The Norman center point is approximately the area of The Crucible Foundry, Gallery and Sculpture Garden and the area of Norman Amtrak Station.
People call Norman the city of festivals because it hosts so many great events in spring and summer. Best of all, many are free. The Norman Medieval Fair happens in late March or early April. It's a celebration of medieval art, culture, and games, with jousting, music, and dancing. It's the largest weekend event in Oklahoma, and Events Media Network called it one of the top 100 events in the United States. The Norman Music Festival in April showcases local and internationally renowned artists.
You can also visit May Fair, an arts festival at Andrews Park during the first weekend in May. It features crafts, food, fine art, and top local performers. Midsummer Nights' Fair is a similar nighttime arts festival. It happens during two evenings in June outside the Firehouse Art Center in Lions Park. Jazz in June is a popular music festival that happens during the last weekend in June. You can enjoy jazz and blues at several different venues, post-concert jam sessions, and educational jazz clinics taught by professional musicians.
The Summer Breeze Concert Series is a series of outdoor concerts held from spring to fall at various parks across Norman. Hotel rates increase slightly in summer, on popular festival weekends, and near Christmas. However, most places are still affordable. The mild weather in fall makes it a great time to visit Norman, as long as you're not looking for lots of festivals to choose from.
You can maximize your savings by taking advantage of all the discounts available. The Hampton Inn near Sooner Mall and Firehouse Art Center offers up to a 15 percent discount for booking your trip early. AAA members, AARP members, and seniors get up to 10 percent off. Active members of the military and government employees can save up to 25 percent. All the rooms have refrigerators, free WiFi, desks, and coffee makers. You can also ask for an infant crib. The indoor pool has beautiful skylights, and there's a fitness center and a free breakfast buffet.
At Courtyard by Marriott near the University of Oklahoma, anyone older than 61 gets at least 15 percent off. AAA members, government and military members, and some corporate employees can also get up to 10 percent off. The attractive, modern rooms have MP3 docking stations, flat-screen TVs with cable, free Wi-Fi, coffee makers, irons, and ironing boards. Breakfast is available for a fee, and the front desk is open 24 hours, along with the fitness facilities and business center. There's also a restaurant, an indoor pool with a whirlpool, a courtyard with a fire pit, and a library.
Norman has a wide selection of mid-range hotels that offer great value for your money. At Sooner Legends Inn & Suites, you can enjoy luxury features without a high price. This hotel is less than two miles from the University of Oklahoma, and each room features stories and pictures of legendary University of Oklahoma Sooners players. This hotel has over 2000 pieces of sports memorabilia, so it's perfect for fans.
Rooms have pillow-top mattresses, down comforters and pillows, and 42-inch cable TVs. You can enjoy a free hot breakfast buffet, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a pool table, a DVD library, free popcorn and free homemade cookies, and free Wi-Fi. Pets are allowed, and the bar and restaurant has several TVs for watching Sooners games.
The Norman Hotel is also near the University of Oklahoma. The owners renovated it in 2013, so all the rooms look like new. They have free WiFi, cable, and desks. The indoor pool is huge, and there's a spa tub, a fitness center, and a 24-hour business center. Newspapers in the lobby are free, as is a full breakfast. Room service is available, you can check out the hotel restaurant and bar, or you can get a snack at the gift shop. This hotel is a great choice for conferences or weddings, with two ballrooms and an executive boardroom.
No matter which hotel you choose, you'll always be close to fun, interesting activities in Norman. The Riverwind Casino is just off I-35 in Norman, but its colorful neon lights make it look like it belongs in Las Vegas. The Chickasaw Nation runs this entertaining venue, and it has over 2,700 electronic games, slots, MegaKeno, and table games with minimums from $2 to $500. Valet parking is free, and famous artists perform often at the Showplace Theatre. To satisfy all your cravings, the casino has a gift shop, a food court, a bar, a buffet, and a Starbucks.
The nonprofit Firehouse Art Center offers classes and exhibits on sculpture, ceramics, painting and drawing, jewelry, stone carving, glass, and more. The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art has over 17,000 pieces, including work from Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Georgia O'Keeffe. You can explore French impressionist painting, modern art, Native American art, Asian art, sculpture, and photography. Admission is free, so you can spend as much time there as you want. This museum has so much art that it would be hard to see it all.
The National Weather Center has over 550 scientists, climatologists, meteorologists, staff, and students from the University of Oklahoma, state agencies, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They all work together to study and predict the Earth's weather. You can schedule a tour to see the Storm Prediction Center, the NWS Norman Weather Forecast Office, the McCasland Family Observation Deck, the School of Meteorology, and the National Severe Storm Laboratory. This educational tour is great for kids or adults, and you can eat at the Flying Cow Café after you finish.
Norman offers something for everyone, including entertainment, outdoor adventures, educational experiences, and romantic getaways. With the right hotel for your budget, you can have an amazing time in this welcoming town.
These are the words of famed poet and playwright Susan Stryker when she considered her characters and home state on the audacity of being true to themselves. This bold honest and beautiful landscape is part of what makes up the spirit of the town of Norman Oklahoma. Though it is the third largest city in the state it has some of the most charming rustic Norman hotels that are made to reflect the spirit of the state and the sense of bold independence that is in its way splendid on its own.
Anyone looking for cheap hotels in this town doesn't have to look too far. One of them is the Super 8 Norman a place that is outfitted with all the requisite creature comforts and located right on the main interstate near the University of Oklahoma and the Goldsby Gaming Center. This hotel features basic rooms that are stock with several amenities such as microwaves, TVs, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges.Another example of budget Norman hotels is the Norman Travelodge a place that is stripped down basic while completely outfitted with amazing amenities like free Wi-Fi, kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and pull-out sofas. These places are two of your best options if you are on the lookout for cheap hotels.
There is no shortage of luxury hotels in Norman for weary travelers with an abundance of tastes and one of them is the respected and sought after Sooner Legends. This hotel stands out amongst other luxury Norman hotels as it has a very exciting feel and a large number of amenities to go with your stay. Some of what the Sooner Legends offers includes a bar and lounge, over 100 rooms on site, a business center that is open 24 hours and air condition in the rooms for guests. Another example of the fine luxury hotels in Norman includes Coffee & Tea, a free shuttle to the nearby casinos a computer station in the lobby, a 24-hour fitness center for fitness buffs, a fireplace in the lobby and, of course, an outdoor pool.
If you happen to be visiting Norman then you will have plenty to do outside of Noman Hotels. One of the must-see destinations is the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. This museum exhibits some prime example of both contemporary and ancestral wildlife as well as a full range of Native American artifacts and display that speak to the indigenous peoples influence on the city, state, and nation. Another destination is the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. If you come to the town during college football season expect to join in on the fun as the people of Norm as well as all of Oklahoma flocks to the town to enjoy the spectacle.
Below are reviews of the city of Norman, OK from an actual visitor's perspective.
My knowledge of Norman is limited to the area surrounding the OU campus and the older neighborhoods off 12th, Asp and Boyd...I think those are the streets. I was more than delighted to view all the beautiful old homes both big and small. I LOVED LOVED LOVED the large, mature trees. Numerous, beautiful churches with bells chiming are scattered around and gives it a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere. Located just blocks away, the beautiful and stately OU campus, blended in with this neighborhood. I'm happy that this year my granddaughter will be living in this neighborhood and in one of these older homes. I don't know much about the rest of Norman other than the great restaurants surrounding the university. Whatever you like to eat, there's bound to be a restaurant serving it.
I went to the casino and back home.
went to the Casino close by the hotel.
Norman is my go to place for shopping!
The report one and room service were terrific! Beds very comfortable and spacious rooms.
Sooner softball!
Cracker Barrel and Braums Ice Cream are nearby.
Nice place!
Nice town - eclectic art scene and dining!
I came straight to the hotel and stayed for the food show held in the conference center of the hotel. The conference center was very nice.
We went to visit OU and the Gaylord Stadium- oh my, it is bigger than our KC Chiefs stadium! Lots of unique places to eat.
OU. We live in OKC!!
Norman is a Wonderful Small City!
The staff was friendly and welcoming. The room was clean.
What is there not to like. Norman is a fantastic university town.
Went to OU for tour of campus and to some of the restaurants.
The city is close to many sights and museums.
Restaurants were nearby. The town is a great place to hang out, have a drink and meet with friends or family.
Very clean hotel with friendly staff.
Beautiful college and very nice restaurants.
People were very friendly. I felt very welcome there and loved how everything was easily found in the same area like gas stations, restaurants, groceries.
We have family here and alumni of OU.
The staff was friendly and welcoming. Hotel was very clean. It has everything you need.
Restaurants were close to the hotel and very good!
Nice that we could walk to a restaurant from the hotel!
Visiting family, not really tourists. But what stands out for me is the wide variety and number of restaurants in the area near the hotel.
Good dining options!
Good dining options.
The shopping and restaurants!
Has many dining and shopping opportunities.
Shopping and eating!
Casino
I enjoyed Norman. Shopping and dining was nice and overall feeling of the town was safe.
Nice & friendly city
Town was very nice with lots of food and shopping options.
University of OK
We were there for my granddaughters graduation from OU Law.
Loved everything!
Easy on/off I-35.
Nice city had a lot of different restaurants to visit. It was easy to get to.
Lots of convenient restaurants and shopping close.
Enjoyed our visit to Wind River Casino while in Norman, OK.
Nice scenery good place to stay and shop
Moving here to finish my degree. Large and very clean town.
Othella for dinner. It was good
The graduation was awesome! Beautiful campus and area.
Campus was amazing close to casino
There are lots of hotels, food and shopping within 4 miles from the Riverwind Casino.
There is a lot of shopping, nice parks, and sports games going on in Norman.
Norman was flooding on Saturday night. Lots of different places to eat. Would be a good place to live and go to OU.