LN

We're headed for Oklahoma - Tulsa to be exact. We've never been there and are looking for some sights that we shouldn't miss!!

We're looking forward to this and, hopefully, the ideas we'll get. Thanks!

gplimpton

Where are you coming from that Tulsa has you so excited?

LN

Oh - we're coming from the DC - Annapolis MD area and are looking forward to seeing some old friends in Tulsa. We're all arriving in Tulsa at the same time so it should be great!

We're going to take our time driving out there and hopefully find some nice towns along the way.

Are you from tulsa?

Scarlett

LN,
I have never been to Oklahoma, but I love gettting in the car and heading out to someplace different!
I will look for your trip report when you get back..Have a great time !

sharrin

When are you coming to Tulsa? In the summer it can be very hot and humid here.

One place we always tell people to go to is Oral Roberts University. It has some of the wildest architecture (prayer tower, large praying hands, etc). If you're into architecture, there is also a lot of art deco buildings downtown.

There are a couple of art museums, the Philbrook and the Gilgrease (this one has a lot of western art, including Remingtons).

Also a place to eat, a steakhouse, that's based on Tulsa's oil history, The Spudder. It has a replica of an oil derreck outside and inside there are the lighted globes that used to be on gas pumps years ago. Pretty good food, too.

Hope some of this helps.

LilMsFoodie

Well I lived there for 15 years...as a child and it is a lovely city.. still is. The neighborhood I lived in had a wonderful museum, The Philbrook, which has wondeful exhibitions and grounds. Used to show old movies outdoors in the summer.

The Gilcrease Museum has arguably the best western art collection in the US. As a child I was more interested in the European collection at the Philbrook and playing on the grounds there. There is also a famous Art Deco church that is interesting but mainly a drive by unless you are interested in Art Deco period. Hopefully someone else will fill you in on any new hot spots but this is a family city. It used to be notable for having the highest per capita non-earned income in the country. (Lots of oil royalties!)
LMF

joesorce

On the Arkansas/Okla border in a town called Salisaw, there is a diner that serves the best dang pie I ever had. Lesley's Cafe. Order a whole Apricot pie to go if you can, you'll be quite a hit with the friends that you are meeting. We we full from the lunch so ordered pie to go, and then 90 minutes down the road we dug in.
Turned around and went back for more!

LN

Hey - you all have me really looking forward to seeing Tulsa. There's a big ole wedding we'll be attending there and we'll get to see some old friends that we've missed for a couple years. The Gilcrease and Philbrook AND the Oral Roberts Univ all sound interesting and needing us to poke around there a bit.

Salisaw also sounds interesting, especially that apricot pie. Funny thing, I just came across a recipe for "pear" pie a week ago - tried it and it was fantastic. So i guess we'd better try "apricot" pie too!

Thanks so much Scarlett, Sharrin, Lilmsfoodie, Joesorce.

We'll probably stop at Memphis either going or coming and look for some great spots around there. Anyone have any good ideas?

Keith

To follow up on sharrin's comments about the architecture

Some Tulsa friends put together a "tacky tour." The slide show is at http://home.tulsaconnect.com/dhamma/...2002/index.htm

I've been to Tulsa a dozen or so times, always for conventions. The most fun I have found away from the conventions has been bicycling along the river.

Keith

islandmom

I'm born and raised in Norman. You might as well drive down there. Go to OKC and see the bombing memorial, Bricktown, and the gardens. You got to eat Mexican food at Ted's. Oh and go to Bahama Breeze on Hefner lake. You could drive around to check out the tornado damage too. There's a great zoo and omni-plex. Norman is home of the Sooners! Check out the new natural history museum. Goldies is known for it's hamburgers. There are many fun places for pasteries or beer along the campus or main street. Also live music on campus or in Bricktown. The are carriage rides in Bricktown too. If you need more ideas south of Tulsa let me know. It's fun to canoe down the Illinois river too.

Keith

Mexican food! I forgot about an interesting Mexican Restaurant in Tulsa, I visited a few years ago: Casa Bonita.

I don't recall the food being that impressive, but the place was fun, particularly if you have children.

The restaurant is over 30 years old. It is decorated like a Mexican villa with stars in the ceiling. A volcano rumbles and glows every little while, there is a waterfall, a puppet theater and an arcade with a carousel.

Dining rooms include booths in caves, courtyards and other unique areas.

Keith

MD4

Couple of areas in midtown Tulsa with fun, mostly local shops and restaurants:

Cherry Street (several blocks of 15th street starting at Peoria and going east): Tuccis for upscale (but reasonable) Italian; Mary's for homemade Italian; Killian's is a fun Irish pub; Chimi's is OK for Mexican. On Utica between 15th & 21st is Tei Kai's, Asian/Thai.

Brookside (on Peoria, starting at 31st and going south): En Fuego, upscale ($$$) Mexican; The Brook, bar & grill, great burgers; Monte's, steakhouse; Blu, more bar than grill; Cafe Ole, probably my favorite Mexican; In the Raw- sushi, the place to see and be seen. ALL of the above have great patios if it is a nice day/night for you to sit outside. Suede is a fun martini bar. BBD is probably the most popular place for breakfast in town.

Utica Square is a nice outdoor shopping and eating area- it's pretty, just to walk around. Restaurant highlights there include Wild Fork, eclectic, and the Polo Grill, upscale. 21st & Utica.

Do check out Riverparks along Riverside Drive. Great for a walk or run or watch various casual sports games going on. There's a small outdoor bar/restaurant at 21st & Riverside- great place to people watch. Sometimes they have live acoustic music.

Do a text search for "Memphis" and look for the recent post from "EnglishOne"- lots of good ideas.

Hope this helps. Enjoy Tulsa!

jbrown

Well I don't know who this gplimpton is but I really resent comments like that. There are hundreds and hundreds of things to do in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and the rest of Oklahoma. It's attitudes like that that must lead to Fodors not having a guide to Tulsa, Oklahoma City, or even Oklahoma in general. Hey people, we don't ride horses to work and the dustbowl ended 60 years ago! Anyway, if you like the outdoors at all, I would recommend you go to the Mowhawk Park Nature Area on the north side of town and another cool place to visit is Redbud Valley, an area near Tulsa that has hiking trails through a very scenic area. I live in the Oklahoma City area and I also recommend,like islandmom, that you visit OKC too if you have time. The Memorial is striking and beautiful and we have a great Six Flags park, Bricktown, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and our Zoo is one of the Top 10 in the country.

PS: another attraction in Tulsa no one has mentioned is the Oklahoma Aquarium, which just opened this month and is supposed to be really nice. The curator was formerly the curator of the New York aquarium and the Seattle Aquarium. Have a good trip.

islandmom

Hey thanks! I forgot about the art museum and didn't know about the aquarium. Any good plays this summer?

jbrown

Any good plays where. There is alot going on in OKC theatre wise. Lyric theatre is doing Chicago I think this weekend at the Civic Center. There is also Carpenter Square Theatre, Shakespeare in the Park in Edmond, Jewel Box Theatre, and Pollard Theatre in Guthrie.

LN

Hi everyone

We're back and I wanted to tell you about our great trip.

We were headed from the D.C. to Tulsa Ok for a wedding so we decided to make an adventure of it and drove.

We stopped at Nashville Tn and stayed at the Opryland hotel (yes, we got a good rate on the Net) saw the Grand Ole Opry (Diamond Rio) and the Country Western Hall of Fame.

We also stopped in Memphis to see Elvis's Graceland (never did it before and I'm glad we stopped) heard some Blues on Beale street and ate some dry Memphis BBQ.

Branson was an unexpected stop and we enjoyed it!! Went to a Country Tonight show, laughed and reminisced and found a place to stay in town.

I got a bit misplaced trying to get through Louisville as I wanted to get over to Jeffersonville but never found the right bridge (it was rush hour) so I gave up and headed on.

Our final stop was at Monticello (Jefferson's home) and that was quite a treat. His home reflected a country gentleman's way of life. We've been to Mount Vernon several times as it's closer to home but this was our first to Monticello. He was quite an architect and quite a man.

We stayed in Tulsa for the wedding at the McBirney Mansion. The wedding reception was held here and they also have a number of restored room. The mansion dates back to 1925 and is beautiful. Our room was especially lovely with its adjoining sitting room and the breakfasts they served each morning were outstanding. We took Lilmsfoodie's advice and found the Gilcrease Museum (after getting lost twice) and that was very well done. I was amazed at all the western art and bronzes in one collection. Thanks again for the recommendation. Other than that we had time for a walk along the Arkansas River and couldn't make it to the Philbrook.

Thanks everyone for your advice and tips. We enjoyed our adventure (9 days in all) and are now home enjoying some warmer weather.