Surrounded by the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Grove is named after a cluster of trees that existed when the settlement was founded in the 19th century. It’s now a popular recreational hub that’s famed for its bass fishing and a stone’s throw from Oklahoma’s border with Missouri and Arkansas.

Things to do

Green thumbs shouldn’t miss a visit to the Lendonwood Gardens, which is planted with around 1,400 different species. It boasts the largest collection of rhododendrons in the Southwest and a diversity of hostas, as well as bonsai, Japanese maples and a koi-filled pond. Follow the shaded pathways that meander through the Angel of Hope Garden and the English Terrace Garden, then admire the annuals that thrive in the American Backyard Xeriscape Garden.

On the shores of the Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees is the Har-Ber Village Museum, a pioneer-era attraction that brings the area’s rich history to life. You can wander between its 19th-century buildings where antiques and collectables are exhibited, with highlights including a log-built courthouse, a replica chapel and a former jail. Kids can get hands-on milking cows and pumping water or catch a glimpse of traditional craft and trade demonstrations.

A short drive north-east of Grove is Cayuga Mission Church, a 19th-century landmark that was built by Matthias Splitlog from native limestone. The interior is adorned with intricately carved woodwork and stained-glass windows, many of which employ Native American symbols drawing on the builder’s Cayuga heritage.

Getting around

Grove is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Tulsa and Tulsa International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Buses are the main means of getting around the city and connect to urban centres in neighbouring Missouri and Arkansas.