Oklahoma Archives - Love, Laughter, and Luggage

If you’re driving Route 66 and find yourself in Miami, Oklahoma, be sure to stop at Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger. This iconic drive-in hamburger joint opened in 1965, and it wasn’t long before more restaurants sprang up across the Midwest. Today, only one restaurant remains. The current owner purchased the restaurant in 1973, and he continues to make sure that his customers can come by for a hamburger or a sweet treat. One cloudy day during spring break, Kristin and I decided to make a drive over to Miami to give it a shot. Joplin is only about a half hour away from Miami, but we’d never been. Incidentally. we only live about two blocks off Route 66 in Joplin. It was time to check out some local history and taste some yummy treats. Initially, I was bummed that our Ku-Ku day was a tad dreary, but really, it made the…

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In Oklahoma

Touring the Coleman Theater on Historic Route 66

20 Mar 2023

If you’re driving along Route 66 in Oklahoma, be sure to put the historic Coleman Theater on your list of stops. We had the opportunity to tour this gorgeous theater last spring as part of a paranormal conference and ghost tour. The Coleman Theater still hosts shows and touring acts regularly, but if you’re in the area when nothing is scheduled, be sure to give them a call to see if you can arrange a tour. Or, if you’re lucky, if you stop by during typical business hours, you may just score a tour if someone is available. So don’t think you won’t be able to see the inside of this magnificent theater if you didn’t plan ahead. Check it out. And if you’re on the fence about whether you should stop during your Route 66 adventure. read on. You’ll discover why the Coleman Theater is a highlight of Route…

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In Oklahoma

Dinner and Shopping at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile

5 Jul 2021

If you’ve ever watched the Food Network, you’re probably at least familiar with Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman. Actually, I admire her a lot. She started a blog in 2006 and turned it into an amazing empire–cookbooks, a cooking show, merchandise, a boutique hotel, a magazine, and the Mercantile, a store with a restaurant and bakery located in the small town of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, near her husband’s ranch. Just imagine being able to showcase your life and turn it into a lucrative career; it’s every blogger’s dream! That’s why when my family had the opportunity to stop by The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, I jumped at the chance. And it wasn’t just because I was a blogger. The food sounded amazing, and getting a chance to see the beautiful items for sale in the store was too hard to resist. So one summer afternoon, we stopped in for…

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In Oklahoma

Visit Woolaroc: Experience Bison, Artifacts, and More

7 Sep 2020

When people think about places to see bison, or buffalo as I called them growing up, they often think about Yellowstone or maybe South Dakota. If you live in the Midwest, you probably know that bison can be found in various locations that don’t require a huge road trip to access them. Don’t get me wrong; you should definitely see Yellowstone or the Black Hills. But sometimes it’s cool to take a day trip to experience these animals. Woolaroc near Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is one such place. Why is this place called Woolaroc? In 1925, Phillips Petroleum founder Frank Phillips established a ranch in the Osage Hills of Oklahoma. He named the place Woolaroc for the area’s best features–woods, lakes, and rocks. Woolaroc. Located just outside of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the ranch served as a country home for the Phillips family during Frank’s lifetime. They often hosted parties with diverse attendees. In…

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In Tulsa

Gathering Place: Tulsa’s Amazing Playground

16 Dec 2019

What do you do after stuffing yourself at Thanksgiving in Tulsa? You burn it off at Gathering Place. When we visited my brother-in-law for our Thanksgiving feast, he knew the perfect place to explore on a beautiful fall day. This is not your average city park. Located along the Arkansas River, this place ignites the imagination. It’s a fun place to explore any time of year, but the park is especially beautiful in the fall. I’d love to go back and see a concert or rent a boat sometime, especially in the spring or summer. If you’re near Tulsa, be sure to put Gathering Place on your itinerary, no matter what time of year it is. Walk the Winding Trails We arrived at a parking lot near the park, but it wasn’t the main parking area. We parked at a small lot south of the park. Parking and the park…

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