Written by Devon Rabourn & Jason McDaniel
OKLAHOMA CITY – As Fall weather descends on the Sooner State, now is the time to emerge from your air-conditioned hibernation and enjoy what the Oklahoma City metro has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a family outing or just want to get out and explore the city on your own, you don’t have to spend a lot of money.
Here are five spots in Oklahoma City where you can experience both history and the outdoors without having to spend anything other than your time.
This is Oklahoma City’s newest attraction, a sprawling 70-acre oasis in the heart of downtown OKC. The upper 40 acres is open and the lower 30 acres is scheduled to open in 2021.
While it will not cost you to visit, the city spent $123 million developing the area. The park has many different garden spaces such as a dog park, Scissortail Lake Lens Garden, Union Station Gardens.
You can find Scissortail Park at the Oklahoma City Boulevard between Hudson and Robinson. The lower part of the park will eventually tie downtown across the Skydance Bridge to south of I-40.
Martin Park Nature Center
This park is more than just a park. The Martin Park Nature Center is a hub for nature exploration and education. There are 2.5 miles of woodland trails with plenty of rest areas along the path. A creek runs through the park, which includes a nature themed playground.
The visitor center is open from Tuesday- Sunday 9 am to 6 pm and closed on Mondays. Click here for the fall and winter hours. Martin Park offers guides who can show you different places of the park and different activities.
45th Infantry Division Museum
The 45th Infantry Division Museum, located off NE 36th Street in Oklahoma City, is the largest state-operated military history museum in the country. You can find military artifacts from 1541 all the way through Desert Storm. Visitors can also see a large collection of U.S. Military firearms. For those interested in World War II, the museum boasts the world’s largest collection of “items once owned by Adolf Hitler.”
Route 66
It runs from Chicago to L.A. and right through the heart of Oklahoma. Since 1926 Route 66 served as a cross-country connection for travelers. These days, the trip down the historical highway in Oklahoma can offer information about a bygone era. You can find inspiration for you upcoming voyage or take a trip down memory lane clicking here.
The Oklahoma Railway Museum offers free admission to anyone interested in learning about the trains that shaped our state and country. You can learn about the different kinds of trains and how they were used or created. From freight cars, passenger cars, and real steam engines visitors can learn about life on the rails. The museum opened in 1997 and donations are accepted. While it is free to look around, you can also pay to take a ride on one of the classic locomotives on display.
