Thanks to #OKC for hosting my visit!
If you think Oklahoma City is all cowboy boots and desert landscape, well, you’re partly right! People in OKC wear cowboy boots with everything, dresses, shorts, jeans and dress clothes. Oklahoma City is about as country music fashion as it gets. And, most of the year, OKC has a fairly desert-like appearance, but not in spring! It’s gloriously green in the spring.
Now, if you’re like me and don’t much else about Oklahoma City, read on. I think you’ll be as surprised as I was!
Get to know Oklahoma City!
ThunderUp!
First and foremost, the people of Oklahoma City love their basketball team! “Thunder up” doesn’t refer to the storms that can ravage the area, but is the rally cry of Oklahoma City Thunder fans — the city’s beloved NBA team!
The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
Twenty years ago, Oklahoma City made national headlines when the federal courthouse was blown up in an act of domestic terrorism. What these domestic terrorists meant to ruin the city, became its rallying cry. To really understand what makes Oklahoma City such a close-knit community, visit the Memorial.
The Survivor Tree was severely scorched in the blast. It survives, a living testament to survival. The National Memorial Museum is housed in the building in the background.
A city redefined.
In recent years, Oklahoma City has committed to revitalizing the city to make it a more attractive place to live. Of course, those same changes make it a great place to vacation. I know — there’s no beach, no mountain and it’s not a BIG city! But it is a great place to take the kids on vacation!
- Bricktown. Once home to warehouses, Bricktown is THE SPOT for nightlife and entertainment in OKC. The area centers around Bricktown Canal, offering both wide pedestrian walkways and the Bricktown Water Taxi to navigate from one end to the other. Along the walkway enjoy restaurants, theaters, entertainment options for families, bars and baseball at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
- The Boathouse District. Set along the Oklahoma River, this area offers outdoor recreation the whole family can enjoy. Bring a picnic and watch the US Olympic and Paralympic teams train for rowing and canoe/kayak. Better yet, take a kayak, dragon boat or paddle board out on the water yourself. Bike trails along the waterfront offer landlubbers a safe place to cycle. Or, do what I did, and get back in touch with your childhood on the ropes and climbing course — and come down by zip line across the river (and back). Some activities cost money, but others, like the covered children’s playground, are free.
The tall structure is the ropes course and zipline platform (fee required). The white “bubble” in the foreground is an inflatable bouncer in the kids’ zone (fee required). The covered area on the right is the children’s playground (FREE).
- Midtown. Just north of the downtown business district, local business owners in Midtown have changed the vibe in this area. Midtown really shines at “H&8th” a fourth Friday tradition that brings food trucks, entertainment and people (dogs too) to the area for dinner and fun. As H&8th has grown, so has this district. Get coffee at Elemental Coffee, enjoy dinner at Ludivine or unwind with friends at The Bleu Garten, an open air bar and food truck destination with flat screen TVs to watch the Thunder (and college football)!
Planning your visit to OKC
Get the Oklahoma City Visitor’s Guide to plan your vacation.
The Oklahoma City Visitor’s Bureau offers vacation specials and packages with travel partners to help you save. Check the website for current offers.
While Oklahoma is known for bad weather (maybe that’s why their NBA team is the Thunder), the city actually averages more than 300 sunny days per year. The sun shined brightly during my five day visit mid-spring. Mild temperatures year-round mean it’s a great place to visit anytime.
Three interstates serve Oklahoma City: I-35, I-40 and I-44. Surprisingly, it’s only an 18 hour drive from Raleigh, North Carolina, much closer for most of the country! I really thought it was farther than that — so I see a return road trip in my not-so-distant future.
Thanks again to the OKC Visitor’s Bureau for hosting my visit and introducing me to Oklahoma!
Esther says
May 30, 2015 at 5:32 pmOklahoma City seems like a great place to visit. I agree that I worry about the weather but it sounds like it has a lot of days that are sunny.
Karen Dawkins says
June 1, 2015 at 12:31 pmMost days. 🙂 Of course, the tracking rain the past month has skewed that. Maybe the rest of summer is perfect!
Rebecca Swenor says
May 29, 2015 at 5:50 amThis is awesome information about Oklahoma City. If we ever go that way in our travels, we will definitely be stopping at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. I didn’t know their weather was as good as it is either. Thanks for sharing.
Karen Dawkins says
June 1, 2015 at 12:30 pmI hope you make it there, Rebecca. It’s a great city!
Elizabeth O. says
May 29, 2015 at 3:34 amThere’s so much to see. I would love to visit it some day.
Karen Dawkins says
June 1, 2015 at 12:30 pmIt’s a fun city — great for family getaways, whether for a weekend or a week! (My restaurant list is quite long!)
Liz Mays says
May 28, 2015 at 11:17 pmAlthough it would be very sad, I would really like to visit the museum and memorial. What a sad thing that was.
Karen Dawkins says
June 1, 2015 at 12:29 pmLiz,
I’ve been to many memorial type museums, and of them all, this may be the least sad. The tragedy itself was absolutely horrific, one I remember well. But, the way they designed the memorial tells the story by timeline. You can explore from a number of different points of view: victim, first responders, media, police. I came away from it, hushed by the tragedy’s enormity, but with a sense of victory. The people of OKC did not let this event define them, but rather to sharpen their already strong resilient nature.
I think the recent weather incidents in nearby Moore exemplify the spirit of this place. It’s an amazing testament to the heart of OKC.
onceuponamaritime says
May 28, 2015 at 10:37 pmWow, this looks really awesome; it would be nice to visit Oklahoma .
Karen Dawkins says
June 1, 2015 at 12:25 pmI hope you do. It’s landlocked, but wonderful! The waterfront is full of adventure. 🙂
Uplifting Families says
May 28, 2015 at 10:35 pmI haven’t been to Oklahoma City even though my aunt and uncle live near there. I love the reflection ponds. Thank you for sharing your adventures, it’s been raining like crazy in Texas.
Karen Dawkins says
June 1, 2015 at 12:24 pmI’ve been watching your rain. OKC is getting it too. I hope all is well with you and that the summer settles down!
Dina says
May 28, 2015 at 4:48 pmWhat a fun road trip. I don’t think I would have thought to go to OKC. I would love to see that memorial. I imagine I would shed some tears though. It looks beautiful.
Karen Dawkins says
May 28, 2015 at 5:19 pmI really had the wrong impression before I went, both about OKC and about the Memorial. I’ve been to holocaust memorials, war memorials and civil rights museums. This one, of them all, shared the information in a way that even elementary kids could understand at some level and without being overwhelmed. They did a tremendous job telling the story, even the story of the trials and convictions.
Jessica Harlow says
May 28, 2015 at 11:33 amI remember the Oklahoma City bombing. It was such a tragedy especially with the daycare center that was involved. I love the survivor tree and look forward to making a visit to see everything OKC has to offer!
Karen Dawkins says
May 28, 2015 at 2:09 pmThe bombing was just before my oldest child’s first birthday. It was such an emotional time for our country. OKC has not allowed that tragedy to define them, but rather to remind them how precious their community is. It’s a big city with a bigger heart. So different from anyplace else I’ve been.
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
May 28, 2015 at 8:31 amI would LOVE to visit OKC one day. Sounds like a fun place to visit.
Karen Dawkins says
May 28, 2015 at 2:07 pmIt was so much more fun than I expected. I’m really glad I went!