Discover Jenks: Aquarium, Trails and RiverWalk

Jenks offers several reasons to stay: the Oklahoma Aquarium, trails and recreational activities, downtown along Main Street, as well as art and events. The following guide highlights what the city has to offer.

Aquarium and Planetarium

The Oklahoma Aquarium is open daily from 10 a.m.; it closes at 6 p.m., and at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays. Since opening hours may change, check the current schedule before your visit. In the EcoZone, visitors can touch rays and small sharks. The shark tunnel offers a different kind of encounter: it is home to the world's largest collection of bull sharks. Ten bull sharks swim above visitors there, while three nurse sharks swim nearby. The aquarium thus offers both close-up encounters in the EcoZone and the chance to observe sharks in the tunnel.

The Jenks Planetarium has a different focus. Its 50-foot-high SciDome dome presents high-definition shows about planets, stars, galaxies and Earth. A show lasts approximately 50 minutes. This makes the planetarium an activity that can be planned with a specific approximate duration; topics range from individual celestial bodies to Earth.

Trails, Fishing and Skate Park

The Jenks Aquarium Trail runs along Aquarium Drive (101st Street) from Elm Street to the pedestrian bridge near 96th and Riverside. The trail connects to the Tulsa River Parks and Creek Turnpike Trails systems. These named endpoints provide clear reference points for planning your route.

Free public fishing lessons are held every summer at the Jenks Casting Pond next to the Oklahoma Aquarium. Since lesson schedules may vary by season, it's worth checking the current dates in advance. Fishing is permitted at Veterans Park as part of the “Close to Home” program. The skate park there covers 8,000 square feet and is suitable for skateboards, bicycles and scooters. Jenks offers a variety of recreational activities, from fishing to enjoying the skate park.

Downtown, Art and More

Downtown Jenks is centered on Main Street, where free on-street parking is available. River City Trading Post is also located downtown. More than 300 independent vendors offer antiques, unique items and collectibles there. This makes the Trading Post a destination in its own right for anyone looking to browse these kinds of goods while visiting downtown.

An annual Main Street tradition marks the start of the holiday shopping season and includes traditional horse-drawn carriage rides. Dates may vary, so check current event details before visiting.

Mvskoke Waters Gallery is a tribal art gallery featuring changing exhibitions. Admission is free, and the gallery is open to the community. Its exhibitions make it a cultural attraction in its own right, alongside Jenks's recreational and shopping options.

RiverWalk Crossing is a mixed-use center on the west bank of the Arkansas River and is connected to the Tulsa Riverparks Trail System. Golf may also be of interest: South Lakes Golf Course features a championship layout for golfers of varying skill levels.

Discover more destinations: Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Glenpool, Owasso, Sand Springs.

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