How To Spend One Perfect Day in Oklahoma City
Who would have thought you could take a water taxi through the middle of a city on the Great Plains or go whitewater rafting? Well, in Oklahoma City you can.
Called OKC by us Oklahomans, if it’s your first time visiting, head straight to Bricktown downtown to spend the perfect day.
We live in Tulsa but visit OKC often — here’s what to do while visiting.
Heads up! This article contains affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Exploring the Bricktown District
Bricktown is known as the entertainment district. There are a plethora of restaurants, bars, clubs, retail stores, hotels, art on the street, and attractions to check out.
The official Bricktown Visitors Guide Map can help orient you and assist you with selecting restaurants and things to do nearby.
Ride the Water Taxi
What I think is so unique about OKC is the Bricktown Canal. You can take a ride with the Bricktown Water Taxi service. It kind of reminds me of San Antonio.
There is a kiosk to book a ride, or you can make reservations online.
I love seeing all the ducks and geese cruising around the canals. Good chunks of the canal are shaded so you aren’t in the sun the entire time if you do a cruise.
Enjoy the Restaurants
There are loads of fun eateries, restaurants, and bars in the Bricktown District. We like steak and have had a good experience at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar.
Other local favorites are Brickopolis, Bricktown Brewery, and The Melting Pot.
And for all of you Starbucks junkies, there is one in the area so get out your trusty app if you want to order a latte while you walk around.
Check Out the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
If you like baseball, plan to catch a Dodger minor league game at the Chickasaw Ballpark.
If you don’t have time for a game, walk around the outside and take pictures. There are neat sculptures and art at the entrances.
Walk to Scissortail Park and Visit the Skydance Bridge
The first time I ever drove through OKC, I was blown away by the Skydance Bridge and went home to research how to walk across it.
Yes, that intriguing-looking bridge you can see from almost everywhere in OKC -– is also known as the Scissor Tail Bridge because the Scissortail bird is Oklahoma’s State Bird. The bridge architecture is supposed to resemble a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
While there, you might decide to go retro and visit the roller-skating rink, Sky Rink. If that’s not your vibe, consider checking out the seasonal OSU-OKC Farmers Market. I like walking around and seeing the gardens. If it is during the summer — you can run through the fountains.
Visit the OKC National Memorial & Museum
People come from around the world to pay respects and honor those who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, during the Oklahoma City Bombing.
There is a beautiful memorial and museum which acts as a symbol of remembrance of how horrible violence is. This memorial honors the victims, survivors, and rescuers.
The annual America the Beautiful National Park Pass is not accepted here, though. So keep that in mind.
See the Centennial Land Run Monument
There is a nice paved trail you can walk on the outskirts of downtown. The Centennial Land Run Monument has incredible bronze sculptures commemorating the Land Run of 1889 for Unassigned Land in the Oklahoma Territory.
It is one of the most extensive bronze sculptures in the world by artist Paul Moore. We accidentally stumbled upon it one day — it truly is a sight to see. There is no shade over here so keep that in mind if you’re walking around during the summer.
Check Out the Oklahoma City Convention Center
If visiting Scissortail Park and the Skydance Bridge, walk across the street to OKC’s Convention Center. If you’re visiting during the summer, it is a nice reprieve from the blistering heat to go inside and walk around.
If you have time, plan to catch an event such as a trade show or concert.
Visit the Myriad Botanical Gardens
Just north of the Scissortail Park, you can walk to the Myriad Botanical Gardens. It is a 15-acre botanical garden.
The Myriad Botanical Gardens also offers outdoor events such as yoga, hip hop cardio, and reading classes. Visit the events calendar for more information.
Go Rafting at Riversport Adventures
If you’re not from OKC, you might be wondering how you can possibly go rafting here. Don’t worry; we felt the same before we visited. Oklahoma City has a Boathouse District.
Guess what else? OKC is home to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site.
Spending the day at the Boathouse District, a little down the way from Bricktown, is a fun summer activity. You can surf, go whitewater rafting, tubing, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Other Things To Know
Where To Stay
There are a lot of beautiful hotels in the Bricktown District.
➡️ Find more mid budget hotels in Oklahoma City.
Where To Park
There is plenty of paid parking in designated parking areas. If you’re coming to OKC for the day from the surrounding area, parking at Bass Pro Shops is free — just saying (that is what we do).
Safety
Sadly, OKC has kind of a bad rap when it comes to crime. But, we have walked around many times in Bricktown and the Boathouse District during the day and felt totally safe.
No matter where you travel, always be aware when visiting any city worldwide. You should get acquainted with your surroundings and be smart.
More Oklahoma Adventures
We call Oklahoma home and I’ve got you covered with more fun things to do on your days off:
Save for Later!
Pin this guide on Pinterest to plan your trip to Oklahoma City later.
Bricktown District looks like so much fun! The public art is amazing. I have never been to OK, but this blog post inspires me to visit!
Hi Yvonne! OKC is great to visit and so is Tulsa. Oklahoma also has some nice state parks.
I’m so impressed with all these great things about OKS. But visiting Riversport Adventures would be a must for me.
You will have a blast visiting Riversport! Have a great time exploring OKC!
Who knew there were so many things to do in OKC! Taking a boat ride on the Bricktown Canal and seeing the beautiful Myriad Botanical Gardens sound like two amazing ways to spend a day in OKC. Thanks for sharing all of these.
Thanks, Cris! OKC does have some unexpected surprises for being in the Plains. We always have a blast visiting! Hope you have a nice rest of the summer.
I haven’t been to OKC but it looks like quite an interesting place that has something to offer every traveler! The ballpark, monuments, and bridge all look so neat. I’ll definitely be referring back to this if I plan a trip there!
Hi Chelsea – thanks for leaving a comment. OKC is fun to explore if you’ve never been. You’ll have to check out Bricktown when you visit.
We love visiting OKC! There are so many cool neighborhoods and restaurants near downtown.
Hi Stacy! Thanks for reading. OKC is so cool. Have a great rest of the summer.
Hola Querida Ashlee, Me encanta la cantidad de cosas que pueden hacer y ver tan cerca de vuestro hogar.
Me facino el Taxi acuatico que pasa por la ciudad.
El Monumento epico del Centenario Land Run.Les mando mi abrazo desde Argentina
¡Hola Cristina! Gracias por leer. ¡Te amamos!
This is a great day in OKC for sure. We loved our visit there and were surprised at how much the city had to offer! Bricktown was a great little area for sure.
Hi Michelle! Thanks for reading! OKC is such a fun city to visit. It definitely has some surprises.
I keep hearing about how great OKC is and this gives me a little insight as to why! People love it! That water taxi looks amazing; I had no idea this was a thing in OKLAHOMA! Thanks for putting this together; you did a great job enticing me to visit OKC! – Linzey @thefamilyfuntour
Hi Linzey! Thanks for the sweet comment and for reading our article. We hope you can make it to visit OKC someday soon!
Excellent. We don’t always review places close to home. This sounds like a fun day. The water taxi would be awesome to try.
Hi there! Thanks for reading. We hope you have fun exploring places closer to home.
Great post! Being originally from Dallas I would visit OKC often. Would love to take a trip back there and do some of these recommendations, especially ride the Bricktown Water Taxi.
Hi there! You’ll have to explore Bricktown! It’s a great weekend adventure.
Oklahoma City looks like a great place to explore! The Skydance Bridge and botanical gardens look beautiful! I’m sure we’d swing by the brewery to try that out too! Thanks for the great guide!
Hi Hannah! Thanks for reading! The Skydance Bridge is soooo cool!
I love Bricktown !! OKC sounds fun !!
Hi Uncle Burt! Thanks for reading our article. We loved seeing a comment from you today! We love you!