Lev Lazinskiy

Oklahoma City Oklahoma

Trip Dates

February 15 - 17 2019

How I Got There

I am quickly running out of places that have a direct flight from San Francisco, but luckily Oklahoma City is one of them.

Where I Stayed

I stayed at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. It is conveniently located near everything and is an exceptional building with an awe-inspiring atrium.

How I Got Around

Oklahoma City has a small public transit system including a modern street car that helps you get around downtown. Like many other cities, it has been innundated with rentable e-scooters which I used to get around. Most of the major attractions are within walking distance if you stay downtown and they also have Uber and Lyft. 

What I Did

I arrived in the evening and after checking in to my hotel I got dinner at Kitchen No. 324. I was surprised to find a restaurant like this. It is a modern space in an old building, has a delicous menu, and was trendy. I learned later on in the trip that Oklahoma City has a pretty robust culinary scene, especially for a city of its size. 

The next day I got breakfast in Bricktown and then went to a train museum. This outdoor museum is free to the public and has a large collection of old train engines.  They have quite a few cars that you are able to go into and explore, but the best part is the hidden universe that is being created by a volunteer in one of the old Rock Island Railway baggage cars. 

Afterwards, I went to the Oklahoma State Museum to learn more about the history and culture of the place and visited the State Capitol which was, as usual, under construction. It was a very cold day so I ordered some takeout and watched "Oklahoma!" in my hotel room.

The next day, I got breakfast at another trendy cafe downtown and then visited the Myriad Botanical Gardens. This is one of the most unique botanical gardens that I've seen. It looks as if someone dropped off a rolling pin on top of a creek.

After the gardens, I visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum which commemorates the tragedy that occurred in April 1995 when the federal building was bombed.

Before heading back home to San Francisco, I visited the Cowboy Museum and Oklahoma City Art Museum.

What Was The Fuss

Oklahoma City surprised me. I didn't know much about Oklahoma going in except for the cheesy musical of the same name. It has a ton to offer for tourists, with great museums, parks, and restaurants. The city is continuing to grow and evolve into a tourist destination.