Before leaving the Hot Springs area, we drove up a winding road to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. For a reasonable fee, you can ascend to the observation deck of the 216-foot tower for panoramic views of the Ouachita Mountains and the city of Hot Springs. A small museum at the top outlines the city's history.
Hot Springs Mountain Tower
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Ouachita Mountains
We took the elevator up the tower and the stairs (306 of them) back down, exiting – of course – through the gift shop. I was delighted when Tom pointed out a souvenir I couldn't possibly pass up. And I thought we'd given our dog such a unique name...
Best souvenir ever
Much later in the day, we reached our next point of interest, the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma, with its many buildings and vast grounds. One of the goals of the center is to share the unique Chickasaw culture with the world, so admission to the majority of the campus is free. We only had a couple of hours, so we limited our roaming to the outdoor areas. This late in the afternoon, we practically had the place to ourselves.
Chickasaw Warrior
Owwatta (They're hunting)
The Aba' Aanowa' Sky Bridge offers a view of the Chikasha Inchokka' Traditional Village and the surrounding forest of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. After getting the bird's-eye-view, we walked down into the replica 1700s Chickasaw village to look around.
Aba' Aanowa' Sky Bridge
Chikasha Inchokka' Traditional Village
Chokkilissa (council house)
Toompalli' chokka' (summer house)
We spent our remaining time at the Chickasaw Cultural Center exploring its grounds, with its many sculptures, fountains, and a pond brimming with fish and turtles. The center is connected by a pedestrian bridge over Rock Creek to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. It was a gorgeous afternoon, and the weather was perfect!
Inkana Bridge
Tom in the butterfly garden
Grounds of the Chickasaw Cultural Center
Catfish and fountain
Jana finds a friend
Around 5:30, we reached the Turner Falls Overlook in the Arbuckle Mountains, just outside Davis, Oklahoma. At a height of 77 feet, Turner Falls is tied for the highest waterfall in the state. There's a nice swimming hole at the bottom of the waterfall which I swam in several times as a kid. Today, we just admired from afar.
Turner Falls, Oklahoma
Arbuckle Mountains
Lodging: Quality Inn, Duncan, Oklahoma.
I was in the mood for Mexican food, and the hotel receptionist recommended La Fiesta as a local favorite. It was excellent!
After dinner, we headed to the north end of Duncan to Kochendorfer Brewing Company – a good German name for some great German beer! We enjoyed a couple of beers on site and then left with a couple of six-packs.
Jana and Tom enjoy a nightcap