Myriad Botanical Gardens spreads across an area of about 15 acres (6 hectares) right in the bustling heart of Oklahoma City. Take a break from the city streets amid the park’s peaceful surroundings, which include ornamental gardens, lawns, a playground, a dog run and a 13,000-square-foot (1,200-square-meter) conservatory, as well as a network of paths for jogging and walking.

Plans for botanical gardens in Oklahoma City first got underway in the mid-1960s, with the park finally opening in 1977. In the decades that followed, the botanical gardens have become established among city residents and were even declared the best Urban Open Space by the Urban Land Institute in 2015. Take a walk around the park to find out why the gardens are so highly renowned.

Enter the Crystal Bridge Conservatory to see thousands of tropical and desert plants. More than 750 varieties of plants are showcased here. The magnificent space also features waterfalls and a traversable sky bridge that offers aerial views of the tropical foliage.

Outside the conservatory, join joggers and walkers on the park’s paved paths. Bring a picnic to enjoy on the grassy lawn, let the dog off its leash in the dog park and watch the kids play in the playground. Look for splash fountains where children often frolic and cool down on warm, summer days.

The gardens also host many special scheduled events, ranging from educational horticultural programs to outdoor movie screenings and live music, which is performed at the band shell. Check ahead to see if anything exciting is happening on stage during your visit.

Find Myriad Botanical Gardens in the center of Downtown Oklahoma City. The outdoor areas of the gardens are free to enter but visitors must pay to access the conservatory. The gardens are open daily from early morning to late night, though the conservatory closes in the early evening.