Explore OK {Myriad Botanical Gardens}

July 21, 2016

We’ve been spending the last few days in Oklahoma City as a family. Chris travels to OKC weekly for work, but we never tag along. This time around we’ve make the short drive as a family as I worked with Adventure Road to highlight a few great Oklahoma destinations.

If you are born and raised in Oklahoma, you know there is a healthy argument over which is better – Tulsa or OKC. I’m going to stay away from that debate 😉

One of the first places I wanted to take the kids was Myriad Botanical Gardens. Chris and I visited the outside area often while we were in college. As we began the tour inside the Crystal Bridge, I asked Chris if he remembered the last time we were on that bridge together. He didn’t. Boys.

I remember. We were attending the wedding reception of two of our friends. A whole group of us from college went together. Chris and I had just broken up – it was not fun to be at a wedding not as his date. Bleh. Two weeks later we got back together and the rest is history. This visit was much better.

We arrived early, but the temperatures were already rising so we started by touring the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory. It is very humid inside, so waiting until later in the day would mean it would be extremely hot. The kids had no idea what to expect. Their reactions to being in “a glass tube” full of tropical plants was priceless.The walkway that runs from end to end up high is my favorite part of the Crystal Bridge. The white, glass, and green make me a bit giddy inside. It is an incredibly beautiful sight.Imagine a wedding reception in here! It was beautiful. It was a December wedding and there were twinkly lights everywhere. Stunning.I like him.The kids thought this view looked like something out of Star Wars. You can tell how huge the Crystal Bridge is in comparison to the people underneath it.The girls participated in a Weekly Walk-up and got to make weather vanes. Each day there is a different activity from 10am-12pm. If you plan a visit, be sure to stop by that area. You can find a schedule of Weekly Walk-ups here.New to Chris and I was the addition of water features. After touring the Crystal Bridge, the kids were hot and ready to cool off in the water. I was a little jealous I wasn’t a kid!

If you are traveling through Oklahoma, this is a great destination for a quick or long stop. As a parent, I recommend it if you are looking for a place for kids to burn a little energy. I would pack or pick up a picnic meal and take advantage of the beautiful location right inside the heart of downtown OKC.

There are also year round activities (movie nights, 5Ks, bike rides. paddle boarding, etc.). You can find details regarding what is offered on the website. My crew hopes to go back for a movie night and a concert on the lawn.

The Botanical Gardens outdoor grounds are free to enter, including the water features and daily activities for kids. The Crystal Bridge has a paid admission.

Outdoor Grounds: 6am-11pm daily