Oklahoma City Travel Guide

Oklahoma City is the epitome of everything Western. Avid history enthusiasts flock to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, a 200,000-square-foot site the features Western and Native American artifacts, sculpture and art galleries. The traditions and treasures of territorial Oklahoma are also on display at the Harn Homestead Museum. Even the steakhouses in Bricktown speak of Western delights. But there's more to this frontier country than cowboys, Indians and thick steaks. Oklahoma City is a tourist destination that has something for everyone--for the young and the young at heart.

Sights

You can start your trip on a serious note by visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, where the horrific events of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building are captured and preserved. After somber reflection, you can take the kids to the Frontier City Theme Park, where attractions like the Quick Draw "dark ride" provide amusement park fun, Western-style. When it's time to cool off, White Water Bay, the largest water park in the city, is the place to go. Other family-friendly attractions include the 110-acre Oklahoma City Zoo, the Science Museum Oklahoma and the Martin Park Nature Center.

Activities

Sightseeing is not the only thing to do in Oklahoma City, of course. You can ride in a hot-air balloon via Skyway Balloons, go biking along the 15-mile Arcadia Lake Mountain Bike Trail, or go hiking or horseback riding at the Lonesome L Ranch. Golfing enthusiasts can tee off at the many golf courses in and around the city. Play a round at the Cedar Creek Golf Course, Brookside Golf Course or the Forest Ridge Golf Club.

Dining

There are few places where classic American cuisine is better savored than at the Cattlemen's Steakhouse, famous for its juicy handcut steaks. This legendary restaurant was founded in 1910 and is still the most popular spot in town. Another favorite steakhouse is the Redrock Canyon Grill, overlooking Lake Hefner. But Oklahoma City is more than just steaks. It is also well known for its Tex-Mex. For more haute cuisine, try the Metro Wine Bar & Bistro. For comfort food, Ingrid's Kitchen is a charming German restaurant famous for its sinfully delicious desserts. If you feel like you've had just a bit more steak than your belly can handle, you can also sample the vegetarian offerings at 105 Degrees.

Shopping

Oklahoma City shopping is mostly about malls. And there are a lot of them. Among the best is Penn Square Mall, which boasts a comfortable and spacious architecture for walking, relaxing or browsing the high-end shops. Quail Springs has all the requisite national outlets, as well as a huge movieplex and vast food court. Fans of outlet shopping are still waiting for the Oklahoma City Outlet Mall to open. After many delays, it's now slated for a late-summer 2011 debut.

Where to Go in Oklahoma City