Are you headed out on Route 66 going via Oklahoma Metropolis? If you end up passing via this vibrant capital metropolis in center America, make a while to take a look at all of the wonderful issues to do in Oklahoma Metropolis. From cutting-edge museums to quirky Route 66 cafes, examination of cowboy tradition together with distinctive lodging choices, OKC has all of it. It’s straightforward to see why it’s now referred to as the fashionable frontier!

Oklahoma Metropolis is a type of locations that’s surprisingly actually cool. OKC is the right cease over on a street journey or as a vacation spot for a protracted weekend getaway from surrounding areas.

I grew up in Texas, however a lot of my household has lived in Oklahoma all my life. I’ve spent a ton of time within the state via the years and I’ve to say that I used to be so pleasantly shocked how a lot OKC has modified, the way it has a progressive vibe with arts, tradition and historical past all rolled into an simply accessible bundle. Learn on for our high picks of locations you shouldn’t miss whether or not you might be simply passing via or making this your last vacation spot!

Issues to Know About Visiting Oklahoma Metropolis

Oklahoma Metropolis is the biggest metropolis within the state of Oklahoma, it’s the capital metropolis and is situated almost within the heart of the state. Whereas not jam filled with individuals, clocking in at just one.four million, the town itself is definitely fairly unfold out overlaying extra sq. miles than Los Angeles! With that mentioned, it’s just like Los Angeles in that you will want to drive to essentially be capable to get round to see the whole lot effectively. Uber is obtainable, however when you don’t have your personal automobile, I’d extremely advocate renting a automobile.

Climate is all the time a scorching subject right here. Within the spring, summer season and fall, it’s typically scorching, muggy, windy and stuffed with potential climate in Oklahoma Metropolis! It could snow and ice all winter lengthy or have blue skies and 70. You by no means know what you’re going to get, so plan forward and are available ready. If  it’s twister season (April, Might & June), take heed to the climate forecasts and be ready if inclement climate is coming. 

And simply FYI, each Saturday at 12 p.m. a twister siren goes off as a check, except there’s unhealthy climate. Don’t be alarmed, however acknowledge the sound so if it occurs at one other time what it means!

High 13 Issues to Do in Oklahoma Metropolis

Oklahoma Metropolis is a enjoyable vacation spot whether or not you might be visiting household, on a street journey or searching for an awesome weekend getaway.  There are all the time particular occasions taking place all year long. Take a look at Visit OKC to search out out what native occasions is likely to be on throughout your go to just like the Paseo Arts District pageant or the Chuckwagon Pageant. In any other case, the next listing are a few of our high picks which can be round all 12 months.

Discover the First Individuals Museum

When you have restricted time, the best possible factor to do in Oklahoma Metropolis in my view is to go to the brand new First Americans Museum. This museum is a very long time coming and is effectively definitely worth the wait. For the 39 indigenous tribes residing in Oklahoma, this museum is supposed to share their historical past, tradition and current day lives. My son is especially interested by native peoples so we spent four hours touring the museum, studying and listening to the entire tales on supply. There may be additionally a movie show exhibiting a number of completely different films all through the day. We watched one in regards to the Choctaw code talkers from World Battle I that was fabulous! There may be additionally a restaurant on website with a scrumptious providing of native meals.

This museum is nice for all ages because it has interactive sport play, tales being instructed over “fireplace pits” and lots of movies that youngsters will get pleasure from. Observe that the museum is closed on Tuesday.

Trip a Water Taxi By Bricktown

Bricktown is Oklahoma Metropolis’s essential vacationer district situated within the coronary heart of the town. Full of eating places, bars, reside music, a baseball stadium, stunning murals and a lot extra, that is the right place to base your self. Top-of-the-line issues to do to orient your self to the realm is to take a Bricktown Water Taxi boat journey on the person made Bricktown canal that weaves via the realm. On this tour you’ll study all in regards to the historical past of the realm. Excursions go all through the day, however we extremely advocate an evening tour because the canal is lit up with colourful lights and you’ll actually really feel the vibrancy of the realm. 

OKC Nationwide Memorial & Museum

One of many issues most individuals find out about OKC is the “Oklahoma Metropolis bombing”.  It was right here {that a} homegrown terrorist assault in 1995 occured. I nonetheless bear in mind listening to the information in faculty {that a} federal constructing had been attacked. In case you aren’t accustomed to this occasion, 168 individuals died, together with 19 youngsters when Timothy McVey exploded a transferring truck stuffed with fertilizer explosives in entrance of the Alfred P Murrah Federal Constructing. There space the place the constructing as soon as stood is now the Oklahoma City National Memorial (the surface space with a subject of empty chairs) and a Museum. 

In previous years I had visited solely the memorial with my son, however now that he was sufficiently old, we opted to undergo the museum as effectively. Wow! This is without doubt one of the strongest museums I’ve ever visited. From interactive reveals to video shows, this can be a should go to to study extra about what occurred right here and the way the individuals of the town rose as much as deal with each other. It truly is a transferring museum inside and outside. The museum is sort of in your face at instances, so I’d not advocate going inside with youthful youngsters.

In case you are a Junior Park ranger badge collector like my son, this can be a Nationwide Park website. You could find a park ranger outdoors on the grounds who can present your ebook to you.  It’s right here that you will note the reflecting pool, the sphere of chairs and varied reveals mentioned additional on signboards. 

Go See an Oklahoma Metropolis Dodgers Sport

Coming from Los Angeles, we had been so shocked to study that Oklahoma Metropolis additionally has a Dodgers workforce. The OKC workforce is the Triple A farm, or feeder workforce for the Los Angeles workforce. Who knew!! We had been so excited to have the ability to stroll throughout the street from our resort to the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark proper in the midst of city. In case you are right here throughout spring or summer season baseball season, this can be a actually great point to do in Oklahoma Metropolis. Tickets are tremendous inexpensive, the environment is energetic and invigorating and actually provides guests a entrance seat view into the wonderful residents of OKC. 

Get an Adrenaline Rush at Riversport

Top-of-the-line spring, summer and fall adventures on the town is Riversport. Situated within the Boathouse District, simply throughout the freeway from Bricktown, this enjoyable journey park has one thing for everybody. In the course of the heat months I extremely advocate you try their white water rafting choices. I used to be terrified, however their affected person and rather well educated guides make it a lot enjoyable. 

Along with the water sports activities, you may also “ski”, do a ropes course, go ziplining and extra. My son beloved the snowboarding. It took him a minute to get used to it because it’s not fairly the identical as snowboarding down an actual mountain, however as soon as he received the cling of it he was hooked!

Closed toe sneakers are required. You possibly can hire booties on website or buy sneakers if wanted.

Play Outdoors at Scissortail Park

Driving via city, we occurred upon Scissortail Park and fell in love! This 70-acre public inexperienced area simply south of downtown is a should do in Oklahoma Metropolis you probably have children. With a incredible playground, splash pad, paddle boats, canine park, out of doors curler rink, and loads of inexperienced garden areas for picnics, you may simply spend a full day at Scissortail Park.

Whereas at this incredible city park, don’t miss Skydance Bridge close to the park at night time. This pedestrian bridge crosses over I-40 was designed to resemble the wings of the scissortail, the state fowl of Oklahoma. At night time, the bridge is brightly lit up, making for an awesome picture spot in OKC. With our jam packed days we didn’t find yourself getting right here till after midnight and surpingsly we weren’t alone! There have been fairly a number of different vacationers right here additionally snapping pictures of this iconic bridge!

 Keep in a Lined Wagon at a Working Farm

Some of the distinctive lodging choices in Oklahoma metropolis is at Orr Household Farm. Situated in Moore, simply outdoors of Oklahoma Metropolis, this can be a good spot to remain in case you are visiting with children.  On the “campground”, there are a number of coated wagons circling a big fireplace pit the place you’ll be able to roast your scorching canine or marshmellows. There may be additionally a small indoor pool space in addition to personal showers and bogs for every wagon. This enjoyable glamping expertise comes with bonus distinctive expertise of being situated on a working farm.

Throughout our go to the farm actions weren’t open, however that also left a ton to discover. Throughout test in we had been offered a bag of feed to feed the cattle, we had been additionally supplied the chance to discover the grounds with nobody there! From the petting zoo, to the assorted playground constructions, ziplines, ninja warrior sort rope course and extra my son had a ball. 

In case you occur to go to through the season festivals, you’ll be able to anticipate much more enjoyable like a prepare, bounce homes, a corn maze and pumpkin patch.

Trip the Ferris Wheel within the Wheeler District

One of many few locations not within the Bricktown space, however effectively price a go to is to the brand new up and coming Wheeler District. Situated simply southwest of downtown OKC, this space is starting to increase. With the picturesque OKC signal for Instagram pictures, a meals truck and a classic ferris wheel straight from Santa Monica Pier. Throughout our go to there have been a number of commencement occasions taking place right here which simply added to the festive nature of the park. I can see with the condo blocks stepping into and funky eateries like Taco Nation, that is certain to be a premier neighborhood for the younger movers and shakers of OKC. 

Be taught About Western Heritage

One other fabulous museum on the town is the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. This museum homes a beautiful assortment of western heritage artwork together with a extremely nice space outside for youngsters. In Prosperity Junction, children can step again in time for an “night” stroll in a duplicate turn-of-the-twentieth-century cattle city. Outdoors at Liichokoshkomo’ there’s a lot to do and study Native Individuals, from a duplicate cliff dwellings, tipi and extra. 

In case you occur to be on the town throughout Memorial Day Weekend, you need to go to for the yearly Chuck Wagon Pageant. The museum is was a pageant with rope making, leather-based stamping, meals samples and different enjoyable actions. My son match proper in along with his rugged cowboy boots that he wears day by day!

Take a look at the Bronze Horse Statues & Be taught Some Native Historical past

One of many coolest installations on the town has to to be the large Centennial Land Run Monument situated in Bricktown. We occurred upon this by chance because it’s simply behind our resort. Additionally, you will go previous this on the water taxi boat tour when you try this. The Centennial Land Run Monument commemorates the Land Run of 1889 within the Unassigned Lands of Oklahoma. A number of signal boards inform the story and the large, bigger than life-size statues depict the assorted struggles that occurred throughout this run. It’s a cool factor to take a look at and actually set in your thoughts extra about how wild the west was at one time!

Discover the Myriad Botanical Gardens

In Downtown Oklahoma Metropolis, there’s an incredible public backyard that’s effectively price a go to. The Myriad Botanical Gardens is a 15-acre city nature escape providing stunning gardens, an incredible children play and studying space, huge splash fountains and a wide range of ponds and crops to discover in your stroll via.

Whereas the gardens are free to go to, there’s a small cost to enter the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory on the heart of the gardens. The 13,000 sq. foot tropical greenhouse homes greater than 750 completely different crops and a number of waterfalls. In case you are searching for a spot to let the youngsters roam or to stretch your legs, that is the place to go.

My son beloved the youngsters play space in addition to the vegetable backyard and mini maze space. If we lived on the town I can see this is able to be a staple in our week!

Seize a Drink at Pops Soda Ranch

Pops Soda Ranch is an old school soda store and restaurant situated simply east of Oklahoma Metropolis on Route 66. It’s a distinctive pit cease alongside the historic freeway that you just simply can’t miss in case you are within the space. Right here you should buy actually lots of of various flavors of soda, together with some loopy flavors that solely the adventurous would dare strive. We’ve got one in every of these in California as effectively and it’s a should cease for us!

Eat Your Method By Oklahoma Metropolis

Considered one of my favourite issues about visiting Oklahoma is attending to eat some wonderful meals at one of the best eating places. Oklahoma Metropolis has a ton of excellent choices which can be extra trendy and hip, however I nonetheless love my previous time favorites. I’m an enormous fan of Tex-Mex and queso, so that tops my listing on the town. My favorites are Torchy’s Tacos which is definitely an Austin, Texas establishment that has made its approach right here. Scrumptious breakfast and lunch tacos with one of the best queso you’ll find! For a sit down meal, think about Ted’s Cantina for scrumptious Tex-Mex eats. 

Different favorites throughout our go to:

• Breakfast at Hatch (so scrumptious!)
• Ray’s BBQ  (close to Orr Household Farm)
• Trendy Mexican at Barrios
• Pizza at Rendezvous Pizza or Pub Fashion eats at Bricktown Brewery

We ran out of time throughout our go to, however there’s really a lot extra on our to do listing for our subsequent go to. My son additionally desires to take a look at the Museum of Osteology, the Oklahoma Metropolis Zoo, Science Museum Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Railway Museum and take a look at a Thunder sport if they’re taking part in. We additionally would love to go to Lake Hefner – we heard it’s stunning! See, there’s a lot to do and see right here!

Have you ever been to OKC? What are your favourite locations to discover?

To be sincere there’s a variety of misnomers about this a part of america, which I feel is why it’s much more essential to go to and test it out for your self! In case you go, let me know what you suppose.

If You Loved This Put up, Signal Up To Obtain Posts By E mail or…

• Be a part of us on Facebook for normal updates and associated articles
• Test us out on Instagram to see what we’re as much as in pictures
• Comply with us on Twitter for hyperlinks to nice journey articles curated only for you
• Or share this submit with others by pinning on Pinterest!