Spring is just around the corner in OKC! For now, though, we’re stuck squarely in that confusing time of year that could feel like winter, fall, or spring from one day to the next. Sometimes, we even hit the jackpot and get all three in the same 24-hour period. Yay.
Not only is this weather rollercoaster annoying from a “what should I wear today?” standpoint, but it is solely responsible for filling the air with every allergen known to man. If you’re a contact lens wearer, you know what that means:
The good news is that you don’t have to fight dry, itchy, irritated eyes like Dalton defending the Double Deuce from rowdy troublemakers and corrupt locals. With LASIK at nJoy Vision in Oklahoma City, you can finally ditch those pesky contact lenses and the eye allergies they exacerbate just in time to enjoy these five OKC spring activities.
The Crystal Bridge Conservatory at the Myriad Botanical Gardens
After undergoing a two-year and $11 million renovation, the new and improved Crystal Bridge Conservatory is open and ready for visitors this spring.
The Conservatory is home to 13,000 square feet of tropical plant displays with 2,000 plant varieties in two climate zones – Tropical Wet Zone and Tropical Dry Zone. Visitors will enjoy experiencing the Conservatory’s spectacular features, which include a reflecting pool, new tropical plant collections, overlook terraces and skywalk, a 35-foot waterfall, art exhibits, a multi-purpose classroom, and an interactive Discovery Room for children.
The Conservatory is situated in the heart of the Myriad Botanical Gardens, a vibrant 15-acre garden and public park space in Downtown OKC. With seasonal activities such as concerts, movies, musical theatre, fitness classes, children’s education programs, festivals, and more, the Myriad Botanical Gardens are a must-see during the spring and summer months.
Crystal Bridge Conservatory Hours
- Monday-Saturday, 9 am–5 pm
- Sunday, 11 am–5 pm
Crystal Bridge Conservatory Admission
- Adult: $10.50
- Senior: $9
- Military/Veterans: $9
- Student: $7
- Youth (5-17 years): $5.50
- Myriad Gardens Members: FREE
OKC Murals & Street Art Tour
Oklahoma City was recently named the best city in the nation for street art by USA Today’s 10Best. If it comes as a surprise to you that OKC beat out destination cities like ATX, San Fran, NYC, Philly, and Chi-Town for the top spot, you need to take a tour of OKC’s murals and street art installations ASAP.
Springtime is the best time for mural chasing, so let us help you kick those glasses to the curb with $1,000 off LASIK during our nJoy the Spring LA$1K Savings.
Schedule your FREE OKC LASIK consultation and nJoy the Spring LA$1K Savings!
Plaza Walls in the Plaza District
There’s no better place to start an OKC mural tour than the Plaza Walls in the Plaza District. Managed and produced by The Oklahoma Mural Syndicate (OMS), Plaza Walls is a curated, rotating mural project that turns the Plaza District’s walls, alleys, fences, and facades into an ever-changing art canvas.
Since 2015, the Plaza Walls project has produced around 100 murals from artists all over the country and is a top attraction for locals and tourists alike. If you’re looking for a vibrant selfie backdrop surrounded by a vibrant community of trendy local shops and restaurants, the Plaza District is for you.
Bricktown Murals and Land Run Monument
Bricktown is Downtown Oklahoma City’s entertainment district and the first spot many out-of-towners head to when they arrive in OKC. Thanks to Bricktown’s walkability, it’s pretty easy to catch a glimpse of the area’s many murals and street art exhibits while bouncing from one hotspot to the next or walking along the Bricktown Canal.
Bricktown’s most impressive murals are tucked away in the railroad underpasses separating the district from City Center. And on the south end of the Bricktown Canal stands one of the world’s largest bronze sculptures – The Centennial Land Run Monument. Built at 1.5 times natural size, the monument spans more than 100 yards and features 45 figures of land run participants frozen in motion as they race to claim new homesteads.
Automobile Alley
In the 1920s and several decades thereafter, Automobile Alley was home to more than two-thirds of OKC’s car dealerships. Today, it is a fun, upscale district leading directly into Bricktown and City Center.
Automobile Alley is home to the new Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, but the public display of art along this little Broadway corridor puts the district on this list. Factory Obscura: Mix-Tap is a local arts collective creating temporary, immersive experiences. The building itself is a piece of art covered in abstract murals. You’ll find another unique gallery of public artwork dotting the alleys on either side of Broadway. The Automobile Alley Door Tour features 21 illustrations and designs installed on the doors along the alleys.
Downtown Edmond
Situated at the far north side of the Oklahoma City Metro, this upscale suburban community is the most surprising stop on our tour of OKC’s best murals and street art installations. Even more surprising is the fact that you’ll find more than 300 pieces of public art dotting Edmond’s streets and neighborhoods. The highest concentration of public art pieces can be found in Downtown Edmond.
Not too long ago, entering Downtown Edmond was like stepping back into the 80s or 90s. Over the last five years, a renaissance has breathed new life into this sleepy business district, making it a lively destination at any time of day or night. Intriguing bronze statues have long marked Downtown Edmond’s sidewalks, but the recent addition of vivid murals to the district’s new and historic buildings indicates just how far DTE has come in a short period of time.
Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden was recently nominated for USA Today’s 10Best 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards in two categories, Best Zoo and Best Zoo Exhibit for Oklahoma Trails. Located in OKC’s Adventure District, this 130-acre zoo and botanical garden is home to more than 1,900 animal species from around the world.
After a year-long expansion, the Expedition Africa habitat will open in the spring. The transformation includes 12 acres of diverse environments, guest experiences, and unforgettable wildlife right in the heart of the zoo.
The OKC Zoo invites guests to step into the wild from 9 am–6 pm daily and experience a number of special events throughout the year.
OKC Parks & Trails
After being cooped up indoors all winter, there’s nothing better than getting outside and feeling the sun on your shoulders while you breathe in the fresh air.
If you live in Oklahoma City, you’re probably closer to a public park or trail than you realize. With 85 public park locations and more than 90 miles of trails, over half of OKC metro residents live within a half-mile of a park or trail. Local favorites include Will Rogers Gardens on NW 36th & Portland Ave, Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge on Hwy 66 between Yukon and Bethany, Martin Nature Park on Memorial Rd between MacArthur Blvd and Meridian Ave, and Scissortail Park in Downtown OKC.
Check out OKC Parks to find a park, trail, golf course, pool, or sports league near you.
Heard on Hurd
There’s no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than listening to live music outdoors. Add in a healthy dose of local food, drinks, and pop-up shops, and you have Heard on Hurd, a monthly street festival in Downtown Edmond that features more than 60 retail and food vendors and live, local performing artists.
Heard on Hurd happens every third Saturday of the month from March through October.
nJoy the Spring
Whether you’re hiking up a nature trail or strolling through a street festival, springtime is the best time to be in OKC. Springtime is also savings time at nJoy Vision. If your eyesight or eye allergies are keeping you from enjoying all the fresh and colorful vibes of spring, now is the perfect time to let your field of vision bloom with LASIK at nJoy Vision.
Schedule your FREE OKC LASIK consultation and nJoy the Spring LA$1K Savings!
