Visiting Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is one of the Best things to do in Oklahoma. When Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice Terry Nichols carried out the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history on April 19, 1995, it tragically devastated Oklahoma. 168 people were murdered and hundreds more were injured when McVeigh's homemade bomb, hidden in a leased truck, detonated in and near the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum recognizes and pays tribute to the dead and living from that terrible day. Visitors can read about the brave deeds of Americans who came to the rescue of survivors buried in the rubble and helped the city and state heal, as well as examine images, biographies, and tales of those affected by the attack. If you don't have time for the museum, the memorial alone is worth a visit. Visitors describe the memorial and museum as a somber experience, but they note that the stories are presented respectfully. Remember that a limited number of timed tickets are offered each hour, so you'll want to reserve a ticket in advance.

Google Rating: 4.9/5.0
Address: 620 N. Harvey Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Contact: +1 405-235-3313
Website: https://memorialmuseum.com/

One of the foremost art institutes in the area is located about half a mile from the Oklahoma City bombing memorial. Although its specialization is American art and postwar abstraction, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art features an astounding array of exhibitions, from paintings and photographs to glass works and sculptures from around the world. On-site movie showings are available for a fee on specific days of the year at a cutting-edge cinema.

The museum's collection of Dale Chihuly's glass masterpieces has notably been cited as a highlight by numerous previous visitors. You may need to locate a paid public parking place because the museum lacks its own parking lot. The 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City is a chic boutique hotel that was formerly a car assembly plant and now features its own contemporary art gallery inside. It's a perfect choice if you want to stay close and see more art.

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0
Address: 415 Couch Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Contact: +1 405-236-3100
Website: https://www.okcmoa.com/

The Five Civilized Tribes Museum, which is in Muskogee, less than 50 miles southeast of Tulsa, is dedicated to preserving the history, artwork, and culture of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole peoples. The phrase that lends the school its name first appeared in the 1800s to describe the five Native American groups' seeming assimilation to American cultural norms. The history of the tribes and their eviction from their lands is chronicled in the artwork, relics, and exhibits housed at this museum.

In addition to its collection, the museum also holds a number of tribal celebration events. The museum hosts lectures and exhibitions every year. To learn about the historical and creative contributions made by these Five Tribes to Oklahoma, attend any of these events. You can find out more about each Indigenous group by visiting the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Museum in Okmulgee, the Choctaw Cultural Center in Calera, and the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah, and the Seminole Nation Museum in Wewoka.

Google Rating: 4.5/5.0
Address: 1101 Honor Heights Drive, Muskogee, OK 74401
Contact: +1 918-683-1701
Website: http://www.fivetribes.org/

Visiting Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is one of the Best things to do in Oklahoma. Around 1,900 species may be found on the 140 acres of the Oklahoma City Zoo, which aims to enable visitors to engage with wildlife. You can pay extra for a number of extracurricular activities in addition to general entry, such as the opportunity to ride a camel, feed a giraffe or a rhino, check out a unique display of plastic brick animals, or go on a safari cart tour. The zoo also provides up-close interactions with grizzly bears, bison, Indian rhinos, Galápagos tortoises, sea lions, and Asian elephants for an extra cost.

There are a few eateries in the zoo where you can have a meal, albeit some are only open during certain seasons. The 120-acre botanical park has a variety of exotic animals and native flora, as well as blossoming trees, meadows full of wildflowers, the largest outdoor butterfly garden, and more. Many interesting family-friendly activities are available at the zoo, according to visitors who claim there is plenty of covers.

Google Rating: 4.5/5.0
Address: 2000 Remington Pl, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Contact: +1 405-424-3344
Website: https://www.okczoo.org/gardens

With plans to expand to Norman in 2022, an Oklahoma City-based art group that specializes in immersive art that engages all of the senses is hoping to begin a long-term relationship with the community. When Automobile Alley's "Mix-Tape" was a Studebaker dealership in the 1930s and 1940s, Factory Obscura, which was established in 2017, opened its first permanent location there.

The group will unveil "Synesthesia," an artwork inspired by the museum's permanent collection, at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in April 2022. The project will give visitors a chance to explore the museum's collection in a way that goes beyond what is often possible while viewing art, according to Factory Obscura co-founder Kelsey Karper.

It can make you feel perplexed, excited, and amused all at once, according to visitors who claim it's unlike any other place you've been. Each component was handcrafted with accessibility for those with vision or hearing disabilities in mind. There are also areas created to resemble "sensory chambers" to assist people with autism.

Google Rating: 4.6/5.0
Address: 25 NW 9th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Contact: +1 405-367-1578
Website: https://www.factoryobscura.com/mixtape

Pops Restaurant is a contemporary stop along Route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma. It is identified by a massive neon sign in the form of a soda bottle, keeping with the soda theme. Shelves of soda pop bottles, sorted by beverage color, are used to embellish the restaurant's glass walls. These bottles are available for purchase in their current state or cold from the sizable refrigerator at the western end.

The restaurant was built in 2007 and features a cantilevered truss that extends 100 feet above the forecourt's parking space and gas pumps. The 4-ton, 66-foot-tall roadside sign measures in height. The height is an allusion to the old road that runs alongside it. Although it appears to be made of neon tubes, it is actually illuminated by LEDs, which each night put on a breathtaking light show.

In 2016, a second site with a contemporary style and the same concept as the first one opened in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma. Although shelves of bottles organized by color embellish the glass walls as well, bottles can only be purchased from the refrigerator. In contrast to the former location, this one offers a huge selection of sweets and candies. On December 21, 2018, the second site closed for an undisclosed cause.

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0
Address: 660 U.S. Rt. 66, Arcadia, OK 73007
Contact: +1 405-927-7677
Website: https://pops66.com/

One of Oklahoma's most well-liked natural locations is this almost 3,500-acre state park, Beavers Bend State Park, which is situated close to Broken Bow in the southeast. There are several outdoor activities available for thrill seekers, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, river rafting, and others. You may fish, boat, water ski, canoe, and even go scuba diving at Broken Bow Lake. Even better, you can play the Cedar Creek Golf Course with your own golf equipment. Tennis, mini golf, and volleyball are a few of the additional activities.

Nearly 400 campsites, RV sites, and cottages are available for guests to use at the park. On the lake's edge, there is a lodge where you can spend the night. The park, which offers plenty of stunning vistas while you're off the grid, is said to be lovely and well-kept by visitors. Other family-friendly activities like bowling and trail rides can be found in Hochatown, a nearby city. Additionally, the community offers rentals for ATVs, slingshots, and power sports, as well as Hochatown eateries and additional lodging.

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0
Address: 4350 S, OK-259A, Broken Bow, OK 74728
Contact: +1 580-494-6300
Website: http://www.beavers-bend.com/

Orr Family Farm is a family-oriented destination that has been open since it first opened its doors in 2004 and is located in the southern area of Oklahoma City. The farm also features seasonally unique attractions, such as the autumn pumpkin patch and hayrides. Some activities, such the tube rollers, life-size foosball fields, gemstone mining, and cannon blasters, are accessible both in the spring and the fall.

If you wish to visit Orr Family Farm in the summer or winter, fear not: It is open from mid-March to late June as well as from mid-September to mid-November. Conical tents and Conestoga wagons are available for an elegant camping experience all year long on the farm. You will have access to some attractions as a glamping visitor even when the farm is not open to the general public. Visitors highly recommend spending at least one night in the covered wagon or tent at Orr Family Farm and say it's a great choice if you have young children.

Google Rating: 4.3/5.0
Address: 14400 S Western Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73170
Contact: +1 405-799-3276
Website: https://www.orrfamilyfarm.com/

The largest protected section of tallgrass prairie in the world is the 40,000-acre Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, located about 75 miles northwest of Tulsa. The Barnard Ranch was first acquired by the Nature Conservancy in 1989, which led to the creation of the preserve. The picturesque 50-mile drive through the grassland and its neighboring ranches may be completed in roughly two hours with pauses. More than 210 different bird species, as well as bobcats, armadillos, badgers, woodchucks, white-tailed deer, and other animals, can be seen throughout the preserve. One of the biggest herds in the nation, the dedicated bison unit has more than 2,100 American bison.

A self-guided nature trail, a ranch bunkhouse built in 1920, and designated picnic spots are all options you can explore after getting out of your automobile. According to visitors, it is worth the drive to see the prairie's natural beauty and wealth of species. However, there are campgrounds close by at Swope Park and Chase State Fishing Lake where you can set up your tent. The nearby town of Emporia, among others, offers lodging options.

Google Rating: 4.8/5.0
Address: 15316 Co Rd 4201, Pawhuska, OK 74056
Contact: +1 918-287-4803
Website: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/tallgrass-prairie-preserve/

This 15-acre natural oasis is located in the center of Oklahoma City. Ornamental gardens, a carousel, an outdoor ice rink in the winter, a dog park, splash pads in the summer, a kids' garden and playground, and more can be found at Myriad Botanical Gardens. Look up upcoming concerts, bulb displays, movies, classes, kid's festivals, and other special events at this attraction on the calendar before you go. Some claim that the gardens provide a calming experience and a sense of retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Several works of art can be found inside the Myriad Botanical Gardens. At the northeastern corner of the Gardens, a Gateway by Hans Van de Bovenkamp is perched on a raised berm. The southwest corner of the property is where Robin Orbach's 1992 sculpture Childhood is Everlasting is located. The 8' x 9' base of the Philodendron Dome, which is composed of iron and bronze and is situated on the northwest shore of the lake, is fashioned like a dome. Visitors can enter the "dome" of this bronze plant's leaves for a view from below, which is supported by iron vines.

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0
Address: 301 W Reno Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Contact: +1 405-445-7080
Website: https://myriadgardens.org/