How safe is this area?

We tentatively have reservations for 1 night at Comfort Inn Founders Tower. Is this a safe neighborhood? What is nearby? How close is it to Bricktown? Thanks.

How safe is this area?

It%26#39;s a fairly safe neighborhood in a mostly business area. There%26#39;s a Home Depot, Best Buy and Gordman%26#39;s very close by (within walking distance). Also two more hotels within a couple of blocks (a Marriott and a Crown Plaza). And a bunch of chain and fast food restaurants within a mile.

It is also about 8.5 miles from Bricktown, which is between 20 and 30 minutes depending on how you hit the lights and traffic conditions - which will depend on the time of day. (That%26#39;s from the time you get into your car until you have finished parking and leave your car at Bricktown.)

I haven%26#39;t stayed there, but from the reviews it looks to be like most Comfort Inns I%26#39;ve stayed at elsewhere. Not great but not really bad:

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g51560-d224952-鈥?/a>

However, I think you can do better as far as location for slightly more money (depending on the day of the week you are staying). One option is the Courtyard Marriott at 4301 Highline Boulevard. It%26#39;s right off I-40 and only a few miles to Bricktown - also right by the restaurants at I-40 and Meridian I mentioned in the other post.

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g51560-d95748-R鈥?/a>

There is also a Hilton Garden Inn

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g51560-d95777-R鈥?/a>

It%26#39;s can also run around $100 + Tax per night, but has the added advantage of being a stop on the Oklahoma Spirit Trolly Line which takes you to Bricktown:

gometro.org/metro_transit%20folder/metro_tra鈥?/a>

The Courtyard is a short walk from a different stop on the same trolley line (Stop I or J):

gometro.org/metro_transit%20folder/metro_tra鈥?/a>

If it%26#39;s not too personal, are you planning a weekend stay (Fri or Sat?) and what price range are you looking at? It might also help us suggest transportation alternatives. (There%26#39;s a trolley that runs from the I-40 Meridian corridor to Bricktown.)

How safe is this area?

Thanks for the helpful information. We will staying there for 1 night on the way back to Tennessee form a 2 week journey out west, then get up the next morning and drive 10 hours home. We will have driven 8 hours the day we arrive, so we are just basically looking for something to eat and maybe a little exploring, so I though Bricktown would be a good place. We won%26#39;t have time (or energy) to see anything else.

The reason I picked that particular hotel was the fact it has a free continental breakfast (for my picky kids) and it was a good rate at $67, plus staying a 3rd night as a choicehotels member earned me a $50 gas card (other 2 in Liittle Rock and Santa Fe). There were a few others in that group but were around $100 and we spent the majority of our lodging money for a nice weeklong condo in Durango, CO.

What are your favorite places for dinner at Bricktown? Needs to have a kid%26#39;s menu and no white tablecloth. We like American fare, BBQ, steaks, grilled stuff. Do you have any suggestions for lunch convenient to I-40 on our way through to Colorado? Thanks again.

Hi, Mrs. Popeye,

Modcon has given you some excellent information.

May I just add: given the fact that you will have had a full day%26#39;s drive from Santa Fe (or CO?), I suggest that you save the Bricktown adventure for another time, especially if your children are picky eaters. I just can%26#39;t think of a restaurant there well- suited for picky eaters.

Also, as modcon has said, you could be driving an additional 25 minutes down to Bricktown and 25 minutes back. That just doesn%26#39;t sound appealing to me with two children and a day of traveling the next day.

There%26#39;s a very nice shopping center just a short distance from your hotel going east on Northwest Highway, Penn Square. It is located on the northeast part of the intersection of Pennsylvania (Penn) and Northwest Highway. If you children are old enough, they might like to explore a few of the shops there.

You could eat at the food court there and see a movie -- then a quick and easy drive back to the hotel.

There are two restaurants there, a Mexican one and an Italian, and Cheesecake Factory is a freestanding building on the mall property.

Another idea for dinner is Panera Bread, good sandwiches, salads, soups (panera.com). It is located at 3321 Northwest Highway, very close to your hotel.

And one more idea for dinner is Saturn Grill at Western and 63rd Street, an easy drive from your hotel. It%26#39;s a very casual restaurant, with wonderful food. The chef has won several awards. saturngrill.com ....in Nichols Hills Plaza. Closed on Sunday.

I can%26#39;t think of a good place for your lunch on I-40. Why don%26#39;t you post that question as a separate post.

I%26#39;m sure you will have a wonderful trip. Safe travels!

Thanks for the helpful information. We really like Cheesecake Factory, so that may be a good option for us.

Cheesecake Factory has been VERY busy since it opened, so check it out and see how it%26#39;s going when you arrive. Pen Sq Mall also has a food court with the usual fare - Pizza, chinese, burgers, Gyros, Taco Bell, etc if you want really casual.

But Sophibella is correct about both the trip, Penn Sq Mall and about Bricktown (save it for another occasion.)

And I have to say, I really don%26#39;t think you%26#39;d get a better rate at any of the other places I mentioned - that%26#39;s a really good price!

My choice for dinner? There is a small place called Falcone%26#39;s Pizza and Deli at 6705 N. May Ave (about 5 minutes from your hotel) that has what I consider the best Pizza in OKC, as well as sandwiches to die for, Pasta dishes (spaghetti and meatballs and Ravioli for example) and other ';specials'; available. Very good NYC Style Italian food and subs at reasonable prices.

:)

Here%26#39;s wishing you a very good trip!

Thanks to both of you- you have been really helpful. I am going to print all of this and take it with me on this trip.

If you like mexican food, you are only minutes away from Ted%26#39;s Escondido (North 68th and May) my absolute favorite restaraunt.

They have kids menu%26#39;s and a very relaxed atmosphere.

Also two miles east of May Ave is Western Ave. Go north between 63rd and Grand there is another set of restaruants that are really good (Earls BBQ is there one of the better BBQ%26#39;s in OKC, also a very locally famous pizza place called Hideaway.)

All these are within 10 minutes of your hotel.

Thanks. I%26#39;ll look into to those also.

If you%26#39;re going to be driving I-40, that is quite a bit out of your way. I would highly recommend going for one of the hotels on Meridian, since it is a safe area, VERY close to anything you can imagine to eat (granted, all chain restaurants though), and you won%26#39;t be diverted the approximately 6.5 miles one way from I-40 up I-44 and in a somewhat confusing area of town with regard to roads. I personally hate the Penn Square Mall area because it%26#39;s so hard to get back on the freeway if you don%26#39;t know exactly what you%26#39;re doing.

Thanks nhzero- we have actually already returned from our trip, but I will keep that in mind for future trips, and I%26#39;m sure that information will be useful to others also.