Oklahoma City has 10 top-rated attractions across entertainment, history, outdoor recreation, and Western heritage. From the Bricktown Entertainment District and the Oklahoma City National Memorial to Scissortail Park and Stockyards City, OKC offers distinct experiences across well-defined districts. The city averages 235 days of sunshine per year, making outdoor and indoor activities accessible year-round.
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What Are the Best Things to Do in Oklahoma City?
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The 10 best things to do in Oklahoma City are Bricktown, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Scissortail Park, the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden, Science Museum Oklahoma, Myriad Botanical Gardens, Stockyards City, RIVERSPORT OKC, and the Plaza District.
Oklahoma City is defined by its eclectic mix of neighborhoods, each offering visitors something unique. A historic warehouse district, a living Western heritage quarter, a 70-acre downtown park, and a nationally recognized museum district sit within miles of each other. The table below maps each attraction to its district and category.
| Attraction | District | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Bricktown Entertainment District | Downtown/Bricktown | Entertainment, dining, nightlife |
| OKC National Memorial and Museum | Downtown | History, memorial |
| National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum | Northeast OKC | Museum, art, culture |
| Scissortail Park | Downtown/South | Outdoor, recreation |
| OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden | Northeast OKC | Family, nature |
| Science Museum Oklahoma | Northeast OKC | Family, science |
| Myriad Botanical Gardens | Downtown | Outdoor, botanical |
| Stockyards City | Southwest OKC | Western heritage, dining |
| RIVERSPORT OKC | Boathouse District | Outdoor, water sports |
| Plaza District | Midtown | Arts, dining, culture |
What Is Bricktown in Oklahoma City?
Bricktown is Oklahoma City's premier entertainment district, a revitalized downtown warehouse quarter built around a mile-long canal with water taxis, canal-side dining, live music, and nightlife.
Known as Oklahoma City's hottest destination for crowd-pleasing entertainment, rousing nightlife, and fashionable dining, the popular Bricktown Entertainment District serves up action within the city's revitalized downtown warehouse district. Visitors walk the brick-lined streets, ride the Bricktown Water Taxi along the canal, or catch a game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home of the OKC Dodgers (Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers).
4 key Bricktown experiences:
- Bricktown Water Taxi: Canal boat rides covering the full length of the district
- Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse: Named after the Hall of Fame slugger, born in Oklahoma
- Harkins Theatre: Cinema complex within the district
- Live music and sports venues including Paycom Center, home of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder
Bricktown sits directly adjacent to the Oklahoma City National Memorial, making it the natural starting and ending point for most OKC itineraries.
What Museums Should You Visit in Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City has 4 nationally recognized museums: the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Science Museum Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
What Is the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum?
The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum is a tribute to the 168 people killed in the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, including 19 children.
The museum offers visitors a chronological self-guided and interactive tour separated into 10 chapters, starting with the history of the site all the way through the bombing's lasting impact. The memorial has 2 sections:
- Outdoor Symbolic Memorial: Free, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Features the Gates of Time and a reflecting pool
- Indoor Museum: Open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Free parking is available with admission at Memorial Garage. National Park Service Rangers are on site daily, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, to answer questions.
What Is the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum?
The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is a 220,000-square-foot museum at 1700 NE 63rd Street dedicated to preserving the art, culture, and history of the American West.
Adult admission is $12.50, and admission for children ages 6 to 12 is $5.75. Children 5 and under receive free admission. Students older than 12 with a valid ID pay $9.75. The museum was founded in 1955 and houses the American Cowboy Gallery, the American Rodeo Gallery, and a rotating selection of traveling exhibitions. The museum collects, preserves, and exhibits an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts.
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Sunday, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
What Outdoor Activities Are in Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City has 4 major outdoor destinations: Scissortail Park, the Oklahoma River and Boathouse District, Myriad Botanical Gardens, and Will Rogers Gardens.
What Is Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City?
Scissortail Park is a 70-acre urban park extending from the core of downtown Oklahoma City to the shore of the Oklahoma River, divided into a 40-acre Upper Park and a 30-acre Lower Park connected by the Skydance Bridge.
Stroll through the gardens and groves, relax on the lawn, catch a concert or live performance, play on the Children's Playground, and get on the water with pedal boat, kayak, and standup board rentals from the Boathouse. Lower Scissortail Park is all about recreation, including basketball, soccer, futsal, and pickleball, as well as a new sports pavilion and 32 acres of open green space.
Entry to the park is free. Water equipment rentals are available seasonally. The Skydance Bridge, designed to resemble the state bird (the scissor-tailed flycatcher), is illuminated at night and is one of OKC's most photographed landmarks.
What Is RIVERSPORT OKC?
RIVERSPORT OKC is an outdoor adventure center on the Oklahoma River offering kayaking, whitewater rafting, zip lines, and climbing facilities in the Boathouse District.
RIVERSPORT offers adaptive activities like kayaking and whitewater rafting for wheelchair users, all guided by a trained staff member. The Boathouse District also houses the OKC Boathouse Foundation, which trains Olympic and national-level rowing, canoe, and kayak athletes.
What Family-Friendly Things Are There to Do in Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City has 4 top family attractions: the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden, Science Museum Oklahoma, Myriad Botanical Gardens, and Scissortail Park.
What Is the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden?
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is an award-winning zoological park located at 2101 NE 50th Street, adjacent to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in northeast OKC.
The OKC Zoo is home to a vast array of animals and beautiful botanical gardens, making it an ideal family-friendly attraction, especially for younger children. The zoo has been operating for over 100 years and is one of Oklahoma's most visited attractions. It also serves as an accredited botanical garden with themed wildlife enclosures.
What Is Myriad Botanical Gardens?
Myriad Botanical Gardens is a 15-acre botanical park in downtown Oklahoma City featuring the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, a children's garden, an outdoor stage, and year-round programming.
Myriad Botanical Gardens is one of Oklahoma City's most beloved attractions and a total oasis in the middle of the urban landscape. The Crystal Bridge is a 224-foot-long, 70-foot-wide enclosed conservatory housing tropical and arid plant collections. Entry to the outdoor gardens is free. The Crystal Bridge charges a small admission fee.
What Western Heritage Experiences Does Oklahoma City Offer?
Oklahoma City offers 3 Western heritage experiences: Stockyards City, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and Remington Park.
What Is Stockyards City in Oklahoma City?
Stockyards City is a Western heritage district in southwest Oklahoma City that hosts weekly cattle auctions, Western wear shops, steakhouses, and live music in a working cowboy environment.
Home to a number of shops specializing in all things western, you can outfit an entire ranch (cattle included) or just find a new pair of boots and enjoy a great steak in Stockyards City.
Oklahoma City's Stockyards is one of the largest stocker and feeder cattle markets in the world. Auctions are held on Mondays and Tuesdays and are open to the public at no charge. Western wear stores such as Langston's and Shorty's Caboy Hattery line the main street.
What Arts and Culture Districts Are in Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City has 3 distinct arts and culture districts: the Plaza District, the Paseo Arts District, and Automobile Alley.
What Is the Plaza District in Oklahoma City?
The Plaza District is a midtown arts neighborhood along NW 16th Street with independently owned galleries, murals, restaurants, live music venues, and a monthly First Friday art walk.
The Plaza Walls mural project spans several blocks and features works from regional and national artists. The district runs a First Friday event on the first Friday of every month with extended hours, live music, and gallery openings. Dining options include a mix of local independent restaurants serving global cuisines.
What Is the Paseo Arts District?
The Paseo Arts District is Oklahoma City's oldest arts neighborhood, a Spanish Colonial architecture corridor housing more than 70 artists' studios, galleries, and boutiques.
The Paseo Arts Festival is held annually over Memorial Day weekend and draws over 50,000 visitors. The district is located at NW 28th Street and Paseo Drive, approximately 10 minutes from downtown.
What Sports Can You Watch in Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City supports 3 professional and minor league teams: the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA), the OKC Dodgers (Triple-A baseball), and the Oklahoma City FC (USL Championship soccer).
| Team | Sport | Venue | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Basketball | Paycom Center | NBA |
| OKC Dodgers | Baseball | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Triple-A East |
| Oklahoma City FC | Soccer | Taft Stadium | USL Championship |
Paycom Center sits in the heart of downtown, a 5-minute walk from Bricktown. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is directly on the canal. Both venues anchor the downtown sports and entertainment corridor.
Remington Park, located in northeast OKC, hosts thoroughbred and quarter horse racing. Live racing seasons run in spring and fall.
What Hidden Gems and Unique Attractions Are in Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City has 3 unique attractions found nowhere else in the world: SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology, the American Banjo Museum, and Factory Obscura.
These are:
- SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology: A museum housing the skeletal systems of over 300 species. It is operated by the world's leading supplier of osteological specimens and is the only museum of its kind open to the public
- American Banjo Museum: A dedicated museum tracing the history of the banjo in American music, located in Bricktown
- Factory Obscura (Mix-Tape): An immersive art experience built by local arts collaborative Factory Obscura, in the building formerly known as The Womb, a psychedelic arts center founded by the frontman of the Flaming Lips
When Is the Best Time to Visit Oklahoma City?
The best time to visit Oklahoma City is spring (March through May) and fall (September through November), when temperatures average 60°F to 80°F and the city hosts its largest festivals.
Oklahoma City averages 235 days of sunshine per year, making most months viable for outdoor activities. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F, which makes indoor attractions such as the National Memorial, the Cowboy Museum, and Science Museum Oklahoma the primary daytime options from June through August.
4 major annual events in OKC:
- deadCenter Film Festival (June): Independent film festival across multiple downtown venues
- Paseo Arts Festival (Memorial Day weekend): Oklahoma's largest arts festival
- Prix de West at the Cowboy Museum (June through July): Premier Western art show and sale
- Red Earth Festival (June): Native American art and culture celebration at the Convention Center
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