Take a Trip inside the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
If you’ve never made it inside of the Oklahoma City National Memorial or it’s been years since your last visit, it’s worth a stop when you’re in town. The Memorial recently went through a $10 million renovation upgrading the museum with state-of-the-art technology, hands-on exhibits and new artifacts. Detailed information on the investigation—including Timothy McVeigh’s vehicle he was driving when he was pulled over and arrested—as well as the trails of evidence that was left behind are all a part of the new enhancements. Also added to the museum is a 40-foot glass overlook creating a seamless connection between the museum and memorial outside while seeing the ever-changing Oklahoma City skyline behind it.
Get Active at RIVERSPORT Adventures & RIVERSPORT Rapids
Conquer your fear of heights on the tallest adventure course of its kind in the world on the Sandridge Sky Trail in the Boathouse District. The 80-foot structure features six levels of challenges, and the higher you climb, the harder it gets! After you make your way through the rope bridges and balance beams, you can speed down one of four 72-foot Sky Slide’s- America’s tallest dry slide- or free fall 80-feet down on the Rumble Drop. You can also zip across the Oklahoma River and back again along the Sandridge Sky Zip, a 700-foot zip line. Once you’ve conquered that, get a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the only urban whitewater rafting and kayaking course at RIVERSPORT Rapids. This Class II & IV rapids course will take you through several loops around the man-made excursion with some of the best raft guides around all while cooling off in the water and taking in OKC’s ever-growing skyline.
Say Howdy to Buffalo Bill
The Buffalo Bill statue at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is perched on the southeast ridge of Persimmon Hill. The statue has been located at the museum since 1977 and serves as a tribute to the spirit of the West and to the man who embodied this spirit. The statue is one of the largest bronze sculptures west of the Mississippi and is surrounded by acres of beautiful landscape outside the museum. Experience the history and artistic beauty that more than 12 million visitors have seen at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Gaze at 55 Feet of Beauty
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of Dale Chihuly glass sculptures in the world, including the 55-foot Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower in the atrium of the museum. More works can be seen in the permanent exhibit, which is full of colorful glass and drawings. Chihuly is widely heralded as the most important artist working in glass since Louis Comfort Tiffany, and the museum’s collection represents more than three decades of his finest work. Be sure to take a selfie when you’re in the hall of Chihuly glass — it’s the perfect backdrop.
Horse Around
Oklahoma City is known as the “Horse Show Capital of the World” with more national and international equine championships events than any other city in the world. Watch real life cowboys and cowgirls rope, ride and wrangle their way to the winners circle at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds throughout the year. Many of the shows are free or very affordable and deliver plenty of action to keep everyone entertained.
Chow Down on the Mother Tucker
The fried onion burger is an Oklahoma original, created in the 1920s by frugal chefs that used shredded onions pressed into their patties as a way to make their beef stretch farther. Today it’s just a delicious OKC staple. Ask a local where to grab one and chances are they will tell you Tucker’s Onion Burgers. There, you can get a single, a double or, if you dare, triple the beef with the Mother Tucker. Each comes with a mound of perfectly caramelized onions and your choice of additional toppings.
Tour the Crystal Bridge
The Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory at the Myriad Botanical Gardens is a beautiful oasis downtown with a unique design that has earned global attention and praise. It is 224 feet long, 70 feet in diameter and is covered by 3,028 translucent acrylic panels. Once inside, you can see multiple waterfalls and 750 varieties of plant life in two distinct climates: a tropical wet zone at the south end and a tropical dry zone at the north end.
Take a Water Taxi Along the Bricktown Canal
Take a seat and enjoy the sites of OKC’s Entertainment District on the Bricktown Water Taxi. Once on board a water taxi, you’ll be entertained as you learn all about our city’s unique history and recent renaissance. Boats run continuously every 10-15 minutes and tickets are all-day passes. You can ride round trip, which takes approximately 40 minutes, or you can board and exit at any of the docking locations along the canal to get you through Bricktown and to the Boathouse District.
Sanctuary Asia is a Must-See
Located in the southwest section of the Oklahoma City Zoo, Sanctuary Asia opened August 2018 and extends the Asian elephant herd’s existing habitat as well create new habitats for red pandas, Indian rhinos, langurs, Komodo dragons, Tanuki (raccoon dog) and cassowary birds. The expansion also includes a two-story restaurant with a view into the elephant, rhino and Komodo dragon habitats plus a splash zone in the courtyard for children to experience during the warmer months.
Take a Ride on the Wheeler Ferris Wheel
Wheeler is home to the historic Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel which was purchased off EBay and placed just south of the Oklahoma River overlooking the downtown skyline. The Ferris Wheel stands 100 feet high and offers amazing views of the sunset, the city and friends on the ground standing in front of the iconic OKC sign – perfect for capturing a great Instagram shot. There’s plenty of hammocks to lounge in and of food trucks that frequent the area.
