#VisitOKC #Themodernfrontier #ThingstodoinOklahoma #Oklahomacity #Familyroadtrip #familytrips #springbreak
We recently took a road trip to Oklahoma for spring break. It was a long drive from Alabama, but the fun we had was more than worth it, and we'd gladly make the drive again. As a family, we pride ourselves on teaching the boys that natural beauty and adventure are everywhere. More than anything, we embody a spirit and attitude that allow us to enjoy ourselves wherever we are. But Oklahoma City needed no help from us because it's packed with culture, adventure, and good eats our entire family loved.
See the places we visited below and add them to your Oklahoma travels.
Family Fun in Oklahoma City
Where to stay
We stayed at the Residence Inn Bricktown and loved how central it is to many activities. The hotel has a fitness center, pool, patio with a fire pit, and great breakfast in the morning. We used the complimentary breakfast as a snack to hold the boys over until we ate, but it can easily serve as the first meal.
Where to play
OKC has several great places to play, such as Scissortail park, which is downtown. The park has a garden, a playground with a giant spider the kids enjoyed climbing, a splash area, and tons of green space.
The children's garden next to the botanical gardens is another excellent play space for kids. The favorite feature among our family was the giant "GROW" playscape. Remember to save time to explore Myriad Gardens. The crystal bridge is beautiful, and we loved seeing the tropical plants.
Brickopolis Entertainment is another fun spot with a lot to do. They have an arcade, mini golf, laser tag, and a water taxi tour that shares the area's history and how it became the entertainment park, it is today.
Must do adventures
We live for adventure activities, and Oklahoma City did not disappoint. Riversport Adventures is an adventure park in the middle of the city that offers indoor skiing, zip lining, white water rafting and kayaking, sky trails and slides, and a bike park. They left no stone unturned, and you could easily plan to spend a day or two moving through all the activities. During our trip, we went indoor skiing. It was the boys' first time on skis, and they had the best time! We loved that they could learn in a controlled setting, and it was nice staying dry in the process. If you can only choose one activity, make it skiing.
Rock wall climbing at Summit Gym is another must-do activity while in OKC. Maybe you've climbed at your local gym or a stand-alone rock climbing wall, but there's something cool about climbing into the darkness of an old grain silo. The gym offers world-class rock climbing, bouldering, yoga, and fitness classes. While kids are welcome at this gym, they must be five years old to participate.
Are you looking to hit the trails? Check out the 9-mile, paved loop around Lake Hefner or the easy-to-follow trails at the Martin Park Nature Center. Both are great places to explore and would make nice picnic spots.
Must visit museums
Oklahoma City has a large selection of museums. From cowboys to railways to art, there's something for everyone. While we couldn't visit all, we enjoyed spending time at Science Museum Oklahoma and First Americans Museum.
The science museum (next door to Oklahoma's Zoo) was amazing! We spent most of our time in KidSpace, and the science floor, and both my husband and I were just as engaged as the kids during our visit. We learned so much, made crafts to take home, and rode segways around a course in the museum's middle. It's a must-do while visiting OKC.
First Americans Museum is a cultural center sharing the history of 39 First American Nations in Oklahoma. We experienced art, games, and stories of the First American contributions, which opened the door for many conversations on diversity and people with our kids. FAM shares a significant part of Oklahoma's history and culture and should be visited.
Both museums are large, with many exhibits. Plan to spend a minimum of half a day at each.
Where to eat
For Breakfast and Brunch:
Hit up Neighborhood Jam, Harvey Bakery, Cafe Kacao, and Syrup. Each spot has a unique vibe, specialty coffees, and delicious food. If you can only pick one, try Cafe Kacao. This American Latin restaurant made the best breakfast place in the country list and is a wonderful
experience.
*Tip: many of these restaurants are busy; we recommend joining their waitlist if offered to reduce wait time.
For Lunch:
Visit spark at scissortail park. It conveniently overlooks the park making it an easy stop to refuel before gearing up for more playing. They serve burgers, acai bowls, frozen custard, and more. They also have picnic packs making it easy to set up for a picnic simple.
For Dinner:
Try Eastside pizza house. We enjoyed the Jabee, which included roasted corn, sliced jalapenos, and goat cheese. They have a great menu of unique toppings and a famous black-crust pizza. They also have your traditional cheese and pepperoni for those not looking for classic flavors.
The Press was great when looking for salads and vegan options. We appreciate that salads are available as wraps adding a little extra substance to a lighter meal.
If you like Caribbean flavors, Carican Flavors is your spot. We enjoyed jerk chicken, peas and rice, smoothies, veggie plates, and homemade ginger beer here.
Bandees BBQ has an extensive menu with different meat options. We loved that we could find something for everyone in the family.
Oklahoma City has so many things to do. It's fun, offers diverse experiences and dining, and is a great place to explore with the family!
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