With spring and summer approaching, it’s hard to not want to hop in the car and hit up some of our favorite local spots for a fun adventure!
Oklahoma City and its surrounding communities have great attractions, beautiful parks that offer great picnic spots, and trails that can be walked. The possibilities are endless and are really in our own backyard.
Below you will find four half-day “field trips”, great for spring break, summertime, or fall break with kids! Each offers stops at attractions, an outdoor park for a picnic lunch, and a hiking trail for family exercise. Click the links for specific details on each attraction.
Enjoy making lifetime memories exploring our community!
East to Route 66 | Edmond
You will start in downtown Edmond at Broadway north of Second Street. Dr. Bob Palmer and his mural-painting students decorated the building walls with their talents. First, look for these three murals:
- Main Street Edmond Mural on W & W Tire Building
- Historic Edmond Mural on the Weathers TV Building
- Yesterday’s Commerce Mural on Sherry’s Drug & Wellness Center Building
Next, you will head east down Second Street towards Lake Arcadia to find The Round Barn. It was built in 1898 and is the only wooden round barn in Oklahoma.
Last, you will stop at Lake Arcadia for fresh air and exercise. Check out the multi-use trail map for find a picnic area and trailhead.
Planes, Veterans & Trails | Midwest City
You will head east down I-40 towards Midwest City. First, you will stop at the Major Charles B. Hall Memorial Airpark. A self-guided tour of historical planes from a B-52 to a RB-47E in this open airpark offers a fun learning experience for all.
Next, you will head to Joe B. Barnes Regional Park where you can explore the Veterans Memorial Park off Douglas Boulevard, have a picnic, or lay on a blanket in the open area.
Last, you will head to just east of the corner of 23rd and Air Depot to the trailhead for the Spirit Trails Network. It offers over seven miles of paved trails with a variety of experience levels. If you didn’t have lunch, you can look for a picnic spot along the way.
You’re Doing Fine Oklahoma | Bricktown OKC
You will explore the history and legends from our great state in the Bricktown Entertainment District. First, you will discover the talents of artists that filled this area with color and art.
Next, you will park along the Bricktown Canal and stroll to the Centennial Land Run Monument. The bronze statue monument commemorates the Oklahoma Land Run that took place on April 22, 1889.
Last, you will find many great outdoor spaces for a picnic near Bricktown. Scissortail Park and Wheeler Park are great spots. If you desire time for activity, you can venture over to the Oklahoma River Trails that offer 13 miles of paved trails for walking, biking or running. For a complete list of all the trails in Oklahoma City, click here.
Boomer Sooner | Norman
You will head south on I-35 to start your adventure in downtown Norman. You will find three murals on buildings along Main Street:
After viewing the murals, you can take a peek at the Norman Santa Fe Depot. It is a whistlestop for the Amtrak Heartland Flyer that travels between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.
For the sports enthusiasts, you can stop at Heisman Park located on the west side of Memorial Stadium. You can learn about the legendary Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, Billy Sims, Jason White, and Sam Bradford.
Finally, head to the Clear Bay Recreation Area Trail System on the south side of Lake Thunderbird. It offers 18.5 miles of hiking trails for hikers and mountain bikers with a variety of experience levels. Beginners should take the Green Loop or the Yellow Loop.
