Tourism department offers 2001 Oklahoma travel guide

Thursday, March 8th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Residents and travelers alike are invited to take advantage of new 2001 Oklahoma tourism literature when planning their vacation getaways. The comprehensive 2001 Oklahoma Travel Guide and the 2001 RV Parks, Lakes & Camping Guide are now available at no cost from the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department.

As the two most popular brochures produced by the Tourism Department, the guides include comprehensive, updated information about Oklahoma's attractions, events, accommodations, cities, restaurants, lakes, campgrounds and outdoor recreation. The Travel Guide also includes information about Oklahoma's newest attractions, such as Bricktown, the Oklahoma City National Memorial, and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman. A companion piece, the Oklahoma 2001 Annual Events Guide, also is available, and includes a listing of all events in the state which are open to the public.

"Imagine trying to spring clean your yard without the necessary tools-no lawn mower, trowels, gloves or rakes. Vacationing without the proper tools can be equally as frustrating," said Jane Jayroe, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department. "So, as people begin thinking about spring and summertime vacations, we encourage everyone to pick up a few of the tools available free of charge through the department."

The brochures are only one of many outlets designed to help travelers with vacation planning and answer questions. These include a web site (www.travelok.com), extensive literature, a toll-free number staffed by trained travel counselors (800-652-6552), plus 12 Welcome Centers statewide, each stocked with literature and also staffed by travel counselors.

In addition to the three main guides, a comprehensive guide to Oklahoma's museums, plus a Weekend Getaway Guide, are popular pieces produced biannually. Specialized literature is available on such topics as Route 66, American Indian attractions and events, African American attractions and events, and rodeo and horse-related events, among others. Through its Welcome Centers, the Tourism Department also serves as a distributor for literature produced independently by Oklahoma tourist attractions such as the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. It also is the source to call for the latest information on weather conditions, weekend and romantic getaways, special travel bargains, foliage tours and any travel-related concern.

"Interest in Oklahoma tourism is at an all-time high, and local communities, as well as metropolitan districts such as Oklahoma City's Bricktown, are developing new festivals, attractions and other tourism-oriented projects at a record pace," Jayroe noted. "The best way to keep up with all these new entertainment options is to let us help you collect the right tools for the job, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you soon."

Literature orders may be placed through the toll-free number, the web site, or at the state's Welcome Centers, which are located at all major points along the state border, plus in Oklahoma City, Midwest City and Tulsa.