Two ways to explore Oklahoma in 48 hours

Tip: Drive down the Talimena National Scenic Byway, and take a camera. This 54-mile scenic drive includes twists and turns through a canvas of colors that brings visitors in from across the nation.

Wichita Mountains

Stay at your choice of privately owned cottage, lodge or bed-and-breakfast like the popular Stardust Inn Bed & Breakfast.

DAY 1

Morning — Begin your Lawton getaway with a trip through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Spot free-roaming buffalo in the refuge, then lace up your hiking boots and explore the 2.4-mile Charon Gardens Wilderness Area. No trip to the area would be complete without climbing (or driving) up Mount Scott.

Afternoon — Visit the Museum of the Great Plains, which houses over 3,000 Plains Indian 20th-century artifacts. The on-site Red River Trading Post offers a unique glimpse back in time to an 1830-1840s trading post.

Evening — Loosen your belt and head to Meers Store & Restaurant, the sole remnant of a gold rush boom town, for a helping of local history and mouthwatering 7-nch burgers served in a pie tin. Quality is key at this popular eatery, so all burgers are made from the store's own grass-fed longhorn herd.

DAY 2

Morning — If you're staying at the Stardust Inn B&B, watch the sunrise from a comfortable rocking chair on the large porch, then enjoy a late breakfast served up by the friendly innkeepers.

Afternoon — Roam the quaint cobblestone streets of nearby Medicine Park and check out the river running through the town's center.

Evening — Wrap up your 48-hour getaway at the Old Plantation Restaurant. Traditional American fare is sure to satisfy, but save room for their cobbler of the day served a la mode.

Jordan Attebury is a writer for TravelOK.com, the official website of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.