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Oklahoma CityOklahoma City, the state capital, quite literally sprang up out of nowhere. On 2 March 1889, the US government held a major land run in Oklahoma. The area, initially reserved as Indian Territory, would be settled by those who were quick enough to grab plots when the noon cannon fired. (Or by those who managed to creep across the starting line beforehand, giving Oklahomans their current nickname, Sooners.) Shortly afterwards, 10,000 people had staked claims around a small train station, and the city was born. This boom-town atmosphere continued when oil was discovered in
Oklahoma City in the 1920s. History buffs should plan a visit to the Oklahoma State Capitol, the only one in America with a working oil well on its grounds.
Oklahoma City's growth has been a point of contention at times. Today, it stretches across more than 600 square miles (965 square km), one of the country's major perpetrators of urban sprawl. In recent years, however, the city has been working to reinvent itself, focusing on downtown revitalization with great success. Most attractions of interest to tourists are located in the inner city districts, beginning with Bricktown, which is bounded by one of the country's premier minor-league ballparks, home of the RedHawks. Once a clump of old warehouses, Bricktown is now a vibrant collection of trendy condos, shops, restaurants, bars and clubs situated along a picturesque canal. Here visitors can satisfy their every craving for hardy American fare, from steak to barbecue. Those in search of a more exotic meal should head to the Asia District. Believe it or not, Oklahoma City has a significant Vietnamese population, and a growing number of Asian residents of other cultures. The Paseo Arts District, built in the 1920s, also boasts a few upmarket cafés and cocktail lounges, though its galleries and studios are the main draw. Modelled after a Spanish village, its clay roofs and stucco walls house paintings, pottery, stained glass works, jewelry and unique furniture.
Culturally, Oklahoma City tends to be conservative. Visitors hoping for the vibe and openness of coastal cities may be disappointed, but the city's values do have a big bonus: family-friendliness. Oklahoma City has plenty of fun attractions for children and families. Its parks system is one of the most extensive in the country, and its three nearby lakes are lovely spots for camping, fishing and watersports. Stockyards City, right downtown, is the largest stocker/feeder cattle market in the world, where visitors can watch live auctions, shop for authentic Western attire and sample stick-to-your-ribs food. Oklahoma City is known as the 'Horse Show Capital of the World', and the city's many equestrian events as well as its multiple museums make for enjoyable family outings. Oklahoma has been said to inspire nostalgia, and its capital city is no exception. Watching the weekend regattas at Lake Hefner in the summer, and ice-skating in the winter under Christmas lights at Bricktown's outdoor rink, are memories families will not soon forget.
Getting Around: Oklahoma City is sprawling, to put it mildly. Therefore, it's best to rent a car when visiting. Otherwise, travelers should plan to stay downtown, where hotels and attractions are clustered and where they can take advantage of the Oklahoma Spirit trolley service, which runs between multiple attractions as well as hotel and dining areas. METRO Transit provides bus service, and some buses have bike racks. However, due to Oklahoma City's size, it can be difficult to rely solely on the bus system, and taking taxis over such long distances can be expensive.
TulsaWhile Oklahoma City is known for its award-winning events and amazing attractions, Tulsa, the second largest city in Oklahoma, is often considered a cultural oasis, with an air of sophistication and a flair for the arts. In the early 1900s, when oil was discovered, Tulsa was transformed from a frontier town to a thriving city, with wealthy oilmen eager to invest in their new home. They built elegant mansions and spectacular business headquarters, leaving behind a collection of Art Deco structures rivalled only by New York and Miami.
Tulsa is also one of the smallest cities in the country to support full-time ballet and opera companies, the critically acclaimed Tulsa Ballet and the Tulsa Opera, ranked among the top ten regional opera companies in America. The Tulsa Performing Arts Center is home to 13 resident performing arts organizations in addition to a touring Broadway series. The city's rich cultural life extends to the visual arts as well. The Philbrook Museum of Art is one of only five in the country to offer a historic mansion and gardens, once the Italianate villa and estate of an oil baron, and the Gilcrease Museum houses the largest collection of Western American art in the world.
It is easy to imagine that Tulsa's creative atmosphere is inspired by the natural beauty surrounding the city. Tulsa is nestled in northeastern Oklahoma among rolling hills and forests, with the Arkansas River running through its center. Its 800-acre river parks system features picnic areas, playgrounds and sports fields as well as extensive trails for walkers, runners and cyclers. The city is also something of a golf mecca, with 19 public courses as well as multiple award-winning private courses. Tulsa's renowned Southern Hills Country Club has hosted the PGA Championship an unprecedented four times.
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