10 Awesome Things To Do in Oklahoma City
I had a pretty hard time deciding how I was going to spend my first time in Oklahoma – I knew I wanted to visit one of the urban areas, but which one? Oklahoma City and Tulsa both seem neat, but after hopping on over to Reddit and asking fellow Okies which one to start out with, a close call ended up being Oklahoma City as the direction I was pointed to.
Oklahoma was one of those states when I told friends and family I was visiting for Memorial Weekend, most answered with ”But why there??” Well, 1. I had to cross off the state somehow while on my 50 states journey and 2. That’s exactly what this blog post is about! Here are all of the great things we were able to experience while hanging out in OKC for a couple of days.
I have to admit the original reason why I wanted to come here, and that is because they serve lamb fries. More specifically, lamb testicles. Why would I want to eat this, you ask? Just for the reason I could say I’ve had it, and the honest curiosity as to what it tasted like. And surprisingly, they were really good!
Okay, now we can talk about the steak. The restaurant claims them as legendary, and yeah, they are really great! I also really love the cowboy Western theme of the restaurant – It was the perfect introduction to Oklahoma.
Get Lost in 4D Art at Factory Obscura
I found this hidden gem on Instagram, and man, it was one of the best last-minutes finds for our trip! This museum is very different compared to your average art museum… It takes things to a whole new level by adding 3D elements, touch and music.
The exhibit they had going on during the time of our visit was Mixtape, an experience that took you through the different emotions you can feel with music. Each room had a different theme and way you could interact with it. We also found ourselves sliding down slides, crawling through tunnels and lounging in little nooks!
Check Out the Wheeler District
Did you ever think that the original ferris wheel from the infamous Santa Monica pier would make its way to OKC? Well, it’s a true story! In fact, over the past decade it has made itself a staple to downtown OKC.
It’s also a park, so aside from taking a ride on the wheel, you can go for a walk or chill in one of the many hammocks hanging around! Also, you can’t miss out on a photo op with the ‘OKC’ sign.
Hit Up Pop’s Soda Ranch Right Off Route 66
It is, without a doubt, a must to stop somewhere along Route 66 while in OKC. Located only about 20 minutes from downtown, Pop’s is a pretty impressive place – over 700 soda flavors to choose from, plus it is also a diner and a gas station.
It was so much fun getting to choose crazy soda flavors! They have 6 pack holders so can mix and match to your heart’s desire.
Feel Nostalgic at Flashback RetroPub
Chris and I have a tradition when we visit a new U.S. city, and that is to find an arcade bar to nerd out at! At this point, we have been to many, but Flashback RetroPub easily makes our top 5.
Not only will you find the classic arcades here, but also plenty of console games, too! (I definitely got my butt kicked in Mario Kart more than once…) It’s also worth checking out their creative cocktails, many of which are themed after popular video games. And a bonus, they’ve got a Slush Puppy machine!! I don’t know about y’all, but those slushies definitely brings back some great childhood memories for me.
Go Back in Time at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
So, hear me out on this one. I initially didn’t think this type of history seemed interesting, but after watching a vlog of a fellow travel blogger explore this place, I knew that I had to add it to my itinerary! In fact, if there was only one thing you could do while in Oklahoma City, this is where you should go.
Getting to learn about the rich culture of Native Americans and Western cowboys is really cool. There is also an outdoor area that has replicas of teepees, pueblos and old town buildings!
Sip On A Flight at OK Cider Co
Once the heat starts to crank up in OKC, there is nothing like a cold brew or cider to cool you off. OK Cider Co is a great local cidery to check out, and they have a ton of fun flavors you can try.
They’ve got a wide variety of board games to play, too… Connect 4 was getting very intense during the time of our visit!!
Indulge in Sweet Treats at Pinkitzel
I can tell you with 100% confidence that this is the coolest ice cream parlor/candy shop I have ever been to! Pinkitzel is super colorful, fun and quirky… You can come here just to check out the crazy decor, alone.
Not only can you get colorful ice cream flavors, but you can also get your waffle cone in red, purple and other cool colors, too!
Enjoy A Cold Brew & A Great Meal From Bricktown Brewery
Bricktown Brewery originated in, of course, the Bricktown district of OKC. It’s made such a name for itself that it’s expanded to 6 different states! And after visiting I can see why, they have some really great food and beers to choose from.
I have to personally recommend their pizza – I tried their Carnivore pizza topped with peppered bacon, Canadian bacon, sausage and pepperoni… So delicious!!
Explore the Awesome Bricktown District
If you read any blog post about where to go in OKC, just about everyone will tell you to go to Bricktown! It truly is one of the best areas for a tourist to explore: There’s so many shops, restaurants and even some water taxis you can take along the canal.
The nightlife here is pretty awesome, too. Plenty of bars and clubs, and you even have Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark right next door, home to the Oklahoma City Dodgers.
We were much more impressed with Oklahoma City than we expected to be! Not that we had any bad expectations, but we just never hear about this city as much. With that being said, OKC is very underrated.
Here are a few other great places to check out that we didn’t have time to experience, but is definitely on our list for next time:
– RiverSport OKC (White water rafting, tubing, and a full-blown adventure park!)
– Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum (based on the 1995 bombing in OKC)
What are you looking forward to most on your next visit to Oklahoma City?
