Every city has their own unique attractions that are iconic to that city and Oklahoma City is no different. If you’re visiting OKC for the first time there are some sights that should simply not be missed. Most of them are free or require only a small admission fee. Below you will find Oklahoma City’s top sights and attractions quintessential to the Sooner City that are perfect for the first time visitor’s itinerary.

Best Things To See & Do In Oklahoma City

1. Myriad Botanical Gardens and Conservancy

The Myriad Botanical Gardens and Conservancy is a 17 acre botanical garden and interactive urban park located in downtown Oklahoma City. The Gardens are home to multiple tiers of densely landscaped areas that surround a sunken lake.

The main attraction is the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, a 224-foot living plant museum featuring towering palm trees, tropical plants, flowers and waterfalls. This beautiful glass building is home to an astounding 750 varieties of plants! Whether you visit the Crystal Bridge Conservancy or not, the grounds of the Botanical Gardens are a must see.

2. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City is America’s premier institution of Western history, art and culture. The museum collects and preserves an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts to educate and promote interest in the legacy of the American West.

At the museum you will find a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits that explore Native and American heritages along with numerous activities for children. One of the best exhibits here is a replica of a turn-of the century cattle town featuring life size buildings and rooms that guests may explore which transport you to the bygone era. The museum is open to visitors seven days a week.

3. Bricktown

The Bricktown district is one of Oklahoma City’s biggest attractions and is a popular area with locals and visitor’s. This thriving downtown area is home to over 45 restaurants, bars, and retail shops including Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse and the Bricktown Brewery.

The Bricktown Canal is the center piece of the Bricktown district and there is even a water taxi that will take you on entertaining and historically-themed narrated cruises through the heart of downtown. Other attractions in the area include the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, the Bricktown Canal and a movie theatre. Bricktown is one of Oklahoma City’s biggest attractions and should not be missed.

4. Skydance Pedestrian Bridge

The Skydance Pedestrian Bridge is an iconic landmark in Oklahoma City and visitors from across the state and country travel just to see and photograph this magnificent structure. The bridge design was inspired by the ‘sky dance’ of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher which is Oklahoma’s state bird.

The 380-foot long pedestrian bridge soars over Interstate 40 with the sculptures wings reaching 185 feet into the air. The bridge is made of 412 tons of steel and is illuminated nightly by LED lights which are changed remotely for special events and holidays. The visually stunning structure is a beautiful sight for pedestrians and drivers alike.

5. Ferris Wheeler Park

Ferris Wheeler Park is home to the former Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel which was purchased on eBay in 2008 and transported to Oklahoma City. The Ferris wheel which stands 100 feet tall has been featured in films such as Titanic and Forest Gump.

From the top of the Ferris wheel you will see fantastic views of downtown Oklahoma City and Oklahoma River. You will also find the giant and iconic OKC sign which makes a great backdrop for your travel photo’s. You can visit Ferris Wheeler Park at the old downtown Air-Park on western avenue. Tickets can be purchase as single rides, all day rides or as a season pass.

The Wheeler Ferris Wheel. Photo by Bryan Terry.

5. Ride The Water Taxi

Enjoy the sights of Bricktown and downtown Oklahoma City on the Bricktown Water Taxi. On the water taxi you will learn about Oklahoma City’s history and recent renaissance on their entertaining and historically themed cruises. Boats run continuously every 10-15 minutes and tickets are all-day passes. Riding round trip to the Boathouse District will take around 45 minutes however you are welcome to board and exit at any of the docks.

6. Centennial Land Run Monument

The Centennial Land Run Monument commemorates the opening of the unassigned land in Oklahoma Territory with the Land Run of 1889. The Land Run took place on April 22nd, 1889 when a cannon was fired at noon and 50,000 people scrambled to lay claim to a piece of the two million acres available.

The spectacular monument which depicts the frenzied rush during the Land Run was created by artist Paul Moore. It is one of the world’s largest bronze sculptures featuring 45 land run participants, horses and covered wagons as they race to claim new homesteads once owned by Native Americans.

You can find the Centennial Land Run Monument in the Bricktown District of Oklahoma City. It is located in a city park and open to the public year round.

7. Catch A Dodgers Game At Bricktown Ballpark

The Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is home to Oklahoma City’s minor baseball league team the Dodgers. The Dodgers have four league titles, two conference titles and thirteen division titles. Even if you are not fond of baseball the venue is still worth visiting to see the 7-foot tall bronze statue of Mickey Mantle which stands on a 3-foot granite base at the front of the pavilion.

8. Oklahoma City Zoo

If you love animals then you will love the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. One of the highlights of this zoo is Sanctuary Asia, a large habitat that houses Asian elephants, rhino’s, Komodo dragons, red panda’s, and more. Children will love getting up close with the animals in the children’s barnyard and the giraffe feeding opportunity. The zoo also offers wildlife encounters with their grizzly bears, rhino’s, elephants and sea lions.

9. POPS Soda Ranch

Just outside of Oklahoma City in Arcadia is POPS Soda Ranch, the soda mecca of America. POPS is an iconic stop on Route 66. The quirky store features a giant neon 66-foot tall soda bottle in front of the shop which is illuminated at night.

The store has an astounding variety of over 700 soda flavors that include bizarre and sometimes disgusting sounding flavors like peanut butter & jelly, maple bacon, sweet corn and buffalo wing. Don’t worry, they still make classic soda flavors too.

10. Vast

The sweeping views of downtown Oklahoma City and surrounding land seen from the 49th floor of the iconic Devon Tower is what Vast is most known for, however this swanky establishment also happens to be the city’s only AAA Four Diamond restaurant.

This fine dining eatery which sources their food from local producers offers a reasonably priced lunch buffet and a more pricey dinner menu, all worth it for the incredible scenery of the landscape below.

11. Osteology Museum

The Museum of Osteology displays over 300 skulls and skeletons from all over the world focusing on the form and function of the skeletal system. Skeletons range from small mice and porcupines to very large animals like elephants and whales. The museum which says they are the world’s only skeleton museum is very hands-on and somewhere the kids will especially love while learning at the same time.

12. Factory Obscura’s Mix Tape

Factory Obscura is an arts collective founded in 2017 to provide immersive art experience’s and support arts education in Oklahoma City. The Factory Obscura Mix Tape is the first permanent installation by Factory Obscura and pays homage to the 1980’s custom of creating music compilations on cassette tape to give others as a way to express emotion and garner friendship. It’s a fun and cool experience for all ages providing 80’s nostalgia for those who lived through the era and for young children who will enjoy the slides, walls to climb and playing dress up.

13. Oklahoma City National Memorial

The Oklahoma City National Memorial is the infamous location of the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building which took 168 lives and changed the city’s history forever. At the time this was the worst terrorist attack to take place on American soil and not only destroyed the Federal Building but also damaged 300 nearby buildings.

The memorial honors the 168 victims with empty chairs lined in a row for every life taken including nineteen smaller chairs for the children who died. The bronze Gates of Time remember the exact moment of the bombing at 9:02am and marks the formal entrance to the memorial. A reflecting pool helps to soothe wounds with its calming sounds.

You can also visit the adjacent Oklahoma City National Museum which pays tribute to the victims, survivors, and rescuers recounting that fateful day and following days with exhibitions and news footage that document the tragic event. The museum is open Monday to Saturday 9am – 6pm and Sunday 1pm – 6pm.

14. Lake Heffner

Lake Hefner - Best Things To See In Oklahoma City

Not a true lake but a man-made reservoir but still a beautiful places to spend a few hours nonetheless. Lake Heffner is surrounded by over nine miles of trails where you can stroll the entire lake or go fishing for bass, bluegill and catfish.

15. Stockyards City

Immerse yourself in authentic cowboy culture at historic Stockyards City located in South-east Oklahoma City. The Stockyards district is home to the largest livestock market in the world and where you can watch a live auction if you plan your visit on a Monday or Tuesday.

There are many stores in this district along the main road where you can stock your wardrobe with authentic western wear or pick up Native american art and souvenir’s.

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat stop in at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse which was featured on ‘Man vs Food’ and ‘Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives’ and follow up with some live music at the Rodeo Opry.

16. Oklahoma City Museum Of Art

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art exhibits a collection of art pieces across three floors containing European and Latin American paintings and boasts a stunning array of towering blown glass installations and ensembles created by Dale Chihuly.

It’s worth visiting the museum for the Chihuly exhibition alone with its extraordinary 55-foot colorful glass centerpiece. You can also catch independent and classic films in their Noble Theater from Thursdays to Fridays and dine at the Museum Cafe afterwards which offers French-inspired dishes and high tea.

The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am – 5pm and Sunday from 12pm – 5pm. Admission costs $9 for adults and $7 for children, students, and seniors.

17. Frontier City

Best Things To See & Do In Oklahoma City

Frontier City is an amusement park in Oklahoma City that features more than 50 rides including four roller coasters. Guests can soar high above the frontier on Oklahoma’s only suspended coaster, the Steel Lasso, or cool off in Frontier City’s popular Wild West Water Works where the slides feature back-to-back turns, thrilling dips and 360° curves. The theme of the amusement park is the Wild West and there are regular Wild West gunfighter stunt shows.

18. Attend A Thunders Game

If you love sports you should consider attending a Thunder game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena which is home to Oklahoma City’s NBA team. The arena has a capacity of 18,203 seats and fills up entirely during home games. Apart from basketball, the arena has been used for many WWE events including Raw, Smack Down and Unforgiven. UFC and other fighting events regularly feature on the arena’s calendar too. Look up Chesapeake Energy Arena’s events calendar.

19. Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

No visit to Oklahoma City would be complete without visiting the famed Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. Located smack bang in the center of the Stockyards area of Oklahoma City, Cattlemen’s Ranch can lay claim to being the oldest operating restaurant in the state of Oklahoma and the heart of this city’s cowboy scene.

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse has been featured on the Travel Channels “Man Vs Food” and on Food Networks “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”. It is not only known for it’s intriguing history but also for its terrific food, most notably their legendary steaks.

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