Finding Fireworks - A Romantic Getaway to Oklahoma City

CHECK-IN

👋 Melissa
🎂 31
💼 Museum Professional
♉️ Taurus Sun

THE INTERVIEW

Favorite Travel-related Experience:

I love exploring mid-sized cities. Some of my best trips have been to smaller cities compared to where I live. My partner, Jake, has inspired me to take trips more often, even if it’s to a smaller, quieter town.

Where are you a local?

Dallas, Texas

How do you approach travel planning?

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit of a passenger princess when I travel with my partner. I do a lot of planning for work, so a relaxing vacation is really letting go of the wheel. We try to include at least one museum every trip (even if it’s quirky), antiquing, independent bookstores ideally with an art book section, and great food!

What do you prioritize?

Since I work in an art museum, I feel obligated to say museums but if I’m being honest, antiquing probably holds the top spot in my heart! We also try to stay in a neighborhood that has something to offer.

BONUS:

As a museum professional, what are your top tips for picking the right/best museum for a trip?

A museum is what you make of it and that’s what makes them so special! The key is to know what kind of museum-goer you are. Do you like being guided through exhibitions? Prefer to explore at your own pace? Are you looking for something entertaining?

• If you’re in it for entertainment, definitely check out the museum’s programs and events. Programming is often what brings a museum to life, so check out what’s happening during your visit.

• For guided experiences, call ahead or check online to see what tours or special offerings are available. Some museums have fantastic educators that can enhance your visit, but that’s not a day-of type of request.

• If you prefer to explore on your own, just remember that museum fatigue is real, especially large institutions like The Met or the MFA-Houston. Don’t feel like you need to see everything. Instead pick a few highlights and enjoy the experience of wandering around the galleries.

Personally, I love walking through exhibitions at my own pace, and I usually prioritize special exhibitions. If we stumble on a public program while we are there, that’s a bonus. My ideal museum is mid-sized, with a cafe and gift shop. That way you can enjoy the galleries, grab an afternoon coffee, and browse the shop.

If you’re traveling with kids, a children's or science museum is your best bet. They’re often ahead of the curve when it comes to hands-on, anytime activities by offering games, inter-actives and safe spaces where the kiddos can explore freely. And they are also just as fun for adults.

I avoid anything that was made to be a photo-op under the guise of being a museum. Attractions like the Museum of Ice Cream, the Van Gogh and the Titanic Experiences, or Meow Wolf fall under this category for me. I usually only visit those if I get a discount or on adult nights.

Which museums have inspired you lately?

Here are museums I revisit regularly and ones that I still think about that I’ve visited in the last 3 years.

Revisit Often

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

The Blanton Museum of Art (Austin, Texas)

The Menil Collection (Houston, Texas)

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, Arkansas)

Really Enjoyed

The American Visionary Art Museum (Baltimore, Maryland)

The New Orleans Museum of Art

The Baltimore Museum of Art

The Speed Art Museum (Louiseville, Kentucky)

Why Oklahoma City?

This was my first time visiting! Jake had traveled to Oklahoma City a few times for work, and he knew it had everything I love. When we were planning a fun anniversary trip, he suggested it because he knew the art museum would have pieces I’d enjoy. Not knowing OKC well at all. made it even more fun to explore! Every city has its unique charm, and personally, I prefer a slower-paced vacation over one packed with a tightly scheduled itinerary. Jake knew enough to know the city's size would give us the space to wander and discover little gems along the way.