What should go in OKC's Fodors/Let's Go/Frommers guide book?

[jbrown84]

I'm still anxiously awaiting one of these guidebook companies to wake up and realize that OKC deserves a guide book (or at least one combined with Tulsa or all of OK). So if we had such a guide book, what should be included in it? Keep in mind these books only list the best/most unique, etc and no chains (I don't think that will be a problem for us). Heck, we might as well do this for Tulsa as well, to show our support.

I'll add my picks later.

[NE Oasis]

Starting with hunger-
Lottinville's, Iron Starr, Cattlemans, Othello's, Del Rancho

[jbrown84]

Oh, also keep in mind that we need to include the full range of budget to luxury. So Del Rancho is a good choice in the budget category I suppose (not my favorite).

[floater]

Skirvin, Skkybar, Grand House, Paseo and Mickey Mantle's. I would include the activities and restaurants on Lake Hefner because visitors want to go where the locals are, and there are a lot of locals on the trails.

We broke ground in 2005 with an entry in Frommers USA, one of the few comprehensive guides that does not list every major city or state. IMO we would faster be part of a Texas guide than having a strictly OK guide.

I do think, however, that there are enough diverse experiences in the state to merit our own guide. You have two cities with different personalities and offerings, diverse terrain, and lots of smaller cities with individual character.

[jbrown84]

But Texas is so huge, it would be impossible to combine us. Now I can see an Arkansas-Oklahoma guide.

[Karried]

One of our mods has a Travel book in the works.. okcpulse.. he's currently occupied as his wife is pregnant with twins!

[metro]

I'm also working on one as well.

Some other restaurants to include would be Soleil, Red Prime Steakhouse (when it opens), the entire Western Ave. District, Trattoria Il Centro, Kaisers, Cafe' Do Brasil, Bricktown (unfortunately but its good for tourists), Mahoghany steakhouse, Java Daves, Pearl's (the new one), Cascata, Boulevard Steakhouse, La Baguette and many more I can't think of. Whomever said Del Rancho, I don't know why you'd put that on there either. I'd rather see Chuck House since it's more of one of those places people drive to go to, or visit when in town if they've moved out of state. Cattlemen'sand many more I can't think of.

[BG918]

If there was an Oklahoma guidebook, which I'm sure will have to be created sooner or later, it would be mostly OKC/Norman and Tulsa. The beginning would be a big summary on Oklahoma with a brief history of the state, the major industries, highlights, climate, and transportation. OKC's section should be broken into districts like downtown, Bricktown, Midtown, Arts District, Paseo, Uptown/23rd Street, Asian District/OCU, Lincoln Blvd./State Capitol, Lake Hefner, Adventure District, Penn Square, etc. Have a summary of each district and a short list of attractions, hotels, and restaurants. You could do the same for Norman, Edmond, and Guthrie with small sections on Midwest City, Del City, Yukon, El Reno, and Moore as well.

Tulsa's section would have info. on districts like downtown, Brady, Blue Dome, Uptown, Cherry Street, Brookside, Utica Square, Woodland Hills, etc. with sections on Jenks, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bartlesville, and Claremore and smaller sections on Bixby, Sand Springs, and Catoosa.

There would be sections on the other larger cities in Oklahoma like Lawton, Stillwater, Enid, Ardmore, McAlester, Ponca City, and Muskogee and a few select small towns with interesting attractions. Special sections about areas of interest in different parts of the state such as the Wichita Mountains in SW Okla. and Grand Lake in NE Okla.

[floater]

But Texas is so huge, it would be impossible to combine us. Now I can see an Arkansas-Oklahoma guide.

Yeah, Texas is big, but I see I us closer in culture to Texas (or even Kansas) than Arkansas. There's that Plains/Western element. Arkansas seems to me closer to Tennessee and Mississippi than OK, and you hardly ever see Arkansas travel books. But I have to say that there are several worthy destinations in AR.

I would add Cafe Nova to the restaurant list. For cheap, any pho shop or Braum's.

[jbrown84]

You're a lot more likely to see an Arkansas guidebook than a Kansas one. At least AR has natural beauty.

[floater]

You're a lot more likely to see an Arkansas guidebook than a Kansas one. At least AR has natural beauty.

I believe it; I used to live there. I just said that IMO we're closer in character to Kansas than we are to Arkansas.

[jbrown84]

True, but I would say the guidebooks would be based more on what two states someone might be visiting in one trip. In that case I can see Oklahoma-Arkansas making a profit. I'm sure Texas-Oklahoma is a common combo, but you just can't squeeze another state in.

[metro]

Well for the one I"m working on, I'm going to design it my way!

[jbrown84]

Feel free of course.

If anyone really is trying to get one published, I'd love to do the photography.

Flickr: Photos from Jason Daniel Brown

[jbrown84]

This is how I would organize it.

Neighborhoods/Districts:

Bricktown & Downtown (CBD)
Arts Quarter & Midtown (including AAlley, Triangle)
Inner Northeast (including Capitol Complex, Medical District, and Adventure District)
Uptown & Inner Northwest
Western Avenue & Nichols Hills
Outer Northwest (including Penn Square)
Far North & Edmond
Capitol Hill & Inner South
Norman

Special Sections:

Historic/Interesting Churches
Neighborhood Walks
Favorite Restaurant of OK celebs

Excursions:

Guthrie
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge



any ideas, input?

[okclee]

Don't forget Casino's.

[jbrown84]

Is that a new mexican place I'm not aware of?

[floater]

Is that a new mexican place I'm not aware of?

No, it's Italian.

[jbrown84]

I will also make sure to include park's, lake's, and bed and breakfast's.

[okclee]

Definitely include OkcTalk.com

When I travel for either buisiness or vacation, I like to find the websites where you will find the locals visiting.

[jbrown84]

Lets start with restaurants.


Bricktown, CBD, & Deep Deuce
Nonna's Ristorante & Purple Bar
Earl's
Falcone's
Chelino's
Bricktown Brewery
The Melting Pot
Pearl's Crabtown
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill
The Mantel Wine Bar & Bistro
Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy
Bricktown Burgers
Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse
Park Avenue Grill

Arts District, Midtown, & Automobile Alley
Trattoria il Centro
The Museum Cafe
Coney Island
Gaetano's (coming soon?)
McNellie's
Irma's Burger Shack
Prairie Thunder Bakery
The Grateful Bean
Java Dave's
Red Prime Steakhouse
1492

Inner Northeast
Jamil's
Sleepy Hollow (open or not?)
The County Line
Leo's Barbecue

Uptown & Inner Northwest
Cheever's
Iron Star Urban Barbecue
The Paseo Grill
Galileo
Sauced
Classen Grill
Jimmy's Egg
Sweiss Gyros & Pita Factory
Rococco
Someplace Else
The Red Cup

Western Avenue & Nichols Hills
Flip's Wine Bar and Trattoria
VZD's
Mushashi's
Cafe Nova
Sushi Neko
Will's Coffee Shop
The Wedge Pizzeria
The Metro
Irma's Burger Shack
Pearl's Oyster Bar
Coach House
Hideaway Pizza
Deep Fork Grill
Micheal's Grill

Outer Northwest & Penn Square
Sophabella's
Nomad II
Falcone's
Ted's Cafe Escondido
City Bites
Charcoal Broiler
Cheesecake Factory
Belle Isle Brewery
The Ranch
Pearl's Lakeside
Red Rock Canyon Grill
Louie's on the Lake
Bellini's


That's a start.

What am I missing??

[CCOKC]

Outer Northwest: Ann's Chicken Fry

[jbrown84]

Oh yeah. Good one.

[metro]

well if you're going to put Ann's Chicken Fry, you need to put Chuck House for inner NW

[kmf563]

Bourbon Street Cafe
The Deep Deuce Bar & Grill
Tapwerks
Tom & Jerry's
Boulevard Steak House
Cascata
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Cattlemen's
Shoguns
Elephant Bar
Incredible Pizza
Hoghouse