Fun, Interesting, Little Known Places

[scottnshelly]

Hello,

My wife and I recently got a motorcycle and we’re loving it.  We’ve been looking forward to taking a weekend trip on it.  We are considering going with a bunch of relatives around Talahina, Eureka Springs, Hot Springs and back.  

In addition to that, I’m interested in some other interesting places within a short ride from here.  We’re in southern Oklahoma, Ardmore to be exact.  I recently heard about an Amish community in Clarita that sounds interesting.  We might go check that out sometime.  

We occasionally go to the Oklahoma and Texas travel information centers at the border and gather up those brochures and pamphlets.  So, does anyone have any recommendations for places within a reasonable distance that is interesting to see and a fun ride that we may not have heard of before?

Thanks,

[Orson]

So, does anyone have any recommendations for places within a reasonable distance that is interesting to see and a fun ride that we may not have heard of before?

I would definitely recommend the Big Bend National Park.

Not in the summertime though   I went in January 1999 and enjoyed sunny, 70 degree temperatures. The road up to the Chisos Mountain Lodge climbs 3000 feet in 7 miles. You can sure feel the temperatures change as you climb. The lodge lies in an extinct volcano crater and is dotted in pine trees. A cool respite from the desert below.

If you do go when it's hot, the Balmoreah Springs State Park has a swimming hole with water temps of around 70 degrees. When it's hot, seventy degree water feels pretty refreshing  

Another good destination would be Ruidoso, New Mexico in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The Lodge in nearby Cloudcroft, New Mexico is a turn-of-the-century victorian building that would make the spousal unit happy  

[jay547]

we rode the talimena drive and a bunch of the roads in that area last weekend.

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,56788.0.html

[cruisin]

I have a cousin in Ardmore who rides.  I'll see if I can glean some travel info from him for you.  I'm not sure I still have his E-addy but will give it try anyway.

pics are of he and I in Oct. '07 on the Talimena Drive.  He's on the Triumph; sweet bike with a turbo.

klc

[OKRider]

You are very near some of the better roads in central OK.  There are actually curves on the roads just south of Davis and around Turner Falls.

Southeastern Ok has some nice riding as well.

We're planning to go over to Ark toward the middle of this month to ride some of the areas you mentioned in your original post.

[ChrisInTexas]

You should probably be a little more specific on how far you want to go, Ruidoso is about 550 miles from you but it is a beautiful place and the ride up Sierra Blanca is amazing, definitely not for the faint of heart.

A really cool place to visit is Caddo Lake in Texas. It is the oldest lake in Texas (has alligators in it) and only about 30 minutes from Shreveport, Louisiana. Have you been to Shreveport? Really nice casinos and restaurants in downtown, beautiful at night on the river. Here is a link to Caddo Lake:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/caddo_lake/

Link to Shreveport (Vegas in Louisiana):

http://www.shreveport.com/

[sslangs]

try highway 259 south towards beavers bend, great road.  Also Mt. Scott by Lawton - eat at the Meers restaurant.