When we first visited Oklahoma City’s Bricktown, it was a lazy neighborhood that was just being developed into a major entertainment area, but Bricktown is far from a new phenomenon. The first red-brick buildings were constructed from 1898 to 1903 in this warehouse district that runs along the mile-long Bricktown Canal. After years of abandonment, the area was targeted for development in the 1980s and restaurants such as Spaghetti Warehouse moved in. Now the area is a bustling site for tourists and locals alike.
Bricktown’s spaciously wide hike and bike trails run along the canal to provide scenic strolls for visitors. One thing that impressed me was how the walks were built. The width of the walks, the distance from the canal, and the railings ensure that no one will accidentally fall into the canal, something that is especially important if you are travelling with children. If walking doesn’t appeal to you, you can take advantage of the hop on/ hop off water taxis for a single day rate.
Bricktown has something for everyone. Restaurants range from chains such as Fuzzy’s Tacos and Zio’s Italian Kitchen, to OKC spots such as Pearl’s Crabtown. Several breweries make their homes in the area including Bricktown Brewery. Nightlife is busy with Michael Murphy’s Dueling Piano Bar and Coyote Ugly. Brickopolis Entertainment offers laser tag, miniature golf, food, and more while Harkins Theatres offer 16 screens of blockbusters and some indie movies.
Bass Pro Shop holds a prime spot in Bricktown. I always enjoy walking through Bass Pro Shops to see the stuffed animals, clothing, and interesting food items. This location is no different. This massive undertaking has something for everyone, even for those who aren’t into outside activities. If nothing else, I always seem to walk out with some unusual type of beef jerky for a mid-afternoon snack.
The Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is another cornerstone of the area. The park is home of the OKC Dodgers, the AAA affiliate of the LA Dodgers Baseball team. The park draws thousands of people to the area each year, many of whom eat and drink in Bricktown before or after games. The events held at the park are not limited to baseball. The activities range from runs, parties, meetings, and even snow tubing.
Another major building on the Bricktown Canal is the headquarters for Sonic. Since I am a confirmed fan of their ice, just the sight of the building made me thirsty.
Shops, stores, hotels, and more have all grown up around Bricktown and, given the smaller size of the city, it doesn’t take long to get from Bricktown to any of the other attractions in the city, From the Omniplex Science Museum to the OKC Zoo, OKC has lots to do for the entire family.
– Candace Ahlfinger has loved traveling since she was little and has always been on the go whenever possible. Now she is retired and gets to do what she loves best… TRAVEL! Whether it’s traveling with her wonderful husband, or our children and grandchildren, traveling is a great experience that enriches her life. Because she always enjoys reading and hearing about others’ travel experiences, she wants to share her travels with the Ellis DownHome readers.
