[Kevin]

Oklahoma City has a surprising amount of stuff to do and it's about to get a whole lot better. Right now, the general tourist plan will include a visit to the bombing memorial, probably a trip to the stockyards where they can dine on steak (and Rocky Mountain oysters for the brave). We have a decent art museum with the world's largest collection of Chihuly (sp?) sculpture, the American Banjo Museum, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (which is actually very much worth the trip). Also, some pretty stunning art deco buildings downtown. If you like sailing, we have one of the world's best sailing lakes around, Lake Hefner (because it's always windy) and I live right next to that lake, so you could visit my house.

As for the nightlife, we have some pretty great western-type bars, or if that's not your scene, you can hit up Bricktown where we have every sort of restaurant and club imaginable along the canal. It ain't 6th Street of Austin fame, but it's not horrible.

I'd recommend staying at the Hilton Skirvin. A 1930's hotel which has just been renovated. Lots of history. Beautiful place.

Currently being built, however, are quite a few other things for OKC. We're building a new convention center, we're doing some improvements to the Oklahoma River (aka the North Canadian) which flows through our downtown area. It is already recognized as one of the country's premiere rowing venues, and the planned improvements should put it over the top. We're also building a 70-acre highly programmed park (like Houston's Discovery) adjacent to that. Down the river a ways, the Native American Cultural Center (which is just damn huge) is being built as well. Also being built is an artificial whitewater rafting course (like in Charlotte, N.C.) and a downtown modern trolley circulator.

So there's quite a bit going on down here and it's about to get a whole lot better.

/OKC tourism guide