Oklahoma City boomed out of the prairie in 1889 with a land run, and it hasn’t stopped since. At the literal crossroads of the nation where I-35 meets I-40 and one of the key cities on Route 66, OKC welcomes travelers from across the country and world. Today they call it the “Modern Frontier,” where there is no shortage of people to meet or things to do. Take a drive to see highlights of Route 66 like the Gold Dome, Milk Bottle Building, and Lake Overholser Bridge, the background of countless road trip movies. Get to know the history of the city and take in some fabulous culture in museums like the First Americans Museum, Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum, and the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center. Have a night on the town with a musical canal cruise, a Ferris wheel ride, and the best slice of pie you’ve ever eaten. Shop the new Farmers Market at Scissortail Park, tour the town’s hidden record shops, and the chic’est chic of OKC’s numerous art districts. When you’ve done all that, you’re just getting started! In 100 Things to Do in Oklahoma City Before You Die, you’ll get the best tips from local researcher and ghost-tour guide Jeff Provine and journalist Dennis Spielman on where to meet Sir Indiana Bones the Museum Cat, where to hunt for fairy houses in the park, and where to play retro video games while sipping signature cocktails. There’s always something new to do in OKC!

Officially it doesn’t exist. On June 27, 1985, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials voted to decertify US 66 and to remove all its highway signs. And yet iconic Route 66 is more popular and more famous than any time in its nearly 100-year history. Tour companies based in New Zealand, Australia, Germany, the Czech Republic, and other countries specialize in Route 66 tours. There are Route 66 associations in Japan, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, and other countries that organize tours and events. Enthusiasts from throughout the world attended the European Route 66 Festival in Germany, and in 2018, in Zlin, Czechia. There is an infectious magic about a Route 66 adventure. Quirky attractions, time capsule motels trimmed in colorful neon, fascinating museums, and charming restaurants and diners, some owned by the same family since the 1920s, are part of the allure. But what really gives the road a vibrancy is the passionate people who preserve the road’s unique culture. I didn’t write 100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die as a tour guide. It was written to enhance a Route 66 odyssey. From its inception it was envisioned as a companion to guides such as the popular EZ 66 Guide for Travelers written by the acclaimed artist Jerry McClanahan or the Route 66 Navigation app. The foundation for Jim Hinckley’s America is a passion for sharing America’s story, and for inspiring road trips by telling people where to go. And that is what this book is: 100 of my favorite places on Route 66 where the line between America’s past, present, and future is blurred, and where the best of Route 66 can be experienced.

Traveling down Historic Route 66 through the foothills of the Ozarks, you may be lucky enough to stumble upon one of America's most beautiful cities in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Or maybe you're a lifelong resident of the "Oil Capital of the World" who wants to uncover the hidden gems of the city you call home. 100 Things to Do in Tulsa Before You Die showcases the art, culture, and people that make Tulsa shine, all while revealing a few of the secrets it hides. This quick-reference travel guide shows the more diverse, eclectic, and fun things to do in Tulsa that should be on everyone's bucket list. Get insider tips for visiting the Philbrook Museum of Art housed within the old mansion of oil tycoon Waite Phillips. Hum along to "This Land is Your Land" at the Woody Guthrie center, or check out the new renovations at The Church Studio where music legends like Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt once recorded their famous songs. Don't miss some of the best barbecue where pig country meets cow country, and find locally-owned favorites from Lebanese steakhouses to Coney Island dogs. Local author Teri French is known for her ability sniff out Tulsan secrets, and her guide will serve as an incomparable resource for visitors and locals alike. Make sure to bring it along for your next adventure and find out just what makes Tulsa so distinct.