Exploring Oklahoma Your Guide to a Fun Family Weekend in Tulsa
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ooking for a weekend getaway that offers something for everyone in the family and won’t bust your budget? Head up the Turner Turnpike to Tulsa!
Tulsa has a rich history dating back to the first oil boom in the early 1900s. As wealthy businessmen moved to town, Tulsa became an amazing example of Art Deco architecture. The Tulsa Historical Society is a wonderful place to visit to learn more about Tulsa’s history and they offer walking tours of the downtown area on the last Friday of each month. If you can’t make one of their tours, check out www.visittulsa.com and click on maps to print a self-guided walking tour.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Do you have nature lovers in your family? Tulsa has some gorgeous places to enjoy the outdoors. Oxley Nature Center, located in Mohawk Park, will always be one of my son’s favorite nature centers because of the deer we saw up close on our very first visit. There are almost nine miles of trails you can hike, and most of them are wheelchair and stroller friendly. The Interpretive Center is a great place to take a break after your hike to explore interactive exhibits about the area wildlife.
The River Parks (1) are the best place in town if you enjoy spending time outdoors. Paved trails extend along the east bank of the Arkansas River (from 11th Street to 101st Street) with several playgrounds and splash pads along the way. Our favorite is the 41st Street Plaza, which has several fountains for splashing and a unique playground full of equipment that moves. My favorite thing about the area is that both of my children (3 and 8 years old) can entertain themselves for hours and everything is close enough that they can do what they want while I sit underneath one of the huge trees and keep an eye on both of them. This water area also stays open later in the season, which is great since we all know that Oklahoma’s summer weather can last well into the fall.
Watch Some Wildlife
The Tulsa Zoo (2) is always a fun place to visit and it’s even better now with the addition of the Helmerich Sea Lion Cove. On Labor Day weekend, the zoo will be having an “Elebration,” a celebration of their elephants with different “missions” for guests to complete and earn their own elephant ears! The Oklahoma Aquarium (3) is the best attraction in the state to see aquatic animals
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www.metrofamilymagazine.com | August 2012
of every shape and size. If you haven’t visited before, you definitely need to make time for it. Exhibits range from sea life to local rivers and lakes. Our favorite is Ozark Stream room, where you can get up close and personal with the otters. Several different areas have touch tanks (free) or feeding tanks (for an extra cost) that are great fun, too. If you visit before Labor Day, check out the aquarium website for a link to the Extreme Water Park on the aquarium grounds for a limited time.
Admire the Art
The Philbrook Museum of Art (3) and Gilcrease Museum (4) are well known for their wonderful and diverse collections and exhibits, but you may not be aware of all the programs they offer for families. On the second Saturday of each month, Philbrook admission is free and they offer free art projects for families. If you’re not able to make it then, enjoy scavenger hunts and activity backpacks tailored to specific parts of the museum available any time you visit. Don’t forget to sign your kids up for a MyMuseum program, where kids get a free art supply each month when they return with their MyMuseum kit. The gardens and outdoor sculptures are enjoyable