In southwestern Oklahoma the golden shortgrass prairie extends for mile after undulating mile, mirroring the sky in its vastness. Less than a century and a half ago, the Southern Plains were the domain of the Kiowa and Comanche, who hunted buffalo on horses bridled with Spanish silver and traded with the Wichitas, farmers who lived in grass houses. To the Kiowa, the earth was sacred, and the Wichitas believed their ancestors lived on in the 650-million-year-old granite boulders of the Wichita Mountains. Travelers exploring the region today may encounter moments of similar reverence -- watching the sun set from atop Mount Scott in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, for instance, or watching an eagle soar in winter. A rowdier spirit lives endures in the area, too: Teddy Roosevelt created the wildlife refuge after he traveled to Oklahoma Territory to hunt wolves. Bison now graze on the 60,000-acre preserve, along with longhorn cattle, antelope and elk -- rugged mountain biking, hiking, camping and backpacking are permitted in some areas. |
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6 - Clinton | Welcome to Clinton! Come and enjoy our unique attractions and various shoppes. |
7 - Cordell
| Historic Cordell, the seat of Washita County, is known for its picturesque town square and beautiful architecture. Just 15 miles south of I-40 and on ... more |
12 - Frederick
| In Frederick, you\'ll find plenty of good sports - both in people and pastimes.
Our wide-open, scenic spaces bestow first-rate fishing and boating ... more |
14 - Hobart
| Adopting the Iris as its "Official City Flower," Hobart seems to embody everyone's idea of their home town. Quaint, thriving shops surround the tree-l ... more |
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