Eufaula, McAlester and Wilburton: The Gateway of Southeast Oklahoma

A perfect itinerary for NTTW 2022

National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is here! Still looking for that fun and adventurous weekend away from never ending work and everyday routines? We’ve got you covered!! Savor a wide array of craft food and beverages, experience the sites of sounds of a lively downtown music festival, shop unique boutiques and antique treasures, enjoy vintage hotrods and history or discover the beauty and nature on the trails of the great outdoors. There’s so much to see and do, you won’t be disappointed. National Travel and Tourism Week runs May 1^st through 7^th, 2022, and celebrates the #FutureOfTravel by highlighting the industry’s role in fostering vibrant communities, driving innovation, facilitating recovery, and powering the U.S. economy – in every corner of our country. So, pack your bags and head out early Friday morning, to the Gateway of Southeast Oklahoma to enjoy the tourism wonders inside the Tri-County Triangle of McIntosh, Pittsburg, and Latimer Counties.

Our Favorite Place	3-D Mural - Downtown	The Cut - Lake Eufaula	Dobber's Roadhouse

Day 1 - Friday

The first stop in your weekend getaway brings you to McIntosh County and the City of Eufaula, home to the largest lake in the state, with 800 miles of shoreline. Arrive early and explore a charming downtown area filled with a wide variety of shops and boutiques. Visit local favorites like Lake Dog & Their People, Our Favorite Place, Nicole’s Unique Gifts & Meme’s Place or The Patch. Grab some lunch at E’s Hideaway or Mama Tigs Wood Fired Pizza before snapping your picture with Eufaula’s very own downtown, interactive, 3-D mural! After lunch, play a round of mini golf at Jellystone Park before traveling over to Flamingo Fish & Marine where you can grab some tackle, head to the lake and test your luck on part of the Oklahoma Fishing Trail… just don’t forget to buy your fishing license first! Reeling in that big catch got you working up an appetite? Don’t worry, Dobber’s Roadhouse specializes in mouth watering steaks, cooked to perfection as well as a full menu of home styled recipes and delicious desserts. Grab an early dinner and then cruise onto your next stop, McAlester, OK.

McAlester, Oklahoma is conveniently located at the intersection of US HWY 69 and 270, centrally positioned between Dallas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. As you arrive in McAlester, Friday evening, make sure you’ve got your hotel booked and squared away for two nights (You did remember to book your hotel, right? If not, there’s still time to do that right HERE), then make your way downtown to Choctaw Ave and enjoy classic cars and hot rods, with Mac-Town Cruise Night. Sip some wine at Country Aire Estates or head over to Bierkraft and taste award winning craft beer, at one of McAlester’s most popular breweries. What about the kids? Bring them too! Bierkraft is family friendly, with root beer, lemonade, games, outdoor seating and fun for the whole family.

Bierkraft	Old Town Antiques District	Armed Forces Day Parade	Dancing Rabbit Music Festival

Day 2 - Saturday

Start your day off right, with an incredible breakfast at What About Bob’s, family owned and operated for over 20 years. After breakfast, head on into McAlester’s Old Town Antiques District and browse the Old Town Junk and Flea Market where you’ll find antiques, collectables, and vintage treasures of all kinds. Grab some popcorn or pork rinds at Pops Kettle Korn, then head back downtown to grab a spot for the 75^th Annual McAlester’s Armed Forces Day Parade. Watch history and patriotism come alive, as we honor our many service men and women. Keep your eye on the sky, as vintage warbirds and other planes, are scheduled for a fly over, during the parade! Afterwards, take a stroll through McAlester’s vibrant downtown area and visit eclectic boutiques filled with children’s toys, clothing, home décor, furniture, collectables and more! Stop by the historic OKLA Theater and browse the gift shop or take a FREE tour, as they work to restore the theater and bring life back to the OKLA. Ready for lunch? Try one of the many restaurants and eateries downtown or visit McAlester’s neighbor Krebs, better known as Oklahoma’s Little Italy, for their world-renowned Italian cuisine. While in Krebs, don’t forgot to stop by Lovera’s Italian Market and grab some of their award winning cheese or sausage. Finally, head back downtown to spend the evening with the Dancing Rabbit Music Festival, a FREE, three part, outdoor concert series, held in downtown McAlester. Enjoy opening performances from a variety of McAlester’s young and talented artists as they set the stage for three gifted singer and songwriters, including two native Okies.  Hear performances by Travis Linville, Joe Pug and John Moreland. Stick around for more music and additional after hour performances at both Spaceship Earth & Downtown 312. There’s no shortage of fun, music or activities, Saturday night, in McAlester!

Robbers Cave  (photo by: Lori Duckworth)	El Jimador Mexican Grill	Latimer County	Scenic Highways

Day 3 - Sunday

After your fun filled evening last night, sleep in a bit before swinging your way into Angel’s Diner, McAlester’s classic, 50’s themed restaurant, for a delicious breakfast or brunch. Then, it’s time to head out on the last leg of your trip, a peaceful drive through Latimer County, to Robber’s Cave State Park and the nearby town of Wilburton, OK. Robber’s Cave State Park was once used as the hideout for notorious outlaws such as Jesse James and Belle Star. Featuring park activities such as off-road trail riding, rappelling, hiking, rock climbing and horseback riding, Robber’s Cave attracts over one million visitors a year. Book a guided trail ride with Robber’s Cave Stables or hike and climb, at your leisure, as you follow the outlaw trials, to the famous cave hidden in the formation of 300 to 1,500-ft sandstone hills and cliffs. Can you imagine the history and treasures that once filled these areas? Stop by the park nature center for a fun filled, educational lesson or enjoy the peaceful outdoor scenery of Carlton Lake, as you ride aqua cycles, canoes or paddle boats (weather and schedule permitting). Head on into Wilburton for lunch at El Jimador Mexican Grill followed by a round of golf at Sycamore Springs, a 9 hole golf course located 5 minutes from Wilburton’s Historic Main Street District. Not a golf fan? Take a scenic Sunday drive. Highways 2, 82 and 270 are popular with the motorcycle groups and nature lovers, looking to take in the natural beauty of Southeast Oklahoma. Latimer County is also home to an almost incalculable number of native wildflowers, which can be seen along roadways and in pastures, all across the area. From here, well, that depends on which direction is home. So, roll the windows down and pick the scenic route back, unfortunately weekends don’t last forever but there’s no reason the relaxation has to end just yet.

Other helpful & useful links:
www.cityofmcalester.com/tourism
www.mcalester.org
www.cityofeufaulaok.com
www.visitlakeeufaula.com
www.cityofwilburton.com
www.wilburtonmainstreet.com
www.latimercountyok.com
www.travelok.com/state-parks/robbers-cave-state-park