Myriad Botanical Gardens is one of the easiest places to add to a day in downtown Oklahoma City. You do not need to plan an entire morning around it. Instead, think of it as a green pause between museums, restaurants and the busier streets of the centre.
The gardens cover a substantial downtown space with lawns, paths, planting and water features. The Crystal Bridge Conservatory is the most recognisable attraction, bringing tropical plants into the middle of Oklahoma City.
A useful downtown stop
I like places such as Myriad Gardens because they work whether you have twenty minutes or two hours. You can simply walk through on the way somewhere else, sit down with a coffee or spend more time exploring the conservatory and landscaped areas.
The gardens are also close to Scissortail Park, so the two can easily be combined if you want a slower afternoon outdoors.
Check what is happening
Events and seasonal activities are regularly held in and around the gardens, which means the atmosphere can vary considerably depending on when you visit. Families may also find more to do than the word “gardens” initially suggests.
For me, the main reason to include Myriad Botanical Gardens is simple: it makes downtown feel more enjoyable. Not every stop needs to be a major attraction. Sometimes a good city trip needs somewhere attractive to wander without an agenda.