04/15/2023
Girlfriend Getaway March 2023
The best part about a girlfriend getaway, is that no matter where you go, there will always be tons of laughter.
This year we did a spur of the moment trip to Oklahoma. Where in Oklahoma? We traversed the better part of the state, and ended up in Paris Texas to see the Eiffel Tower with the cowboy hat! We began our journey traveling south on Hwy 81 out of Nebraska and through the state of Kansas. Our first stop was in Wichita where a few people got to try Spangles for the first time. Having gone to college in Kansas, it brought back great memories of what seems like long ago. Continuing on our way, our first “tourist” stop was at Pops on Route 66.
Pops is a gas station that has a large pop bottle out front, with different soda like drinks in every color and flavor you could imagine. They also have some classics such as different flavored Root Beers. We were able to purchase some merchandise and you can also grab a bite to eat if you need to refuel your body as well.
We continued down the road to what seemed like only a couple miles and noticed a large round red barn on our left hand side. Of course we are going to stop and check it out. There are two stories with the bottom being the gift shop where you can pick up your Oklahoma Passport Book. The most amazing part is upstairs where you will see what looks to be a woven ceiling. It is absolutely spectacular to look at. And by the way, this is a free stop but donations are welcome.
Our destination for the evening was near Wilburton Oklahoma to stay at an Airbnb just north of town near Robbers Cave. The Four Star Ranch is amazing!!! Unfortunately we arrived in the dark, so know if you stay here, and I highly recommend you do, that it will be at the top of the second hill when driving North out of town. The home is a 3 bedroom, 4 bed, 2 bathroom home situated in a prime location for rest and relaxation. The home itself is immaculate. There is a small pond on the north side with some cows that like to stop and say hello. We also spotted a Blue Heron just hanging out by the water. They provide linens, towels, and the kitchen is fully stocked with any equipment you may need. The beds were absolutely dreamy, and I slept like a baby.
The next morning we woke to making our own sausage and egg breakfast before heading to Robbers Cave. Tip– the cave is located a couple of miles up from the main entrance. Continue down the access road and go past the four way stop. There are signs to help guide you. There is parking for about 20ish cars at the actual hiking spot to Robbers Cave. Get there early if you want a close spot! You begin by seeing a winding railway, do not go up that way. Begin your journey to the left and follow the orange arrows. This will take you up a winding path. There were some boulders and slippery spots after the rain, but we had two 70 yr olds with us and they made it all the way through and only needed help a few times! The views looking out over the trees and other rocks was breathtaking. The path is fairly well marked. Just keep looking for the arrows. The cave itself is fairly small and it’s packed between some boulders. You will have to crawl down a pretty steep rock to get inside. After looking at the cave we continued up the path to enjoy more amazing views of the trees below. This is a hike I highly recommend. Nature is the best playground!
After a good morning of hiking, and a quick shower at our Airbnb, we made a spur of the moment decision to go to Paris, TX to take a picture of the Eiffel tower with a cowboy hat on top. It’s just exactly that! We got a few pics and then we were headed North again to Hugo, TX to pay our respects to Lane Frost. This turned out to be a very interesting cemetery. Come to find out, there are carnival companies that are based in Hugo, and they have a specific area for those individuals. Some of the headstones are shaped like the “big tent”, others had an elephant. These headstones were truly unique and I’m glad we made this stop.
The main event and the entire reason we drove seven hours south from where we live, is to take one of our traveling buddies to the new Reba restaurant in Atooka, Oklahoma. We had 6pm reservations and made it right on time. We were seated after a short wait. The entertainment for the night was Reba’s brother. The wait staff was amazing and we got to meet one of Reba’s nieces. The food came out fast and of course was delicious. Two of us had the fried chicken meal, one the country fried steak, and then one had a bowl of chili with a salad. Everything was great. On the third floor there is a gift shop. My favorite part was the library of Reba’s mom. You can take a seat and just enjoy the area.
Heading home that evening was an adventure. GPS took us back on Hwy 63. This is a unique little road with one lane bridges and trees that overhang the road to give a tunnel vibe specially in the dark. And to top it off, a hill that makes you lean forward to see if there actually is a road in front of you!!! That was a crazy experience. The next morning we decided to try it again in the daylight. It’s not quite as fun, but we got to see a lot of deer and a fox!
Today’s mission was to see the waterfall at Turner Falls. This is a tourist attraction and there is a fee to get in. We were here in the off season so it wasn’t quite as much. There are signs to direct to the right location, as well as a map provided by the staff. We parked and looked up to see the Castle. It's a unique sight to see next to the beautiful stream that flows below. There are quite a few narrow steps and it is not handicap accessible and you do have to pay the park fee to see it. There is another section if you keep heading up the stairs at the back of the castle. Continuing around the bend you will see the waterfall. You can walk out onto the bridge to take a full frontal picture, but it’s better to stand on the rocks right near the rushing water. You will get misted! Also there is a small pool of water right near the falls that you can sit by. Take your shoes off and enjoy the water. I wish we would have more time here and it would have been a lot warmer. Also, you can view the falls for free if you’re on HWY 77. There is an overlook to see the falls and the castle from above.
Overall the three days I got to spend with these ladies was refreshing. It's great to getaway with friends to laugh, reminisce, and make more memories! Until next time, safe travels everyone!
