Visitors to Oklahoma City will find many activities, from museums dedicated to both the cowboy life and the First Nations of Oklahoma to professional sports teams and several art museums. Downtown Oklahoma City is walkable and revitalized with public art and outdoor spaces, perfect for families. Oklahoma City offers visitors both indoor and outdoor fun. Here are the top things to do in Oklahoma City.
Top Things to Do in Oklahoma City
Visit the Oklahoma National Memorial and Museum
See the OKC Zoo.
Tour the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
Learn about the 30 First American Nations
Do the hands-on experiments at the Science Museum Oklahoma
Visit the Oklahoma City Museum of Art or its Contemporary Arts Center
Take a train ride at the Railway Museum
Walk through the Myriad Botanical Garden
Play at Scissortail Park
Pet the animals at Orr Family Farm
Stroll the Bricktown Entertainment District
Take the Bricktown Watertaxi
See a Ball Game
Tackle the white water at The Boathouse District
Cruise down Route 66
Visit the Oklahoma National Memorial and Museum
Visit the tranquil yet haunting memorial of the Oklahoma City bombing that changed downtown Oklahoma City forever. On the morning of April 19, 1995, a box truck filled with fertilizer exploded in front of the Authur P. Murrah Federal Building. In total, 168 people died, including children staying in the building’s daycare. It is one of the top things to do in Oklahoma City with kids, especially older kids and teens.
Located at NW 6th and Harvey Ave. The Outdoor Memorial is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Free to enter. The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Timed entry tickets are available online. Adult admission is $18, youth (6 to 17) along with college students are $15 and those 5 and younger enter for free.
See the Oklahoma City Zoo
With 130 acres, the Oklahoma City Zoo is home to 1,900 animals, including TK. In addition to being a zoo, it also features a botanical garden. Visitors can get close to the zoo’s animals with several feeding opportunities (additional fee), like giraffe feeding, lorikeet feeding and rhino feeding. Additionally, zoo goers will find camel rides, a springray bay and a carousel. It is one of the top things to do in Oklahoma City with kids.
Located at 2000 Remington Pl. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission (12+) is $20 and kids (3 to 11) are $17.
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National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
With a combination of galleries displaying sculpture, western landscape art and rodeo displays, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum offers something for every visitor. See cowboy boot displays or snippets of a thousand different types of barbed wire. Then, head outside to see the graves of notable Oklahoma rodeo animals. It is one of the top things to do in Oklahoma City with kids.
Located at 1700 Northeast 63rd St. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $20, and students (6 to 12) are $12.
First Americans Museum
The First Americans Museum, opening in 2021, is dedicated to the 39 individual tribal nations in Oklahoma. Though only a few groups were indigenous to the area, many tribes were primarily relocated to Indian Territory. In 1907, Oklahoma became a state, and the name was derived from two Choctaw words.
The facility guides visitors through the arts and culture of the 39 First American nations today. From traditionally made baskets and drums to interactive art and storytelling, the First Americans Museum curates the objects that tell the story of the individual groups that call Oklahoma home today.
Located at 659 First Americans Blvd. Open Monday, Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Tuesday). Adult admission is (13+) is $15 and kids (4 -12) are $5.
Science Museum Oklahoma
This facility includes 350,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits focused on science and discovery. Highlights include the Segway park and the Kirkpatrick Planetarium. There is also a tinkering garage and art exhibits.
Located at 2020 Remington Place. Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission is $22.95 and kids (3 to 12) are $17.95.
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Oklahoma City Museum of Art
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is a destination for art lovers. It offers a permanent collection and vibrant film offerings. In fact, it offers one of the largest collections of Dale Chihuly glass in the world. It also hosts temporary exhibits, and be sure to inquire about the family programming.
Located at 415 Couch Dr, Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $14.95 and kids (17 and younger) are free. Parking is available in a nearby lot and garage (additional fee).
Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
The Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center is a hub of creative expression with a focus on living artists. It offers curated collections, traveling exhibitions, performances and even classes.
Located at 11 NW 11th St. Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday though Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed Tuesday). Free to enter.
Oklahoma Railway Museum
The railroad that crossed the continent developed many parts of the West. Visitors can see historic trains, such as a stream engine. They can also explore the Oakwood Depot, which has a collection of locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cars.
The Oklahoma Railway Museum offers train rides twice monthly on Saturdays from April to August. Adult train tickets $12, kids 3 to 12 $5. In November and December, it operates the Polar Express.
Located at 3400 NE Grand Blvd. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission for everyone.
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Myriad Botanical Garden
Families can walk through native Oklahoma plants or see the lake and stair fountain where ducks swim at Myriad Botanical Garden. The gardens can be enjoyed at night with lots of decorative lighting. There’s a children’s garden with a playscape and water play areas, too. It is one of the top things to do in Oklahoma City with kids.
It also features an enclosed space dedicated to specialized gardens, Insomuch Foundation Crystal Bridges. This space offers water features, including a water fountain and tropical plants.
Located at 301 Reno Ave. The outdoor grounds are open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. it is free to enter. Crystal Bridges is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission to Crystal Bridges is $10.50, students are $7 and kids (5 to 17) are $5.50.
Scissortail Park
Centrally located, Scissortail Park offers lots of green space, a 3.7-acre lake with rental boats like SUPs and kayaks, in-park dining, water features, and a kids’ play area. It also has a pavilion and hosts live performances throughout the year.
Located at 300 SW 7th St. Open from dawn to dusk and free to visit.
Orr Family Farm
Families can get a dose of farm life at the Orr Family Farm, which features animals and 25 different activities. From pony rides to jumping pillows, the Orr Family Farm offers lots of opportunities for outdoor play. The spring brings baby farm animals, and the fall is all about pumpkins.
Located at 14400 S. Western. Open seasonally from March through Fall. Activities are priced separately, but you can purchase a super pass.
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Bricktown Entertainment District
Explore the Bricktown Entertainment District in Oklahoma City, and be sure to walk down to its canal. Reminiscent of San Antonio’s Riverwalk, hop on board the Bricktown Water Taxi for a 40-minute ride. The boat captains share the best of Oklahoma City, too.
Bricktown Water Taxi
Floating along the river canal in downtown Oklahoma City, the Bricktown Water Taxi is a narrated cruise. Visitors will learn more about OKC, like its history, in a covered, open-air water taxi. It is one of the top things to do in Oklahoma City with kids.
The Main Dock is located at 111 S. Mickey Mantle Dr. and is Open year-round with departures on the hour from the main dock. Adult roundtrip tickets are $13, kids (6 to 12) $10 and kids (5 and younger) are $4.
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
From Spring until Fall, the Oklahoma City Dodgers, a Triple-A affiliate of the LA Dodgers, swing into the Bricktown entertainment district at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Along with games, find the bronze statues of notable Oklahoma players around the ballpark, like legends Mickey Mantle, Hall of Famer Johnny Bench and Warren Spahn, a leftie located at each entrance.
Located at 2 Mickey Mantle Dr. Games in the afternoons and evenings. Tickets required.
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Oklahoma Thunder Basketball
From October to April, the Oklahoma Thunder NBA team dribbles across the court at the Paycom Center.
Located at 100 W. Reno Ave. Tickets required.
Brickopolis
With three stories of family-friendly entertainment, the Brickopolis is an indoor/outdoor venue. Visitors will find laser tag, an arcade, and a climbing wall, along with a buffet and bar. There’s also an 18-hole miniature golf course.
Located at 111 S. Mickey Mantle Dr. Open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Each activity has a separate price.
Downtown Public Art
Art museums aren’t the only place to find art; visitors find fabulous murals in downtown Oklahoma City’s Bricktown District. Cultivation is on the train underpass on Reno Ave.. Then, head to the Plaza District for even more murals.
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Riversport Adventures
Tackle a new skill with the kids, like whitewater rafting. In a manufactured course, families can navigate rapids and drops in Class 3 rapids (or Class 4 rapids if over 16). Along with whitewater rafting and tubing, find an adventure course and pump track (BMX riders). Additionally, visitors will find a zip line, adventure courses, surfing, and indoor alpine skiing.
Located at 800 Riversport Dr., it is Open daily from Memorial Day weekend until mid-August from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekends are only from April to mid-May and mid-August until the first of October. Admission is based on activity.
Route 66
Don’t forget the Mother Road; the fabled Route 66 runs through OKC. The Milk Bottle Grocery is your place for a throwback spot to snap a selfie. It was built in the 1930s, and the milk bottle was added in 1948.
Located on 2426 N. Classen Blvd. (part of Route 66).
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Where to Eat in Oklahoma City
I ate beef from crossing the Oklahoma border until I took off from the airport. Oklahoma is cattle country, where cattle auctions happen weekly. So, if you’re in the mood for a good steak, order one at every meal. I did.
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse
When I walked into Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, I thought I would see John Wayne sitting at a table. It’s the kind of place.
Since it had been a few hours since my last steak, I ordered a petite filet for lunch. Paired with a baked potato with all the fixings, it was the most tender steak I’ve had in a while—tender, pink perfection, though the steaks are cooked to order. Sample the house-made rolls and even the salad dressings, which are signature items.
Open for breakfast, where diners order steak and eggs or pancakes and omelettes. And don’t forget a cup of coffee in the Cattelemen’s mug.
Located at 1309 S. Agnew in the center of the historic stockyards of Oklahoma City. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Tucker’s Onion Burgers
Sample an Oklahoma original: the onion burger. Back in the Depression, grill cooks needed to stretch the ground beef, so they started adding sliced onions to the patties and throwing them on the flat top. A legend was born. For kids who hate onions, the burgers can be cooked without them.
Located at 324 NW 23rd St. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where to Stay in Oklahoma City
Head to the Bricktown area to be within walking distance of all the attractions. During my visit, I stayed at the AC Hotel Oklahoma City Bricktown by Marriott. With European influences, a lobby happy hour and sleek interiors, it’s the sophisticated choice. However, this property lacks a pool.
Located at 411 E. Sheridan Ave. in Oklahoma City.
Disclosure
This was part of a press trip hosted by Visit Oklahoma City. Consideration for brands mentioned.
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