A trip to Oklahoma City isn’t complete without visiting historic Stockyards City, located just a few miles west of the Downtown area. Here, experienced ranch-hands and rookie cowboys alike can enjoy all sorts of activities that pay homage to the Western way of life, like attending the cattle auction each Monday and Tuesday or participating in the annual Stockyards Stampede.

Exchange and Agnew Avenues are packed with historic storefront after historic storefront, home to classic establishments that have withstood the test of time. Step into Little Joe’s Boots, where local patrons have been fitted with custom-made boots since the 1950s. Or, peek into Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, where you’ll witness the tradition of handmade cowboy hats for the quintessential Western experience.

The National Saddlery, established in 1926, offers high-quality saddles, ropes, rodeo gear, tack and supplies and more. This is where Oklahoma City’s modern cowboys come for their everyday needs, no matter if they ride Western or English, tame bulls at the rodeo or simply practice roping in their spare time.

The Centennial Rodeo Opry is a living testament to Oklahoma’s musical heritage. Weekly Saturday night shows introduce talented new performers who share the stage with special guests, OKC favorites and the professional Opry house band in a family-friendly, live music show. Singing greats like Reba McEntire, Wanda Jackson and Cody Canada of Cross Canadian Ragweed have all graced this historic stage.

But a trip to Stockyards City isn’t complete without visiting Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, an Oklahoma institution for over 100 years. Established in 1910 as Cattlemen’s Café, the restaurant acted as a hitching post for hungry cowboys and ranchers traveling through the area. Everyone from John Wayne to President George H.W. Bush has been a patron at one time or another. Though obviously famous for its steak, Cattlemen’s also dishes up seafood, ham, chicken and lamb fries, a local specialty.