gilcrease museum, Best museum COURTESY GILCREASE MUSEUM
Resort in Oklahoma Where are the best places to get away in the Sooner State? In Tulsa, readers say it’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. Be sure to check into your room early and enjoy all it has to offer before dining at one of Hard Rock’s great restaurants, then head to the gaming floor or take in a show at The Joint, Hard Rock’s live music venue. The Canebrake and Quartz Mountain Resort Arts & Conference Center tie for second place this year. The Canebrake provides a relaxing atmosphere in which to recharge. Activities include spa services, yoga, birding and live music, and all this just a short drive from Wagoner. Quartz Mountain Resort provides relaxation, boating and water activities, hiking and golfing, all in the picturesque Wichita Mountains in southwest Oklahoma. Western Hills Guest Ranch, located along the shores of Fort Gibson Lake, offers an 18-hole golf course, boat rentals, paddle boats and fishing. Equestrian and nature trails, mountain biking and hiking are also popular activities at this guest ranch, which rounds out this year’s top three. Echo Canyon Spa Resort, located in Sulphur, is tops with readers in Oklahoma City. Echo Canyon offers a full-service spa and fine dining at Baron of Beef. Beaver’s Bend Resort Park, located in the far southeast corner of Oklahoma, offers hiking, fly-fishing and other amenities. Visit nearby Hochatown for fine dining and shopping. Medicine Park, Oklahoma’s first resort town, is located at the entrance to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, from shopping and museums to swimming and fishing.
Stop on the Radio Dial not-so-young alike. Fun and educational exhibits get kids interested in learning about how the world works. A planetarium also offers a glimpse into the stars.
Place to Catch a Flick Whether it’s the latest summer blockbuster or an Academy Award contender, there are plenty of places to view movies. In Tulsa, viewers prefer the accommodations of AMC Southroads 20. Roomy seating, 3D viewing and friendly staff make it a great place for catching a flick. Cinemark Tulsa also boasts 3D screens and comes in second place in this year’s survey. Circle Cinema, a boutique theater located in historic Kendall-Whittier, brings smaller movies that one may not catch at the larger theaters in town. Recent improvements have made watching a movie at Circle even more comfy. Moore Warren Theatre is tops with our Oklahoma City readers for its upscale movie-viewing experience. Movie-goers can enjoy dinner and cocktails along with their film. Harkins Theatres, located in Bricktown, is a great place to go for catching the latest smash hit, especially in 3D. AMC Quail Springs Mall 24 brings the biggest and best movies to its screens, ensuring satisfied viewers each night.
Place to See and Be Seen To be seen, you have to get out of the house. And when our readers want to be seen – or see – they head to Utica Square for shopping, yoga and cocktails with dinner. BOK Center is another great place to see and be seen,
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with concerts heating up the stage several times a month. Brady Arts District, Tulsa’s newest hotspot, is a great place to be seen having dinner, catching some live music or taking a stroll along the bustling sidewalks. In Oklahoma City, it’s no wonder that those who are in the know go to Oklahoma City Thunder games. The city’s biggest big-wigs sit next to fans in a great show of support for Oklahoma’s NBA team. Bricktown is another popular hotspot. With dining, clubs and shopping available, there’s certainly something for most to enjoy. Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the Thunder as well as some great concerts, rounds out the top three.
Professional Sports Team Oklahomans love their sports, and there is no one they love more than the state’s only NBA team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. With its first-ever 60-win season coming in the 2012-2013 season, the Thunder look to top this past year’s accomplishments in the season to come. The Tulsa Drillers and Tulsa Shock share the second spot on this year’s survey. The Drillers, playing out of ONEOK Field, continue to please crowds with great play and those great weekend fireworks shows. The Tulsa Shock, Oklahoma’s only WNBA team, looks to improve upon the previous season, and with the acquisition of some key players, its stock will only continue to rise. The Oklahoma City RedHawks, Oklahoma City’s minor league baseball team, bring people out to the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark for America’s favorite pastime.
There are terrific radio stations offering music and talk. In Tulsa, 740 AM KRMG earns the top spot for its news coverage as well as traffic reports. Tulsa’s NPR affiliate, 89.5 KWGS, offers coverage of local and national news as well as interesting and entertaining discussions and stories on current events. Rockers know to turn to 97.5 KMOD to hear the best of new and classic rock. Top 40 hits are spinning 24/7 on 102.7 KJYO. The station plays everything from hip-hop and dance music to rock and pop. 98.9 KYIS, plays the biggest hits of today and from the ‘90s. Entertaining show hosts also make KISS FM a favorite. 101.9 KTST, also known as The Twister, plays the hottest country hits for teems of listeners and rounds out this year’s top three.
Wedding or Party Venue There are many great parties in this state. But where do you go to throw the party of the century? In Tulsa, readers say The Mayo Hotel is the place to be. With luxurious décor and the Crystal Ballroom, along with a rooftop that offers views to die for, it is certainly a perfect backdrop for an unforgettable night. The Tulsa Convention Center offers event suites, an assembly hall and a giant ballroom. Couple that with excellent catering services and modern décor, and the possibilities of having your wedding or party at Tulsa Convention Center are endless. Harwelden Mansion and Post Oak Lodge, tied for third place in this year’s annual survey, provide more intimate settings for weddings and parties. Harwelden, an historic mansion in the Collegiate Gothic-English Tudor style, is