Oklahoma City is not only the capital of Oklahoma but takes pride in the title “Horse Show Capital of the World,” as it hosts more national and international equine events than any other city. But even if your group doesn’t get to a rodeo or horse show, there are many year-round attractions that display the state’s cowboy roots and Native American heritage.
In addition to Western swagger, visitors discover that Oklahoma City abounds with urban flair. First-rate dining and entertainment options, along with thought-provoking cultural sites, provide plenty of fuel for itinerary planners. Here are 10 ideas on what to include on a swing through Oklahoma’s largest city:
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. See newscasts, witness rescue efforts and hear survivor accounts of the horrific April 19, 1995 terror bombing of downtown’s Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Then head outside to the Field of Empty Chairs overlooking a reflecting pool. Each of the 168 bronze-and-stone chairs represents a life lost. Also note the Survivor Tree, an American elm dating back to 1927 that miraculously withstood the blast. (oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org)
Myriad Botanical Gardens & Tropical Bridge Conservatory. Take a break from frenetic city life at this 17-acre downtown oasis just west of the Cox Convention Center. The cylindrical, steel-and-glass conservatory, known as the “tube,” houses more than 2,000 plant varieties in two distinct climates. Be sure to leave time to walk the grounds, which include a lake, innovative water features, sculptures and flower gardens. The Great Lawn and Band Shell host concerts and other special events. (myriadgardens.com)
National Cowboy Rodeo
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The country’s wild ’n’ wooly past comes alive at this home to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Western and American Indian art and artifacts. Pop culture rears its head in the nostalgic exhibits on TV and movie cowboys. Also explore the Rodeo Hall of Fame and Prosperity Junction, a replica `frontier town with storefronts and walk-in buildings. Save time for the awesome gift shop. (nationalcowboymuseum.org)
Oklahoma History Center. This Smithsonian affiliate, located across from the State Capitol, tells the story of Oklahoma in galleries filled with thousands of artifacts and more than 200 hands-on audio, video and computer activities. Besides touching on cowboys and early pioneers, the museum spotlights aviation, World War II, the oil industry and the state’s location in Tornado Alley. One gallery spotlights all 39 Indian tribes of Oklahoma. (okhistory.org)
Bricktown Entertainment District. Enjoy a night on the town in this former warehouse area, a beehive of activity just east of downtown. Choose from music clubs, sports bars, cafes, fun shops and dozens of restaurants, many with outdoor patios. Stroll or take a water taxi cruise along the mile-long canal that flows below street level, catch a minor league baseball game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark or visit the American Banjo Museum. (welcometobricktown.com)
Stockyards City. In this historic commercial district that is home to the Oklahoma National Stockyards Company, shop for cowboy boots, enjoy a great steak and see real cowboys at work at the world’s largest live cattle auction beginning every Monday morning. Groups will have fun browsing the Western wear shops on South Agnew and Exchange avenues. Have dinner or rib-stickin’ breakfast grub at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, an OKC institution since 1910. (stockyardscity.org)
Science Museum Oklahoma. Explore hundreds of interactive exhibits, visit the planetarium, navigate a Segway obstacle course and enjoy a larger-than-life movie experience in the Dome Theater. Amateur sleuths are taken through a crime scene and forensics lab in Whodunit: The Science of Solving Crimes. Also popular are entertaining shows that focus on scientific fun, plus the exhibits on space and aviation. The museum is home to the Oklahoma Space and Aviation Hall of Fame and International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. (sciencemuseumok.org)
Science Museum Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden. Across the parking lot from Science Museum Oklahoma are the expansive grounds that 2,000 animals, including 50 endangered or threatened species, call home. Highlights include the state-of-the-art Elephant Habitat and Great EscAPE, a rain forest environment with gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees. The Oklahoma Trails section has creatures native to the state, including bears, bison and bobcats. Also catch a sea lion show and check out the Cat Forest, Lion Overlook and Children’s Zoo. (okczoo.com)
Frontier City. Oklahoma City’s only theme park, set in a replica 1880s Western town, is an all-day fun kingdom offering rides, attractions and theater shows. Roller coasters include the Rodeo Round-Up, Silver Bullet and Wildcat. Prepare to get wet at Wild West Water Works activity area or while riding Renegade Rapids and Mystery River Log Flume. Make sure to catch the gunfight stunt show. (frontiercity.com)
Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum. Named the 2008 Best New Attraction in Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association, the museum spotlights famous and not-so-famous Oklahomans through high-tech, touch-screen displays. It houses the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, which honors native sons and daughters like Gene Autry, Reba McEntire, Will Rogers, Jim Thorpe and Mickey Mantle. The stately building is the former home of the Mid-Continent Life Insurance Co., and tours of its president’s office as furnished in the 1920s are available. (oklahomaheritage.com)
