Discover Oklahoma: Pauls Valley’s attractions include chocolate factory

BY AUSTIN TACKETT Comments 0
Published: September 20, 2009

Where can you find a chocolate factory, a toy museum and some of the best cherry limeades ever made? Look no further than Pauls Valley.

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For more information, call Pauls Valley Tourism at (405) 238-649 or go online to www.PaulsValley.com. For more Oklahoma travel ideas and discounts, go to www.TravelOK.com or call (800) 652-6552 to speak to a tourism specialist.

Visitors may want to start their trip at Bedre Chocolate Factory at 2001 W Airline Road. Bedre, owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation, produces delicious chocolates.

Free tours are offered, and there’s a gift shop filled with mouth-watering chocolates and confections. On my last visit, I walked away with white chocolate peanut clusters and milk chocolate turtles, but not before sampling Bedre’s chocolate-covered potato chips. I spent about $5, but had enough to keep me satisfied for some time.

After indulging in the sweet stuff, one might feel compelled to hunt down a more conventional lunch. Luckily, visitors can grab a bite at Ballard’s Drive-In, 100 Ballard Road. A state favorite, this drive-in restaurant is known for its tasty burgers and stellar cherry limeades. Locals and visitors alike find themselves coming back often for Ballard’s fries, which are cooked to perfection, and the made-to-order cherry limeades. In between taking orders, Johnny Ballard often stops by to introduce himself and to make sure everything is to your liking. It may be a little drive-in, but the service is certainly five star.

If you need to walk off some of those calories, wander into Pauls Valley’s charming and expansive 12-block downtown area for a stroll. Various shops occupy a majority of the gorgeous old storefronts, creating a pleasing atmosphere. Nestled downtown is the Toy and Action Figure Museum, one of Pauls Valley’s most interesting attractions.

The museum opened its doors in October 2005 and is the world’s only museum dedicated to the world of the action figure. Inside, displays highlight the history and evolution of the action figure as an art form, including sculpture prototypes, toy sketches and, of course, thousands of action figures. Young and old alike will love the 1970s Mego display, which has some of the most popular figures of all time, including the eight-inch figure of Batman, Spider-Man and other classic heroes and villains.

Pauls Valley has more to see and do, so explore on your own. Your inner child will thank you later.

Austin Tackett is public relations coordinator, Travel and Tourism Division, state Tourism and Recreation Department.