From family-friendly museums to fun and funky factories, outdoor recreation to wild animal encounters and so much more, there are endless things to discover in Oklahoma City. Check out our Winter Oklahoma City Bucket List for the best-of-the-best in Oklahoma City during the fall and winter months.
Oklahoma City Bucket List
Myriad Botanical Gardens & Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory
The Myriad Botanical Gardens Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory building is a 224-foot living plant museum covered by 3,028 translucent acrylic panels. Once inside, you’ll be welcomed by towering palm trees, tropical plants and flowers, waterfalls, and exotic animals. It’s a beautiful oasis that is a must for your Oklahoma City bucket list.
Also at The Myriad Botanical Gardens is a free six-acre Children’s Garden where kids can run, jump, and climb their way through the park activities like slides, swings, and seesaws.
Science Museum Oklahoma
Science Museum Oklahoma is the state’s only hands-on science museum and one of the largest science museums in the nation. It houses more than eight acres of experiences and teaches kids about everything from space exploration to crime scene investigation.
A major part of Science Museum Oklahoma is CurioCity, a 20,000-square-foot village featuring eight whimsical neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own personality that allows you the opportunity to explore a scientific concept utilizing interactive devices and unusual settings to encourage learning through play. The only downside to CurioCity is that you’ll want to spend your entire ay there, which doesn’t leave time for the rest of the museum.
Be sure to look at the museum map and plan for an entire day there because you will have a difficult time getting your children, and yourself, to leave.
OKC Zoo
The Oklahoma City Zoo has more than 2,000 animals and amazing exhibits. Enjoy world-class habitats including Great EscApe, Cat Forest/Lion Overlook, Oklahoma Trails, and Sanctuary Asia where you will find the amazing animals of the Asian continent.
Make sure you save time for The Children’s Zoo while you’re there. It’s a 2.5 acre area within the Oklahoma City Zoo dedicated to the enrichment and education of children. Children can explore, touch, and immerse themselves in a natural outdoor environment that will stimulate their imagination, encourage exploration, and give them a greater appreciation for nature. You can even feed the lorikeets. These colorful parrots are active, noisy and fun to feed nectar.
Wild Encounters at The Oklahoma City Zoo
The Zoo’s behind-the-scenes experiences are wilder than ever. Wild Encounters enable you to get up close and personal with grizzly bears, rhinos, sea lions, and elephants. We’d recommend adding the Elephants Wild Encounter to your winter Oklahoma City bucket list or go all out and try the VIP Safari Tour. It’s the ultimate private, exclusive adventure through the Oklahoma City giving you behind-the-scenes access to all rides, attractions, animal feedings, and all Wild Encounters.
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art presents a dynamic range of exhibitions, including one of the world’s largest public collections of Dale Chihuly glass, a major collection of photography by Brett Weston, and the definitive museum collection of works by the Washington Color painter Paul Reed.
The best part of the museum for families traveling with children is the Discovery Packs available free of charge. These activity packs give visitors with children a chance to discover a new world at OKCMOA with fun, hands-on gallery learning. Inside each pack, you’ll find items such as a storybook, an OKCMOA sketchbook with guided drawing prompts (take this home when you leave), Match & Discover Cards featuring works of art found in the galleries, sketching materials, and more! Packs are available for ages 2-5 and ages 6+ and are available on each Museum floor.
HeyDay Entertainment in Bricktown
HeyDay Lower Bricktown features a full bar, lounge, bowling lanes, and an arcade. Enjoy 10 spacious lanes, featuring awesome LED screens that make for an amazing audio-visual experience. You can sip your favorite cocktail by the fire pit with a view of the canal or enjoy the patio, equipped with covered televisions and seating. Then, continue the experience with the kid and adult friendly arcade or a game of bowling.
Factory Obscura’s Mix-Tape
Factory Obscura’s Mix-Tape is a 6,000 square-foot interactive exhibit featuring an immersive art experience highlighting the emotional ties to the mixed-tapes of the 1980s. Wander through a color wheel of creation designed in partnership with 30 Oklahoma City-based artists, and connect in real-time with guests of Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe. Don’t miss the iconic boom box outside. Press any button and watch what happens next.
Devon Ice Rink
The Devon Ice Rink is open 7 days a week and hosts daily public skating, private parties, and special events all winter long. The ice rink will be open through February 2.
Hideaway Pizza
Hideaway Pizza offers twenty-six specialty and seasonal pizzas. Crust and sauce are made fresh and on-site daily. They also serve a rotating section of local and regional craft beers. Located in the heart of downtown, it’s an easy walk to hotes, activities, and museums.
The Polar Express
Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on The Polar Express. It’s a magical one-hour trip to meet Santa, including a golden ticket, hot chocolate, and a delicious cookie served by dancing chefs. Passengers read along with the classic children’s book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg and dance the hour away with singing and dancing hosts.
21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City
Our favorite unique hotel in Oklahoma City is 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City. Much more than just a place to spend the night, 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City is the perfect blend of contemporary art mixed with spacious guest rooms, vibrant public spaces, and New American cuisine.
The on-site dining at Mary Eddy’s offers exceptional service and quality, and the spa will cover all of your relaxation and rejuvenation needs.
The huge soaking tub in the suites was a family favorite along with the purple penguins found around the property.
Wheeler Ferris Wheel
The 100-foot-tall Wheeler Ferris Wheel once graced the Santa Monica Pier in California. It offers an incredible view of the Oklahoma City skyline and the south bank of the Oklahoma River.
Snap an OKC Photo
On the grounds in front of the Wheeler Ferris Wheel, snap a photo of the massive white OKC letters.
Scissortail Park
Scissortail Park is a 70-acre urban oasis extending from the core of downtown Oklahoma City to the shore of the Oklahoma River. It features a variety of engaging experiences for visitors including ornamental gardens and woodlands, a 3.7 acre lake, children’s playground, and water fountains, seasonal roller rink, dog park, picnic grove, restaurant, and performance stage and great lawn.
Bricktown Brewery
The Bricktown Brewery is a traditional American brew-pub, offering some of the best handcrafted beers available and delicious food. The legendary hickory smoked BBQ goes great with their award-winning handcrafted beer, and their seasonal Turkey dinner was the best meal I’ve had in months. Enjoy acoustic music every Friday and Saturday night. With exceptional service, food, and beer, The Bricktown Brewery is a must on any Oklahoma City bucket list.