Last Updated on March 22, 2023 by Adrienne
Last fall my 4 year old daughter and I tagged along on my husband’s work trip to Norman, OK, a suburb of Oklahoma City. I confess that the fact that Oklahoma was one of five states I hadn’t yet been to at the time was the main motivation for us going, but my daughter and I found lots of fun, family-friendly things to do in OKC and had a great time exploring the city together. Read on for a recap of our trip and some of my favorite things to do in Oklahoma City with kids.
What we did:
Science Museum of Oklahoma.
We had free admission to the Science Museum of Oklahoma through our ASTC passport membership, but even if you have to pay to visit, I would highly recommend this place to anyone visiting OKC with kids. It’s one of the nicest and largest science museums I’ve been to, with multiple creative play areas, lots of science exhibits on topics like the human body, geology and space, an aviation wing filled with model airplanes, a sports area for kids to burn off energy, a small aquarium (with Nemos!) and even Segway rides.
The museum’s Science Live! shows are included with admission, which is really nice, and the “Explosions” show was a highlight for both me and my kiddo.
Myriad Botanical Garden.
This peaceful botanical garden is an oasis right in the middle of OKC’s busy downtown, and there’s no charge to visit the outdoor areas. Kids will enjoy the ponds filled with ducks, koi and turtles, and adults will appreciate the flowers and lush gardens.
Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
I’m a big Dale Chihuly fan and whenever I go to any city where his work is on display, I want to fit it into my itinerary. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art has one of the largest Chihuly collections in the world, so naturally it was a must-visit for me on this trip. While art museums aren’t typically something that make a list of kid-friendly attractions, Chihuly’s whimsical, brightly colored creations are actually pretty appealing to little ones and the museum is small enough that you can hit the highlights before kids get too tired.
Where we ate: I’d heard great things about Oklahoma City’s food scene, and I wasn’t disappointed. We had some really great meals here.
Kitchen No. 324.
This was my favorite of the meals I had in Oklahoma City. Ever since having a fried green tomato eggs Benedict on a trip to New Orleans, I can never say no to this dish when I see it on a menu and Kitchen No. 324 makes a great version. Pro tip: substitute a biscuit for the English muffin.
HunnyBunny Biscuit Co. This is another great brunch spot with Southern flair. We enjoyed yummy biscuit sandwiches, biscuit french toast and great coffee.
Roxy’s Ice Cream Social. Hot Oklahoma weather called for ice cream, and we loved Roxy’s. I had “Big Chip, Little Chip,” a fun flavor with both dark and white chocolate chips.
Whiskey Cake. I really enjoyed my fried chicken and waffle (plus runny egg) at Whiskey Cake. Kids meals here come out on a cute tray, cafeteria-style.
Have you been to Oklahoma City? What restaurants and attractions should we make sure to visit next time?
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I love Chihuly too and had no idea that the Oklahoma City Museum of Art had one of the largest Chihuly collections – that’s awesome! That eggs Benedict looks delicious – I’d definitely be stopping there for breakfast too. Thanks for sharing; it looks like y’all had a blast. Xx Sara
The botanical garden and museum both look amazing! I’d love to visit!
That’s awesome that the science live shows are included in admission. Most museums charge extra for the shows. I have to admit that the “explosion” show looks pretty interesting.
This is a beautiful photo log of your time in OKC. Since my kids are grown up, I no longer go to science and kids’ museums. Your photos make me miss it.