what to do in oklahoma city

What to Do in Oklahoma City Spend some quiet time at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum (620 N. Harvey Ave.). Enter through the bronze Gates of Time and visit the Field of Empty Chairs, where handcrafted chairs stand as a somber reminder of the 168 lives lost during the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. Listen to an audio recording of the blast and read Oklahomans' stories of hope and survival at the nearby museum.

Brush up on Sooner state history at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (1700 N.E. 63rd St.), where you'll find an extensive collection of Native American art, Western movie props and the Rodeo Hall of Fame. Journey back to the Wild West with a tour of Prosperity Junction, a replica of a circa 1900 cattle town complete with a full-size saloon.

Discover a tropical oasis at Myriad Botanical Gardens and Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory (301 W. Reno Ave.), a 17-acre garden in the center of downtown. Wander the tree-shaded paths and marvel at the Tropical Bridge, a 7-story cylindrical conservatory suspended over a sunken lake.

Check out the action in Bricktown—OKC's entertainment district on the eastern edge of downtown. This revitalized warehouse area offers live music and plenty of places to eat. Try Bricktown Brewery (1 N. Oklahoma Ave.). If you eat too much, don't worry—the walk along Bricktown Canal is the perfect place to work off a meal. At the south end of the canal is the Centennial Land Run Monument , an impressive grouping of bronze statues that's worth a look.

Catch a baseball game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (2 S. Mickey Mantle Dr.). Street names around “The Brick” pay homage to hometown heroes. Snap a photo in front of the “History of Bricktown” mosaic murals located outside the stadium; the panels are made of 158,000 brightly colored porcelain tiles.

Hunt for treasures while browsing art galleries and boutique shops in the bohemian Paseo Arts District, where brightly colored buildings and clay-tile roofs create the feel of a Spanish village just north of downtown. Die-hard shoppers will love the antique shops and retail stores along Western Avenue (between N.W. 36th Street and Wilshire Boulevard).

Witness a live cattle auction (Monday and Tuesday mornings) in Stockyards City (1305 S. Agnew Ave.), where the Oklahoma National Stockyards Company has been in operation since 1910. If you don't make it in time for an early-morning auction, browse the shops on South Agnew and Exchange avenues for cowboy-approved boots, custom-fitted hats and authentic Western wear. Grab dinner at Cattlemen's Steakhouse (1309 S. Agnew Ave.), an Oklahoma favorite and purveyor of award-winning T-bone steaks.

Ooh and aah over the 55-foot tall, multi-colored tower of glass by sculptor Dale Chihuly inside the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (415 Couch Dr.). In addition to a large Chihuly collection, the museum touts numerous galleries of European and American art.

See the command module simulator used by Apollo astronauts at the Science Museum Oklahoma (2100 N.E. 52nd St.). A Smithsonian affiliate, the museum also includes the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

If you're looking for fun things to do with kids, Get up close and personal with gorillas, elephants, grizzly bears and thousands of other native and exotic creatures at the Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden (2000 Remington Pl.). A narrated ride on the Elephant Express Tram is a good way to scope out the lay of the land before your hooves get too tired.

Snap a photo of the giant milk bottle that sits atop the wedge-shaped building at 2426 N. Classen Blvd. It's an iconic photo spot along the original path of Route 66.