If you’re looking for diversity, West Grand
Lake is the place! While there’s plenty of appeal for its rural setting,
this area is also home to fishing, nightlife and great shopping.
Nature
lovers can enjoy horseback riding on Monkey Island or a walk along Bernice
State Park’s nature trail. Or, cruise miles of back roads on
foot or by bicycle.
Motels,
condos, cabins and RV parks offer a variety of accommodation. You’ll
also find several marinas.
Monkey Island
The hub of Grand Lake’s
nightlife, Monkey Island offers lots of entertainment ranging from a
20s-style nightclub to live entertainment year-round. Some of the lake’s
best restaurants are located here and shoppers can browse shops filled
with art, antiques and other enticing items.
If you’re lucky, you might
even catch one of Monkey Island’s spirited celebrations including the
Egret Festival in September.
The Island
is easy to reach. By land, it’s a short drive off I-44. Small
planes and jets from Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Wichita, Joplin,
Dallas and Little Rock land at Grand Lake Regional Airport. Tera
Miranda Resort maintains its own 2660 foot grass airfield.
Bernice
Known for
its outstanding crappie and bass fishing, Bernice is one of Grand Lake’s
fishing hot spots. This peaceful community was moved from its
original site when the land was appropriated to create Grand Lake.
Several historic homes and a church from the original community connect
visitors with the town’s history.
See also
Afton
Nostalgia
buffs visit Afton to travel its nine-mile stretch of original Route 66
running through town. Antique dealers, flea markets and craft shops
line the historic route. In late June, rodeo fans come for the Ted Jones
Memorial Rodeo.
Winding around Afton and into
Grand Lake, Horse Creek is a good spot for great fishing and water sports.
Pelicans, geese and ducks migrate through the area in fall and winter.
Bald eagles and osprey winter in the Horse Creek area.
See also
