Things to Do in Oklahoma City

Did you know this city was established virtually overnight during the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 when “Boomers” and “Sooners” staked out land in a territory known as the Unassigned Lands? Oklahoma City has since blossomed into a thriving, modern city. With a landscape of gently rolling hills, grass-and-timbered land and prairie, the city offers numerous outdoor adventures on the Oklahoma River. You’ll also find sports and concert arenas, renowned museums and a thriving entertainment district, complete with water taxis. It won't take you long to realize that the Western heritage persists, though. You may no longer be able to grab land here, but you can embrace the legacy of this Midwestern city in America’s heartland.

1. Fine Art, Firearms and Frontiers

The American West is both subject and muse at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, just 15 minutes from downtown OKC. You can easily spend hours wandering its exhibits, as the museum has one of the country's top collections of Western art and artifacts. Other galleries are devoted to the cultures that predated the expansion of the American West, notably the region’s diverse Native American populations. You’ll also find a gallery dedicated to one of the greatest iconic personas in American history—the cowboy. The American Cowboy Gallery reveals the real people behind the legends. You’ll also find everything from fine art to firearms, which all tie together to reflect the heritage and culture of the dynamic era.

2. Roller Coasters and Wave Pools

Spend a day sharing laughs and plenty of screams at Frontier City, also just 15 minutes from downtown. This Western-themed amusement park offers more than 50 rides that range from a child-friendly train to roller coasters with thrilling loops. Grab a seat on the Brain Drain and get turned upside down on a 7-story steel-looping ride. If you want to go sky-high, ride the Geronimo Skycoaster. This 100-foot free-fall experience is a mix of skydiving, and hang gliding. While you'll also find three water rides at Frontier City, head to White Water Bay if you're looking to make a bigger splash. The water park offers a lineup of slide and raft rides, a wave pool and other attractions ideal for cooling off on a sweltering day.

3. Follow the Bricktown Road

If entertainment, sporting events, dining and nightlife destinations top your list of activities while in Oklahoma City, look no further than Bricktown, just east of the downtown business district. You’ll be surprised to learn that much of this area was overrun with dilapidated warehouses until the early 1990s. After a revitalization project, what was once the city’s first warehouse and distribution district now is a thriving cultural epicenter. To fully appreciate the district’s transformation, take a 40-minute round trip adventure on the Bricktown Water Taxi for a scenic, narrated cruise on the Bricktown Canal. The nearby Boathouse District on the Oklahoma River also offer numerous options for water sports like stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, dragon boating, rowing and more.

4. A Memorial of Loss and Survival

Make sure to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, whose motto is “we come here to remember.” The memorial and museum serve as a poignant tribute not only to the 168 people who perished in the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, but also to honor the survivors and emergency personnel who responded. You’ll find artifacts, news footage and personal accounts revealing how the tragedy unfolded and how its aftermath affected the country. Photos of all the victims hang inside the museum, while 168 chairs make up a moving outdoor memorial. Note the 19 smaller chairs, which honor children lost in the attack.

5. Walk Amongst the Wildlife

The entire family can experience the thrill of hand-feeding a giraffe or touching a stingray—without the stinging barb—at the Oklahoma Zoo. Its world-class habitats are home to 1,900 animals representing some 500 species. The great apes and elephants may steal the show, but take advantage of the opportunity to see species of deer that are rare in captivity like the pudu and the Indo Chinese sika deer. If you visit in the spring or summer, stop by the Noble Aquatic Center and watch the resident sea lions delight you with tricks and antics. Luckily, any time of year is good for a stroll through the Zoo Butterfly Garden or a spin on a carousel that features endangered animals.

6. Stockyards, Steakhouses and Shopping

Few places recall Oklahoma City's frontier past like Stockyards City, one of the biggest contributors to the area’s early economic boom. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this former public livestock market later expanded with an adjacent meat packing plant. You can no longer purchase cattle at the original location, but one of the country’s largest live cattle auctions is next door at the Oklahoma National Stockyards. You'll also find shops specializing in Western-themed merchandise—after all, the city considers itself the original home of Western Ware. Take home custom-made cowboy boots or a hat to help you remember your visit. If you’re hungry, have dinner at Cattlemen's Steakhouse. This renowned restaurant is famous for hand-cut steaks that are aged onsite.

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