What to do in Oklahoma City while house and pet sitting

Fancy a trip through history and a first-person peek into the US’s cowboy and Wild West culture? Then we recommend you head over to our available pet sitting opportunities and search for a trip to Oklahoma City!

From fascinating museums to architecturally stunning buildings all the way to idyllic natural parks and adventurous trips into the States’ past – let us answer your question of “What to do in Oklahoma City?” and introduce you to the city’s coolest sights and activities.

Oklahoma City attractions

So many things to do in Oklahoma City – but where to start? Let’s begin by taking a look at the most famous Oklahoma City attractions. Saddle up:

1. Oklahoma History Center: the impressive Oklahoma History Center is an indoor/outdoor museum which focuses on the history, local culture and people of Oklahoma. Here, you can marvel at ancient Native American artefacts, relive the founding of the Oklahoma Territory, learn more about the state’s history in oil drilling, see a live-sized replica of Wiley Post's propeller plane Winnie Mae or take a trip down the historic Turner Turnpike toll road.

2. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: one of the most exciting things to see in Oklahoma is the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. With more than 28,000 Western and Native American art pieces and artefacts as well as the world's largest collection of American rodeo exhibits, this is the place to be for all fans of the States’ Wild West era and the Cowboy way of life.

3. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA): part of the Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, or short OKCMOA, features immersive, temporary art exhibitions, regular film screening, special events and more – and should be on the must-see list of any art enthusiast visiting OKC.

Free things to do in Oklahoma City

In the mood for some free things to see in Oklahoma City? Here are our favourite admission-free Oklahoma City attractions:

1. Oklahoma State Capitol: the Oklahoma State Capitol is the city’s most prominent landmark and a true sight to behold. Built in 1917, it has since housed various branches of the OK government; today, it is home to the Oklahoma Legislature and the executive branch offices. If you’d only like to marvel at the State Capitol’s impressive exterior, you can certainly do so, but we recommend you also plan for enough time to go on the free self-guided tour inside.

2. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum: erected to honour the victims, survivors, rescuers and everyone else affected by the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995, the Oklahoma City National Memorial is located on the site of one of the buildings that were destroyed during the bombing, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Admission to the Memorial itself is free, but should you be willing to spend a few bucks after all, the Memorial Museum inside the Journal Record Building, featuring various exhibits and artefacts related to the tragic incident, is very much also worth a visit.

3. 45th Infantry Division Museum: are you fascinated by the US’s military history and paraphernalia? In that case, be sure to put the 45th Infantry Division Museum on your OKC bucket list. The cool, free museum features vehicles, weapons, uniforms, medals, flags, over 200 of Bill Mauldin’s original World War II cartoons and many more exciting exhibits related to the 46th Infantry Division and WWII in general.

Fun things to do in Oklahoma City

Ready for a day of oddities and adventures? Here are some of the most fun things to do in OKC:

1. Museum of Osteology: skeletons are a curious thing; while some people couldn’t find them scarier or more disgusting, others are weirdly intrigued by them. If you’re part of the latter group, you should definitely check out OKC’s fascinating Museum of Osteology – an entire facility dedicated to showcasing the bony remains of over 350 animal species from all around the world. And yes, you can find some positively peculiar things in the gift shop as well.

2. Six Flags Oklahoma: if you’re a fan of theme parks and thrilling rides, Oklahoma has not one but two cool destinations for you: for one, there is Frontier City, a western-themed entertainment park that’s open all year round and invites you to go on rides, watch fun live performances, participate in special seasonal events, and more. And should you visit OKC during the summer months, you can also plan a trip to the Hurricane Harbor water park, complete with a plethora of slides, a lazy river, plank jumping points, the Raging Rapids water tube ride and other refreshing attractions.

3. Science Museum Oklahoma & Kirkpatrick Planetarium: science nuts and proud nerds, listen up! This one here is another Oklahoma City attraction you don’t wanna miss. The interactive Science Museum Oklahoma & Kirkpatrick Planetarium is anything but boring and instead presents as a huge science-themed playground that lets you experience its exhibits first-hand rather than have you just look at them. And to top it all off, there are additional live shows, activity days and other wonderful special events.

What to do in Oklahoma City with pets

Time for some quality time with your new furry friend? Take a look here and discover some of the best things to do in Oklahoma City you and the pooch can enjoy together:

1. Myriad Botanical Gardens: for a relaxing trip into nature, check out the Myriad Botanical Gardens in OKC. The 17-acre garden with its most prominent area, the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, features lush meadows, blooming flowers, a tropical rainforest area with palm trees, waterfalls and exotic animals, as well as a dedicated dog area for adventures with the pooch. Please note: the Crystal Bridge is currently closed for renovation and will reopen in Autumn 2022.

2. Lake Hefner & lighthouse: originally established as a water reservoir, the picturesque Lake Hefner offers stunning beach walkways, calm ocean vistas and romantic views of the lake’s lighthouse. So, be sure to bring your camera for some amazing photo opportunities!

3. Paseo Arts District: feel like diving into OKC’s art scene while going on a nice, long walk with the pupper? Best take them to the Paseo Arts District then. The many galleries and shops here showcase fantastic pieces and are all happy to welcome you and the doggo, as long as you keep them on a leash. And once a year, during the annual Pets on Paseo event, the entire district even goes one step further and turns into a huge celebration for our furry, scaley and feathery friends, hosting adoption opportunities and featuring special activities and merchant offers.

Best Restaurants in Oklahoma City: Food and drink

All that sightseeing certainly made you hungry. Here are our recommendations for the best restaurants in OKC:

1. Food & entertainment in Bricktown: the trendy industrial-turned-entertainment district in central Oklahoma City is chock-full of beautiful, repurposed brick storage buildings, now housing restaurants, bars, piano lounges and more. So, take a stroll, have a look around and simply follow your fancy.

2. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop: in the mood for Mexican food and margaritas? Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has delicious chow, fair prices and a big heart for dogs – what more could you wish for?

3. Fassler Hall: how does Bratwurst, Brezel and German beer on a patio with your new four-legged friend sound? Good? Well then, off you go to Fassler Hall for a delicious lunch or dinner – nice views of downtown OKC included.

Feel secure on the question of “What to do in Oklahoma City” now? Then you’re all set to start exploring our currently available sits and begin your own pet sitting adventures in OKC! Oh, and before you go, be sure to join our Community Forum so you can share some photos of your new pet buddy, OKC discoveries and exciting day trips with us – we’re looking forward to seeing them!

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