Oklahoma City is a diverse and interesting city that brings together a hip, urban atmosphere with the spirit and traditions of the old west. From trendy art museums and festivals to the world’s largest stocker and feeder cattle market, Oklahoma City’s large geographical area has enough room for activities and attractions of every sort. And for those in the know, a lot of fun can be for free! Follow me on a quick tour of some of the area’s attractions where you can leave your pocketbook at home…
Outdoor Adventures
When it comes to walking, running, jogging, and hiking, Oklahoma City is a pedestrian’s paradise. The Lake Hefner Trail is a 9 mile paved track around a beautiful lake that is often filled with sailboats and kite boarders for your viewing pleasure. The Overholser Trail, located on the east side of Lake Overholser, offers a 2.5 mile journey along the city’s historic first water reservoir. The Oklahoma River trail, currently the longest in the city, is 13 miles of protected asphalt path that follows the Oklahoma River as it flows past downtown. And if you want to get back to nature, the Martin Park Nature Center has 3.5 miles of hiking trails that wind through a wildlife sanctuary where you can sometimes catch a glimpse of a deer, owl, coyote, or armadillo. Many of these trails are multiuse, so cyclists and in-line skaters are welcome, as well.
Let Fido run to his heart’s content at the OKC Paw Park, an off-leash dog park near Lake Hefner. The Paw Park has two separate play areas, one for dogs weighing 30 pounds or less (and senior dogs) and another for larger dogs. The entire park is fenced and features a swimming pond, trees, benches, drinking water, and lots of room for dogs to run of the leash and socialize. The Paw Park is free, but there are some rules governing dog and owner behavior, so consult the regulations posted at the park entrance before using the park.
Disc golf enthusiasts have three courses to choose from in OKC: Woodson Park, Will Rogers Park, and Dolese Youth Park. While disc golf is not a completely free activity (you do have to buy your discs), it costs nothing to play the courses. Woodson Park, with its flat and open terrain, is good for those just learning the sport while the water hazards, trees, and rolling terrain of Will Rogers Park and Dolese Youth Park are more challenging.
Need a little extreme in your outdoor fun? Check out the Matt Hoffman Action Sports Park, ranked as one of the nation’s top ten skateparks by National Geographic. Designed for skateboards, in-line skates, and BMX bicycles, the park is a combination bowl course / street course filled with obstacles of all kinds. Even if you can’t tell an Ollie from a Kickflip (much less perform one) it’s worth making a trip to this park to watch the performance of some gravity-defying tricks.
History and Culture
Travel back in time to statehood by visiting the Oklahoma Centennial Land Run Monument in lower Bricktown. Located along the Bricktown Canal, this work in progress will eventually cover 365 feet with 45 bronze sculptures when complete in 2015. Several of the pieces are already in place and are ready to enjoy, however. And the walk along the canal is an enjoyable stroll.
Military history buffs will enjoy the 45th Infantry Museum’s collection of military memorabilia, weapons, and vehicles. The museum chronicles the service of the 45th Infantry “Thunderbirds” from World War I through the Korean War and has rooms of interesting items and artifacts. After visiting the museum, walk through the surrounding Thunderbird park and get up close and personal with actual tanks, artillery pieces and aircraft from the Thunderbird era.
You can get some complementary kicks on Route 66 by following it through the Oklahoma City metro area. Start your journey in Arcadia (northeast of OKC) and take a tour of the old Round Barn. Next, visit the Oklahoma Railway Museum where you can examine some vintage train engines and railcars. Then continue west along the Mother Road and admire the historic furnishings of the Governor’s Mansion and the architecture and artwork of the state Capitol building. Stop by the Oklahoma City National Memorial outdoor and honor the lives lost by observing the reflecting pool, empty chairs, survivor tree, and memorial fence. After that, get back on Route 66 and follow it west to the Route 66 Park on Lake Overholser where you can admire the view from the Cyrus Avery observation tower while the kids play at the playground, one of the newest in the city.
Arts and Music
Oklahoma City has a rich and vibrant arts community that can be enjoyed on the cheap, and you don’t even need a beret or a monocle to get in. Perhaps the best place to delve into the city’s arts scene is in the Paseo Arts District, near Northwest 28th and Walker. The Paseo has 17 art galleries intermingled with coffee shops and gift boutiques, all housed within walking distance in original 1920’s era Spanish Revival stucco buildings. A lot of beautiful art and architecture can be enjoyed by simply strolling up and down the avenue, which makes for a nice walk.
Everybody knows that the Metropolitan Library System has books on every subject, but fewer people know that the library system has a wide variety of programs and events, most of which are free! Programs such as hands-on art classes, music concerts, meetings with published authors, dance classes, and story readings are offered at one or more of the library system’s 17 locations around the city on almost a daily basis. The library system has events for children, teens, and adults, so there is something available for almost everyone. Event descriptions, times, and locations can be found at any library branch or on the library system’s website.
Finally, summer would not seem complete without an outdoor concert. Oklahoma City and surrounding communities regularly put on music concerts and festivals where you can bring a picnic dinner and a lawn chair to enjoy free music under the stars. Some of more notable events are the OKC Arts Council Twilight Concert Series, The Midwest City Twilight Concert Series, and the Edmond Jazz and Music Festival. Check out the calendar of events page on each city’s web site for more information.
Well, there you have it….a list of things to do in Oklahoma City where you can load up on fun without unloading your wallet. And I get the feeling that this list is only a fraction of the fun things to do in this town that are free. If you know of something that I’ve missed, feel free to tell me more about it in the comment section at the end of this article. Let’s show everyone that you don’t have to break the bank to have a good time!
For More Information
For more specific information on these and other fun, free activities, please refer to the following web sites:
Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation: http://www.okc.gov/Parks/
Centennial Land Run Monument: http://www.okc.gov/landrun/index.html
45th Infantry Museum: http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/
Arcadia’s Round Barn: http://www.arcadiaroundbarn.org/
Oklahoma Railway Museum: http://www.oklahomarailwaymuseum.org/
Governor’s Mansion: http://www.ok.gov/governor/mansion.php
Oklahoma State Capitol Building: http://www.travelok.com/toDo/attractionsDetail.asp?id=1+5U+5698
Oklahoma City National Memorial: http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/
Paseo Arts District: http://www.thepaseo.com/
Metropolitan Library System: http://www.mls.lib.ok.us/
Arts Council of OKC Twilight Concert Series: http://www.artscouncilokc.com/twilight-concerts
Midwest City Twilight Concert Series: http://www.midwestcityok.org/twilight-concert-series-returns
Edmond Jazz and Music Festival: http://okc.about.com/od/livemusic/a/edmondjazzblues.htm
