Discover Oklahoma City: Culture, Water and Nature

Oklahoma City combines impressive culture, unusual water experiences and green retreats. Those looking for a holiday apartment for a varied stay can choose the focus of their trip according to their own interests: from Indigenous history, Western art and interactive museums to activities on the water and experiences in nature.

Experience Culture and History Consciously

A special way to engage with the stories of Indigenous communities awaits you at OKLA HOMMA. The 270-degree theatre presents four tribal origin stories written, narrated and animated by members of Indigenous communities. The Oklahoma City National Memorial, by contrast, is a symbolic open-air memorial. It commemorates the victims, survivors, emergency responders and all the people whose lives were forever changed on April 19, 1995.

Western culture is also well represented in Oklahoma City. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum collects, preserves and displays an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artefacts. Liichokoshkomo’ complements these impressions with a 100,000-square-foot outdoor experience featuring waterfalls, Indigenous structures, a railway depot, a rodeo arena and a replica of the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde.

For families with different interests, the Science Museum Oklahoma offers several hands-on discoveries. CurioCity is a 20,000-square-foot cityscape with obstacle courses, balance activities and musical instruments. At Destination Space, the exhibits include a Mercury capsule simulator, real rocket engines and artefacts from the Apollo era. The Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame also presents the stories and artefacts of more than 170 inducted individuals.

Water, Trails and Active Days

RIVERSPORT Rapids offers Class II to IV whitewater rafting in the heart of Oklahoma City. With RIVERSPORT Discover Surfing, participants can be guided from bodyboarding to surfing in less than two hours. Those looking for a gentler introduction can include Discover Flatwater Kayaking as an entry point to recreational paddling. This allows you to tailor the trip to your preferred pace without every day having to feel the same.

There is also plenty of choice for walks, runs and bike rides. Oklahoma City’s interconnected trail network offers numerous miles with scenic views throughout the metropolitan area. The INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Courage Trail at Martin Park Nature Center is an accessible, half-mile-long trail. The accommodation that suits you may therefore also depend on whether you want to include culture, active pursuits or quieter trails in your travel plans.

Gardens and Wildlife

Will Rogers Gardens offers practical courses in horticulture and gardening activities for visitors of all ages throughout the year. Hundreds of tree species grow in the Margaret Annis Boys Arboretum, including species native to Oklahoma. The Myriad Botanical Gardens feature the Crystal Bridge Conservatory with a reflecting pool, plant collections, observation terraces and a waterfall feature. The Children’s Garden includes winding paths, a biology pond, raised garden beds, a bamboo hedge maze and inclusive playgrounds. In summer, Seasonal Plaza offers fountains and colourful gardens; in winter, it is home to the Devon Ice Rink. For a quiet break, the Tanenbaum Reflection Garden provides a shaded place for rest, reflection and tranquillity.

Wildlife encounters add another highlight: Expedition Africa is a 12-acre habitat with covered pavilions and observation terraces where visitors can watch animals at eye level. Great EscApe is a more-than-three-acre habitat for western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees, with rainforest elements and waterfalls.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Plans

The Oklahoma City Streetcar connects the Bricktown Entertainment District via the Bricktown Loop with Midtown via the Downtown Loop. The streetcar system has two loops with a total of 22 stops and operates seven days a week. When searching for a holiday apartment, you can therefore first decide which combination of culture, water, gardens, wildlife and trails should define your stay. This makes the accommodation a suitable base for your personal travel plans, without limiting the city to just one type of holiday.

For the overarching travel overview: Oklahoma.