Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Groups will find no shortage of attractions in Oklahoma City, from the eclectic offering of museums to the vibrant entertainment district of Bricktown. In the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, visitors will be awed by the glittering glass art exhibit and three-story glass tower by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Just five minutes away, groups can witness glassblowing in action at the Blue Sage glassblowing facility.
The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum offers a special experience called Date With the Duke, where groups dine at a banquet, watch John Wayne’s classic film “The Cowboy” and receive a private tour of the Western Performers Gallery.
At the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, which honors the victims, survivors and rescuers involved in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, groups can stroll across the beautiful outdoor area in the evening, when the gates and chairs are lit up.
“It’s a very moving experience at night,” said Sandy Price, vice president of tourism at Visit Oklahoma City.
With free admission, many visitors stop by Remington Park, a horse-racing track and casino with the longest racing season of any track in the country.
There are endless dining options as well, from the internationally recognized Cattleman’s Steakhouse to Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill on the canal. Water’s Edge Winery will host groups even when it is closed, as long as visits are scheduled in advance, for wine tastings and bottling parties.
Topeka, Kansas
Though many capitals feature stunning architecture, Topeka’s capitol is the only one in the country where visitors can climb a staircase 360 feet into the central dome and walk outside to relish the sweeping view.
In addition to the history tour of the capitol, groups can take advantage of many other engaging experiences in the city, like making a bowl or a mug at Potwin Pottery. At Prairie Glass Studio, visitors can coordinate a session through Topeka’s convention and visitors bureau to learn about glass-making and fashion items like sun catchers or business-card holders to take home.
There are several notable events throughout the year, among them the Tulip Time Festival in April and the Beer Festival in June, during which nearly 40 Midwestern breweries gather to showcase original brews.
With the the Mars Chocolate North America factory nearby in the state, chocolate fanatics would be remiss not to attend the chocolate festival in the fall; the festival includes baking tutorials, chocolate-pudding-eating contests and chocolate-themed items from local shops, such as chocolate diamond jewelry.
In the summer, cyclists gather for a weekendlong biking event called Cyclovia Topeka, which commences with a Glow Ride on Friday, in which participants decorate their bikes with glow sticks and tour the downtown area.
“We try to make sure that everyone can participate, no matter what their biking level is,” said Michaela Saunders, director of brand strategy at Visit Topeka.
