Oklahoma City is best explored outside. Whether you sightsee Bricktown via the water taxi and hunt for murals via bike or dive into the culinary scene via the amazing patios and rooftop dining, OKC comes alive outside.

And while we normally fill our itineraries with outdoor adventures anyway, this summer and fall, those experiences have never been more important while we keep social distancing in mind.

It had been a little over a year since our last visit to Oklahoma City and we were thrilled to pull up and spend a few days on our cross-country road trip. OKC is the perfect family getaway and can easily be added into several weeklong road trip adventures. Many of our friends from Dallas, Albuquerque and Memphis all mentioned OKC was on their list for a long road trip this summer.  But don’t worry, if you only have one day, I created the perfect 24 hour itinerary for you, too. J

Here are our top picks for having a great time outside in OKC this year:

Scissortail Park:

Located downtown, Scissortail Park is a 70-acre public space (that’s about the size of 68 football fields!) that has something for everyone- including a dog park, roller skate rink, kids play space, walking gardens, farmers markets and performance stage. Additionally, we loved filling our days and early evenings with the below attractions:

• Pedal Boats – these are first come, first serve, so be prepared to wait a little after you purchase your tickets. The covered patio was a great viewing spot of the whole park. Even Augustine could pedal the boat and loved being on it.
  • Splash Pad – What kid doesn’t love a splash pad? This was the perfect escape from the heat and mid-day treat before a quick nap or after lunch. Even Bob loved running through the spraying water.
  • Farmers Market – Every Saturday from 9am-1pm the area behind the stage transforms into a fun farmers market. With everything from your normal fruit and veggie sellers to a prosecco truck and popsicle cart, everyone in our family was very happy about stopping by.
  • Live from the Lawn- live music

Lake Hefner:

Located about 20 minutes northwest of downtown OKC, Lake Hefner feels like a world away.Walking and hiking around the lake – there are over 9 miles of paved trails around the lake to bike, walk or hike.

• Tony Hawk’s OKC Skate Park – Bringing our skates and scooter has really injected more fun than we would have ever thought possible. Bob and Augustine love scooting around town, and this skate park was fun to see.
• Lion’s Children’s Playground

• Snap photos at Lake Hefner Lighthouse
• Grab afternoon happy hour on the patio and with a lake view:
  • Hefner Grill
  • Red Rock Canyon Grill
  • Mama Roja Mexican Kitchen

Mural Chasing:

Our love for OKC’s public art and murals around town is well documented. Each time you visit you’re bound to discover one or two new pieces that have been painted. Here are some can’t miss new murals:

• “Grains across the Plains” at Rainbo Bakery
• “Royal Tones” at Daily Living Centers
• Rotating Murals at Plaza Walls

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Located about ten minutes north of downtown, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is a can’t miss. The paintings and memorabilia showcases the American West like none other. For the kiddos, head outside for the new Liichokoshkomo exhibit and kid’s playspace, for interactive play experiences to teach them about life in the West. Liichokoshkomo is the Chickasaw phrase for “Let’s Play”.

Myriad Botanical Gardens

A 17 acre urban garden space in downtown OKC. You can easily walk here from any downtown hotel.

• A fantastic splash pad for kids, plus carousel
• The surrounding gardens are perfect for an afternoon picnic or snack.

A few other outdoor attractions that we didn’t get to on this trip but did experience on our last one was the OKC Zoo and Riversport Whitewater rafting. Before you go, check their updated ticket times and family only tours.

This year travel definitely looks different, but it doesn’t have to be any less fun or adventurous. We promise these outdoor experiences will be memory makers and make everyone in your family thrilled to experience OKC.

This post was sponsored by Visit OKC. All opinions and ideas were our own. Thank you for supporting our partners and we promise you’ll love OKC just as much as we do.