I'll be hanging a weekend break after a meeting at the research park downtown next Friday. I've read some of the earlier posts about Bricktown, but is there anything you Okie Fodorites recommend to relax and enjoy the local culture? What are some good restaurants (open to any cuisine)? I'll be staying at the downtown Courtyard.

You should take a couple of hours to experience the OKC Memorial. It is one of the most well-done and moving memorials I have ever seen.

Any good restaurants, esp. between 1-35 and the airport? My daughters are flying from Ok City to St. Louis instead of from Dallas (so we can save $500 on plane fare), so we'll be making 2 trips to Ok City in the next month.

If you like western heritage, the Cowboy Museum is pretty cool. Remington Park horse races are a lot of fun, and the track is very nice.

Missy, in Norman (south of OKC), there is every imaginable chain restaurant right on I-35.

Well, for local culture I second ChristieP's recommendation for the western heritage center. For relaxing....how about nearby Coles Gardens, a sculpture park that's not very well known. It's gorgeous and they have a restaurant with patio seating.

After that, to relax, I recommend sampling the art at the Paseo artists district, which is modeled after a Spanish village. It features a range of media, but is intimate enough to not be tiring. A Malaysian restaurant, lounge, and cafe allow for some nice breaks among the studios. Paseo is accessible from NW 23rd on Walker. Wind your way North until you see the village on your left.

In terms of good restaurants, I would try Nonna's in Bricktown. A nice European restaurant close to your hotel. They have a shop and balcony bar, and you can wander around Bricktown afterward, maybe catch a movie, people watch at the fountain...

Hope it's a good meeting -- they're doing some great things at the PHF research park -- and enjoy your stay.

As for missypie, you'll probably be taking I-240 from I-35 to the airport. On the way is Pearl's, a great Cajun/Creole place on Pennsylvania. It's right in front of you as you approach the street from the offramp. If you have any other questions, let me know...

You've gotten many good references. If you'd like to get away from downtown for a bit, I highly recommend Lake Hefner (we were there just last weekend) You can take 240 north. Take this to the Britton Road exit, cross back over the highway--the lake is on the west side of the highway. (just north of NW Expressway) Beautiful walking and bike paths. Several good restaurants right on the water, I can vouch for Pearls Lakeside (part of the Pearls family that designmr mentioned), Bahama Breeze, and Louie's on the Lake. Nice place to relax.

And a word missypie -- there are lots of great independent restaurants in the OKC metro. Forget the chains along I-35 and go for the originals. There's Indian Hills Steakhouse on the east side of I-35 just north of Norman. On the aforementioned I-240 on Western (exit and turn left) there's Ted's Cafe Escondido, one of the city's best Mexican restaurants. Once, again, let me know if you need any further suggestions...

And thanks for mentioning Lake Hefner, MzPossum! Nothing beats a sunset at the places you mentioned!

I love Lake Hefner, designmr! Lots of good memories from there.
Raneman, there are also LOTS of nice restaurants on S. Meridian (the road to the airport from 240) that you and your daughters might like. Zios (Italian), Kona Steak House, Panera Bread, Shorty Smalls (reno and s. meridian)I think there is also one called Subway Deli and Grill, slightly different from a regular Subway, if I remember correctly. For one of the best subway/ deli sandwiches you'll ever have, look for a City Bites. (take a sackful to Lake Hefner for a picnic--we always do that with our grandkids!)

Great, thanks everybody for the responses. Coles Garden sounds nice, as does a morning at the Paseo. Lake Hefner may make a nice Saturday night gig, if it's not too noisy. Thanks for the directions designmr and MzPossum.

raneman, I travel about once a month to OKC for work. Always make lunch at Lake Hefner if the weather is nice.

Echo Christie's suggestion of the Cowboy Museum went twice it was so interesting and the forst time I did not allow enough time.
I too stay in Bricktown at the Courtyard by Marriott. It is fairly new and one of the nicest Courtyards I have stayed at. You will enjoy it.