3 Days in Oklahoma City

When Cody had the opportunity to travel to Oklahoma for business, it took me about ten seconds to decide that I needed to tag along for a few days. 🙂 After all, I’m not one to pass up an adventure–especially an adventure to somewhere new–and it just so happens that one of my Bucket List goals is to travel to all 50 states.

It was finally time to check state #28 off my list.

Located in the Great Plains, I’ve previously heard Oklahoma referred to as a “fly-over” state. So on this trip, I took it as a challenge to find things to do that might otherwise fly under the radar. (See what I did there?) And as I started my research I realized that OKC offers adventure for all kinds of travelers. We definitely wouldn’t be bored during our visit, in fact, it was quite the opposite. I struggled to fit in all of the activities we were interested in as we only had three days together in the capital city.

Obviously Oklahoma is landlocked, however I was surprised to see multiple lakes surrounding the city. Did you know that you can even go white-water rafting in the Boathouse District? White-water-rafting in the middle of town?! Yes, Please! The season wasn’t quite open when we visited in March, but I’d love to go back and check out this thrilling white-water adventure at some point.

Maybe you’re not a mermaid-at-heart, that’s okay. Oklahoma is the home of Cowboy Culture and there are plenty of experiences to put the yee-haw in your step. Spend an afternoon at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage museum, swing by the Banjo Museum to browse the hundreds of banjos on display, and then giddy-up on over to Stockyards City Main Street for shopping and dinner.

If the Cowboy scene isn’t your jam, check out OKC’s diverse art scene. From the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, to the colorful street art found throughout the city, to the fascinating Paseo Arts District with over 20 art galleries, you’ll find something to ignite your passion.

And lest we forget to mention all of the museums within Oklahoma City. There’s truly something for everyone here.

This urban metropolis with just over 600,000 residents doesn’t just offer outdoor adventure, rich Cowboy culture, and diverse art; they also boast a lively restaurant scene. As a vegetarian I wondered if it would be difficult to find suitable dining options in cattle country, and I was completely surprised at all of my options over those three days. Two of our favorites were the Bricktown Brewery located in, (wait for it), Bricktown, and enjoying the decadent pies at the Pie Junkie.

When one thinks of Oklahoma City, often times the first thing that comes to mind is the bombing in 1995. So on our last day in Oklahoma City, Cody and I spent the afternoon at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

The moment that we walked into the memorial, the heaviness was overwhelming; and as we started the tour, the tears were already flowing. This memorial is beautiful. It’s informative. It’s heavy. It’s respectful.

We spent an entire afternoon within the Memorial, and afterwards we watched the sunset from the reflection pond as we sat in silence and processed our thoughts. It’s hard to recommend such a heavy experience, however, this museum is done very well and it’s definitely worth a visit when you come to town.

“Hate has 4 letters, so does Love.
Enemies has 7 letters, so does Friends.
Lying has 5 letters, so does Truth.
Cry has 3 letters, so does Joy.
Anger has 5 letters, so does Happy.
Hurt has 4 letters, so does Heal.
Transform every negative into an aura of positivity.
We should choose the better side of life.”

-Unknown

OKC offers something for everyone, and visitors will easily find a district that matches their vibe. Travel and Leisure named Oklahoma City one of the top 50 destinations to visit in 2020. Are you up for an adventure?