Relocating to OKC-Need advice

My husband and I(3 kids under 11) are relocating from a large northern Metro area. Are we in for a cultural shock? What do you do for fun? Besides the lake near Edmond. I heard 6 flags is closing down, too.

Is downtown safe at night?

Does it really get windy in summers and hot ?

Relocating to OKC-Need advice

Frontier City (Sixflags) is not closing down and is a great park. It is not a large park, but the lines are very short, so you can ride even the big rides several times. The water park is the same way and also owned by sixflags. Bricktown is the main downtown night spot is very safe and if you are into the night life you will love it. Let me end by saying that folks that move to Oklahoma City with a family and an open mind will never want to leave. It is a cultural shock in the sence that folks here are much friendlier than most places and very helpful. The price of living is lower. It does get very windy. Sorry that my answer sounds like I am rambling, I am trying to give lots of info in a hurry.

Relocating to OKC-Need advice

You might have something of a culture shock, but sometimes a shock can be a good thing!

When we moved here from the east 19 years ago, we found that Oklahomans tend to be friendly and generous, that their lives tend to be centered around children and church, and that they are fiercely proud of their state and their heritage. Our children, 10 and 13 at the time, fit in easily and quickly came to think of Oklahoma as ';home.';

Like other big cities, Oklahoma City has theme parks and art museums, symphonies and shopping, festivals and parks. While some isolated areas may have high crime rates, you will find that public places are safe and well patrolled. Oklahomans like their football, so be ready to decide if you%26#39;re an OU fan or an OSU fan.

Spring is the windiest season, though winter cold fronts can kick up quite a breeze, too. Summers are mostly calm. You can expect that July and August daytime temperatures will hover in the mid 90s, but mornings are wonderful all summer long. In exchange for enduring the hot summers, you will find that winters are brief and mild.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

What northern metro are you talking about? There will be less of a culture shock if you%26#39;re from places like Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Columbus, Cincinnati. There will be more if you%26#39;re from Minneapolis, Chicago, or any place along the north Atlantic seaboard.

What do we do for fun? We do different things. There are clubs, lounges and bars for the club-hopping set in Bricktown. My college friends and I (yes, we%26#39;re just past thirty) just like having a good meal and conversation at a restaurant; there are dining options abound, from continental prix fixe to Cajun, to Mexican to lakeside to steakhouses to pho shops.

We like working out at athletic clubs and using the many city trails. The trail at Lake Hefner seems to be the most popular (it also features a boat club and 3-4 restaurants). The Oklahoma River trail is just getting started, but you can learn to row at that river at the new Chesapeake Boathouse (check it out at www.chesapeakeboathouse.com).

We like watching movies. Like other places, there are several cineplexes. OKC%26#39;s become a film center with popular weekly showings of documentary/arthouse/foreign/classic films at the fairly new Museum of Art. We host one of the few official Oscar watch parties in the country. Our deadCENTER Film Festival is considered a top up-and-coming festival by filmmakers.

We love our concerts. The Ford Center brings in the best, from Elton John to the Rolling Stones to Coldplay to Britney Spears (well...most of the time). The Civic Center is host to the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, ballet, choral music, and more intimate concerts the likes of Sheryl Crow and Micheal Buble. There are several other concert venues.

Of course, what%26#39;s caught on fire the past few months has been NBA basketball at downtown%26#39;s Ford Center. The Hornets have quickly become our adopted favorite sons.

Finally, we watch our OU/OSU teams with passion, and the large number of sports bars speaks to that.

That%26#39;s about as general as you can get. Beneath that, there are activities for every niche. You have your country/rodeo set in Stockyards City, the fairgrounds, Bricktown (Wormy Dog and Toby Keith%26#39;s), and the Oklahoma Opry. We have a vibrant rock scene with more original music coming out of our clubs than ever before. We have a close-knit arts scene that%26#39;s decidedly modern (as opposed to the old masters) -- lots of art classes! We have some great theatre companies, and 4-6 Broadway touring productions come yearly. There are several clubs, from chess clubs to biking clubs to ethnic organizations that know how to put on a party! When you come into town, ask around about your interests, and someone will lead you to the right group!

In terms of family activities, there are the aforementioned theme parks and trail parks. No matter where you live, there are tennis courts, a golf course, or pool nearby. There are roller skating and ice skating rinks. There is an extreme skate park on the river designed by one of the sports%26#39; heroes -- local star Matt Hoffman. Central Oklahoma is known for girls gymnastics.

I%26#39;ll stop there. But I think the better question is, what do YOU ALL like to do? Chances are, we%26#39;ll have it.

By the way, downtown is very safe at night. Stick to the arts/business/hotel district and Bricktown, and you%26#39;ll be okay.

Sorry, that%26#39;s chesapeakeboathouse.org

Some resources:

www.downtownokc.com

www.visitokc.com

www.okc.gov

I%26#39;m a city guy but I understand you might want to live in the suburbs. Here are two notable ones:

Edmond

http://www.visitedmondok.com/

Norman

http://www.visitnorman.com/index.asp

If you should want more info about neighborhoods and housing, let us know

If you%26#39;re so inclined, we also have affordable-for-the-whole-family minor-league sports. The Blazers have a large, loyal fanbase. The puck action at the Ford Center is actually pretty exciting.

Our Triple-A baseball team, the Redhawks, have a growing fanbase. They play in one of the best minor-league ballparks in the country, the AT%26amp;T Bricktown Ballpark. It%26#39;s baseball as it was meant to be.

OKC Transplant from NYC. 32 years now.

Oklahoma City is a great place to raise a family. Downtown in the Bricktown area is safe at night and the %26#39;safe zone%26#39; is rapidly expanding. And there are plenty of things to do for a normal family. (BTW: Six Flags is selling both properties in OKC last I read.)

Temps can get above 100 in the summer but the humidity is very low. The winds are high compared to many places.

Public transportation is basically non-existent, so don%26#39;t expect much.

Best thing about OKC? Housing is very reasonably priced.

Wow, you guys posted some fabulous ';stuff'; so far! In Edmond there are lots of family friendly activities from Shakespeare in the PArk, Pelican Bay water park, a great Jazz club affiliated with the University, fun shopping in old downtown, various restaurants, some new others old standards. I am a Realtor and have been fortunate to help several NBA Hornet affiliates get settled here. They seem to take advantage of horseback trailriding in Norman, fried chicken dinner in Okarche, and trips to the Cowboy Hall of fame. You%26#39;ll find our area lacking in horrible rush hour traffic. Yes, we do have four real seasons. Lots of family oriented activities that are offered around the rest of the country- all the sports for your kiddos, malls, and then those great Hornets games!