Monkey Island, Oklahoma

Why it's called Monkey Island

Early settlers kept a colony of monkeys on the peninsula — the monkeys are long gone but the name stuck. Today Monkey Island is Grand Lake's entertainment epicenter.

What to do

• Shangri-La Resort — hotel, condos, spa, two golf courses, marina, restaurants
• The Landings — waterfront restaurants including Whitecap
• South 125 Bar & Grill — a Monkey Island institution
• The Anchor — casual waterfront dining and drinks
• Live music at Pelican's Landing and around the point most summer weekends

Getting there

Monkey Island is reached by land via State Highway 125 and the causeway from Afton, or by water from anywhere on the lake. Cherokee Yacht Club, Monkey Island Marina, and The Landings all offer transient slips for restaurant-goers arriving by boat.