Vacation: Oklahoma City
From uncovering mysteries of the past (some as ancient as the Pharoahs) to exploring science in the 21st century, there is something in the Oklahoma City area to make every family member happy.
Day One: El Reno and Bricktown
El Reno and Bricktown are just a few miles apart via I-40, but a lifetime away in what you can experience. Visit El Reno for a step back in time, and visit Bricktown for some modern fun.
What to See:
Located just west of El Reno (west of OKC), Fort Reno has served a variety of purposes since opening in 1874. Notable visitors include Amelia Earhart flying her autogiro at the airstrip in the 1920s, Will Rogers watching polo matches from the officers club and Frederic Remington who spent three months at the Fort drawing Cavalry, Buffalo Soldiers, Native Americans and scouts. The visitor center features a small museum and offers guided tours of the public areas explaining the historical significance of this prairie fort. Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-4pm. 7107 West Cheyenne Street, 405-262-3987, www.FortReno.org.
Ghost Tours which highlight the spooky side of the Fort are held once a month, typically on the third Saturday. Visitors will hear tales of the restless spirits, unsolved mysteries and urban legends. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the visitor center.
El Reno’s Heritage Express Trolley is the only rail-based trolley in the state. Catch this friendly red transport at Heritage Park, near the Canadian County Historical Museum, and ride it downtown for a variety of shopping and dining options. Operates Wednesday-Sunday.
Where to Eat in El Reno:
Papa Angelo’s offers a delicious giant pizza (up to 20”) and pasta dishes. The garlic knots are a local favorite. Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm, 121 S Rock Island, 405-262-2079.
After lunch, travel east on I-40 to downtown OKC’s Bricktown (exit at Harvey Avenue, continuing north and turn east on any of these streets, Reno Avenue, Sheridan Avenue or Main Street). By the 1970s, the area known as Bricktown, a once-thriving wholesale and warehouse district, had become more equivalent to urban blight than to an economic center of the city. With a vision of what could be, a group of OKC leaders and eventually the entire area began supporting the idea of developing an entertainment district, utilizing the big brick warehouse buildings as the building blocks. Today, visitors enjoy a wide range of restaurants, activities, sporting events, and more in Bricktown.
As a first step to experiencing this area, enjoy a ride on a Water Taxi. The main dock is located just below Mickey Mantle Boulevard, across from the Bricktown Ballpark. Boats depart every 15 minutes daily from April-November, and a round-trip ride is about 40 minutes. The taxis now stop at the Bass Pro Shop, Harkins Theatre, and Residence Inn, offering an alternative to pounding the pavement on a hot summer day. All-day passes $7.50 for adults, $1 for kids 5 and under. 405-234-8294, www.BricktownWaterTaxi.com.
From Bricktown, go west on Reno Avenue to find the Myriad Botanical Gardens
and Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory. Your family will love learning about
(and admiring) the over 1,000 plant species found here from around the world. The indoor botanical gardens include waterfalls, natural pathways, wooden arbors and bridges and a suspended walkway for a bird’s eye view. 301 West Reno, Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday noon-6pm. Outdoor grounds are open 6am-11pm. 405-297-3995, www.MyriadGardens.com .
Helpful Hint: Before you go, check out www.MyriadGardens.com’s calendar for music and theatrical performances held at the Myriad Gardens Water Stage throughout the summer. The musical performances are free and theatrical performance tickets may be purchased the night of the show.
Continuing on your tour of downtown OKC, head west on Reno Avenue and turn right (north) on North Walker for a few blocks to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (415 Couch Drive) where you can check out the 55-foot-tall glass sculpture by famed artist Dale Chihuly, the tallest in the world! Other collections include a permanent collection of European and American art, photography, drawing and prints. As you pay, be sure to inquire about the free Discovery Packs for kids. Designed to help kids get the most from the museum, these packs are filled with a sketch pad, pencil, kaleidoscope and a scavenger hunt involving the paintings. Also, don’t miss the free (with paid admission) Drop-In Art held 1-4pm every Saturday. Each event has special guest artists and themes and projects for the entire family to enjoy. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-9pm, and Sunday noon-5pm., www.okcmoa.com.
Helpful Hint: The Museum Café serves French fusion cuisine and is an elegant,
“white tablecloth” place to dine.
Family Fun in Bricktown:
If you have restless kids in the evening of any of your night’s stays, Bricktown has
many activities to consider.
Enjoy a summer afternoon or evening cheering on the RedHawks (Triple A baseball team) at the beautiful Bricktown Ballpark (2 S. Mickey Mantle, 405-218-1000, www.OklahomaRedhawks.com). Be sure to check their website for specials offers for kids and families.
Other sports options through the year include: the OKC Yard Dawgz arena football, with games at the Cox Convention Center from late March through late July. 405-228-3294, www.OKCYardDawgz.com; NBA Thunder games at the Ford Center from early October to about mid-April. 405-208-HOOP, NBA.com/Thunder; the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League with games at the Ford Center from mid-October to mid-April, 405-235-7825, www.OKCBlazers.com.
Take in a first-run movie at Harkins Theatre (150 E Reno, 405-840-4275, HarkinsTheatres.com).
Literally climb the walls at Rocktown Climbing Gym (ages about 3 and up). Look for the painted grain elevators at 200 SE 4th Street, www.RocktownClimbingGym.com .
Learn to kayak and rent bikes at the Chesapeake Boathouse,
725 S Lincoln Boulevard (just east of Bass Pro Shops on Reno; take Lincoln south to the boathouse), 405-552-4040, www.ChesapeakeBoathouse.org (go to their website’s “calendar” section for details).
Take a ride on the Oklahoma River Cruise, available Wednesday-Sunday at varying times. A one-way cruise costs $9 for adults, $6 for kids ages 6-12 and lasts 1.5 hours. A round-trip cruise is $12 for adults, $8 for kids ages 6-12. (Discounts given for seniors and those with disabilities.) You may load the beautiful boats at Regatta Park (near the Chesapeake Boathouse), 725 S Lincoln Boulevard. If you take the one-way cruise, you’ll end up at Meridian Landing (just east of SW 15th and Meridian) then you can catch a trolley to get back downtown. Trolley rides are free throughout the metro on the day of your cruise (show your cruise stub). 866-825-6363, 405-702-7755, www.OklahomaRiverCruises.com .
Where to Eat in Bricktown:
Chelinos in Bricktown offers mouth-watering Mexican meals and has patio and balcony seating on the canal. Open daily 11am-11pm. Menu includes specials for the kids and don’t miss the free sopapilla for dessert! 15 E California, 405-235-3533, www.ChelinosMexicanRestaurant.com .
Find family-friendly Italian favorites at the Spaghetti Warehouse. Request a seat in the train car for added ambience. Open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-11pm. 101 E Sheridan, 405-235-0402, www.Meatballs.com .
Helpful Hint: Many more restaurants in Bricktown and throughout the OKC area can be found at www.ExploringOK.com/OKC-restaurants .
Where to Stay:
This trip lends itself well to a stay-in-one-place style of vacation, with day trips taken from there. However, if you’d rather structure a more “vagabond” type of trip, a different bed every night, we’ve included accommodations that work well for that, too.
The new Hampton Inn & Suites, Oklahoma City-Bricktown, has an Indoor Cool
Pooltm with water features kids will love. Many suites are available, each with a pullout
sofa, microwave and refrigerator. Complimentary hot breakfast. $99-$119, 300 E. Sheridan, 405-232-3600.
The Sheraton Hotel Downtown provides unique special packages for families, starting
at $139. Packages include room, tickets to a family’s choice of select Adventure District attractions, complimentary breakfast (for most packages) and kids under 12 eat free. Property includes an outdoor pool. 405-235-2780, www.SheratonOKC.com .
Another hotel that offers an economical stay and play package is the Best Western Saddleback Inn, located just east of I-40 and Meridian at 4300 SW 3rd. Their package includes tickets to your choice of Frontier City (amusement park) or White Water Bay (water park), the room and breakfast buffet. For two people, the package cost is $129 plus tax; for four people, $186 plus tax. Subsequent night stays are $110 plus tax. Be sure to ask for a non-smoking room facing the outdoor pool. 800-228-3903, www.BestWesternOklahoma.com .
Sooner Legends Inn and Suites in Norman is a unique place for Sooner sports fans. Locally owned and operated, this hotel names each room after a former Sooner great with the history of that sports figure woven into the decor. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, a popular restaurant with steaks, burgers, salads, sandwiches and comfort food, a complimentary hot breakfast, a gift shop with OU memorabilia and free wireless access.$89-$99. Located on the SE corner of I-35 and Lindsey (1200 24th Avenue SW), 405-701-8100, www.SoonerLegends.com .
El Reno’s Hager House Bed and Breakfast has five guest rooms, including a
third floor bunk room, perfect for a family getaway. 619 S Hoff, 405-262-2565,
Shawnee’s Holiday Inn Express has an outdoor pool. $98-$125. 4909 N Union,
405-275-8880.
Day Two: Norman
Norman, best known as the home of the University of Oklahoma Sooners, is also
home to a variety of family-friendly sights. From Bricktown, head south on I-35.
What to See:
When you reach Norman’s city limits, look for the Hwy 9 exit. Take it east past Norman to 120th Avenue SE and go south a short distance to the Little River Zoo. A nonprofit zoological and educational facility, this zoo offers personally-guided 60-90 minute tours of the facility, allowing visitors an up-close experience with many of the zoo’s nearly 400 residents. Daily, 10am-5pm. 3405 120th Avenue SE, 3/4 mile south of Hwy 9E, 405-366-7229, www.LittleRiverZoo.com .
From the zoo, head back towards Norman on Hwy 9 to Chautauqua. Turn north and soon you’ll find the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History on the right. This kid-favorite museum takes visitors back in time through interactive displays about dinosaurs and Oklahoma eco-systems. Don’t miss the Discovery Room (open every day but Monday), where children can uncover dinosaur fossils and examine real museum artifacts and specimens. Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm. 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, 405-325-4712, www.snomnh.ou.edu .
Campus Corner is an historic, quaint shopping and eating area on Boyd Street, between Jenkins and University Boulevard. Developed in the early 1900s to serve the needs of university students, this eclectic place boasts shops with items such as OU fan gear, home and garden accessories, clothing and more. Go to www.OUCampusCorner.com for hours of operation and information on regular sales.
Where to Eat in Norman:
Cafe Plaid has been a Norman favorite for years. It features sandwiches, soups, salads, specialty coffees, and a dessert bar. Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm (closes earlier than that in summer), Sunday 10am-3pm, 333 W Boyd Street, 405-360-2233.
Victoria’s Pasta Shop has reasonably-priced pasta dishes and salads. Italian fare, but no pizza. Big portions, low prices, and “artsy” décor make this a favorite of students and visitors. Wednesday-Saturday 11am-9:30pm, Sunday-Tuesday 11am-9pm, 327 White Street (from Boyd and University, go north to White then east about a block), 405-329-0377.
Also located on Campus Corner, TURQUOISE Café is an upscale bistro café with a highly rated Sunday brunch. Open for lunch (brunch on Sunday) Tuesday-Friday 11am-2pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-2pm; for dinner Tuesday-Thursday 5-9pm, Friday-Saturday 5-10pm. 750 Asp (Campus Corner, from Boyd and Asp go north 1/2 block), 405-801-2075.
In-the-know Norman residents recommend Tarahumara’s Mexican Café. Be prepared for a wait at this popular Tex/Mex restaurant. Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm, 702 N Porter Avenue (From Campus Corner go east on Boyd to Classen then turn north. A few blocks later, Classen turns into Porter;
Day Three: Seminole and Shawnee
Head east on I-40 toward Shawnee for more Oklahoma adventures.
What to See:
Less than an hour east of the Metro, Shawnee is home to the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art on the campus of Street. Gregory’s University. Permanent collections at this museum include art from the Medieval period through the early 20th century as well as Greek, Roman and Egyptian objects. Of special interest to children is the only ancient mummy on display in Oklahoma. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm. 405-878-5300, www.mgmoa.org .
Located east of Shawnee on Hwy 9, Seminole is where you will find Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum, a hands-on family favorite that puts the concept of playing to learn into action. Visitors enter a child-size town to explore a world of career options. Recent additions include the Centennial Hospital where kids can perform heart bypass surgery on anatomical models and the Kim Henry ScienceWorks Wing for a fascinating look at science concepts.
Don’t miss the outdoor Castle Maze, a life-size labyrinth that may make you wish for a piece of cheese at the end. On the second floor, above the ScienceWorks Wing, kids can learn to ride a Segway. Used by police officers and city dwellers, this two-wheel electric scooter may be the preferred transportation mode of the future. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm. Ages 3 and up $8, children under 3 are free. 1714 Hwy 9 West, 405-382-0950, www.JasmineMoran.com .
Where to Eat in Shawnee:
Van’s Pig Stand is the oldest barbecue restaurant continuously owned and operated by the same family in Oklahoma. Van’s originally opened across the street then moved to this location in 1935. Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-8pm, 717 E Highland, Shawnee, 405-273-8704, www.PigStands.com. (Also located in Norman, Moore, and OKC; check website for details.)
Day Four: Oklahoma City’s Adventure District
A world of “edutainment” awaits your family in northeast Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Located at the crossroads of I-35 and I-44, this two-square-mile area has something for everyone including astronauts, cowboys, exotic animals and athletes. Let your kids decide which attractions appeal to them the most and enjoy the day. If you need a quiet break from the touring, consider a one-hour film at the Omnidome inside Science Museum Oklahoma or the Tinseltown USA movie theater (405-424-0421) located in the district.
The Oklahoma City Zoo, voted by Child magazine as one of the most family-friendly zoos in the nation, is home to over 2,000 animals on 110 acres. Although there are outstanding exhibits at every turn, two of the most popular are Oklahoma Trails and Great EscApe.
The Canopy Restaurant offers a variety of meal options in an air-conditioned rainforest OR bring your own food/drink and have a picnic. Summer hours (Memorial Day-Labor Day): daily 9am-6pm; July 1-August 10 7:30am-6pm. Through September, zoo is open until 8pm daily on Saturdays. Other months of year, hours are 9am-5pm daily. 2101 NE 50th, 405-424-3344, www.OKCZoo.org .
Located directly west of the zoo is Science Museum Oklahoma which contains hundreds of activities and exhibits related to science, plus the big-screen Omnidome Theatre and a Planetarium. The Gadget Tree exhibit is a favorite for kids to explore and climb, and even adults can take a ride on the world’s tallest spiral slide. Science Live shows are free with admission and give parents a chance to sit and rest while the kids are engaged. Plan to eat at the snack bar, or bring your own food and grab a table in the cafeteria. Open Monday- Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 11am-6pm. Helpful Hint: Inquire about the benefits of membership. A family membership fee usually may be purchased for very little more than a family’s one-time admission. 2100 NE 52nd, 405-
602-6664, www.ScienceMuseumOK.org .
The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum boasts a large, world-class collection of traditional Western art and artifacts for all to enjoy, but the youngest of visitors will especially want to check out the Children’s Cowboy Corral interactive discovery area, designed for hands-on fun. Another popular place for kids is Prosperity Junction, a replica 1890s cattle town, which gives a peek into the life of early settlers with a schoolhouse, church and saloon. Lunch is available at the Dining on Persimmon Hill restaurant inside the museum. Daily 9am-5pm. 1700 NE 63rd, 405-478-2250, www.NationalCowboyMuseum.org .
The National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum includes information on the history of softball and a collection of memorabilia about the sport. Monday-Friday 9:30-4:30, during summer months, also open Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 1-4pm. 2801 NE 59th, 405-424-5266, www.ASASoftball.com/Hall_of_Fame .
The Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum is home to a large collection of antique fire trucks and firefighting equipment, including an 1869 German Tub Pumper. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-4:30pm, Sunday 1-4:30pm. 2716 NE 50th; 405-424-3440, www.OSFA.info .