This story originally ran on VeloCityOKC.com.

Parks may be meant for fun and games, but here in OKC we take how we craft and maintain our parks very seriously. Whether it’s the current construction of the highly anticipated Scissortail Park, the beloved Myriad Botanical Gardens, or even the recently polished Kerr Park (we can see it from our building!), you don’t even need to be in OKC to see just how much we love our parks. In fact, recently the Minneapolis Star Tribune took notice of this when they named the Myriad Botanical Gardens one of the top 10 public parks to visit.

Read the full story on VeloCityOKC.com.

Did you know Oklahoma City was recently named America’s most livable community? Whether it is praise for our quality of life, affordable living, employment opportunities or even for our culinary scene, the national media takes notice of OKC.

It seems like every day a new accolade or honor is being announced and it is a daunting task to keep up-to-date with the latest news. You can check the Better Life website for an always-fresh list of accolades. Be sure to share with your friends and family to show them we aren’t the only ones singing the praises of OKC.

This story originally ran on VeloCityokc.com.

Anyone who’s taken a stroll through Guthrie’s Historic District will vouch: It’s one of the most gorgeous neighborhoods in the nation and easily one of the most underrated attractions in Oklahoma in its entirety. Well, we actually won’t be able to say “underrated” for much longer: Guthrie’s Historic District was recently rated by the American Planning Association (APA) to be one of the five best neighborhoods in the entire country. With the Canalway Cultural District in Lowell, MA; the Village of Shelburne Falls in Shelburne and Buckland, MA; Historic Downtown Georgetown in Georgetown, TX; and Ghent in Norfolk, VA as its list mates, Guthrie’s Historic District finds itself in good (and prestigious) company.

“APA’s Great Places in America recognizes unique and exemplary streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces — three essential components of all communities. These authentic places have been shaped by forward thinking planning that showcases affordable transportation options, promotes community involvement and accessibility, and fosters economic opportunity.”

You can read an article about this and view the APA’s best public spaces and streets on NextCity.

Did you know Oklahoma City was recently named a top city for millennials? Whether it is praise for our quality of life, affordable living, employment opportunities or even our romantic side, the national media takes notice of OKC.

It seems like every day a new accolade or honor is being announced and it is a daunting task to keep up-to-date with the latest news. You can check the Better Life website for an always-fresh list of accolades. Be sure to share with your friends and family to show them we aren’t the only ones singing the praises of OKC.

Yeah, we spend 365 days a year (366 in a leap year) screaming from the rooftops about how great Oklahoma City is. We might be a tad biased but we aren’t the only ones singing the metro’s praises. Oklahoma City routinely gets placed on “Best of” rankings from around the county (and sometimes even the world). Here is just a small sample of accolades OKC has received recently:

Top 10 Most Popular City to Live – Business Insider
No. 1 Metro to Start a Business – WalletHub
One of the Most Romantic Cities in the U.S. – OpenTable
One of the Top Tourist Cities – JD Power

Keeping up with all the accolades can be a little tough but don’t worry because we have you covered. Check out our accolades page for the freshest batch of rankings. Also, don’t be shy because we need more Oklahoma City cheerleaders. Be sure to share accolades with friends, family, peers, pets, random strangers … really anyone.

With so much to do, see and learn about in Oklahoma City, it can be tough to find the information you’re looking for. One way you can remedy this situation is to, of course, sign up for our email newsletter for a weekly 411 on the 405. There are other things you can do though too, one of the most important of which is to utilize the power of social media for the latest and greatest information. Now, we know what you’re thinking. ‘That all seems fine and dandy, but with so much information out there, which social media accounts are the best ones to follow for all the information I need?’ A great question like that deserves a great answer, so here’s our list of three social media accounts to follow for the latest and greatest on all things OKC.

1. Naturally, the first account we’re recommending is our very own Facebook page. In case you don’t sign up for our e-newsletter for whatever strange reason, our Facebook page shares the latest information from our blog each week in addition to some other cool stuff that’s fun and important. If you’re not a fan of Facebook, you can follow us on Twitter instead.
2. One common misconception about the next account to follow is that it’s only for visitors, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The VisitOKC Instagram is filled with some spectacular photos of OKC’s coolest restaurants and attractions. They also do videos showcasing the latest upcoming events happening throughout the OKC metro. If Instagram isn’t your thing, you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
3. The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Twitter is a hub for the latest business news and events happening in OKC. Beyond that, the Chamber also has a compiled list of all the accolades OKC has been recognized for in national headlines on their website. You can also take a look at their Facebook and Instagram.

We all know Oklahoma City is a great place to live, work and play. I mean did you know OKC was recently named the “Most Romantic City in the U.S.” by Open Table? However, when we talk about the metro being amazing (and apparently extremely romantic) it can come off as bragging. That is why we love when other people say it for us! That is right we track all the good things people say about us.

You can check the Better Life website for an always-fresh list of accolades. Share with your friends and family what people are saying around the country about Oklahoma City’s quality of live, job market, housing and even romance.