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Oklahoma City: Come for the hoops, linger for the love
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Bricktown Water Taxi, courtesy of OKlahoma City CVB
So you brought your Kansas sweetie to Oklahoma City in hopes that both of you would be sitting in Ford Center cheering on your beloved Jayhawks for four days. Well, guess what? Life happens. And now your sweetie is totally bummed about the outcome of the first (and only) game the Jayhawks played. And, although you’d hoped for a little off-court action from your honey (after all, you DID score those great seats in Ford), she’s letting you know in no uncertain terms that the party’s over. How can you cheer her up and get her in a more amorous mood for the rest of your stay?
Well, guess what. It’s easy. You’re visiting one of the best cities in the world in which to woo your lover. Here are some sure bets for getting her out of the doldrums and into your arms.
Float Her Boat
It’s easier than you think to make waves in land-locked Oklahoma City. During the regular season (April through October), you can take your honey on a water taxi cruise (previously mentioned in the second installment of this series) along the canal in Bricktown. For an even bigger lovefest, take a cruise down a seven-mile stretch of the beautiful Oklahoma River on one of the new Oklahoma River Cruisers—Devon Discovery, Devon Explorer, or Devon Pioneer. I cruised last summer on the Devon Discovery, and it was truly a unique and peaceful experience. (No reservations required. Simply board at either Meridian Landing or Regatta Park. Check their website for special Big 12 cruises during the games.) For a pull-out-all-the-stops gesture, you can even reserve a private cruise for you and your baby. I can guarantee you, by the end of that cruise, you’ll be doing more than holding hands!
Get Really Fit
Been indulging in too many munchies while watching your team’s regular-season games on television or in Allen Fieldhouse? Then hie yourself (and your loved one) over to the Chesapeake Boathouse, a new high performance center located on the Oklahoma River near downtown. You won’t believe all the wonderful ways that you can get on the water! This community boathouse offers rowing, kayaking, dragon boating, and fitness programs. Hourly kayak and bicycle rentals are available, so you can explore more than 13 miles of river trails with your darling. The $3.5 million Chesapeake Boathouse itself (designed by OKC architect Rand Elliott) is a fabulous structure. (It nearly took my breath away, the first time I saw it.) Its design represents a sleek rowing shell with translucent polycarbonate walls providing a dramatic nighttime image of the building “floating” above the river.
All You Need Is Love
Hey, if it’s good enough for Paul McCartney and girlfriend Nancy Shevell, then it should certainly knock your sweetheart’s socks off. Just last summer, when Macca and Nancy were out and about getting their kicks on Route 66 in a 1989 Ford Bronco, they reportedly spent an evening at the romantic and historic Skirvin Hilton in downtown Oklahoma City, and dined in Bricktown. I stayed at the Skirvin myself this past June, and marveled at the hospitality of this elegant hotel, and the grandeur of its surroundings. The hotel was built in 1911 by land developer and oil magnate Bill Skirvin, whose daughter Pearl Mesta, became famous as Washington’s “hostess with the mostess.” End your day on the right note at the Red Piano Lounge, located just off the opulent lobby, to view the red baby grand piano, listen to live jazz, and sip Red Piano Cosmos (Belvedere Orange, Gran Marnier, Crème de Cassis, and Cranberry). One last caveat: Don’t forget to hang that “Do Not Disturb” sign on your doorknob.
Author's note: This is the third in a four-part March Madness series about Oklahoma City. You can read more in Parts I & II & IV. Stay tuned for a last look at Oklahoma City during March Madness.
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