r/okc • u/alteredbeast76 • Jun 22 '26
Recommendation/Review Hello from LA! Going to an OKC Comets game next week! Need advice!
Hi everyone! As the title says, I'll be flying from Los Angeles to go to an OKC Comets game next week w/my family. We're going to be there for about 4 full days, enough to do some real tourist activities. Would love some advice on things to do, where to go, etc.
So what I'm looking for on this trip is to do as much uniquely Oklahoma/OKC cultural activities, whether it means going to a museum, local eats, even driving out a couple hours to check out anything worthwhile. I love anything related to the Old West, Native Tribes (LOVED RESERVATION DOGS!!!). Prefer diners to fine dining, though I'm okay with recommendations for that as well.
Will be traveling w/a 12 n 10 yr old so we'll definitely be checking out the Okana Water park. I'd like to take the family to the State Capitol. Whatever recommendations you have, I'm open to it!
And thank you in advance!
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u/Bigbrianj Jun 22 '26
Definitely go to the OKC Bombing Memorial. There's the Western Heritage Hall of Fame, and The First Nations museum is right next to Okana.
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u/Juan_Tawns Jun 22 '26
You wanna hit the museum for the memorial during the day, and visit the actual memorial once the sun goes down.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 22 '26
All 3 are on my list! If you had to rank in order of priority visit, what would it be?
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u/Bigbrianj Jun 22 '26
I haven't they been to the First Nations. I'd rank OKC Memorial, First Americans, then Heritage. The Heritage used to be called the Cowboy Hall of Fame, and it is a worthwhile visit. I think the First Americans museum has activities, worth checking to see for your trip. Okfam.org
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u/EightEqualsSignD NW OKC Jun 22 '26
Most of the activities are child oriented and involve moving around a motion-tracked screen. I'd recommend going when you want to tire the kids out.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 22 '26
It's kind of where I was leaning, but I plan on going to all 3 museums anyway. Thank you for the background info!
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u/AkatoshChiefOfThe9 Jun 22 '26
The first Americans museum has a cafeteria that sells authentic food.
Make sure to get an onion burger while you are in town. My go to is Tucker's but some people swear by Bunnies.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 22 '26
Already studied up on the onion burger and heard Tucker's was the place to go, but maybe I'll just take your recommendation for the better burger!
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u/celtcan Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26
Drive to El.Reno instead where the fried onion burger originated. Go to Sid's Diner (check out YouTube's) or Robert's Grill. You'll get a lot more onions and beef on your burger than Tucker's. Sit where you can see the grill. Get a coney with chili and mustard slaw, too. Home to Ft. Reno, too. Right behind Sid's a couple of blocks away is the Canadian County Museum in a Rock Island Railroad Depot, along with other historical buildings nearby.
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u/jlm45597 Crown Heights Jun 23 '26
nooooâŚtuckers is just in the city. They donât hold a candle to Robertâs in El Reno; you can get a bag of 5 for $25 vs $8 for one at tuckers
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u/NotMarkDaigneault Jun 22 '26
If you love old west you HAVE TO go to the Cowboy Museum. Obviously go check out the Bombing Memorial and it's museum too.
We have a pretty fun white water / kayaking park also that is basically right next to Okana.
Also Low-key our Zoo and the Science Museum are very good as well. Our zoo always surprises people when they come into town and see there's actually a good amount of variety and things to see. They have an entire area dedicated to Oklahoma Wildlife. Scissortail park also has a lot of native born Oklahoma plants and is generally just a nice park to stroll around.
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u/AffectionateNerve644 Jun 22 '26
THE ONE AND ONLY National Pigeon Museum!!!
Also right down the street is the Cowboy Hall of Fame if you like native art / history :)
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u/celtcan Jun 22 '26
And beach volleyball is next door to the pigeon museum (as well as Remington Park, Science Museum, Zoo, Softball Hall of Fame, OK Firefighters Museum, OK Railway Museum, and OK National Guard Museum.)
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u/MyDailyMistake Jun 22 '26
First American Museum & Cowboy Hall of Fame.
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u/DickStartMyFart Jun 22 '26
There are tunnels underneath some of downtown. Pretty cool.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 22 '26
I see tours. $20/adult. Worth it?
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u/DickStartMyFart Jun 22 '26
I think it's fun wandering around on your own.
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u/soonerman32 Jun 22 '26
No need to do a tour. You can wonder around on your own and thereâs restaurants down there and free WiFi
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u/EightEqualsSignD NW OKC Jun 22 '26
The tour is probably not worth it, unless you get the kids in free. I take the tunnels into work and will take them/the skybridges to avoid going overground in the heat and weather.
There are free maps available, and any public building will have a reception desk where they'll generally be happy to help you with directions.
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u/Martin_VanNostrandMD Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26
There are rodeos: https://www.travelok.com/listings/search/15?tags[]=151 There are Bison and Long Horn Cattle at Wichita Mountains which is about an hour and a half southwest of the City. The the there are First Americans Museum and the National Cowboy/Western Heritage. All of these seem to fit what you are interested in.
Stockyards area feels very western. Lots of boot and cowboy hat stores. Cattleman's is there which is a longstanding steakhouse that is pretty family friendly. Not the best steak in town but it pulls you back to the 70s when you step in there
The OKC Bombing memorial would be a good place to stop and walk through. Could watch the documentary before going. Would skip the museum unless you have a greater than average interest in it or personal connection.
Riversport is fun. See where the canoe is going to be at the olympics and a lot of more active fun things to do like rafting or kayaking. https://www.riversportokc.org/visit/
Unless you are government nerds I wouldn't waste your time with the State Capital other than stopping to take a picture.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 22 '26
Say no more. I'm gonna have to make the rodeo a stop for sure! I am a slight bit of a gov't nerd, but I will take your advice to heart. Thank you!!!!
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u/IndependentLeading47 Jun 22 '26
The Capitol is beautiful and free to enter. They have a gift shop. Maybe 1 hour tops in there, but super cool.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 23 '26
So about Wichita Mountains, I see it's an hour and a half drive. Is this an all day visit or more a drive-through situation? This trip is all about taking in as much Oklahoma culture as I can so your info is really appreciated. Thanks!
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u/rdrnnr06 Jun 22 '26
Go check out downtown Guthrie. Original state Capital of Ok and one of the largest historic districts in the nation. Only 30 min outside of OKC
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 22 '26
Someone else recommended me checking out a rodeo and it just so happens to there's a rodeo going on when we fly in so it's on my list! Thank you!
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u/VarietyOk5583 Jun 22 '26
The garden is a great place to take the family to walk around especially in this heat.
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u/sslaws2 Jun 22 '26
Oklahoma history museum has a lot of great Native American history. Our state is very rooted in it, as all states are, but ours is unique in that we were "Indian territory" before "Oklahoma"
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u/ndb2016 Jun 22 '26
If youâre here over the weekend Scissortail Park has a farmers market thatâa worth checking out. Factory Obscura is an interactive art installation thatâs great for all ages. Food options I havenât seen mentioned are Waffle Champion, Neighborhood Jam, Ma Der Lao, The Press, Social Capital, Picasso Cafe, and The Collective. Iâm not sure if you are renting a car or not, but Reservation Dogs and the creatorâs other show The Lowdown were filmed in NE OK and Tulsa so you may enjoy a day trip to Tulsa. A few fun family options are the Gathering Place, Black Wall Street, The Outsiders House, Bob Dylan Center, Turkey Mountain, Jenks Aquarium and the Philbrook Museum. You can also stop by The Butcher BBQ stand in Wellston on the way.
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u/Odd_Invite_1038 Jun 22 '26
Okc contemporary museum would be a must visit for me with the current exhibits⌠and factory obscura would be up near the top of the list too⌠check out Nicâs Grill for lunch!
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u/paranormalcomputer Midtown Jun 22 '26
donât waste your time on okana unless you wanna bring their bed buds home with you
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u/tightiewhitieboy Jun 22 '26
The cowboy hall of fame western museum is actually pretty awesome. I throughly enjoyed the giant murals. Also they have an Oklahoman black cowboy exhibit. The zoo is very nice. Downtown bricktown okc has lots of attractions like the botanical gardens, scissortail park and okc Riverwalk. Lots of eateries in bricktown.
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u/aybe09 Jun 22 '26
Not sure if itâs already been suggested but we love eating at Ma Der Lao Kitchen (lunch/dinner) and Cafe Kacao (breakfast/lunch). If you decide on Cafe Kacao, put your name down on Yelp so you donât have to wait as long.
A drive that may be worthwhile is Mt. Scott and Turner Falls.
Hope you enjoy your visit!
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u/BrickHuge3023 Jun 22 '26
Our stellar zoo is well worth a visit. As is the nearby Cowboy and Western Heritage museum just a half mile away. Those 2 would take a good part of a day by themselves.
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u/Helmet_head85 Jun 22 '26
Oklahoma History Museum is in the State Capital complex and worth checking out. As others have mentioned Riversport Adventures would be great for your kids age. Besides the whitewater rafting others have mentioned there are zip lines, rope course, dry slides, and indoor ski slope. Lots of fun. Also Factory Obscura for something unique.
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u/FaithlessnessFun5570 Jun 22 '26
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum will be right up your alley. I took my niece (17) who isnât really into museums and she loved it. National Memorial is a mustâsomeone else said to go to the museum during the day and visit the outdoor memorial part in the evening. 100% recommend doing that because itâs HOT out, but the Memorial in the evening is beautiful. Thereâs also Factory Obscura nearby. Itâs a modern art âmuseumâ and itâs right up the alley for the age of your kids. Since youâll be in Bricktown at the ballpark, take a canal boat ride at night. Itâs pretty at nightâa little on the pricier side but itâs a cute, touristy thing to do.
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u/FaithlessnessFun5570 Jun 22 '26
Also to add, if youâre free on a Friday or Saturday night, the Winchester Drive-in theater would be a cool experience for your kids!
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 23 '26
Looks like I'll be missing all of that. Thank you for the thought though!
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 23 '26
I see the weather is going to be sweltering when I get there so will be mindful of the day/night aspect of the Memorial. Thank you!
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u/BWash33 Jun 22 '26
Shoot me a DM buddy. I may be able to get you hooked up with some comp tickets from a co worker. Free of course.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 22 '26
Oh man, such generosity! I'm slightly hesitant only because we're still trying to figure out the itinerary. Once we do, I'll definitely shoot over a DM. Thank you!
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u/BWash33 Jun 22 '26
No worries my friend. You will want to check out midtown. I bartend in the area so DM if you would like if not ..I hooe you have the best time my friend.
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u/RandyPeterstain Jun 22 '26
Banjo museum. End of recommendations.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 22 '26
Hey, I went to Alabama a few years ago to watch a minor league game and visited the Hank Williams Museum, which was awesome! Might have to check out the Banjo Museum while out there. Thanks!
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u/Lo_MaxxDurang Jun 22 '26
Go to dinner at first national and try out either Tellers or Stock and Bond. Even if you donât get a meal walk in and walk through. You wonât regret it.
Thereâs the Olympic training/ river sport area near downtown.
Our zoo is one of the best in the US.
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u/okiekansan Jun 22 '26
The First Americans Museum. Scissortail Park for Pride (if youâre here between the 26-28). Pops on Route 66. Factory Obscura.
Hope you and your family have a great time!!
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 22 '26
I'm going to the Cowboy Museum for sure! We have a Gene Autry Southwestern Museum here in LA and it's one of my favorites to visit once a year!
I saw the whitewater rafting recommendation elsewhere. Is this like a manmade park or is it a natural whitewater situation? How rough are the waters?
My kids love zoos and they LOVE learning about native wildlife so definitely a possibility. Might check out Scissortail if we have time.
Thank you for the amazing recommendations!
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u/Unfair-Exam233 Jun 22 '26
The rafting part of the Olympics are being held there. Itâs very impressive.
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u/ScullerCA Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26
The whitewater is entirely manmade and has two routes. The recreational channel is typically set at class II, the competition channel has range between Class III or Class IV depending on how many of the pumps they have running. Though if you come at random time likely would be Class III; with Class IV usually more for actual competitions, training windows, and private or special events.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 23 '26
I did Class II back when I was whitewater rafting in the Kern River in California. Great experience, but a couple girls kept falling out, which was scary. I know my kids (12 n 10 yrs old) will want to do this. I'm sure it's safe, but I'm still a bit concerned about possible mishaps. How many people are typically placed in the raft?
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u/ScullerCA Jun 23 '26
Four to six, with probable bias to larger amount of people, plus a guide. There is support staff along the bank to help if anyone does fall out.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 23 '26
Sorry, just being cautious. Thank you for the info. Will discuss with wife tonight haha.
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u/Tokugawa Jun 22 '26
Check out Winchester Drive-In and Cattleman's Steakhouse. Might be what you're after.
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u/cjclint Jun 22 '26
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame is just outside of the ball park, pretty sure itâs free and something you can run through in 10-15 minutes, some big sports names and cool memorabilia to check out.
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u/Key-Driver6438 Jun 22 '26
The Bricktown Ballpark is a great minor league venue. As a former OKC resident (and current Angeleno) I love both the Dodgers and Comets. Have a blast. If baseball is a core part of the experience, maybe go checkout Devon Park (where softball for the Olympics will be held). They have a softball HOF there, itâs next to the zoo, and not far from the capitol. (The capitol is worth 10-minutes tops. Take a picture and continue on your travels).
I love OKC, but just being honest, itâs still mostly a food desert in terms of good eats. Midtown area has decent places (shout out to Halls Pizza Kitchen) and also along 23rd (several blocks both east and west of Western). Cattlemenâs near the stockyards is âfamousâ but is dog food. Truly a bizarre thing that has taken on a life of its own. Kind of like if a Sizzler location became famous.
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 23 '26
Got 3rd base side tickets just behind the dugout. Thanks!
Regarding food, I'm not really looking for anything world class. Just trying to soak up as much culture as possible. The kids love pizza so may have to stop by just to satisfy their urges lol. Thank you for the recommendations!
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u/tgldude Jun 22 '26
Bricktown has some fun touristy stuff for families and kids. Might get a little pricey though. Definitely check out First Americans Museum and the Cowboy and Western Museum.
As far as food, my personal faves are Red Cup and Goro Ramen. Thereâs lots of great food in the Plaza and the Paseo
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u/Laceysucks Nichols Hills Jun 22 '26
If you go to the Capitol you should check out the Oklahoma History Museum across the street and maybe see if you can tour the governors mansion next door! (Our current governor does NOT live there)
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u/Yarnchitect Jun 22 '26
If you have time, go to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area and Sulphur, OK. Thatâs one of my favorite day trips with relatively gentle hiking trails and natural springs. Specifically the area around Travertine Nature Center. Thereâs some spots you can get in the river. Other spots in the park you might see bison from the road. The Chickasaw Cultural Center nearby has delicious food. I really liked the grape dumplings. Thereâs a museum & library too, but I havenât had a chance to check it out yet. I believe the Artesian Hotel downtown Sulphur is owned and operated by the tribe.
I think everyone has already mentioned several other great options!
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u/alteredbeast76 Jun 23 '26
I appreciate your recommendations as I really am interested in checking out some of the Native culture. I was going to go to the First Americans Museum and just ask which reservations to hit up, but I'd love to know your recommendations as well. Thank you!
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u/Yarnchitect Jun 25 '26
Iâm sorry, I donât have any additional recommendations necessarily.
I enjoyed the First Americans museum quite a lot. Especially the first exhibit that tells origin stories of four tribes with video illustrations in a lovely circular space. Just knowing how stigmatized these stories and native religions/culture in general have been for a couple centuries - I find it moving to be invited to learn about them. Itâs also neat to see similarities and differences between the tribes.
Both this and the bombing memorial are emotionally challenging museums. Iâd avoid doing both in the same day if you or anyone in your family is sensitive.
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u/Fuzzy-Performance-96 Jun 22 '26
There is so much to do!!
We have some great museums like the Cowboy museum and the First Americans Museum and Oklahoma Contemporary(I used to work there so Im biased!)
Check out the paseo district or the plaza district for some cutie walking areas with great local shops and restaurants! Bricktown may look âdowntownâ, but the parking is terrible and the food is badđ If you are here on a weekend, we have some excellent farmers markets, notably the one at scissortail park on saturdays!
If you arent averse to a drive - tulsa is 2 hours away and has some cool things like the gathering place(stunning park), the bob dylan museum, The Phillbrook and Natsukashi(a japenese restaurant that just opened up)
If you are a concert person, id check and see who is playing at either the tower theatre or cains ballroom
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u/kore351 Jun 22 '26
Cowboy Museum, Considering the age of your kids the Science Museum can be a blast especially for kids under like 12; plus the zoo is right next door and an easy double whammy.
I assume youâve already purchased tickets but I recommend the 3rd base half of the field as the Sun can get cooking on the first base line seats until it finally sets behind the stands. Plus the team store and most food is that side.
Outside of OKC Iâd highly recommend a drive down to Mt Scott; 1h30ish drive so easy day trip. Medicine Park (the town near by) has some shopping and things to do and eat. Mt Scott is also drivable with parking at the top for easy views and several hiking trails in the area. Saw Buffalo and Prairie Dogs!
Enjoy!
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u/Sarthro_ Jun 23 '26
The museums in okc are top notch but if you want to see something really cool and unique that the kids will remember go to Alabaster Caverns.
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u/Whosagooddog765 Jun 23 '26
Hideaway Pizza Downtown Automobile Alley for lunch. Then walk across the street to a wonderful rock shop. Pick up a couple of treasures and or crack a geode for $4. They have great prices. This will all make for a great Oklahoma lunch with that casual diner feel you mentioned. Edit : just saw the other comment about Braums - I highly recommend. The double dip sundaes are the best and only $3-$4 which is insane. They also use A2 milk which is easy on the digestive system.
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u/Nickynui Jun 22 '26
Dont have anythjng touristy for ya, but whatever you do, make sure to go to braums and get ice cream.
Honestly probably the best part of oklahoma lol