Oklahoma was recently named as part of CNN’s “22 of the USA’s most underrated destinations” list.

The news source narrowed down their list of nearly two dozen destinations to include some of the country’s most overlooked travel opportunities like White Sands National Park in New Mexico or the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas.

Oklahoma, however, was included as an entire state. CNN noted, the state that many people “fly over and drive right through,” actually has a wide variety of attractions worth wandering about.

"Oklahoma City faces a variety of challenges when it comes to national visitor perception. Whether it's due to our location in 'flyover country' or wild weather headlines, our work in promoting the rich and varied experiences offered here is never done," Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) President, Zac Craig said.

"Despite these challenges, we know that perceptions are shifting and once people visit, they are pleasantly surprised by all there is to see and do in Oklahoma City. Showing up in national media such as this article is a great way to raise awareness about our destination." 

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City National Memorial, and RIVERSPORT were all listed as top tier attractions within the state.

Acknowledgment was also given to the Oklahoma City food scene, popular throughout the city’s varying districts. This is not the first piece of recognition awarded to local eateries. The Plaza District’s Ma Der Lao Kitchen has gained national notoriety, all within a few months of opening, named to The New York Times’ America’s Best Restaurants 2022 list, as well as Bon Appetit’s 50 Best New Restaurants 2022.

"OKC's visitor economy is on the rise and we've just come off a record-high year of hotel tax collections for the city. We're excited about the future of tourism in our community and all it brings in terms of jobs, quality of life and economic impact."

Attractions like the First Americans Museum have begun to attract visitors from across the globe. German-speaking Europe, in particular, has been identified as being uniquely interested in the Indigenous culture of lands like Oklahoma.

In the sports world, Oklahoma has become known as the “Softball Capital of the World,” continuously hosting the NCAA Women’s College World Series at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex on Oklahoma City’s east side.

In 2022, several softball teams within the state completed their seasons as national champions. The University of Oklahoma, Rogers State University, and Oklahoma City University all finished at the top of their respective leagues.

RIVERSPORT has attracted national attention in its own right. The International Canoe Federation (ICF) relocated the 2022 Canoe Sprint Super Cup and the 2022 ICF Stand Up Paddling World Cup races to Oklahoma City this year. The downtown water-venue also hosted Red Bull’s first North American rendition of Red Bull Rapids, a whitewater race requiring participants to build and buoy their own rafts.

Along with competitive and culinary honors, Oklahoma City has been named as the top place for street art by USA Today for the past two years.

The inaugural AAA Route 66 Road Fest was held in both, Oklahoma City and Tulsa in 2022. The event which celebrates the life and legacy of America’s Mother Road will be held in Oklahoma through the highway’s 100-year anniversary in 2026.

Craig said the CVB often hosts travel writers and social media influencers, "that are excited to experience the Modern Frontier first-hand," and create content encouraging others to visit the overlooked environment.

So, whether you are looking for a quick trip or a place to disappear to, Oklahoma is one of America’s most underrated destinations.

This story originally ran on the JournalRecord.com.