The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

We have a French exchange student coming next week and I want to give him the best sense of America I can. What would you think is the best way to give him this experience?

I was thinking chicken-fried steak from Nelson's, a college basketball game, and maybe a trip to the Wal-Mart.

What else?

How much time do you have to do this? Your answer will influence my recommendations.

The Zoo before it becomes a budget cut....

If you want an accurate best sense, Woodland Hills Mall, then a drive around the area from downtown to a few miles away in the rural areas.  Perhaps take a drive all day in one direction and not cross international boundaries, perhaps not even a state boundary.  I believe many Europeans don't quite realize how much distance there can be to go somewhere in the USA.  I don't think there is as much open nothingness in France as there can be in the OK and TX panhandles.  I grew up in southeast PA and was surprised at how much (awesome) nothingness there can be.

If you want a favorable best sense, stay away from Woodland Hills Mall

Edit:  Texas has more square miles than France

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-big-are-the-states-in-america.htm

He will be here for two weeks. There is a four day weekend around Valentine's day. I was thinking about taking him to St. Louis to see the Arch, the Mississippi River, the City Museum and some Italian food from Rigazzi's.

I think you should take him shooting, like go shoot skeet out at Tulsa Gun Club or something fun like that.  It may be his only chance in his life to shoot a gun!

+1 Rigazzi's.  Stop by the Jefferson Barrack's National Cemetery and point out the graves of those Americans that died giving freedom to Europe in WWI & WWII.

Like they don't have graves in Normandy of American soldiers.

Take him to a barbeque joint for sure. Elmer's in Brookside would be interesting.  A trip along the Turner Turnpike to our OKC relatives, where the Murrah would be a good stop, would give him a feel for prairie expanse and midwestern urban sprawl.

BTW, France is primarily an agrarian country. They know about farms and small towns.

The Tallgrass Prarie. Seeing nothing forever.

When my son stayed with his family in France they went duck hunting.

I was thinking Knotty Pine for the atmosphere. His family owns a butcher shop in France, but they mostly eat grilled foods and deli cuts.

I was thinking along the lines of being able to see for many miles without being on a hill.  No big trees to block the view.

Show him some of the sights along Route 66.  Even Europeans know about the Mother Road, and it's a popular attraction for touring.  Oklahoma has more miles of the original road than any other state.  Get him a copy of Jim Ross's excellent "Oklahoma Route 66" as a souvenir.  And take him to Steve's Sundries to get it.  There's even one Rt 66 book that details all the food along the way, including the barbecue joints. 

A day trip to Woolaroc and Bartlesville to see the Price Tower is a good experience for any Tulsa tourist, domestic or international.  A college basketball game at TU or NBA game in Oklahoma City are also good options this time of year.  OSU plays Texas in Stillwater tomorrow night, and OU plays Texas this Saturday in Norman (another good place for a day trip to see the OU campus, Memorial Stadium, Fred Jones Art Museum, and Noble Nat. History Museum).  Either game would be a good atmosphere for a foreigner to experience.  If there is a big game in Fayetteville Bud Walton Arena is very impressive as well.  The drive through the mountains to Fayetteville from Tulsa is nice and will open anyone's eyes that [at least not all of] Oklahoma isn't flat plains.

I agree with the others about the Tallgrass Prairie and Route 66.

In terms of chicken-fried steak, one of the best I've ever had was at Jump's in Fairfax. If you're going to Tallgrass anyway, Jump's would be a good place to start or cap the day. It's only about 30 miles or so from Tallgrass.

You could serve him some calf fries at Clanton's Cafe in Vinita and not tell him what they are at first. Seriously, though, that place is one of the best I've ever had for breakfast, and you'll see a lot of local color there.

Rigazzi's is a good blue-collar Italian place on The Hill in St. Louis, but Zia's or Charlie Gitto's are better. Trust me, I know.

In St. Louis, you can also take him to check the sights at the University City Loop, especially Blueberry Hill. If you're lucky, you might score tickets to a Chuck Berry show in the basement. Chuck plays there the second Wednesday of every month. It's a small crowd and family members often attend, so it's a cool, fun show.

And if you want to give him another taste of the West, I'd go to the Gloss Mountains west of Enid. There's nothing quite like them in the state of Oklahoma.

We all seem to have forgotten Gilcrease Museum.

Take him to get a burger at Hank's, then drive him out to Fort Sill(maybe Tinker also). Don't take him to Wal-Mart.

I always take out of towners to Wilson's BBQ on north Apache after 2 AM........That way they can get some culture.......

Red hot lips! damn..... the jukebox got broken down once the old man died couple years back. They had the best jukebox in America.

Spent many a 3 AM in there in the 70's and then sunrise in Norman....

Check out Penningtons?

Wait long enough and you'll catch a gun show.

Do you have any recollection of how you got from there to Norman?

I'd take someone to KC before I'd take them to STL, but that's just me. KC has more fountains than any city but Rome; Country Club Plaza's architecture is modeled after Seville; Union Depot is pretty cool; WWII memorial has fantastic vistas; the American Jazz Museum and Baseball Museum at 18th & Vine is wonderful; Truman Presidential Library is interesting; Power & Light District is fun; Nelson-Atkins Museum has a great collection; there are a ton of gorgeous mansions along Ward Parkway, including the Hall mansion (Hallmark cards) and Russell-Stover Mansion; Gates BBQ (or Arthur Bryant's) is a unique experience; the Braves and Royals are there... It's beautiful (and much closer!) and has some great Italian restaurants, as well.

While he's in Tulsa, though, don't forget Philbrook! Many people from other parts of the world NEVER expect to see anything like that in America (let alone Tulsa). Don't forget Gilcrease. Take him to the Greenwood Center and tell him about the Riot. Everyone has to see the Praying Hands and the Golden Driller. And if you want good, local BBQ, visit Mac's Barbecue in Skiatook on your way to Woolaroc! I bet he's not seen bison in person before.

Et n'oubliez pas que je parle français. Si tu as besoin d'un traducteur, tu as mon numéro!

(And might I add how funny it is that we're all the time screaming to the rest of the country, "We've got hills and trees!" and many of the posts in this discussion have been, "Show him how flat and empty it is!" :))

The best American experience?  Ask him to come back sometime other than February!

Gilcrease for sure.  Barbeque, too.

Go out to some place like Stigler on the weekend and have breakfast at the local diner.  Strike up a conversation with some ol' Okie and young Mr. France will know America.

My guess is that he won't want to spend a lot of time riding around in a car, but some travel might demonstrate how much more land there is here.

+1 on Ed's suggestions, I'd also offer him a copy of Michael Wallis' Rte. 66 book.

Simply drive Route 66 from Tulsa to OKC- Rock Cafe, the Round Barn, Pops, those are just a few things off the top of the head that can make that a memorable 1/2 day drive, or all weekend bike ride, if so inclined.