Things To Do
Various Places to Eat
Some of our favorite restaurants in OKC broken down by district! • Paseo District • FRIDA Southwest, OSO, Picasso Cafe, Paseo Grill • Plaza District • Mexican Radio, The Press, Empire Pizza • Uptown • Pizzeria Gusto (our first date!), Cheever's Cafe, Hunny Bunny Biscuit Company • Midtown • Harvey Bakery & Kitchen, Hall's Pizza Kitchen, Barrios • Automobile Alley • Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse, RedPrime Steakhouse, Hideaway Pizza • Chisholm Creek • Ramsay's Kitchen, Hatch, Fuzzy's Tacos, Spark
Oklahoma City National Memorial
The Oklahoma City National Memorial honors victims, survivors, and rescuers of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, standing on the former site as a place of quiet reflection and remembrance, featuring the Field of Empty Chairs, a Reflecting Pool, the Survivor Tree, and an accompanying museum that educates about the attack and promotes healing and hope.
Will Rogers Gardens
This is where we got engaged! Will Rogers Gardens is a historic 30-acre, year-round public park established in the 1930s. It features the Charles E. Sparks Color Garden, the Ed Lycan Conservatory (specializing in cacti/succulents), and the Margaret Annis Boys Arboretum. It offers horticulture classes, scenic walks, and diverse, colorful plant displays!
National Cowboy Museum
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City is America's premier institution for Western history, art, and culture, housing extensive collections of Western art (like Remington & Russell), Native American artifacts, rodeo history, and frontier artifacts, including a recreated turn-of-the-century town called Prosperity Junction, offering an immersive look at the diverse stories and enduring legacy of the American West for all ages.
Myriad Botanical Gardens
Myriad Botanical Gardens is a 15-acre urban oasis in downtown Oklahoma City, featuring ornamental gardens, a lake, and the iconic Crystal Bridge Conservatory, which houses tropical and desert plants, offering a year-round green escape with educational programs, seasonal events like concerts and ice skating, and spaces for community gathering and recreation, all free to the public.
Oklahoma City Zoo
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is a large zoo featuring diverse animal habitats, beautiful gardens, and conservation efforts, with popular exhibits like Expedition Africa, Sanctuary Asia, and Cat Forest, plus interactive experiences like feeding giraffes and visiting the Children's Zoo for up-close encounters with smaller animals. It's known for its naturalistic exhibits, including Oklahoma Trails, and offers educational adventures with over 500 species from around the world, focusing on conservation and connecting visitors with wildlife.
Scissortail Park
Scissortail Park is a 70-acre park in Oklahoma City connecting downtown to the Oklahoma River, featuring the 40-acre Upper Park and 30-acre Lower Park, linked by the Skydance Bridge, offering activities like a lake, playgrounds, gardens, dog park, performance stage, restaurants, and farmers' markets in a natural setting with native landscapes and water features. It serves as a central green space for recreation, community events, and cultural activities!
Lake Hefner
Lake Hefner is a popular urban reservoir in northwest Oklahoma City, built in the 1940s for water supply and now a major recreational hub with a scenic 9-mile trail for walking/biking, sailing, fishing (permits required), parks, restaurants, and the iconic lighthouse, offering diverse outdoor activities for residents and visitors.
Martin Park Nature Center
Martin Park Nature Center is a 140-acre urban wildlife sanctuary in Oklahoma City, offering a natural escape with over 3 miles of trails through woodlands, prairies, and along Spring Creek, featuring a hands-on education center, bird observation wall, and watchtower, all designed for nature education, hiking, and wildlife viewing (deer, birds, coyotes) in a peaceful, family-friendly setting. It's a convenient spot for outdoor recreation, learning about local ecosystems, and spotting diverse wildlife, with accessible trails and picnic areas available.
Automobile Alley
Automobile Alley, centered on North Broadway in Oklahoma City, is a historic district known for its early 20th-century car dealerships that has been revitalized into a vibrant neighborhood with shops, restaurants, bars, art spaces, and housing, blending its automotive past with modern urban flair, famous for its vintage neon signs and cultural attractions like Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center.
Stockyards City
Stockyards City in Oklahoma City is a historic district centered around the Oklahoma National Stockyards, the world's largest stocker/feeder cattle market, offering a genuine Western experience with live auctions, iconic western wear shops like Langston's, rustic goods, and historic restaurants such as Cattlemen's Steakhouse. It preserves its early 20th-century roots with brick buildings, serving as a hub for cowboys and tourists seeking authentic western culture, apparel, and history.