Wow I was excited to stop and get some cool photos but the memorial is where it's at! They did an…read moreamazing service to those that served. Really felt the spirit here. Walking and feeling the emotions of all those that gave for us to have the freedom we do.

Hey, no better place than December in Paris. And you can't visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel…read moreTower!! It was a pretty cute and funny place especially since my husband now keeps saying he has taken me to Paris Another must see if you're in the area.

Some interesting history in addition to being part of that old movie set. It is actually an antique…read morestore now and the lady that runs the place is really nice. She has some very nice stuff as well, so I recommend checking it out if you are going to see the place anyway. :)

Good little history lesson/adventure. Store was not openwhen we were there, but not sure kids would…read moreenjoy. They enjoyed learning the history of Lavon and Bonnie & Clyde.

We enjoy this local landmark and sometimes grab a photo with the kids here to look back at and…read morecompare from year to year. This is a local food manufacturing provider with a global brand that is a great employer and great community partner in the area.

As far as Mr. Peanut signs go, he's the nuttiest one around!…read more It also smells like roasted peanuts when you drive by.

At a lonely intersection in, quite literally, the middle of nowhere, this was a surprise. But it…read moreturns out that yes, the late President had indeed been here in Southeastern Oklahoma in October 1961 to dedicate US Highway 259 (Ouachita National Forest Road) where he was treated with a private Angus bull livestock show and to be wined and dined at an overnight stay at the home of U.S. Senator Robert S. Kerr, south of Poteau. In October 1966, the Oklahoma Historical Society, under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus with the support of the people of Oklahoma, constructed a memorial near the intersection of US 259 and SH 63 at Big Cedar. A multi-tiered reddish-brown granite monument set within a low rock wall with entry gates on three sides makes up the memorial. Concrete walkways in the shape of a cross connect the entry points to the monument. A short distance south of the monument, beyond the wall, is a tall flagpole flying the American flag, and next to it is a raised marker bearing the memorial's name. Outside the central (east) door is a bronze plaque embedded in the ground, set atop a small chunk of reddish-brown granite. The marker reads, "US Highway 259. Oct. 29, 1961. While President of the United States John F. Kennedy gave the dedicatory address at this site. He was a guest of Senator Robert S. Kerr who has led the way for the development of his native state of Oklahoma. Land, Wood, Water, Space." [Review 693 of 2024 - 163 in Oklahoma - 21724 overall]

1943-1945 WW2, McAlester was home to almost 3,000 German POW's. It's hard to believe that less than…read more80 years ago McAlester was part of such significant history. I have heard rumors that originally it was an interment camp for Japanese Americans for one year prior to housing Germans. I also heard that it was going to house Italian POW's but due to the local population of Italian immigrants they where housed elsewhere. It would be very interesting to dive more in to this part of our local history. The miniature castle was built by the POW's and there is another one at the old McAlester High School.

The only city hall in America built on a state border. It's pretty easy to get to because the town…read morespills onto a roundabout that surrounds the building. Worth checking out and very Kodak moment.

It's fun to see for sure!! The building it is attached is closed and/or abandoned. The driveway is…read moreon an incline and there are potholes and broken glass everywhere. Just keep your eye out and you can avoid them.

Funny photo op in Ft Smith. No idea about the building and if it actually opens as a business…read moreduring the holidays. But the World's Largest Christmas Pickle is definitely worth a stop if you are in the area. Bonus: there's a cool looking water tower next door too.

One of the first stops my daughters and I made during our first ever visit to the Natural State was…read morethe Arkansas Welcome Center in Texarkana. It was fairly hot on July 19, 2025. I hustled our dog to the cooler grass which unknowingly to me was supposed to be pet-free. (Where we parked there were no similar signs so that was confusing.) We didn't go inside the visitor center because dogs were not allowed. My oldest went to use the restroom and walked straight back out declaring, "There are way too many old ladies waiting in a line. We can just go, Mom. I can wait." Lol. This place makes for a nice photo with the large "Arkansas: The Natural State" sign out front. Easy access for all size vehicles exiting and entering back onto the eastbound Interstate 30.

I stopped at this welcome center on my way to hot springs over the Juneteen holiday…read more There were plenty of parking and they look to have plenty of street lights (i visited during the day so could not tell if they work). There were lots of brochure and maps available for people visiting the state. The real gem at this welcome center was the staff behind the counter. This lady asked me where I was going and what I had brought me to the state. I told her my plans were go to hiking in hot springs and just go with the flow. Yall she brought me everything that had to do with hot springs, hiking in the nearby area and she gave me some cool "hiking in Arkansas" sticker that were only given out to hikers! I felt so welcome by her and that friendly hospitality was the same by everyone I encounter during my trip to Arkansas. The bathrooms were clean and pretty empty when I visited however, they could use an upgrade and the lighting could be better. Overall good bathrooms. There were some vending machines and picnic tables outside but did not stop to hang out since I had to get back on the road. The "natural state" not only had beautiful hiking trails but it also had some many people with beautiful souls. I will for sure be back in the future.