Located next to the First Americans Museum, OKANA Resort and Waterpark is taking fun to the next level with its rides and slides, wave pools and relaxing, sandy beach. The park features a 100,000 square foot indoor waterpark, a 200,000 square foot outdoor waterpark, an arcade, sports simulators, dining and drinks and a spa. Relax, unwind, eat and play. Accommodation is available at the onsite hotel, or guests may purchase a day pass.
OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark | 639 First Americans Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK | Tickets and more at okanaresort.com | Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission: Day passes begin at $49.99 for the summer outdoor day pass; other packages are available
The First Americans Museum offers visitors an opportunity to learn and explore Native American cultures in Oklahoma. The museum has two permanent exhibitions, OKLA HOMMA and WINIKO: Life of an Object, and a new traveling exhibition called One Place, Many Nations: Acknowledging the 39. OKLA HOMMA includes the stories of all 39 tribes located in Oklahoma through art, interactive media and film. WINIKO represents the repatriation of objects back to the 39 tribes in Oklahoma for the first time in 100 years. The One Place, Many Nations: Acknowledging the 39 exhibition includes hands-on activities, educational opportunities and rotating objects that share cultural experiences from the tribes, highlighting the dynamic cultural environment that makes Oklahoma unique.
An outdoor installation, 21 Century Mound Builders, is free to the public to explore. This installation honors Mound Builder societies that thrived across North America from about 3,500 BC to 1751 CE, according to FAM website. The mound rises to 90 feet, serves as a cosmological clock, and the walk is two-thirds of a mile around.
First Americans Museums | 659 First Americans Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK | Tickets and more at famok.org | Hours: Weekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays | Admission: Children under 3 are free; youth are $5; adults are $15; senior, military, tribal and students are $10
The Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown Oklahoma City offers a chance to enjoy concerts, movies, classes, children’s activities and nature walks. The Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory is an indoor space with overlook terraces, reflection pool, tropical plant collections and waterfall. Many of the outdoor features are free to the public.
Myriad Botanical Garden | 301 W. Reno, Oklahoma City | myriadgarden.org | Hours: Crystal Bridge open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; outdoor space open daily, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Admission: $10.50 for adults; $9 for seniors and military/veterans; $7 for students; $5.50 for youth 5-17; children under 4 are free
The Oklahoma City Zoo has animals from all over the globe as well as elephant presentations, animal care chats with zookeepers, and a children’s petting zoo. Other activities available include giraffe and Explorikeet feeding, Gorilla Trek VR, and carousel rides for additional purchase.
Oklahoma City Zoo | 2101 NE 50th St., Oklahoma City, OK okczoo.org | Hours: daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Admission: Adults are $16; children and those over 65 are $13; children under 2 are free. Half price for active-duty military, retired members and veterans with valid military ID.
Escape the summer heat closer to home by visiting Shawnee Splash Waterpark. The park is open to all ages; it includes a regulation pool area, shallow play area, spray ground, diving area, climbing wall, slides, basketball goal and concession with covered deck. Outside food and drink are not allowed in the park, but picnic space is available outside the fenced area.
Shawnee Splash Water Park | 101 E. Highland Street, inside Shawnee’s Woodland Veterans Park | shawneeok.org | 405-273-0700 | Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. | Admission: $6 for children under 48” tall and seniors; $7 for those over 48” tall
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art in Shawnee is one of the state’s oldest museums. It was founded in 1919 by Father Gregory Gerrer. During his European, South American and African travels, he acquired Renaissance art, Egyptian, Greek and Roman objects, and cultural artifacts from Native Americans, African, Oceanic, pre-Columbian and Eastern peoples.
Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art | 1900 W. MacArthur Street, Shawnee | mgmoa.org | 405-878-5300 Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. | Admission to the museum is free for the months of June, July and August.
Visit Downtown Shawnee to see some of the town’s history at the Pottawatomie County Museum, located next to the Santa Fe Depot. The downtown area is pedestrian and cyclist friendly. Shopping is available at boutiques, art galleries and antique stores. Some of the popular dining options include Hamburger King, The Owl Shoppe and The Lunchbox.
Downtown Shawnee | 2.5 miles north of CPN headquarters | visitshawnee.com