Oklahoma City: Culture, Gardens and Outdoor Experiences

Oklahoma City offers several distinct focuses for a stay: Indigenous stories and Western art, memorial sites, science, gardens and activities on the water. When looking for a hotel, you can first decide which of these themes you want to shape your trip. The places and activities below offer different ways to explore them—from exhibitions to expansive outdoor spaces.

Culture, History and Different Perspectives

OKLA HOMMA features a 270-degree theater for origin stories. It presents four tribal origin stories written, narrated and animated by members of Indigenous communities. The theater thus places Indigenous narratives and community voices at the center.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City collects, preserves and displays an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts. This gives it a different cultural focus from the origin stories at OKLA HOMMA. Visitors interested in Western art will find a distinct way to explore the subject here.

Liichokoshkomo’ is a 100,000-square-foot outdoor experience featuring waterfalls, Indigenous structures, a railway depot, a rodeo arena and a replica of the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings. The combination of these different elements makes the outdoor area a destination in its own right.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial offers a more somber experience. This symbolic outdoor memorial commemorates the victims, survivors and rescue workers, as well as everyone whose life was changed forever on April 19, 1995. Its connection to a specific date and the groups named set this memorial apart from the art and exhibition themes.

Activities on the Water

RIVERSPORT Rapids offers Class II to IV whitewater rafting in the heart of Oklahoma City. At RIVERSPORT Discover Surfing, participants can progress from bodyboarding to surfing in less than two hours. Discover Flatwater Kayaking is an introduction to recreational paddling.

The three activities have different focuses: rafting is defined by its class rating, the surfing experience by the potential to progress from bodyboarding to surfing in less than two hours, and kayaking by its introduction to recreational paddling. This lets you choose a water activity based on the kind of experience that interests you.

Science and Technology

At Science Museum Oklahoma, CurioCity is a 20,000-square-foot streetscape with an obstacle course, balance activities and musical instruments. Destination Space has a different focus: the exhibition features a Mercury capsule simulator, actual rocket engines and artifacts from the Apollo era. The Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame also presents stories and artifacts from more than 170 inductees. Within the same museum, a designed cityscape, space exploration and the stories of aviation and space figures are brought together.

Gardens, Trails and Wildlife

Will Rogers Gardens offers hands-on classes in horticulture and gardening activities for visitors of all ages throughout the year. Margaret Annis Boys Arboretum features hundreds of tree species, including species native to Oklahoma. At Myriad Botanical Gardens, the Crystal Bridge Conservatory brings together a reflecting pool, plant collections, observation terraces and a waterfall feature.

The other areas of Myriad Botanical Gardens are also quite distinct. The Children’s Garden features winding paths, a biology pond, raised garden beds, a bamboo hedge maze and inclusive playgrounds. In summer, Seasonal Plaza offers fountains and colorful gardens; in winter, it is home to Devon Ice Rink. Tanenbaum Reflection Garden is a shady place for relaxation, reflection and quiet.

At Martin Park Nature Center, the INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Courage Trail is a half-mile accessible trail. At Oklahoma City Zoo, the 12-acre Habitat Expedition Africa features covered pavilions and observation terraces where visitors can see animals at eye level. Great EscApe is a more-than-three-acre habitat for western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees, with rainforest features and waterfalls.

Getting Around the City and Finding a Hotel

Oklahoma City’s streetcar system has two loops with a total of 22 stops and operates seven days a week. The Oklahoma City Streetcar connects the Bricktown Entertainment District via the Bricktown Loop to Midtown via the Downtown Loop. The details about the loops, stops and the two areas of the city provide a concrete guide to getting around.

When planning your stay in Oklahoma City, you can search for hotels here.

For the broader travel overview: Oklahoma.