The Happiness Function

When I moved to Tulsa in 2016, I didn’t know how much I was going to fall in love with the city. From its trendy Midtown areas like Cherry Street and Brookside, to the colorful and culturally rich districts Downtown, I’m proud to highlight these attractions of things to see and do in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Teetering culturally between the Midwest and the South, it is a wonderful city to live in and visit. Known for its oil tycoon Art Deco and Route 66, the city has so much to offer.

Whether you live here, have just moved to town, or are visiting for a vacation, this list will help you find things to do.

Explore the Gathering Place

I’m kicking off this list with a place Tulsan’s are very proud of — the Gathering Place.

Hailed as “A park for everyone,” the Gathering Place is one of the top public parks in the U.S. — it cost over $465 million to build.

The Gathering Place transports you and your entire family to another world. There are massive jungle gyms, sculptures, a boat house, trails, and restaurants to explore. This park is a dream come true for any child.

My husband and I love walking around early in the morning and looking at the Koi fish ponds. In the spring, the park is full of beautiful flowers. In the summer, it is lush, green, and shaded nicely. During the fall, it’s beautiful to see the leaves changing, and in the winter, it is magical with holiday festivals.

Get Outside in Tulsa’s River Parks

Since you’ll be visiting the Gathering Place, walk towards the river to the paved trail along the Arkansas River. Locals love to bike, walk, play disc golf, picnic, and actively bird watch in the area.

Tulsa River Parks is a great area for the community to get outdoors. There is a trail on the east and west sides of the river.

The Williams Crossing pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River is opening around Labor Day in 2024 and I can’t wait to check it out.

Rent Scooters or Bikes and Cruise Around

If you don’t want to walk or run, you can rent scooters and bikes to cruise around the Tulsa River Parks trails.

People of all ages let their hair down to explore and cruise for miles. You have to pay to use the scooters and bikes — they are open to the public. Just, be careful while riding.

Hike and Bike at Turkey Mountain

Turkey Mountain is one of our favorite places to recreate. The wilderness area is a wooded escape. It has trails to hike and mountain bike year-round. At the top of Turkey Mountain, you can enjoy Tulsa’s skyline view.

There is even a Bigfoot cutout in the trees along one of the trails — keep your eyes peeled (I love this).

We hike here religiously with our dog. As a local, I appreciate the effort being made to make this an epic green space for the community. It’s free to use.

Cruise Route 66

Officially named the Capital of Route 66, you can get your kicks on the famous Route 66 right here in Tulsa.

There is so much to see along Tulsa’s section, especially through town. The community has been spending a lot of money reinvigorating this historic highway.

Along 11^th street, local restaurants, boutique stores, murals, and breweries are popping up left and right. Spend some time moseying around. I love all the quirky roadside attractions.

Visit the Blue Whale

While you are cruising Route 66, drive a little further east, 20 minutes to Catoosa, and see the Blue Whale. It is a charming roadside attraction.

I specifically called this one out because it make’s an appearance in a lot of travel publications.

Explore the Tunnels Under the City

This is truly a local secret…

There are tunnels under some of the skyscrapers. You can go on a guided tour to learn about the city’s history while you tour the tunnels.

Plan a date to explore these underground passageways, famous Art Deco architecture, and have lunch downtown.

Be sure to add this to your Tulsa bucket list.

Explore the Art Deco Churches Downtown

In the ‘20s and ‘30s, oil tycoons were obsessed and infatuated with this architecture style, which is how Art Deco was introduced here. Tulsa was once the Oil Capital of the World — but it is no longer.

You can take a self-guided walking tour of Tulsa’s popular Art Deco landmarks. Grab a coffee and enjoy walking around.

Visit the Center of the Universe

When we first moved here, I worked in the BOK Tower. This was one of the first places my coworkers took me.

Stand in the middle of the Center of the Universe to experience a unique personal acoustic and vibrational sensation. You really have to experience it to understand what I’m trying to say — go-on, give it a shout, literally.

Snap Pics at Instagram-Worthy Murals Downtown

While you are downtown, keep an eye out for all the art murals painted on the brick buildings. It is a fun way to brighten up downtown. The murals make for fun and trendy Instagram-worthy photos.

Tour the different districts to see what makes them unique.

Gamble at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Whether you are coming to Tulsa to gamble, eat at one of the restaurants, or stay at the hotel to enjoy the pool, the Tulsa Hard Rock Casino has signed rock memorabilia from famous rock bands and artists.

The epic collection of memorabilia has a value of over $2 million. We love to dress up and go see concerts here, or gamble a little and have dinner. It’s fun to walk around and see the music collection.

This is the perfect place for a staycation.

Have Dinner and Drinks at Margaritaville

Margaritaville is located within Riverspirit Casino along the Arkansas River.

“It’s 5’clock somewhere,” as Jimmy Buffett used to say. Come and have great food, sit on the patio overlooking the river, enjoy music inside, or the fun volcano show.

We love biking here along the river trail and then having lunch — the taco salad is to die for.

This is also a neat place for a local staycation.

Check Out the Bob Dylan Center

In 2022, Tulsa opened the Bob Dylan Center. It is located downtown near the Greenwood and Tulsa Arts Districts.

It’s so cool to see this kind of culture in Tulsa. Pablo and I saw Bob Dylan perform at the River Spirit Casino years ago — how lucky were we.

Visit the Iconic Oral Roberts Prayer Hands

People from all over the world come to study at Oral Roberts University. People also come from all over the world to take photos of the famous golden prayer hands. Tulsa is, after all, located in the Bible Belt.

See the Golden Driller

I drive by this everyday and it is another iconic sculpture. Go ahead, snap a picture of the Golden Driller for your Instagram.

Tulsa likes to dress up this 75’ tall statue of an oil worker. It is located in front of the Tulsa County Fairgrounds and Tulsa Expo Center off of 21^st street.

Watch a Baseball Game at OneOK Field

Catch a Tulsa Drillers baseball game at OneOK Field with the local semi-pro team. OneOK Field also hosts other events, including fireworks for different occasions.

See the 4^th of July River Parks Fireworks

Don’t miss the Folds of Honor FreedomFest on the 4^th of July. Tulsa puts on an incredible firework display down by the river. It’s a must-see — I look forward to it every year.

Run the Route 66 Marathon

Another awesome event hosted by the Tulsa community is the Route 66 Marathon. People come from all over the world to run this race.

The race happens every November around Thanksgiving. There is also a family fun-run and 5K event.

You don’t have to be a runner or walker — you can volunteer for the race as well. I have run the half marathon twice, the 5K once, and have volunteered to hand out drinks a few times, and can attest that it is a wonderful event.

Here’s a link to sign up (takes you to the Route 66 Marathon website).

Farmers’ Markets

Oklahoma has a large agricultural scene due to its long growing season, making for an incredibly vibrant Farmers’ market scene.

My two favorite in town are the Tulsa Farmers’ Market and Brookside Farmers’ Market.

Explore Woodward Park and the Linnaeus Gardens

Woodward Park is close to Utica Square and the Philbrook Museum of Art on the corner of 21^st Street and Peoria.

In the spring, March through April, Woodward Park is a nice place for a walk. There are gorgeous gardens and trickling fountains. Grab the kids or your partner and snap some photos with the spring tulips.

My husband and I love walking around the Linnaeus Gardens.

Tour the Philbrook Museum of Art

The Philbrook Museum of Art is a charming museum in Midtown. It was originally home to one of the area’s biggest oil tycoons — Waite and Genevieve Phillips.

My personal favorite piece of art on display is a Picasso. The formal gardens and fountains outside are lovely and it is definitely a fun way to spend an afternoon.

I’ve been here at least five times and it’s worth checking out.

Walk Around the Tulsa Botanical Gardens

If you like walking around gardens, plan a visit to the Tulsa Botanical Gardens.

During the winter, around the holidays, the Tulsa Botanical Gardens hosts the Garden of Lights. They also have stargazing opportunities.

Explore the Tulsa Aquarium

Did you know Tulsa has an aquarium? For a family friendly indoor activity, visit this unique aquatic world.

Visit the Tulsa Zoo

My husband’s work sponsors a family day at the Tulsa Zoo every year and we finally went. If you love animals and wildlife conservation, add visiting the Tulsa Zoo to your list.

I enjoyed seeing all of the exotic wildlife such as the giraffes and African lions. If you have children, they will probably have fun visiting this place.

Tour the Gilcrease Museum

The Gilcrease Museum has over 28,000 artifacts and pieces of art focusing on North America and American culture. Their mission is to help people enjoy and understand the diverse heritage of the Americas. It is located north of downtown Tulsa.

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