Tulsa

In Tulsa, experiences range from riverfronts and nature trails to museums and sites of African American history. As you explore the city, you can shape your stay around your interests—with time outdoors, cultural stops, or both.

Parks, Riverfronts and Trails

The 66.5-acre Gathering Place is a riverfront park and public space that brings together nature, community, and play. You can reach it on foot via the River Parks trails or through an entrance on the east side that connects to the Midland Valley Trail. Admission is free.

Tulsa River Parks offers more than 26 miles of paved trails for jogging, walking, cycling, and roller skating; kayaking is also possible on Zink Lake. Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area has a different character: more than 300 acres of undeveloped land stretch along the Arkansas River. The 4.4-mile Yellow Trail leads to the river and then runs parallel to it. This offers a contrast between paved trails for a range of activities and a longer route through undeveloped land.

At Oxley Nature Center, diverse habitats cover 804 acres on the south bank of Bird Creek. The trails can be walked year-round, seven days a week; however, their condition may vary due to maintenance work or weather. At Tulsa Botanic Garden, you can explore the native flora and fauna of the Cross Timbers ecoregion, where western tallgrass prairies meet eastern deciduous forests. A loop trail approximately one mile long begins at Persimmon Grove. The Josephine G. and Timothy W. Driskill Children's Discovery Garden offers hands-on learning opportunities for children and families.

History and Culture

The Historic Greenwood District is a destination for African American history and culture. Greenwood Rising offers self-guided and docent-led tours through four galleries. They cover the Freedmen, the emergence and success of Black Wall Street, and notable figures of the Greenwood District. Vernon A.M.E. Church is also significant to understanding segregation, the rebuilding of Greenwood, and racial discrimination against African Americans.

At John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, Hope Plaza and the Tower of Reconciliation commemorate African American history in Oklahoma, including the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The park is an official member of the African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN). These sites focus on different aspects of African American history, from Greenwood to remembrance of the massacre.

Philbrook brings together a historic home, a world-class art museum, and 25 acres of gardens. The Westby Sculpture Walk features three-dimensional works by artists from around the world. The gardens and sculptures connect art with the outdoors, while the historic home offers another facet of the visit.

The Bob Dylan Center features a permanent exhibition on Bob Dylan's life and work, as well as changing exhibitions and year-round programming. An interactive audio experience pairs illuminated touchpoints with synchronized audio through headphones. At the Woody Guthrie Center, the interactive timeline wall “Woody’s Footsteps” traces his travels from Okemah, Oklahoma, through Pampa, Texas, and Los Angeles to New York.

Route 66 and Zoo Experiences

The Route 66 Historical Village is an open-air museum on Tulsa's historic Southwest Boulevard. Exhibits include a restored Frisco 4500 steam locomotive, a passenger car, a caboose, and an oil derrick. The derrick stands 194 feet tall at the historic site of the first oil discovery, on June 25, 1901.

At Tulsa Zoo, the Safari Train circles the zoo and offers views of animal exhibits and behind-the-scenes areas. There is also a 30-minute behind-the-scenes experience with African penguins. At the Oklahoma Central Credit Union Nature Exchange, guests can trade natural objects found outdoors for items from the collection. The train ride, penguin experience, and exchange offer different ways to engage with the zoo's nature themes.

When choosing a hotel, it helps to first decide which destinations you want to shape your stay, then choose a hotel location accordingly. The range of experiences extends from historic sites and museums to trails, gardens, and riverfront parks.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Glenpool, Owasso, Sand Springs, Jenks, Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Pottawatomie County, Comanche County.

For the main travel overview: Oklahoma.