Oklahoma City is the pride of its state, with lush rolling hills, an ideal temperate climate, picturesque lakes, and visible commitment to a high quality of life; from championship golf courses to top notch tennis facilities, no luxury goes unmet. Whether you are looking for a vacation, time with the family, or an outdoors adventure, Oklahoma City aims to please. Visitors may sense a pioneering spirit in the air, reminiscent of the Oklahoma Land Run, in which some 10,000 homesteaders rushed the area and settled what has become the capital of Oklahoma. Just downtown, Stockyards City reflects such a history, with live cattle, cowboys and ranchers, delicious hearty meals at the Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, and beautiful art galleries detailing the past and present. The Frontier City Theme Park, Remington Park Race Track, and Red Earth Indian Center are western attractions tied to the city’s historic beginnings. Oklahoma City embraces the modern-day urban vitality in the Bricktown district, with a mile-long riverwalk-style canal and some of the best shopping and restaurants along the way. The downtown focal point is surely Crystal Bridge, part of the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Futuristic designer I.M. Pei created the urban park with a 40-foot waterfall, a breathtaking mix of tropical and desert vegetation, the Water State amphitheater, a skywalk, and even Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park. With WPA era architecture and landscaping, the city boasts the Oklahoma City Zoological Park as another design masterpiece. One of the most stunning tributes worth visiting is the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, remembering the lives lost in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. With high quality of life comes a dedication to the Oklahoma City school system, ranging from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics to the Oklahoma City University. ‘MAPS for KIDs’ is a city-wide program focusing on improving urban school districts, and with its success Oklahoma City is now deemed one of the few urban areas in the nation with growing enrollment. No need to fret about what to do with the family, with venues like the Oklahoma Zoo, Omniplex Science Museum, Ballet Oklahoma, or even Broadway shows at Lyric Theatre a vacation filled with family fun is guaranteed. The AAA baseball stadium and Ford Center Arena host major regional sporting events for avid sports fans, as well as entertaining concerts and events year-round. Enjoy a top-notch NBA game by the Oklahoma City Hornets or a grab a hot dog and get in on the action with the Oklahoma RedHawks AAA baseball. Whether you choose Amtrak, the trolley bus system for local shopping and attractions downtown, or Greyhound (which travels to and from the Will Rogers World Airport), the area is easily accessible so that you feel comfortable traveling and experiencing the city completely. Oklahoma City shines above the rest with its loyal community, distinctive architecture, and exclusive blend of history and modern-day urban vitality—it is certainly a trip worth taking.