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Old West
buffs should head out along historic Route 66, where America's cowboy heritage
is still kicking. Besides being an authentic piece of Americana, Route 66 will
take you through Oklahoma, home of some of the greatest places in the world to
buy authentic Western wear at prices to tempt the most cost conscious cowpoke.
Start your shopping expedition at Oklahoma City's historic Stockyards
City, the world's largest stocker and feeder cattle market.
The stores here sell gear to working cowboys and those seeking authentic
Western apparel. Pick up some Western home furnishings or an ornate
belt buckle at Stock Mercantile, the former site of Cattlemen's
Western Wear.
Langston's is one huge Western store. Its aniversary
fall sale, which has been held since the early 1900's, is justifiably
famous. Cross the street to Little Joe's Boots and find an endless
selection of new footwear, or get your boots repaired. If you participate
in horse or rodeo shows and can prove it, give Tener's Western Outfitters
a visit. It's not only huge, but bona fide riders and ropers get
additional discounts. Langston's offers a discount to them as well.
Make the trip on the third Saturday of September and
head on over to Catoosa, where the Cowboy Trade Day will take place
at Rogers Point Park. People come from all over the U.S. for a long
day of buying, selling and trading of cowboy gear, old west guns,
antique spurs and truck loads of western saddles. There's also lots
of Western music and poetry.
A drive down Route 66 also offers a good look at America's
western past. The road goes through the former Indian Territory,
which is still home to more than 67
tribes. A detour just northwest of Tulsa will let you see the
buffalo roam through a
grassland preserve. And when you get to Oklahoma City, don't
miss the National
Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Editorial assistant Leslie Hunt contributed
to this story.
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