Don’t make the mistake of underestimating Oklahoma City. As national articles, city guides and sports teams demonstrate, word is spreading that there’s more here than meets the eye.
To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.– Oscar Wilde
A Horse of a Different Color
Ask any local, and they’ll tell you why exploring OKC will open your mind to more than its mere existence. No offense intended toward the state capital’s storied cowboy legacy, but today, it’s the city’s arts and culture scenes, its inventive restaurants and unexpected hangouts, that are its defining characteristics.
Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!– Leonardo da Vinci
A Brave New World
Take a ride in the Wheeler District on a Ferris wheel that once graced the historic Santa Monica Pier.
Savor food from a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef at The Jones Assembly.
Let your stress melt away with a massage at Scandinavian spa udånder, and bottle your own wine down the street at Waters Edge Winery.
Scale a former grain silo (and snag an Insta-worthy shot while you’re at it) at Summit (OKC).
Explore the Google-backed Plaza Walls public art project with a belly full of Paul McCartney-approved pizza in the Plaza District.
Marvel at the historic Tower Theatre as you stroll Uptown 23rd in search of food and fun.
An Eye for Adventure
And this list, of course, is only a starting point. Explore more Oklahoma City destinations here.
Eye-Opening Destinations
The Wheeler District is a burgeoning new area of OKC located just west of the Boathouse District. Featuring a grand Ferris Wheel, games, hammocks, food trucks and more, it’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon with family and friends!
Summit’s Oklahoma City location provides the ultimate experience for thrill seekers from all around. Catering to both diehard climbers and novice adventurers, Summit’s grain silo structure makes it one of the most unique climbing gyms in the United States.
The Jones Assembly is one of the most unique hangouts in OKC. Situated next to the acclaimed 21c Museum Hotel in Film Row, The Jones offers incredible drinks and food served up by Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Brittany Sanger in an industrial-chic open-air atmosphere. And when it’s concert time, all the restaurant gear disappears to make room for the likes of Willie Nelson, Third Eye Blind or The Wallflowers.
For a relaxing downtown Oklahoma City experience, visit udånder, a Scandinavian-style spa offering an aromatherapy steam room, dry sauna, soaking tubs, specialty treatment rooms, and even a special spa package for the Adventure Road traveler. If you're in desperate need of an afternoon detox, udånder is the place for you.
Oenophiles won’t want to miss Waters Edge Winery! This family-owned winery offers handcrafted wines made from grapes gathered from across the world. Stop in Wednesday through Sunday for a tasting flight (no reservations required) or to snag a bottle of wine.
The Plaza District is a budding area in Oklahoma City that continues to evolve through revitalization efforts, with some of the most popular restaurants, bars and retail spaces calling it home. The area also hosts Live! on the Plaza on the 2nd Friday of each month, where live music and fresh food abounds, as well as the Plaza District Festival in the fall.
Tower Theatre has been one of the crown jewels of Oklahoma City since 1931. Over the years, people from all across the state have sat in these historic seats for the debuts of “Cleopatra,” “The Sound of Music” and other cinematic classics. Today, the space acts as a premier concert space in the Uptown 23rd District and also screens both new and vintage films. Get ready for a jam-packed event season!
