Two of my later college years brought my family and me to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, while I studied at Northeastern State University. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would wind up living in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma is similar to Texas and Missouri in many ways but also different and unique to itself. The scenery is much the same although the oaks are much taller in this region than those I was familiar with in Texas. It is also very hilly, even slightly mountainous in some areas. And like Texas and Missouri, water is abundant.

Illinois River - Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Swimming, boating, fishing, canoeing and rafting are extremely popular in eastern Oklahoma. Nearby was Lake Tenkiller, nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains on the Cherokee Hills Scenic Byway. With one-hundred thirty miles of shoreline, this is popular lake. There are three floating restaurants, islands, numerous marinas and parks with facilities.
 

The Illinois River also runs through this area. There are resorts such as the Diamondhead Resort, The Arrowhead Resort. Float trips, rafting, kayaking and tubing are available. Camping areas are numerous, some with facilities some without. Picnic areas and swim spots are scattered along the river. This is a very popular area especially located near a university, it stays packed with college kids both local and those driving in from other areas, especially around their break times. But otherwise it is a beautiful area for family visits, with high cliffs rising along the way, wooded with oaks, it is lush and green in season. It is a gorgeous fall drive as well when the trees are turning. Tahlequah is the capitol city of two tribes, the Cherokee Nation and United Keetoowah Band. It is the end of the Trail of Tears and the location of the Cherokee Cultural Heritage Center and home to Northeastern State University. It is a small, quaint town, exuding a bit of charm due to the creek that flows through. The Cherokee Heritage center hosts an extensive collection of historic documents, art, cultural objects, and relics from the 1830s march along the Trail of Tears. The Cherokee National Museum exhibit hosts an extensive collection of ancient artifacts from the Cherokee culture from ancient to modern times.

No Parking traffic sign in Cherokee syllabary and English in Tahlequah

Cherokee Heritage Center - Ancient village ( 17th century hut ) by Wolfgang Sauber

The Ancient Village, located on the grounds of the Cherokee Heritage Center, is a complete reproduction of a mid-18th century Cherokee Township as it would have been encountered by European explorers or settlers. A guided tour of the village includes stops in a traditionally constructed, seven-sided council house and a brush arbor as well as demonstrations of traditional crafts, hunting techniques, religious and cultural practices. Visitors are invited to try their hand at using a blowgun and playing stickball during the tour. They also host annual art shows, events and have shopping on site with wonderful gifts, music CDs, native flutes and paintings, books, craft supplies and much more. You may also research your Cherokee heritage at the center.

NSU offers many events throughout the year which we enjoyed attending. University football games are high in spirit and draw a large crowd to see the NSU Riverhawks. Other events included the best Christmas lights parade I have ever attended with many floats, hot chocolate, candy for the kids and the support of the university and town out in full force to make it a very memorable occasion. Concerts and plays are frequent and of high quality. We were fortunate to see many including Michael Martin Murphy’s Cowboy Christmas.

For day trips, Tulsa is but an hour and a half away for major shopping, dining and attractions. Many weekend getaways were to Dallas, about four hours away. Some weekends we drove over to Arkansas, mostly to the Fayetteville area or sometimes up into the southwest corner of Missouri, a very nice area. These were both especially lovely drives in the fall.

After “travel living” in Oklahoma, though I already felt strong ties and a deep appreciation for the lines in my family of Cherokee ancestry, I came away much more so. Living there, getting to know others of similar ancestry or of full blood was enjoyable and enlightening, as was learning their history and that of the area. Too I was able to study with several Cherokee professors and to also take a Native American Arts class wherein I learned traditional Cherokee crafts like basket-weaving and the making of corn-husk dolls, beading and working with leather. So “travel living” in an area or among peoples where one shares any genetic heritage can be a unique opportunity to learn more about one’s own history, ancestry and self.

Stop sign in Cherokee syllabary
 and English in Tahlequah