Go There: Explore Frontier Food, Art, and More in OKC
Pack your cowboy boots for a weekend adventure in Oklahoma.
Is Oklahoma the South, the Midwest or the Southwest? Yes! It’s actually a little of all three, a blend of Southern hospitality, wide open spaces and cowboy culture. And no place sums that up quite like its capital, Oklahoma City.
If you’re looking for a weekend destination to enjoy art, the outdoors and incredible food without the crowds — except at the live cattle auction (the biggest in the country) — you can’t do better than this hip frontier town. The largest capital in the Lower 48 by land size, OKC has a lot of ground to cover, but this guide gets you oriented with the best things to do, taste and discover.
In This Article
What to Do
First off, head to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. I know, I know — museums are tedious, possibly educational, but this one isn’t boring, even if it is educational. They cover rodeo clowns and B Western heroes, shotgun chaps and moccasins. You can step inside replica Native American homes or grab a selfie with a 19-ton Buffalo Bill. But the best part has to be the life-size cattle town, filled with old-timey buildings, some with recorded voices carrying on conversations like it’s 1899. You can pretend it is.
The First Americans Museum is another excellent pick. Oklahoma itself was named by a tribal chief and means “red people” in the Choctaw language. Learn more about the history and culture of 39 unique tribes at this immersive museum, which also has a free interpretive mound walking trail outside.
Speaking of outside, OKC’s many trails are among the best ways to explore the city. If you didn’t bring a bike, rent one from Ride OKC or take one of their guided tours to check out the street art, boathouses, breweries, mansions and monuments around downtown. They’re right across the street from the gorgeous Myriad Botanical Gardens, a blooming conservatory and manicured grounds worth an afternoon.
And just when you think things in OKC are pretty normal, there’s Factory Obscura, an interactive art experience that’s nostalgic, psychedelic and thought-provoking at the same time. If you have time, visit the OKC National Memorial, the huge 140-acre zoo, and the capitol, which is free to tour.
Where to Eat
When you’re in OKC, you’ve got to eat at Cattlemens Steakhouse. They’ve been serving their rib-sticking cuisine to ranchers, celebrities and everyday folks since 1910. As the oldest restaurant in the state, it’s got legendary status — won and lost in a dice game, featured on The Food Network — and the walls are covered in photographs and Western memorabilia. But people come for the flawlessly prepared steaks served with a baked potato, roll and salad loaded with their cheesy-rich homemade dressing. Be sure to save room for dessert, preferably the popular coconut cream pie.
There’s lots more beef on the menu here in Cattle Country. Try it in brisket at championship-winning Clark Crew BBQ, or get carne asada at one of the many taco trucks — Taqueria Sanchez and La Pinata are two of the best.
For brunch, mimosas and bacon-topped pancakes shaped like Oklahoma at Hatch are the go-to. For craft beer, it’s got to be Anthem Brewing, one of the largest taprooms in the city where it seems like there’s always something going on, whether that’s candle pouring, the circus, or Oktoberfest.
Where to Stay
Get a hotel in Bricktown if you want to be close to the action, with restaurants, shops and attractions within walking distance from your front door. See a pro baseball game, play mini golf and laser tag, watch dueling pianos, or visit a banjo museum, all in this former warehouse district.
The Hampton Inn & Suites in Bricktown is a comfortable home away from home that’s affordable and family-friendly, with roomy suites and connecting rooms. The complimentary breakfast gets you going in the morning, and you can wind down in the indoor pool at night. For a luxury stay, check into the city’s newest hotel, the Renaissance, featuring a steakhouse, ultra-modern rooms and communal spaces and valet parking.
From either, it’s just a short jaunt to hop on the water taxi for a scenic narrated ride down the canal.
Where to shop
From outlet stores to high-end designer boutiques, you’ve got options, but there’s nothing quite like the Paseo Arts District. This colorful corner of the city is packed with over 20 studios and galleries where you can shop painted silk scarves and ceramic mugs the size of your head. If you’re in town on the first Friday of the month, attend the gallery walk to meet artists, see new works, and enjoy live music.
Over in Automobile Alley, named for its 50 dealerships, there’s a lot more than car shopping. Swing by Shop Good for hand-printed T-shirts that show your OKC pride or Common Dear, where you can browse quippy greeting cards, bath bombs, and disco balls. And after you ponder the free exhibits at Oklahoma Contemporary, visit their gift store to pick up some art to take home.
Local Obsession
It’s all about that cowboy culture and frontier life.
Explore Stockyards City with its weekly cattle sales and Western wear retailers. Langston’s, just around the corner from Cattlemens and dating back to 1913, is fun to stop in just to see their vast selection of cowboy boots.
Visit the larger-than-life Centennial Land Run Monument, an installation of 45 bronze sculptures that capture the frantic energy of the land run that sparked the city’s founding. And consider attending a rodeo right outside town — fall is the biggest season for them.
Or time your visit for one of the city’s many special events that celebrate frontier cultures. Two favorites are the Prix de West, a famous Western art exhibition with each year’s winning piece displayed at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and the Red Earth Fallfest, honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a parade, dance, food, art and more.