OKC 4/29

Welcome to the forum. I'll see if I can help you out. The weekend Joe is here there is a The Memorial Marathon which has grown over the last few years as it is a qualifying run for the Boston and New York runs. Kind of cool event but it adds to the difficulty of finding a room downtown. We have a shortage of downtown hotels as it is and add an event like that and you are SOL trying to get a room in the downtown area which is really most desirable for a first time visitor.

East of the Sante Fe tracks downtown is an area known as Bricktown where there are bars and restaurants all within walking distance to central downtown. The canal is there, Bricktown Ballpark and Joe's favorite place Mickey Mantel's Steak House. You can still try to get a room in the area. The remodeled Skirvin, or Colcord boutique hotels or there is a Sheraton, Marriott Renaissance or Courtyard and a Residence Inn as well as a Hampton overlooking the Bricktown Ballpark our minor league affiliate of the Astro's  home who might be in town. Also The Chesapeake Energy Arena is nearby home of the Thunder. The Civic Center is on the West side of downtown a long walk from the hotels but doable.

The next area to try would be Meridian I-40 area 4 miles to the west.  Hilton Garden Inn or Courtyard Marriott lots of other hotels and restaurants with easy access to downtown by I-40 or by boat on the Oklahoma River water taxi.

The May Ave. Northwest Expressway area is good too all major hotels are available there. A little further east to the Belle Isle Northwest Expressway area is also good. Near Penn Square Mall which is probably the best mall in town with a new boutique area just east called the Classen Curve. This area is 5 miles north of downtown.

Memorial Road and May Ave is far north OKC and has several newer hotels of all the major chains and a good mall Quail Springs is the name. This is my neck of the woods.

Oklahoma City has grown into a pretty nice place to live. Traffic on weekends in non existent. Downtown has some road construction but still is navigable. Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial is a few block north and is worth seeing. If you plan on eating downtown go early or make reservations. The Mantel, Nonna's or Mickey Mantels for fine dining. Bourbon Street, Pearls Crabtown or Bricktown Brewery for medium priced fare.

Hope this helps.

Avoid south of downtown or east of downtown.