Shawnee

Shawnee is in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma.

While normally not on the sight-seeing itinerary of those who do not know someone already living there, Shawnee could prove to be an interesting day trip.

Shawnee is known for its numerous Native American casinos, maybe lesser-so that it is where Brad Pitt and Jim Thorpe hailed from or the origin of Sonic restaurants.

By car
Practically the only method of getting in or out of Shawnee is on the highway. Taxi cabs can be hired by calling a taxi service to have them pick you up, although doing so from another city could prove expensive.

There is an Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Shawnee and Shawnee Airport. Many visitors will rent at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.

Most traffic enters and exits Shawnee via Interstate Highway I-40, although State Highway 3 and US Highway 177 also pass through Shawnee.

By bus
Greyhound buses make daily stops in front of the American Colony motel on the far north side of Shawnee.

From there you will have to either call a taxi or arrange another form of pickup.

By train
Shawnee was established as a railroad hub, and still has many infrequently used rail tracks.

By plane
Chartered flights can fly you in to Shawnee airport, most likely originating from Oklahoma City or Tulsa. There are no commercial flight charter services based in Shawnee, so arrangements for your eventual pickup would have to be made as well.

On foot
While towns in Oklahoma are quite spread out, some have been known to hitchhike especially along I-40. Not preferred.

Get around
If you are a tourist, getting around in Shawnee means either calling a taxi cab service to pick you up or using a rental car.

Shawnee is very, very spread out and you will quickly abandon any thoughts of walking if you ever want to get where you're going.

Architecture
Many old buildings from Shawnee's early years still remain, although most have changed facade or fallen into disrepair. However, Shawnee has revitalized a three-block section of Bell Street, one of Shawnee's oldest roads and site of the Aldrige Hotel and former Round House Building.


 * Santa Fe Depot from above, at 614 E Main St.
 * Santa Fe Depot from above, at 614 E Main St.
 * Santa Fe Depot from above, at 614 E Main St.

Public parks
Since Shawnee's many public parks are used infrequently by locals, a quiet and serene environment can usually be expected.

(Exceptions noted below)



Shawnee's Twin Lakes
Shawnee's Twin Lakes offer enjoyable avocation and adventure to anyone who likes to experience the outdoors and water related leisure.

One lake is reserved for fishing and angling.

Its counterpart lake is for those who wish to swim or take part in non fishing related activities such as water skiing, jet skiing, or drinking. Consuming alcohol while fishing can be dangerous to yourself and those around you; it is strongly discouraged.

Due to pervasive droughts and low water levels, Shawnee Twin Lakes are often closed during the summer.

Casinos
Shawnee is surrounded by gaming establishments who advertise to be "just like Vegas". For smokers, these establishments offer the convenience of having their own smoke shops, which are not subject to local tobacco tax statutes.

Native American casinos offer card games along with their slot machine mainstays.



Buy
As a classic example of middle sized town Americana, Shawnee boasts a variety of shopping opportunities, both budget and luxury oriented.

Eat
Like most towns of any size in Oklahoma, Shawnee is inundated with most of the fast food restaurants you can think of and also has many all-you-can-eat buffets (mostly Chinese food).

Most places to eat are either on the northern edge of town along interstate highway I-40, sprinkled along Harrison and Kickapoo Street, or downtown on the south side of Shawnee.

Shawnee also has many pizza kitchens, although many of these are carry-out/delivery only.



Go next
Shawnee's surrounding area can offer almost as much to see as the city itself, if one knows where to look:


 * Cowtown USA, bar and dance hall with country/western theme, a little outside of town on Hwy 177 South, +1 405 275-0108
 * Jim Thorpe's burial site between Shawnee and nearby Prague.
 * Fireworks stands Just outside city limits in almost every direction (usually open around the Fourth of July)
 * Buddhist Temple about 20 miles outside Shawnee off I-40, an extreme rarity in the Oklahoma area.
 * Curtis Watson's Restaurant can be found off of I-40 between Shawnee and Oklahoma City.
 * Carl Hubbell Museum and burial site are north on Highway 18 in Meeker, Oklahoma, a treat for fans of old-time major league baseball.