gene Autry, OK to visit the Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum. The museum is home to the largest private B-Western collection on display in the United States. See fascinating exhibits showcasing Old Western living, movies and music in addition to local historical artifacts and memorabilia. Of course, the museum features Gene Autry and the Singing Cowboys, but also features other cowboys and western stars as well.
Enjoy dinner today at Blake Shelton’s Ole Red in Tishomingo. Inspired by Blake Shelton’s No. 1 hit “Ol’ Red,” visitors are invited to paint the town red seven days a week while enjoying delicious food, great music and must-have souvenirs. Created by Shelton to promote local business in his hometown, Ole Red Tishomingo has become a tourist destination welcoming old and new friends from across the globe.
End the day in Durant, OK at the Choctaw Resort and Casino. The Casino features 7,400 slot machines, over 100 table games, and a state-of-the-art poker room. Indulge in delicious dining at any of the 16 restaurants and take in the biggest names in entertainment at the Grand Theater and Gilley’s. Or play at The District, which features bowling, an arcade, and six movie theatres. Need to unwind? Visit the Spa or the pool location – Aqua at Sky Tower – furnished with private cabanas. (B,D)
The afternoon features a stop in Muskogee, OK at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. More than 100 of the world’s most famous musicians, artists and songwriters have the distinct honor of being inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Oklahoma’s roots are firmly planted in rich musical history, and the state has produced dozens of notable talents whose gifts and musical styles are as breathtaking and diverse as the Oklahoma landscape.
Inductees include acclaimed musicians, singers, songwriters and performers like Woody Guthrie, Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, Kristin Chenoweth, and many more. Muskogee was designated as home of the facility, in a nod to Merle Haggard, also an inductee, who put the place on the map with his Okie from Muskogee.
End the day in Tulsa, OK with a two-night stay at a local hotel. Tonight, enjoy a free evening in downtown Tulsa, home to awe-inspiring sunsets and some of the most ornate art deco architecture in the world. You’ll also find the city’s best restaurants, bars and breweries downtown. Plus, you can find live music in Tulsa any day of the week. (B,L)
Next, tour the Bob Dylan Center offering unprecedented access to the creative life of one of America’s most important and influential artists. Designed by Olson Kundig, the world-class Bob Dylan Center houses and exhibits exclusive cultural treasures created and owned by Bob Dylan over seven decades. These include handwritten lyric manuscripts to some of the world’s most treasured songs, previously unreleased recordings, never-before-seen film performances, rare and unseen photographs, visual art and other priceless items spanning Dylan’s unparalleled career as one of the world’s most important cultural figures.
The afternoon features a guided tour of the Church Studio. Walk within the walls where Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Kansas, and Leon Russell walked. The Church Studio is hallowed ground and the epicenter of the famed Tulsa Sound. Unlike other historic studio “museums,” The Church Studio is a real-world working recording studio that boasts top-of-the-line analog and digital gear. Don’t be surprised if you get to peek into an actual recording session.
Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
This tour explores Oklahoma’s unique musical past and present. From the songs of the common man written by legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie to the chart-topping hits of country superstars Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton, Oklahomans have long been churning out tunes that touch world. Music has long been an integral part of the Oklahoma experience.