Oklahoma

National Memorial and Museum
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma is the state directly west of Arkansas, where I live.  It is in the center of the United States from East to West.  It is a state that has a little bit of everything geographically.  It shares the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains with our state but also has a large area of prairie grasslands since it is in the southern edge of the Great Plains Region.  There are 50 State Parks, 6 National Parks or regions and a total of 11 different ecological areas.  Everything from scuba diving to rock climbing is available for outdoor adventure travelers.

Holy City Easter Pageant Ground
Lawton, Oklahoma - Vintage card

Route 66 – the legendary highway that linked the eastern states to the west from 1926 until 1985 – had over 400 miles in Oklahoma.   It has been called the Main Street of America, The Mother Road or the Will Rogers Highway.  It was the road used by many who migrated to California during the Dust Bowl years when severe drought struck the southeastern part of the United States.  Museums about Route 66 are in Elk City, Chandler and Clinton. 

Native American Dancer vintage postcard
 

The Trail of Tears ended in Oklahoma.  This was the largest forced migration of Native American peoples during the 19^th Century.  You will find museums in several cities in Oklahoma that chronicle this sad time in the history of our country.  There remains a large Native American population in Oklahoma who continue to follow their traditions.   Native American gatherings are held throughout the year with many of them open to those who would like to learn about their unique culture.  The Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City is held annually, a gathering of 100 or more Native American Tribes from all over the United States.  Exhibits of art are on display along with some ritual dances to observe.

The International Rodeo Association headquarters are in Oklahoma City and rodeos are major sporting events in the state.   You can find many other interesting places to visit in Oklahoma and their website is interactive so it allows you to quickly locate the places that are waiting for you to visit.  The website for tourism in Oklahoma is http://www.travelok.com .

    

 

Illinois

Vintage - North Outer Drive
and Skyline of Chicago

Illinois State Capitol and
 Statue of Abraham Lincoln

Illinois is the land of many things…cornfields, college towns, river cities, the home of Abraham Lincoln, wine country, LGBT travel, the beginning of the famous Route 66 and of course, Chicago, one of America’s big cities.  I think of Illinois as both a Midwest state and a Great Lakes state because of its location.  There are several regions of Illinois, each with something special to see. 

One of my favorite places is in Pontiac where we toured the Route 66 Museum.  The highway connected Chicago and Los Angeles prior to the Interstate Highway System.   I grew up in the 1940s and 1950s so Route 66 was the highway we traveled on when our family moved to California and the times we traveled back to see my grandparents.  I remember many of the little motels, the diners and of course the attractions along the side of the road.  My Dad called them tourist traps and we seldom stopped.  Every once in a while he would give in to our pleas and we were able to see these wonderful places.  A shop in the shape of a huge teepee was one that I thought was great.  Route 66 was a fun highway.  If you have ever seen the movie Cars then you will have a better understanding of why so many Americans love this highway. 

1960s Fun Map of Illinois

The western border of Illinois is the Mississippi River and there is a scenic byway for those who would like to travel by car alongside the great river.  Much of the state is farmland with corn and soybeans as the main crops.  There are no mountains in Illinois although there is an area in the northern portion that is higher in elevation than the remainder of the state. 

In Peoria, the Caterpillar Company has a visitors’ center which includes a theater inside a two story mining truck that they manufacture.  There is a modest fee but children are free with the purchase of adult tickets.  Little boys love tractors and big trucks and this is the place for a little boy to be amazed.



Museum of Science and Industry
Vintage mini folder of Chicago



Chicago is on Lake Michigan so it boasts water attractions like the Navy Pier as well as the Magnificent Mile for those who love to shop.   Special events and Festivals are held throughout the year to celebrate almost everything.  Like most big cities, Chicago has much to offer from historic places to great museums, gardens, parks, unique neighborhoods and big league sports teams. I really enjoyed the Museum of Science and Industry.  It is an excellent place to spend an afternoon.   

As always, my recommendation is to check out the website for up to date information if you plan to visit Chicago or Illinois.  Their website is:  http://www.enjoyillinois.com/ .