ATTRACTIONS

Aaru

Home to the world’s first publicly accessible Omnideck, which allows guests to travel 360-degrees in a virtual reality world while tethered for safety, this virtual reality arcade-and-cafe is also popular for tabletop games and gathering with friends.

7 N. CHEYENNE AVE. | 918-706-4097 | AARU.GAMES

Admiral Twin Drive-In

Catch a double feature every night during the summer months at this classic 1951 drive-in theater. Sound is transmitted through the radio. Kick back in your car, or bring lawn chairs, blankets and a portable radio.

7355 E. EASTON ST. | 918-878-8099 | ADMIRALTWINDRIVEIN.COM

Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios

The 21-foot-tall space cowboy outside Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios can’t be missed. His likeness now finds a home on souvenir items like T-shirts, magnets, coffee cups and stickers, which can all be purchased at the 350-square-foot gift shop situated along the Mother Road.

1347 E. 11TH ST. | 918-895-9769 | BUCKATOMSON66.COM

Creek Council Oak Tree

The birthplace of Tulsa, this tree marks where the Muscogee Lochapoka Tribal Town established their new home with a ceremonial fire in 1836, using live coals they carried from their Alabama homeland over the Trail of Tears. Today, it is preserved with an ethno-botanical garden and several commemorative sculptures.

1750 S. CHEYENNE AVE. TULSAPRESERVATIONCOMMISSION.ORG/NATIONALREGISTER/BUILDINGS

Expo Square

It’s the site of myriad events throughout the year, including the Tulsa State Fair, prominent livestock shows, craft shows and a recurring flea market. Before heading inside, snap a photo with the iconic Golden Driller — a 76-foot-tall, 43,500-pound monument to Tulsa’s oil industry.

4145 E. 21ST ST. | 918-744-1113 | EXPOSQUARE.COM

Greenwood Cultural Center and the Mabel B. Little Heritage House

This is the area’s only home built in the 1920s that still stands. With the adjacent Cultural Center, it presents a permanent history of the district.

322 N. GREENWOOD AVE. | 918-596-1020 GREENWOODCULTURALCENTER.COM

Mother Road Market

A 27,000-square-foot food hall with food and wares of more than 20 merchants boasts local goods. From craft cocktails, to street tacos, to a plethora of

Continued on p. 10

Architecture hot spots

Much of Tulsa’s downtown was built in the 1920s, when the era’s popular art deco styles lavishly celebrated the booming economy. Two nonprofits offer walking tours to explore the city’s art deco architecture and downtown network of underground tunnels: Tulsa Foundation for Architecture: Themed tours are on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. They typically sell out. Visit tulsaarchitecture.com/tours.

Tulsa Historical Society: Tours are on the last Friday of the month (except for November and December, when they are moved up a week to avoid holiday confl icts) and start at 10 a.m. Private group tours and self-guided tours also are available; visit tulsahistory. org. To reserve a spot, call 918-712-9484.

Continued from p. 8 desserts, MRM has something for everyone, including a large patio play area with Route 66-themed mini golf. Don’t miss the nearby Shops at Mother Road Market, an eclectic mix of local concepts selling clothing, gifts, books and more.

1124 S. LEWIS AVE. | 918-984-9001 | MOTHERROADMARKET.COM

Oklahoma Aquarium

With eight exhibit galleries and more than 1 million gallons of water, you can see the many mysterious and wonderful creatures of the ocean that now make their home right here in Oklahoma. Plus, various species of sharks swim over visitors’ heads as they walk through an underwater tunnel.

300 AQUARIUM DRIVE, JENKS | 918-296-3474 | OKAQUARIUM.ORG

Riverwalk Tulsa

Located along the Arkansas River in Jenks, Riverwalk Tulsa is a great destination to play, dine and gather. Guests will enjoy restaurants, outdoor fireplaces and more.

300 RIVERWALK TERRACE, JENKS | 918-409-8089 RIVERWALKTULSA.COM

Route 66 Historical Village

A replica of the original Red Fork Train Depot joins an oil derrick commemorating the 1901 oil discovery that started Tulsa on its path to becoming what was once the “Oil Capital of the World.” From 1942-1947, the Frisco 4500 provided passenger service daily from St. Louis to Tulsa to Oklahoma City, and for years greeted visitors at the Tulsa Zoo.

3770 SOUTHWEST BLVD. | 918-619-9473 | ROUTE66VILLAGE.COM

Tulsa Botanic Garden

The Tulsa Botanic Garden sits on 170 acres of prairie and woodlands, with the rolling Osage County hills offering panoramic views of sunrises, sunsets and skyscrapers. Two new spaces, the Stanford Family Liberty Garden and the Bumgarner Lotus Pool, opened this summer.

3900 TULSA BOTANIC DRIVE | 918-289-0330 | TULSABOTANIC.ORG

Tulsa Garden Center, Woodward Park and Municipal Rose Garden

Forty-five acres of flora and fauna attract nature lovers all year long. At the Tulsa Garden Center, you’ll find a Victorian conservatory and 3-acre arboretum, plus a koi pond with water features.

2435 S. PEORIA AVE. | 918-576-5155

TULSAGARDENCENTER.ORG

USA BMX Headquarters

The expansive site hosts clinics, coaching, weekly practices and racing on a local and regional level, as well as several championship competitions. It also is home to the National BMX Hall of Fame.

490 N. LANSING AVE. | 480-961-1903 | USABMX.COM

Gathering Place

Tulsa’s destination park turns five this year, and there’s plenty to celebrate. From the medieval towers of the Chapman Adventure Playground to the architectural gems inside the Williams Lodge welcome center and numerous water features in between, the park represents a $465 million collaboration of more than 80 corporate and philanthropic organizations. Best of all, admission is free.

Enter the park from Riverside Drive, which runs beneath two land bridges on the west side of the park. Sports courts invite basketball, volleyball, street soccer and street hockey players. A skateboarding park is the perfect spot for bored teens.

Visitors of all ages will enjoy rotating art installations, family programming, trails surrounded by sunflowers and varied dining options.

Just to the south is Gathering Place’s neighbor, Discovery Lab, an interactive kids’ science museum and play center.

2650 S. JOHN WILLIAMS WAY | 918-779-1000

GATHERINGPLACE.ORG

Tulsa Zoo

The 84-acre zoo features nearly 300 species and 2,000 animals in exhibits ranging from an African penguin habitat to an immersive tropical rainforest to the Helmerich Sea Lion Cove and the Mary K. Chapman Rhino Reserve.

At the 5-acre Lost Kingdom, visitors have excellent views of Malayan tigers and other Asian mammals and reptiles endangered and vulnerable. You’ll also find a petting zoo, keeper chats, the Safari Train and a gift shop.

The Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve is expected to open in 2024, adding 10 acres of preserve yard with more trees, streams and natural ponds to give the elephants more room to free roam and free play with all their favorite toys like logs, dirt piles and keeper-made enrichment. The zoo currently houses one female and two male elephants, all age 50 with birthdays later in the year.

6421 E. 36TH ST. N. | 918-669-6600 | TULSAZOO.ORG