9 Best And Most Popular Things To Do In Oklahoma City

There are tons of reasons why you should visit Oklahoma City. For one, and probably the most popular why is that, this city in the Sooner State is home to the Oklahoma City Thunder – yes, the sensational team in the NBA. But aside from that, Oklahoma City also exudes an old time vibe, is not Southern but has that Southern hospitality (this may be the reason why it’s nicknamed the Big Friendly), boasts an urban outdoor oasis, and a whole lot more. Lots of things to do in Oklahoma City. 

Oklahoma’s capital city that also carries its name, together with its vibrant energy and deep-rooted Southern charm, will roll out the red carpet to anybody looking for adventure and world-class attractions. Home to a love for basketball, one of the fastest-growing entertainment districts in the southwest, top-rated museums, family-friendly landmarks, and plenty of Western culture, Oklahoma City is the epicenter of a far-reaching urban renaissance. 

Whether you’re traveling to Oklahoma City for the first time, visiting it again (‘coz that’s how you looove this city), or a local, you should know the top things to do in Oklahoma City. 

9 Of The Best Things To Do In Oklahoma City

Presenting, nine of the best things to do in Oklahoma City. Get your senses ready. 

1. Watch NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder Fight It All Out For The Championship At The City’s Very Own Paycom Center

Thinking about Oklahoma City, one of the first things that will come to your mind will definitely be the NBA team that carries the city’s name and thus, considers it their home, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team has reached the NBA Finals several times, so basketball is really big here in Oklahoma City. Thus, attending a Thunder game is one of the can’t-miss experiences and things to do in Oklahoma City.

Be right there at the action, and don your best blue, orange and yellow cheering outfits as you head over to the Paycom Center to see the power of OKC’s basketball team. The Paycom Center may sound new to you, but it is the same venue with its former names like the Ford Center from 2002 to 2010, the Oklahoma City Arena from 2010 to 2011, and the Chesapeake Energy Arena from 2011 to 2021. Now you’re familiar. Paycom Center only got its name recently. Many of the NBA home matches for the team are held here. 

If you want more OKC action, you can celebrate the Thunder victory at various bars located around. Or, you may want to bring memories with you by shopping for official NBA-licensed merchandise at the shop located right within Paycom Center.

2. Beat The Boredom At The Bricktown Entertainment District

A space that formerly housed warehouses is now a bustling entertainment district with a wide array of shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, and so much more. Meet Bricktown. 

Known as the hottest destination for the best crowd-pleasing entertainment in Oklahoma City, as well as a popular spot for nightlife and dining, the Bricktown Entertainment District does not run out of action. 

The best way to enjoy the things to do in Oklahoma City while you’re here is to park your car and let yourself be lost along the district’s charming brick-lined streets. You can also climb aboard a water taxi that will cruise you along Bricktown Canal, catch a movie, or dance the night away. 

When hunger strikes, simply grab a bite at some of the city’s most in-demand dining establishments in this district. If Bricktown were a variety show, it’d probably be one of the best. The district also has a winery and a dueling piano bar, so you will never get bored. 

As you continue reading, you’ll learn that one of the things to do in Oklahoma City is learning about its Old West heritage, just like in Fort Worth. Discover the best things to do in Fort Worth here. 

3. Revisit The Old West At The National Cowboy And Western Heritage Museum

Similar to other cities in the United States like Fort Worth in Texas, cowboy culture and the Old West heritage are also strong here in Oklahoma City. So, one of the best things to do in Oklahoma City to learn about these is visiting the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

A hyped-up institution of Western art and culture, this museum was founded in the 1950s, and since then has celebrated the legacy of the American West with a collection of artworks and crafts that showcase American cowboy, rodeos, Native American culture, Victorian firearms, and frontier military, to name a few. 

As you explore around, you’ll see works of 19th- and 20th-century artists like Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington, James Earle Fraser, and Edward S. Curtis. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum also houses firearms – Colt, Winchester, Sharps, Remington, Marlin, to name a few – the Hall of Great Westerners, and the Rodeo Hall of Fame. Be sure to stop by here if you are visiting Oklahoma City.

4. Honor The Victims Of The Devastating Oklahoma City Bombing At The Oklahoma City National Memorial

In April 1995, Oklahoma City suffered from wounds and devastation time stopped in American history when a bomb ticked off at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building one morning, killing 168 people, including 19 children. To honor the victims of this domestic terrorist attack, the Oklahoma City National Memorial was built. 

It stands on the former site of the bombed building, attracting thousands of visitors every year, both locals and tourists alike. Visiting this memorial, you will be able to see the Field of Empty Chairs – a section that represents the victims of the bombing – the Survivors’ Wall with the names of the survivors, The Gates of Time, the polished black granite Reflecting Pool, twin bronze entry ways, and the Survivor Tree, a hundred-year-old American elm that pays tribute to the victims. 

The Oklahoma City National Memorial also features the Rescuers’ Orchard, a garden populated with elms, maples, and redbuds, as well as the Children’s Area with 5,000 tiles with children’s artworks, also to commemorate the victims of the bombing. 

Oklahoma City is not only a bustling city, but also has natural landscapes. Aside from these things to do in Oklahoma City, you might want to learn more spectacular landscapes around the United States. 

5. Discover The Country’s Best Craft Breweries In This Bikes And Brews Tour

Oklahoma City is home to some of the best craft breweries across the United States, so you will certainly be missing a lot if you skip discovering these on your things to do in Oklahoma City list.

Viator offers a tour and experience that stops at five breweries with beer tastings and a behind-the-scenes look into the brewing process. You’ll be led by a knowledgeable tour guide on a bicycle ride stopping at notable landmarks in between the breweries so you can learn more about the city on a deeper level.

6. Take Part In America’s Largest Interactive Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Show

Seems like a lot to take in? It doesn’t if you take part in this experience. “The Dinner Detective,” America’s largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner theatre show, is playing right here in Oklahoma City. If you want something really fun during your trip, this is one of the things to do in Oklahoma City that you shouldn’t miss. 

Throughout the show, you’ll don the capes of a detective as you deal with a challenging yet hilarious crime while you feast on a sumptuous dinner. But beware, the culprit is just hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may be a prime suspect if you don’t hurry in solving the crime. 

The show is different from others like this because the organizers hide non-costumed actors – pretending to be part of the crowd – in the audience. Aside from the crimes set during the present day and taking place in real-time, things also get really interactive as the show’s costumed detectives will uncover clues, interrogate audience members, and help you solve the mystery. Oklahoma City like never before. 

If you are falling in love with these things to do in Oklahoma, for sure, you will also fall in love with other cities in the United States, like New York. Read the best things to do in the Big Apple here. 

7. Reckon Some Art Pieces At The Oklahoma State Capitol

Even from the time you are at the airport, you must already be excited about the things to do in Oklahoma City. We know what you’re thinking. You might be looking forward to seeing great art. Oklahoma City has several places for these artworks. You learned about the National Cowboy And Western Heritage Museum earlier. Now, you’ll be knowing more about the Oklahoma State Capitol, where you can find more art pieces. 

Built as far back as 1917, the Oklahoma State Capitol accommodates the state’s legislative and executive branches, and was constructed in white limestone and pink granite. It may be a government building, but it also houses a museum with changing art exhibits. 

You can stroll the halls of the capitol and see the murals, restored stained glass, and tribal flags decorating them. In the rotunda, the “Flight of Spirit” artwork by Chickasaw artist Mike Larsen is displayed, honoring the Five Moons, a Native American ballet company. Aside from those, visitors can also chance upon a collection of Wayne Cooper paintings, depicting the state’s oil heritage. This is one of the not-to-miss things to do in Oklahoma City.

8. Treat Your Kids To A Nature Trip At Myriad Botanical Gardens

Enjoying the things to do in Oklahoma City with your kids? Though the city is not filled with theme parks like Orlando in Florida, it has places that will also bring smiles on your kids’ faces, as they bring joy to their well-being, such as the Myriad Botanical Gardens. 

Here, you can visit the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, a living plant museum that features a wide collection of palm trees, tropical plants, and tropical flowers. But it’s more than just the flora. It also features exotic animals and waterfalls. 

The Myriad Botanical Gardens also hosts several educational programs for both children and adults. One of these is the interactive Rainforest Ecology Activity Program that focuses on biology and ecology. You can also partake in the Roaming the Rainforest Program, which tackles environmental conservation, or join the Junior Master Gardener Program, which focuses on everything horticulture and preservation. Time to commune with nature. 

9. Behold More Art At The Oklahoma City Museum Of Art

Think you have more room for more immersion with art? You should because this time, at the world-class Oklahoma City Museum of Art, you’ll get to learn about art through the years. 

Built in 2002, the museum has a permanent collection that explores five centuries of American and European art. On the ground floor, the gallery hosts traveling exhibits from renowned artists like Fabergé, Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, and Ansel Adams.

But that’s not all. The museum also features the world’s largest collection of Dale Chihuly glass sculptures. Plus, there’s also a cinema, café, rooftop terrace, and gift shop where you can enjoy more of the museum’s offerings. 

Can’t get enough of this “things to do in Oklahoma City” guide? How about learning about the best photography spots in the USA?

Things To Do In Oklahoma City: A Guide To The Best Hotels In The Area

Whether you are a foreigner or a local visiting Oklahoma City, it is not always that you will have a relative living in the area whom you can share a space with. Most of the time, you will need to reserve a room in a hotel, so you can take a good rest before waking up the next day to enjoy more things to do in Oklahoma City. What are the best hotels in Oklahoma City? Here’s a list.

• Wyndham Grand Oklahoma City Downtown
• Hampton Inn & Suites Oklahoma City – Bricktown
• The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City
• Aloft Oklahoma City Quail Springs, a Marriott Hotel
• Best Western Plus Memorial Inn & Suites
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City Will Rogers Airport
• Omni Oklahoma City Hotel
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oklahoma City Downtown

Oklahoma City: Cowboys, Horses, Basketball, And More

The “Big Friendly” is a city that truly lives up to its name. The capital of the state of Oklahoma may be small, but it is large enough to offer several things to do in Oklahoma City that vacationers are craving for. From museums and galleries, to entertainment and dining, you will always be surprised about what’s available in this charming destination.