Discover Edmond: Culture, Water and Route 66

Edmond combines nature experiences, water activities and an unusually diverse cultural history. At Arcadia Lake near Edmond, boating and water sports are possible; at the same time, the Edmond History Museum, a historic schoolhouse and seven murals along Route 66 tell the story of the area’s development. If you are looking for a vacation rental or holiday home in Edmond, you can therefore plan your stay around your preferred travel theme: active days on the water, walks and birdwatching, or a program focused on history, art and local events.

Arcadia Lake and trails for different types of days

Arcadia Lake is located on the Deep Fork River and is an important starting point for excursions in the surrounding area. The Arcadia Lake Multiple-Use Trail is approximately 6.5 miles long in one direction. For a shorter route, the 2.5-mile Spring Creek Multi-Use Trail is a good option. It has separate lanes for cyclists as well as runners and pedestrians. The six-mile Arcadia Lake Equestrian Trail is specifically designed for horseback riding.

E.C. Hafer Park also offers additional trails for outdoor exercise. Its paved shared-use trails extend for 1.5 miles. The Margaret Annis Boys Centennial Arboretum is home to more than 100 specimen trees of various native and ornamental species and offers excellent birdwatching opportunities. Edmond’s oldest park is Stephenson Park, originally known as South Park. This gives you a range of options, from water-based and horseback-riding days to shorter walks and nature observation.

Water activities and more excursion ideas

Pelican Bay Aquatic Center includes a splash pad and two 150-foot slides. If you do not want to spend an excursion entirely outdoors, you can plan this location as a separate activity. Together with the trails around the lake and the offerings at the arboretum, it creates a variety of activities, so not every vacation day has to follow the same pattern. When planning your trip, you can therefore alternate between exercise, nature observation and water activities.

History, art and events in Edmond

The Edmond History Museum is housed in a former armory of the 179th Infantry, 45th Division of the Oklahoma National Guard. The building was constructed in 1936 by the WPA from historic regional sandstone. The exhibits cover the Land Run of 1889 and the city’s extensive growth from the 20th century to the present day. The collection includes more than 35,000 artifacts and historic photographs.

Another historic site is Edmond’s 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse, the first public schoolhouse in the Oklahoma Territory. The 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse hosts educational summer camps every year in June and July. Seven murals along Route 66 also commemorate different chapters of the local culture. The mural A Moment in Time is located at 116 South Broadway.

For those interested in art, the Edmond Arts Festival takes place on the first weekend in May, with more than 150 artists presenting their work. Heard on Hurd features bands and food trucks on the third Saturdays from March through October. The year-round Edmond Farmers Market is held indoors in winter and outdoors from May through November. These set dates make it easier to plan a stay specifically around art, music or visits to the local market.

The right accommodation for your travel focus

When choosing accommodation in Edmond, it is worth deciding first on the mix of activities you want. If water, trails and nature are the main focus, Arcadia Lake, the Spring Creek Multi-Use Trail, the arboretum and the parks will be key themes in your planning. If you want your trip to focus more strongly on history and culture, the museum, schoolhouse, Route 66 murals and event dates offer other ideas. A vacation rental in Edmond is therefore particularly well suited to a trip where you can arrange your daily schedule yourself and choose between different experiences.

For further orientation, you can also explore Jones, Del City, Midwest City, Luther and Bethany.

For the overarching travel overview: Oklahoma.