Explore what's new and old in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is growing, both in size and popularity. The city has become a hot spot for young people, thanks to new jobs and industries in the region. That alone makes it a place worth traveling to, but there is more to do than just check out what's new. History is also a major part of what Oklahoma City has to offer, in a variety of ways. Big-time sports also help form the identity of the region. Here are three places to check out on your trip to Oklahoma City:

Memorial Stadium

The University of Oklahoma Sooners are generally one of the top teams in college football, so make it a point to see them play at Memorial Stadium. Drive your Oklahoma City rental car to 180 East Brooks St. in nearby Norman, Oklahoma, to catch the Sooners in action. With a capacity to hold more than 82,000 fans, Memorial Stadium is one of the largest venues in the entire country. It is rare to not see every single seat filled on game day, with the fans all wearing their maroon attire and cheering on the Sooner Schooner, the school's symbol which features two horses pulling a replica of a covered wagon. The Sooners play in the prestigious Big 12 conference, so visitors can expect non-stop excitement when making their way to Memorial Stadium.

Historic Stockyards City

In 1910, a group of investors opened a livestock market in downtown Oklahoma City, along with a meat-packing plant. The construction of those two buildings brought not only a major industry to the city, but also revenue and jobs. More than 100 years later, the buildings still stand, and cattle is still traded and sold in Historic Stockyards City. Visitors that go to 1305 South Agnew Ave. will learn about the city's traditions within the livestock industry. There, they can also eat at historic steakhouses and shop for new boots, hats and saddles. On Monday and Tuesday mornings, the stockyards still hold live cattle auctions, just as they did when the building opened more than a century ago.

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Learn about the old American West at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Take a trip in your Oklahoma City rental car to 1700 NE 63rd St. and get a first-hand glimpse at what life used to be like in the region. With interactive exhibits, art galleries, weapons displays and actual objects used during the time, visitors will feel like they've traveled back in time to a different era. Explore Native American history, learn about the culture and importance of the cowboy and see how the American West changed the entire world, all at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.