It often feels as if much of every year is spent waiting and dreaming about that day when we walk out of the office on a beautiful summer day, head home to pack, and then climb on a plane to fly to our summer vacation destination, only for it to end far sooner than we are ready. If you are in the planning stages of your upcoming Tulsa getaway, your favorite moments of every day may be the ones when you sit down in front of your laptop, a glass of wine in hand, planning all the details that will make this summer in Tulsa, OK one you will never forget. And because we understand the excitement of the planning stages, we at StayInTulsaOK have created this guide to a Tulsa adventure that you will wish never had to end, so go ahead, pour that glass of wine, and prepare to get lost in the magic of Tulsa.
What to See in Tulsa
If you didn’t see the Eifel Tower in Paris, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, or the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, could you really say you had visited those places? Every vacation has at least one landmark (often more) that best reflects the spot you are visiting and in Tulsa, these are the must see landmarks that best represent an Oklahoma vacation.
Golden Driller Statue, Tulsa Expo Center, 4145 E 21st Street
Tulsa was once known as the Oil Capital of the World, and although it is more commonly called T-Town today, the Golden Driller Statue, erected in 1966, reflects that original nickname and is a quirky landmark that needs to be seen to be believed. Standing 75 feet tall and weighing in at a husky 43,500 pounds, this gold structure could be considered the unofficial mascot of Tulsa and is definitely worth viewing.
Center of the Universe, 1 S Boston Avenue
In case you were wondering, the center of the universe happens to fall firmly in the middle of downtown Tulsa, just waiting to be explored by all who visit. Nothing more than a small concrete circle located in the center of a larger circle of bricks, the Center of the Universe is an acoustic anomaly that works as a private echo chamber; every noise while standing in the center of the concrete circle is amplified, and your own voice will sound distorted to those standing outside the circle.
The Outsider’s House Museum, 731 N Louis Avenue
Early in the 1980s, a small movie was made, one that starred a bunch of unknowns and changed the world forever simply by existing. That movie was called the Outsiders, and most of its stars have reached stratospheric heights of stardom, including Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, and Patrick Swayze. Filmed in Tulsa in 1983, the house that belonged to those outsiders still stands today and looks exactly as it did while the movie was being filmed, offering artifacts, exhibits, and a peek into the world of movie making.
Where to Eat in Tulsa
The vacations we remember most fondly include breathtaking adventures, exciting attractions, and restaurants serving meals so delicious, the foods haunt our dreams for years to come. To ensure that you enjoy those same happy memories during your Oklahoma journey, this guide to some of our favorite restaurants will give your taste buds something to cheer about.
Silver Skillet Family Diner, 8228 E 61st Street Suite 114
Oklahoma is known for a lot of things, but perhaps most of all it is known for its down-home Southern cooking, something that the Silver Skillet Family Diner excels at creating. Open various hours seven days a week, this diner isn’t fancy, but its servers are friendly, its booths and tables are clean and comfortable, and the meals they serve will bring comfort as they fill your belly. The Silver Skillet is one of our favorite places for breakfast with the family.
Roosevelts, 1551 E 15th Street
After a morning of Tulsa explorations, by the time the lunch hour arrives, you will be more than ready to take a seat in one of the booths of Roosevelts, a gastropub serving an eclectic selection of foods that will help you regain your energy. Providing the ambience of a gentlemen’s library with dark paneled walls and a row of bookshelves, the food at Roosevelts includes tapas (small plates) wraps, sandwiches, and burger, with each dish offering something that makes it stand out in a sea of restaurant food.
Boston Title & Abstract, 522 S Boston Avenue Suite B100
Closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, Boston Title and Abstract’s name attracted us at first, and then their menu and skill at creating meals ensured that we would return. Or maybe it was the coolness of eating at a speakeasy restaurant that has us returning time and time again, but whatever entices you to visit this unusual place, it is definitely worth a stop during your Tulsa visit. Everything about this restaurant is unique, from its hidden entrance in an alley, to the industrial set of steps that lead guests into an elegant and spacious underground restaurant, and its French inspired menu filled with elevated food offerings making it the perfect special occasion restaurant.
Events to Attend
The best way to achieve an authentic Tulsa experience is by attending the special events that take place in town each summer, some of which we have listed below.
Tulsa Juneteenth Festival, Greenwood Avenue
Celebrating the emancipation of the slaves, our Tulsa Juneteenth Festival is a community funded festival that celebrates that historic date, providing a safe place for expression while offering a block party, art installation, and musical entertainment that will have you dancing in your seats.
Folds of Honor Freedom Fest, Dream Keepers Park, 1875 S Boulder Avenue
Tulsa’s largest fireworks display is also one where one of the town’s largest celebration is held. Offering food and beverage trucks, and live music, the fireworks display will be set up over the Arkansas River at the 21st Street Bridge.
An Affair of the Heart, SageNet Center
Oklahoma’s largest arts, crafts, and boutiques show offers a fun opportunity to fill the empty spaces in your luggage, lasting three days and selling a variety of products, you won’t be able to keep the smile off your face when you walk in the doors for the first time. Tickets cost $12 and are good for unlimited entry.
Keeping Cool in the Heat of Summer
Summer is known for two things, being too hot and never lasting long enough, and although we can’t help with the latter, we can help you keep cool with a few water adventures that will ensure you stay chill even as the mercury rises.
Paradise Beach Waterpark, 4707 E 21st Street
This beautiful summer adventure opens for the season around Memorial Day Weekend, providing an exciting way to stay cool while the temperatures rise. Offering wave pools, water slides, a lazy river, and more, parents can rent cabanas for a little more privacy and a café ensures you don’t have to leave when hunger pangs strike, enabling this adventure to stretch out and last an entire day.
Mohawk Park Splash Pad, 4301 Creek Drive
Visitors with tiny travelers may not want all the excitement of a big waterpark or may simply not have the time to invest, but still want to enjoy some chill time, and the splash pads at many of our local parks, including Mohawk Park, can be just the answer. Offering a brief respite from the heat, a few moments of giggles and horseplay, and in this case, a friendly whale shooting water in the air from his spout, the splash pad is a beautiful alternative to the pricy and frenetic water park.
Air Conditioned Adventures
On the muggiest of days we Oklahomans sure give thanks to Willis Carrier, the inventor of the first air conditioning system, without which summer life would not be as wonderful. We have learned the tricks of finding air conditioned activities to keep our kids busy and dads from complaining too much, some of which are listed below.
Tulsa Air & Space Museum & Planetarium, 3624 N74th Avenue E
Located in a corner of the Tulsa International Airport, this museum and planetarium offers over 19000 square feet of air & space fun, including artifacts and interactive exhibits. Our favorite part of this unusual museum may be the vintage aircraft, but you may be excited by the full dome planetarium that was added on to the museum in 2006.
Discovery Lab, 3123 Riverside Drive
It can be difficult to find vacation activities that the littles enjoy, but a visit to the Discovery Lab will change all of that. This interactive kids’ science museum will help initiate a love of science in children that do not realize that they are learning while having a blast playing in the interactive exhibits offered here.
Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium Drive in Jenks
Jenks is a suburb of Tulsa, located just 12 miles outside of town and offering the wonderful Oklahoma Aquarium, the perfect summer adventure for travelers not used to the heat of an Oklahoma summer day. Offering a peek into the world under the sea, rivers, and lakes, you can travel from the Amazon to Sea Turtle Island to the Polynesian Reef in just a few steps, all without leaving its air-conditioned coolness.
Go Outside and Play
Although the summer is warm in Tulsa, it isn’t too warm to enjoy playing outside and these outdoor adventures will make your Oklahoma vacation that much more enjoyable.
Gathering Place, 2650 S John Williams Way
There are parks, and then there are PARKS, and the Gathering Place definitely falls into the latter category, offering 66.5 acres of outdoor adventures destined to be some of your favorite parts of your Oklahoma getaway. Offering playgrounds, mist areas, sports courts, open areas used as concerts platforms, skate parks, gardens, picnic pavilions—the list of what you can find at the Gathering Place during your summer vacation in Tulsa.
Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E 36th Street N
Best experienced in the morning hours during the summer, the Tulsa Zoo offers a fun way to get back to nature, providing 84 acres of natural habitat for a wide variety of animals from all over the world, and has been a local tradition since the 1920s. Here you can meet or feed the animals, ride the carousel, even sluice for gems, or take a walking tour of the zoo.
Hanging Out with StayInTulsaOK
However you spend your daylight hours during your summer vacation in Tulsa, some of the best memories will be made right here with us at home with StayInTulsaOK. Offering all the comforts of home along with the most modern of amenities, (Did we mention how much we love Mr. Carrier and his invention of air conditioning?) your stay is destined to be one you will never forget. And because they are such an important part of your vacation adventures, we have included a few more things you can look forward to enjoying in the space below.
Tranquility
Real life can be too loud and too harsh, so the beauty of shutting the door to the noise is one you deserve to enjoy on vacation, and our vacation home rentals in Tulsa, OK are built to bring serenity to your life. Spacious bedrooms anchored by deluxe beds, spa-like baths, many offering deep tubs in the en suite ones, even quiet areas tucked away in corners, providing overstuffed chairs, bright lighting, and the quiet you need to lose yourself in the magic of a good book, are just some of the extras you can expect from StayInTulsaOK.
Amenities
Offering everything from coffee makers on the counter to putting greens in the back yard, our Tulsa vacation homes and Tulsa vacation condos will be a comfortable and fun vacation experience in itself, encouraging guests to stay in, relax, and play for at least one day during your stay.
Reach out today and reserve your favorite StayInTulsaOK summer sanctuary today!
