Sam

We will be visiting my husband's family in Tulsa and thinking about staying in the area for a few days if there is something to do. We would be interested in nature like gardens, forests, birds, hiking, walking and similar activities. Any recommendations? Thanks

Okie

Best thing to do in Tulsa: Get to the airport as fast as you can and fly out to any other place.

Sam

Thanks Okie but we strongly believe that we should give every place we visit a chance.
Any suggestions from those who have something helpful to recommend are very welcomed. Thanks again

Sandy

Last year when I was STUCK in Tulsa for 8 days (business trip, I assure you) the local guides actually recommended Oral Roberts U. as a site to see! This says something about the number of attractions in town, methinks.

sorry

NO!

OKcity

I think Southwest flies there. Get on a plane to New Orleans or San Antonio or even Dallas..... They are very cheap. Remember Oral Roberts went into his tower and wasn't coming down till "god" took him home !!! Stay away from there !!

Okie

Hey Sam, sorry to say I'm not the only one with this viewpoint. Seriously, with all the posts you're getting, I think you should be getting the message. I guess you'll just have to tough it out with the inlaws.

Sam

I got your message.
But I am still looking for something to do maybe 1-2 hours from Tulsa. If we stay there one night for two-day visit I think it would be a good idea to take advantage a long flight and spend maybe three days in some interesting place not too far to drive but away from Tulsa since this seems a place to avoid. It just doesn't make sense to fly there for two days from Montreal.
Please help me. You were all very clever with your answers so how about some clever ideas. Please and thanks

MD4-in Tulsa

Sam- despite the others posts here, there's plenty to do in and around Tulsa. Check out www.travelok.com, the state's official travel site. For activities as you describe, Tulsa has lots of parks- the entire stretch alongside the Arkansas River is one big park. We have a nice zoo, also in a large park. About 45 minutes from Tulsa in Bartlesville is Woolaroc, a huge ranch, wildlife preserve and museum (www.woolaroc.org). Gilcrease (western art) and Philbrook (more traditional) art museums both have beautiful grounds and restaurants where you could have lunch.
For other things to do, there is great shopping in unique non-chain stores in Brookside and Cherry Street, also good areas for non-chain restaurants. Utica Square has mostly upscale retail, but is open-air and nice to walk around. If you like antique shopping, go to Jenks, just over the AR River- their Main St. is full of great shops. Check the Tulsa Performing Arts Center (www.tulsapac.com) or Brady Theater (www.bradytheater.com) for any concerts or shows you might be interested in during your stay.
If you have time, I would also recommend visiting Oklahoma City, about 1.5 hours away. They have done a great job of rejuvenating a section of their downtown in Bricktown, and of course there is the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
I really hope you'll give Tulsa a chance. No, obviously we're not as exciting as New Orleans or San Antonio, but we do have much to offer if you know where to look (we also have less crime and are one of the most clean cities I have ever seen). Happy travels.

BillJ

Boy, everyone loves to bash Tulsa. Until MD4 came in here, I thought this would go on. I have not been in Tulsa for some years, but travelled there extensively on business. The Gilcrease museum has the most incredible collection of western art, particularly from Remington and C.M. Russell. My wife loved shopping at Utica Square, and its nice to know its still as it was, according to MD4.
Also, in nearby Claremore is the home of Will Rodgers, famous "cowboy" humourist from the 30's. In the summer time, there's Grand Lake. Never went myself, but popular with the locals.
We also enjoyed the wide variety of country music dance clubs, and learned to line dance while there. MD4, I guess that is still an active way to spend an evening?
Check out www.willrogers.com, www.gilcrease.org and www.philbrook.org
I remember the river parkway as a neat looking picnic and family area.
I hope this helps. I enjoyed Tulsa, saw it as a beautiful city.

Linda

We live roughly equidistant from Wichita KS, Kansas City MO and Tulsa OK - and which city is our hands-down no-doubt-about-it favorite for our "big city excursions"? Tulsa. Easy-to-figure-out traffic grid, friendly people, lovely parks, nice performing arts venues, fun shopping areas, and great lakes nearby for getting out on the water. With a little research, I'd think you'd have no trouble enjoying Tulsa for several days.

Sam

Thank you MD-4in Tulsa, Bill, and Linda. You gave me some wonderful ideas and this is what we like about traveling, discovering places that never get any attention by those who are too busy rushing through. We will definietely stay in the area for a few days. Many of those ideas sound great although we won't include shoping in our itinerary. I also found last night my old book from 1993 and read about these three places near Tulsa. Any of you have some helpful info as this is an old guide and things may changed?
Oxley Nature Center
Redbud Valley Natural Area
Least Tern Preserve
Are they still open? Do you have any contact information so we can find out more details?
Also there was one B&B listed Robin's Nest on 72nd W. Avenue. Do you know anything about it?
We are looking for some small but great and quiet place to stay for 4-5 nights.
Is the end of October and November a good time to visit or would you recommend another time?
Thank you for showing me that there is more to the area than others think. By the way I visited New Orleans once and it is not my kind of town.

Eureka!

I used to date a guy in Tulsa and we often visited Eureka Springs in Arkansas. It has blocks and blocks of Victorian architecture, shops, art galleries, hotels, homes and cottages, and charming atmosphere. The entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in America.

Find out more at http://www.eurekasprings.com

monica

I've never been there, but Sunset Magazine (sunsetmagazine.com?) wrote a nice little piece on it a year or 2 ago. You can search for it on their website.

cd

Yes, let me also recommend Eureka Springs! Last year we walked that charming little town all day and then spent the night at the Palace Hotel. It is a small, European style hotel with high, high ceilings and jacuzzi tubs for two! They have cheeze and wine waiting for you in your room upon arrival and they deliver breakfast with fresh fruit to your room the next morning. It was exceptionaly clean and they offer message therapy (which was wonderful!) We found a great little Italian restaurant named DeVito's. It is small as it only offers 6-7 tables but the atmosphere, food and wine were wonderful. If you have the time, you will really enjoy a day and evening at Eureka Springs!

MD4-in Tulsa

Hi again- regarding the places you asked about, Oxley Nature Center is located in Mohawk Park, as is our zoo, so there should be lots to do there. Doing a couple of quick searches, I could not find the other 2 places you mentioned, but did find the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (nature.org/oklahoma) in Pawhuska, OK, about 1.5 hrs away. Never been there, but might be something of interest for you.
Regarding places to stay, have not heard of the B&B mentioned- check www.visittulsa.com and look under hotels, B&Bs. The ones I know about there are Jarrett Farm- about 20 minutes outside Tulsa, mostly individual cottages, not sure how that would work for a family. Also fairly pricey (www.jarrettfarm.com). Not a B&B, but a boutique hotel in downtown is the Hotel Ambassador, which is great (www.hotelambassador-tulsa.com). May be able to get a more reasonable rate there. And their restaurant is fantastic. We also have the usual assortment of chain hotels- Hampton Inns, Embassy Suites, Doubletrees, etc.
Oct/Nov is a great time to visit- usually very mild weather by then. Summers can be scorching.
One more thing- on the travelok.com site you can request various brochures and materials to be sent to you. I'd encourage you to do that in addition to exploring the site. The state tourism dept. does a great job with those materials.

Chelsea

I am originally from Tulsa, now live in NYC, and also think it is a great place to spend a few days. In response to the question about W. 72nd Ave, I'm not familiar with that area and you probably do not want to stay on the west side of town. It's where the refineries are and parts of it can be dangerous (to the extent that any part of Tulsa is!).

Nice neighborhoods that are central are Maple Ridge (but I don't think there are any B&Bs there), Cherry Street, Florence Park, Swan Lake, and Brookside. Cherry Street and Brookside are more commercial so they're more likely to have B&Bs. There is also a very nice new hotel downtown--an old grand one that was refurbished.

Also, I've been to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. It's a neat place if you have a lot to talk about with your companion but it really is mostly grass. There are some depressions where you can see that big animals bathed and wallowed. Not too exciting but very peaceful.

Finally, I know it's weird to recommend ORU as an attraction, but it's kind of incredible to see what this crazy guy built. Think of it as kitsch and enjoy it!

Restaurant suggestions in Tulsa:
* Nelson's Buffeteria, downtown (weekdays only)--Get the chicken fried steak, it is amazing!!!
* Queenies Cafe in Utica Square shopping center
* Cancun mexican restaurant

Have fun in my city!

P.S. I agree that Eureka Springs is a great side trip.

cd

Sam:
http://www.palacehotelbathhouse.com/ This is a PS to my earlier reply. If you're interested, check out the Palace Hotel's web site. If you go, you would need reservations.

lscott

we got to know the area well when dau and family lived near Tulsa (at Cleveland). Never found much of interest in Tulsa except Gilcrease Museum, but do drive on through Cleveland to Pawnee and visit the Pawnee Bill homestead and I second the recommendation for Wooloroc near Bartlesville.

doyouremember

Do you remember who sang it?

24 Hours From Tulsa
Burt Bacharach - Hal David

Dearest darling,
I had to write to say that I won't be home anymore.
'Cause something happened to me
while I was driving home, and I'm not the same anymore.
Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa,
ah, only one day away from your arms.
I saw a welcoming light
and stopped to rest for the night.
And that is
when I saw her
as I pulled in outside of a small motel, she was there.
And so I walked up to her,
asked where I could get something to eat and she showed me where
Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa,
ah, only one day away from your arms.
She took me to the cafe,
I asked her if she would stay.
She said: O.K.

Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa,
ah, only one day away from your arms.
A jukebox started to play,
and night turned into day,
as we were
dancing closely,
all of a sudden I lost control as I held her charms.
And I caressed her, kissed her,
told her I'd die before I would let her out of my arms.
Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa,
ah, only one day away from your arms.
I hate to do this to you,
but I love somebody new.
What can I do?
And I can never, never, never go home again.