Head southwest of the Oklahoma City area toward green pastures and open skies. Here you can see forever and the view is clean, serene, and peaceful. This is Great Plains Country. It's calling you to explore Oklahoma's rich history and unspoiled natural treasures.

Duncan
What do actor/director Ron Howard and four million Texas longhorn cattle have in common? Historic ties to Duncan: Howard was born there and the cattle were herded through the area on the historic Chisholm Trail. The town is also home to one of our state's best, and most fun, museums-the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center.

Over a span of 17 years after the Civil War, some 4 million cattle were driven from south Texas through Indian Territory on their way to the railroads in Kansas for shipment to the East. The war depleted the eastern U.S. beef supply and folks in these parts capitalized on the shortage by rounding up the plentiful Texas longhorns to make big bucks.

The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center recreates "the greatest animal migration known to man," and helps visitors relive the adventure of life on the wind-swept trail. The story is told by a Comanche Indian, a Buffalo Soldier, a cowboy, and a cow-town mayor. You see, feel, and smell what it was like, thanks to the special-effects in The Chisholm Trail Experience Theater.

A remarkable life-size bronze sculpture entitled "On the Chisholm Trail" by Paul Moore sits outside the museum doors. The youth gallery offers fun hands-on activities for the half-pints. Hours are 10am-5pm Mon.-Sat., 1-5 pm Sun. www.onthechisholmtrail.com; 580-252-6692.

Next to the center is Centennial Park, a great place for parents to rest while the kids burn off some energy on the large, wooden climb and play structure. A water fountain and soda machine are on site, as is a 9-hole disk golf course (bring your Frisbee).

Visit the downtown tearooms and antique shops in historic Downtown Duncan. There you will see historical buildings with original tin ceilings, exposed brick and wood flooring.

To Duncan from OKC: I-44 south to Hwy. 81 south, past beautiful bluebonnets in the medians, or I-35 south to Hwy 7 west.
For more information: www.duncanok.org or 800-782-7167.

Lawton
Two unique, well-maintained museums are located on beautiful Elmer Thomas Park in Lawton: The Museum of the Great Plains and the Percussive Arts Museum. From I-44, take Exit 37/Gore Blvd. and go west, then head north on 2nd St. (Business 281), and west on Ferris Ave.

The beautiful Museum of the Great Plains houses a vast collection of historical, ethnological, and archaeological items, plus thousands of photos, maps, and documents. Kids will love exploring the one-room schoolhouse and 1830s Red River trading post. Special exhibits spotlight the cultural and natural history of the area. Admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children, under 6 free with adult. Hours are 10am-5pm Mon.-Sat. and 1-5 pm Sun. www.museumgreatplains.org or 580-581-3460.

The Percussive Arts Museum houses unique displays of drums and percussion instruments from around the world. Visitors love to experiment with percussive sounds and try their hands on a drum set and steel drums in the hands-on section. Admission is free for all ages. Hours are 9-5pm Mon.-Fri. and Sat.-Sun. 1-4pm www.pas.org or 580-353-1455.

At Elmer Thomas Park, visitors enjoy walking-trails, playgrounds, picnic tables, and the lovely Lake Helen. The park is also home to a colony of adorable prairie dogs. Please note that the prairie dogs are fun to watch, but they are not domesticated animals.

While in Lawton, visit the Fort Sill National Landmark museum complex. After the Civil War, the famous "Buffalo Soldiers" of the 10th U.S. Cavalry built their post and established regimental headquarters here. Fort Sill has been home to the U.S. Army Field Artillery Center and School since 1911. There are 48 original buildings in the Historic Landmark, 26 serve as the museum. Fort Sill is also the final resting place of the famed Apache leader, Geronimo. Admission is free. Open 8:30am-5pm daily.

Stop by the Meers Store and Restaurant for a famous "MeersBurger," made of lean Texas Longhorn beef from owner Joe Maranto's ranch. This burger was voted 2003 "Best Hamburger in Oklahoma" by Oklahoma Living readers. According to Maranto, longhorn beef is lower in fat, calories and cholesterol than turkey or chicken. The restaurant's menu also includes steaks, barbecue, and one of the best BLT sandwiches you will ever taste. Desserts include homemade ice cream, peach or cherry cobbler, pecan pie and coconut pie.

The Meers Store is located on highway 115, 1 1/2 miles north of the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Take I-44 to Hwy 49, travel west about 4 miles to Hwy 58, then turn to the north for about 5 miles to the turn-off to Meers (follow the signs). Next turn to the west for 4 miles and don't blink or you'll miss it. Hours are 10:30 am - 8:30 pm Sun. - Thurs.; 10:30 am - 9 pm Fri. & Sat. Closed Tuesdays. No credit cards. www.meersstore.com or 580-429-8051.

Described as “wild, rugged, and weathered,” the Wichita Mountain range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in North America. The 59,000-acre Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge is the oldest managed wildlife preserve in the U.S. Buffalo, longhorn cattle, deer, and elk roam free on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The prairie dog town is very popular with the kids. Picnic and camping areas are available.

The refuge is home to lakes, streams, canyons, grasslands, and mountains. Be sure to stop by the impressive and well-maintained visitors' center at the crossroads of highways 49 and 115 to learn about the area and pick up a few souvenirs. The drive up the 3.5-mile, paved road to the top of Mount Scott offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding prairie land. The visitors' center is closed on Tuesdays. To get there, take I-44 south to exit 45 Medicine Park/Hwy. 49 and go west 14 miles. 580-429-3222.

Medicine Park is a charming cobblestone community neighboring the refuge. It was founded in 1908 as an exclusive vacation resort and was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. While the throngs of vacationers faded with the onset of the Great Depression, its relaxing beauty remains. The lovely Medicine Creek runs through town and visitors can take a dip in the renovated Bath Lake swimming area. Quaint shops and restaurants are within walking distance. Cobblestone cabins and lofts are available for rent. I-44, take exit 45, Medicine Park/Carnegie, and head west on Hwy. 49. www.medicinepark.org.

To Lawton from OKC: 80 miles straight down I-44.

Altus
West of Lawton and north of Altus, cradled in the western Wichita Mountains, is Quartz Mountain, located 17 miles north of Altus on SH-44A, overlooking Lake Altus-Lugert. There you will find many fun outdoor activities including hiking, boating, golfing and mini-golfing, sand dune exploring, swimming, water skiing, paddle boating, horseback riding, plus a nature center and train rides. Stay at the beautiful resort lodge, rent a cabin, or pitch a tent in one of the camping areas. For cabin and lodge reservations, call 580-563-2424.

In nearby Altus (a 10-minute drive), take a tour of Altus Airforce Base and see the C-5, the free world's largest airplane. Or visit The Museum of the Western Prairie and step back in time to the 18th century. Museum hours are 9am-5pm, Tues.-Sat.; closed Sun. and Mon. www.museumwesternprairie.org or call 580-482-1044.

Weatherford
The Thomas P. Stafford Air & Space Museum, located at the Weatherford Airport near I-40 and Airport Rd., is truly a fun place to visit. Stafford graduated from Weatherford High School, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. As one of America's first astronauts, he participated in NASA's Gemini and Apollo projects and was commander of the Apollo 10 mission, the first lunar module to land on the moon, in 1969. During re-entry, he achieved the highest speed ever attained by man-28,547 miles per hour.

The collection of aircraft, space craft components, photos, and memorabilia housed in the Stafford museum are as impressive as the man's career-and the collection is still growing. Admission is $5 for adults 19 and older, free for children and students. Open 9am - 5pm Mon.-Sat. and Sun. 1-5pm. www.staffordairandspacemuseum.com or call 580-772-5871.

To Weatherford for OKC: 70 miles west on I-40.

Anadarko
A visit to Indian City USA in Anadarko is a step back in time into the lives of our country's native people before the white men invaded. A Native American Ambassador will guide you through seven life-size villages with replicas of Pueblo, Caddo, Kiowa, Wichita, Apache, Navaho, and Pawnee homes. Guides share information about each tribe's unique customs and beliefs. The walking tours take 30-45 minutes.

Visits include a performance of Native American dancers in authentic costumes in the dance arbor. On a recent visit, Ambassador Tom Mauchahty-Ware, of Kiowa and Comanche descent, described the dances and accompanied the performers on drum. He has been enlightening visitors as to the real ways of Native American people and dispelling phony Hollywood stereotypes since the park opened. One tip he gives to visitors, "Don't make a fool of yourself by greeting someone with "how!"

On site is a one of the southwest's largest Indian museums featuring a large number of artifacts and a gift shop with a wide selection of Native American arts, crafts, and souvenirs.

The park's 140-acre exotic game pasture is home to buffalo, fallow deer, wild turkey, black buck antelope, emus and llamas. For a true rustic adventure, spend the night at Indian City's Thunderbird Campground, nestled at the foot of the Tonkawa Hills.

Indian City USA is located 2 1/2 miles southeast of Anadarko on Hwy 8. Hours are 9am-5pm daily. Admission is $8 for adults, $4.50 for children 6-11, children 5 and under admitted free. 405-247-5661 or 800-433-5661or www.indiancityusa.com.

For more Native American culture, visit the Southern Plains Indian Museum on Hwy. 62, east of Anadarko. It houses historic exhibits of Southern Plains tribes and contemporary Native American arts and crafts. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-12, kids 5 and under free. Sundays are free. Hours are June-Sept., Mon.-Sat., 9am to 5pm, Sun., 1 to 5pm; Oct.-May, Tues.-Sat., 9am to 5pm Sun., 1-5pm. Photography is prohibited. 405-247-6221.

To Anadarko from OKC: I-44 south to Hwy 62, exit 83 west.

Katherine Leidy is a freelance writer and public relations professional based in Norman. She and her husband, Robert, have a six-year-old daughter, Allison.