Oklahoma City is a booming, vibrant city with so much to do, yet many people do not consider it a vacation destination. Overlooking Oklahoma City is missing out on a gem: The unbelievably friendly more than half a million locals, the multiple attractions (including the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, world class horse shows and year round festivals) and, importantly, the affordable cost of visiting combine to make the city a fantastic American destination.
Do not miss these quintessentially Oklahoma City attractions to make the most of your trip:
1. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum: It would be remiss of a tourist to visit the city and not see the site of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Its destruction has been converted in to a peaceful and very moving memorial. Sculpture chairs – 168 in total, each representing a person killed – sit either side of a reflecting pool, framed by two imposing, square arches. Visitors can also see the Survivor Tree – the only tree to have survived the blast – a sapling of which was sent to New York City after September 11, 2001. The museum itself is a chronological walk-through of the events, from the before the blast to the city’s recovery. It is a serious place to visit, but leaves visitors with an understanding of the event they may not have had before, and in no doubt that Oklahoma City has come through it stronger than ever. If possible, stop by the memorial at night to see the reflecting pool and sculptures lit up – it is sure to leave a visitor emotional, yet peaceful.
2. Watch Sooner football: A short drive from Oklahoma City is the university town of Norman. The University of Oklahoma students, alumni and fans, or ‘Sooners’, are among the most passionate in the country due to OU’s history of outstanding football teams. Spend an hour looking at the striking Cherokee Gothic architecture and colorful landscaping on the OU campus, then, if you are lucky enough to be there on Game Day, join the crowds for a football game. The Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium holds well over 80,000 people and is overflowing at every game. The atmosphere is electric and, especially for international visitors, you will not soon forget the experience of screaming “Boomer! Sooner!” with 80,000 of your new best friends. Before and after the game, Norman’s quaint Campus Corner area will be thronging with people and getting some delicious food and drinks.
3. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: You cannot visit Oklahoma without absorbing some cowboy culture. This is the definitive American cowboy museum and has hosted more than 10 million visitors since its opening in 1955. The permanent collections include a breathtaking selection of art whose subject is the American West, powerful sculptures and a gallery devoted to the American cowboy. Tours are held every day and are very affordable.
4. Stockyards City: Set just minutes from downtown Oklahoma City, the Stockyards is home to real-life cowboys and their real-life cowboy stores. If you ever wanted to see people who wear cowboy boots and hats for professional, not fashionable, reasons, this is a must-see location. When you are ready to compete in your first rodeo, the friendly folks in Stockyards City will get you saddled up, strapped in and prepared for an exciting ride. One of Oklahoma City’s most famous restaurants, Cattleman’s Steakhouse, is on the main street and is definitely the place to find a manly, meaty meal.
5. deadCENTER Film Festival: Founded in 2001, the film festival has made a name for itself for giving extremely talented independent filmmakers a platform to show their work to thousands of viewers. Screenings happen at various downtown locations and bring everything from comedy, documentaries, children’s films and drama to Oklahoma City. Named after Oklahoma City’s central location on the map, the festival has become one of the highlights of the summer for thousands of visitors and locals.
6. Science Museum Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City Zoo: Set within walking distance from one another, these two locations are a great option for a fun-filled day out, especially for visitors with children. Admission is very affordable for both locations and people of all ages are going to be delighted by the animals at the zoo and amazed by the exhibits at the museum. The zoo’s diverse range of animal life and the many smaller museums and Omniplex theater located within the science museum can easily fill more than one day with wonder.
7. Bricktown: Marketed as Oklahoma’s entertainment district, Bricktown does not disappoint. This section of downtown Oklahoma City, named for the brick buildings that surround the canal, is wonderful to visit in the daytime for a canal boat ride, but better to visit at night when the many venues’ lights sparkle on the water, especially by the Chesapeake Boathouse on the Oklahoma River. Grab some dinner at any of the more than 30 places to eat, watch a baseball game in the ballpark and take a late-night stroll along the canal. A fantastic way to end the day in Oklahoma City.
8. Oklahoma State Fair: Oklahomans like to eat, and if you are lucky enough to be in Oklahoma City in September, you will hear all the locals talking about the delicious fare and the fair. The grilled corn, Indian tacos, turkey legs, fried cheese on a stick and fresh-squeezed lemonade (as well as anything else you can imagine) are all an appetizer for the star of the fair – the cinnamon roll. Most Oklahomans agree the best food at the fair are the cinnamon rolls. In between enjoying the agricultural, equine and livestock exhibits, the Oklahoma State Fair is a very entertaining place to people watch folks from all walks of life.
9. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art: With the largest collection of Dale Chihuly’s gorgeous glass sculptures, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art houses great traveling exhibits and retains fantastic permanent artworks. Each section of the three floors of exhibits offers something new and unexpected and definitely makes for a great morning or afternoon destination. If you are there on a Thursday evening in the spring through fall, do not miss the opportunity to enjoy Cocktails on the Skyline – drinks and music on the roof terrace overlooking downtown Oklahoma City.
10. Guthrie: Once the state’s capital city, Guthrie is just a short drive from Oklahoma City and has retained a real old-world charm with quaint, Victorian architecture and plenty of antique shops. Every year, Guthrie hosts the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. Guthrie is great for a day trip to get out of the hustle of the city and enjoy some original Oklahoma culture.
