Known for its colourful Western heritage, Oklahoma City has progressed into a quirky enclave of modern-day art, museums and multicultural dining scenes. It also hosts a first-class zoo, a stunning collection of Dale Chihuly glass and a moving memorial to the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995.

Things to do

To experience contemporary Oklahoma City, start with an afternoon in the Bricktown entertainment district. You’ll find a plethora of charming boutiques, piano lounges, espresso shops and wine bars housed inside former red-brick warehouses. Take in a game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, then board a water taxi for a sunset dinner cruise along the canal.

Museums in Oklahoma City reveal a quirky nature, particularly the Museum of Osteology’s 300 full skeletons and 400 skulls ranging from humpback whales to monkeys, humans and hummingbirds. The Wild West comes to life inside the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, where you’ll find cowboy artefacts, firearms, saddles and a section devoted to Native American art and culture.

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art harbours one of the world’s largest collections of glass art by Dale Chihuly as well as paintings by Renoir and Georgia O'Keeffe. Kids will enjoy the Oklahoma City Zoo with its Oklahoma Trails exhibit featuring dozens of indigenous animals.

International restaurants in the city offer a variety of dining options, including Vietnamese food at Pho Ca Dao in the Asian District and Japanese specialties at Sushi Neko. Craving “steak and taters” fare from the Old West? Dine at Cattleman’s Steakhouse in Stockyards City, then relax with live jazz music at Slaughter’s Hall.

Getting around

Buses, bike shares, taxis and river transit trips are plentiful in Oklahoma City, while the free Downtown Discovery trolleys operate throughout downtown and Bricktown. You can also rent a car at Will Rogers World Airport, just outside the city limits.