The rolling hills and plains of Osage County force me to both take a breath of fresh air and to linger in each said breath, as I can only attempt to soak in all the beauty that surrounds me. It’s here where I find myself craving to return to when my mind needs settling, my body needs silence, and my heart craves fun. Rogers County, Oklahoma, holds my address, my community, my family, and my friends, but seventy miles North and West of here is the precious town of Pawhuska, where I’ve spent the last decade taking day trips for dreaming, exploring, and gallivanting around with some of my favorite people, and I’d like to share the fun with you, too!

If I’m driving up to Pawhuska, it’s for one of two reasons: either my husband and I have our three boys loaded up and packed for a hike through the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, or I’m chatting in the car with some of my sweetest friends for a girl’s day out. The agenda that awaits doesn’t matter so much as where we’re going and who I’m going with. So, before you head out, bring someone else with you, because if you’re going alone, you’re missing the main joy of the entire trip! Someone to share it with. So, invite a friend, a mom, an aunt, a sister, or load up your husband, kids, and dogs, and make some memories. Because truly, the shopping, the hiking, the eating, the beauty, the land, the history, the exploring- that’s just the bonus stuff… the excuse to make the trip to begin with. It’s the people, the conversations, the memories that you make- that’s what it’s really all about.

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

Taking a drive through the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve and being surrounded by miles and miles of rolling plains, buffalo herds, and an Oklahoma sky that seems to melt right into the prairie does quite a number on a gal who grew up dreaming that she could have been a part of the pioneer days. I can’t quite accurately describe the sensation of finding just the right spot to shut off the engine, open the car door, and step out directly onto buffalo tracks dried into the dirt below my feet. I take a deep breath and get lost in the wonder of the prairie wind. It’s here that I dwell on why pioneers kept moving West. The land beneath your feet is more than enough; it’s invigorating, beautiful, and full of possibility, but you can’t help but wonder ‘what is just beyond the next hill‘? You’re filled with a conflicting desire to stay right where you are and soak it all in, but at the same time, you can’t stop here; you have to keep moving. So that’s what we do; we hop back into the car and keep going until we go a little farther, repeating the same scenario over and over again until eventually, we make it to the Preserve’s nature trailhead.

You have two choices when you get to the trail- you can hike the one-mile loop or continue on to the three-mile loop. I can’t encourage you enough to hike the three miles if you’re able. Our three boys are now all at the age where we can hike the three miles with very minimal complaining, as long as we bring an abundance of snacks. Our favorite time of year is to go in the early spring when the grass is a vibrant green, the ticks are barely out of hiding, and the summer heat has yet to arrive. Truly, it’s the most beautiful hike, with hilltop views that allow your eyes to soak in prairie views for miles and miles all around you. The boys have their little backpacks loaded down with snacks, binoculars, and guidebooks of the local animals, bugs, and plants. Michael carries the waters, and I grab Marty’s leash before we take off on one of our favorite hikes of the year.

A Girl’s Day Out in Pawhuska

Okay, let’s get to the fun stuff! If I ever get a girl’s day out, you can bet you’ll find me with a Spicy Cowgirl coffee in my hand, walking the main streets with a sweet friend at my side. After almost ten years under my belt, I think I’ve cracked the code when it comes to a girl’s day in Pawhuska.

Here me out:

• Arrive in Pawhuska around 9am. Head straight into the Pioneer Woman Mercantile for some shopping. Moseying around and looking at all the cute and quirky items always makes me smile!
• After shopping downstairs, head up to the bakery upstairs, and I demand you order a Spicy Cowgirl coffee, okay? I know I can’t really demand that, but you’re missing out on one of the best iced coffees if you don’t. The sweet and spicy combo is a dream. Then pick one of the cute seating areas next to the windows to sit awhile and chat with your friend(s) as you watch the town below.
• Around 10 is when you’ll want to head back downstairs to the restaurant to eat. The menu is served all day, so you can choose a breakfast or lunch item- whatever you’ve got a hankering for that day. You’ll be really full after this, so it’s a perfect time to head back out to Main Street to spend an hour or two shopping at all the cute stores in town. I always make sure to hit up the antique stores.
• 1 o’clockish- Now this is important!! Visit on a day that Ree Drummond has her Lodge open for you to visit. They always keep this updated on the merc’s website. You just visit the front desk of the Merc before you head out to ask for a “ticket” to the Lodge. It gives you the directions- not the address. It’s awesome. You get a couple of directionally challenged gals in the car who have to figure out which direction is West and then slow down at every road sign for ten miles to squint and read the names until you finally come to the right turn off. Truly, I love this part, because I feel so capable after we finally arrive. Embrace it. Take your time walking around the lodge and never miss a chance to sit on that big, beautiful porch. I’m always thankful that they made the decision to share such a special place with all of us.
• 3-4pm. Okay, now you’ve walked off your brunch, shopped, and spent time dreaming and filling up your inspiration tank at the Lodge. Now you head back into town to P-Town Pizza for the best pizza I’ve ever sunk my teeth into. Immediately place an order for the Not Knots, and then ask for a large Pizza-Ree-A. I can taste it even now. (Probably because I’m eating a leftover slice as I type this) 🙂
• Once you’ve enjoyed the pizza, you’ll most likely feel exhausted, but in the best, most filled-up kind of way. This is when you talk about how it’s been so long since you’ve had such a fun day, and how you can’t wait to come back and do it all over again.

And that, my friends, is my guide to a girl’s day in Pawhuska. Run with it!