In Oklahoma, the USA, the exciting city of Tulsa is the perfect place if you are looking to do awesome things. There’s something for everyone in Tulsa, and the town has attractions for all ages.
Oklahoma is the right choice for your next vacation, as it is affordable, with awesome things and activities to fulfill your time, instead of just sitting around wondering what to do.
Dive deeper into this unique city! As one of the world’s most fascinating cities, Tulsa is flourishing thanks to the oil industry. An Oklahoma getaway to this gem would be well worth the time.
Visiting other destinations in Oklahoma? Check out our other guides:
- 11 Quintessential Oklahoman Meals You Must Experience During Your Visit to Oklahoma City
- 18 Must-Try Oklahoma City Breakfast Restaurants
- 12 Best Things To Do In Oklahoma City
Headed to Arkansas? Check out these guides:
Planning a road trip in the area? Check out The Best Stops Along Your Route 66
The 8 Best Things To Do In Tulsa
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
10 E 2nd St // + 1 918-596-7122
Their iconic building is a sight to behold, with works of art that include the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline as inspiration. It’s home to four theaters, an art gallery, and a studio, each offering a unique experience.
Whether you are coming to see music, dance, a musical, or comedy act, their incredible architecture, and state-of-the-art projection system will leave you speechless.
It is a world-class venue in its own right. It has been rated as one of the top 25 concert halls in the USA, featuring blockbuster performances and Broadway roadshows. This 5,000 seat facility hosts small opera, symphony, and dance events with equal élan. If you have the opportunity to catch a performance here, take advantage of it.
Tulsa Performing Arts Center is home to the Tulsa Ballet, the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and is well worth your time.
Oklahoma Aquarium
300 Aquarium Dr, Jenks, OK 74037, USA // +1 918-296-3474
The award-winning Oklahoma Aquarium is a facility that draws people from around the world. They house every species of sea life from all over the globe, with a particular emphasis on the Oklahoma area.
When you visit the Oklahoma Aquarium, it’s easy to see how beautiful and diverse the underwater world can be. This aquarium covers an impressive 72,000 square feet and is home to over 1,000 different species and 35 habitats. From playful sea lions to delicate coral reefs, here you will find hundreds of species guaranteed to amaze you.
Visitors here can get up close with sharks, nurse sharks, stingrays, and many other species of fish, plus experience interactive educational exhibits. This shark adventure experience is the world’s largest indoor exhibit of bull sharks and a total immersion environment.
Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame
5 S Boston Ave // +1 918-928-5299
The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is a museum, library, and fine music venue that pays tribute to the great artists from Oklahoma. The building features exhibits on different musical styles and hosts national talent and local musicians for live shows every Thursday through Sunday.
This provides an excellent opportunity to hear local artists in a live show that allows everyone to appreciate their work. Why not choose some quality music if you are looking for some great things to do in Tulsa?
This museum boasts exhibits, performances, lecture series, and more. The Birthplace of Tulsa Headquarters Museum is a great place to visit when you’re in the area.
In Tulsa, you can learn just how important Oklahoma was to the genre’s development. The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame makes for an entertaining visit. There’s even a cafe where you can enjoy live music while you sip on some great coffee and desserts.
Whether you’re a jazz aficionado or have little knowledge of the genre, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is a great starting point for understanding America’s most famous art form. Sam Phillips, Carl Perkins, and B.B. King were all discovered in Tulsa, an essential part of the city’s contribution to jazz’s development.
The Gilcrease Museum
400 N Gilcrease Museum Rd // +1 918-596-2700
The Gilcrease Museum is the largest of its kind in the state of Oklahoma. The Gilcrease is a fascinating place to discover art, with galleries full of collections. This striking museum encompasses three separate buildings, each with its unique collections and distinctive architecture.
Open your door to the world of art with a visit to the Gilcrease Museum. This Tulsa museum contains a tremendous collection of western American art.
Its vast collection ranges from 19th-century works to contemporary creations, encompassing paintings, sculptures, drawings, and more. It also features an impressive selection of Native American pieces.
There are plenty of things to do in Tulsa, and the Gilcrease Museum is among the best. This museum contains more than a quarter-million historical pieces and is regarded as a center for American art.
The museum isn’t just about the United States after the British arrived here either, or even just North America. Pieces of pre-colonial times, going as far back as twelve thousand B.C and ones from South America, can be found here.
Tulsa Zoo
6421 E 36th St N // +1 918-669-6600
This zoo was established in 1920 and became accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 1980. The Tulsa Zoo is notable for its contributions to animal care and conservation efforts.
The Tulsa Zoo is an 85-acre (34 ha) zoo located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The zoo’s mission is to conserve species, educate people, and inspire caring stewardship of the natural world.
The Tulsa Zoo is the region’s premier zoo, starring many African and Asian species. With more than 1,000 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in its collection, the Tulsa Zoo also preserves over 1,500 different rare or endangered species.
Air and Space Museum
3624 N 74th E Ave // +1 918-834-9900
Tulsa’s Air and Space Museum offers a variety of hands-on, interactive exhibits. Located in the heart of downtown Tulsa, the museum houses several aircraft, including the Spartan Executive Model 12, Bell 47-K Helicopter, and Rockwell Ranger 2000. Visitors can also explore the Space Shuttle Endeavor on display outside the museum.
There is so much for you to see and do at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum! There are many fascinating stories about aviators and astronauts, including their spacesuits, rockets, and radios.
There are also flight simulators, robots, and even model planes! The museum is located on Woodland Hills Blvd., across from the Tulsa International Airport.
The TASM (Tulsa Air and Space Museum) has a wide variety of exhibits. There are science-related exhibits, math-related projects, and an art gallery. As you meander the halls, you will discover many things in this museum.
I highly recommend it for a day trip. You can see vintage aircraft up close and take in the exciting atmosphere of the museum.
Philbrook Museum of Art
2727 S Rockford Rd // +1 918-748-5300
The Philbrook Museum of Art is a must-visit location for art enthusiasts. Throughout the building and in the gardens, this museum houses works of art showcasing elements of the African desert, including breathtaking mosaics illustrating animals and people.
One of Tulsa’s most beautiful and elegant museums is also one of its most historic. The Philbrook Museum of Art was founded in 1933 by Waite and Carrie Phillips to keep the family collection together during hard times.
This museum has been a center for education and learning since 1939, and the permanent collection tells a story of worldwide cultures. Visitors can see exhibits from the Chinese, Nubia, and Egypt, to name a few.
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art
2021 E 71st St, Tulsa // +1 918-492-1818
Located in the center of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a monument that tells the history of the Holocaust. Known as the Kaiser Holocaust Memorial, it is a silent reminder never to let genocide happen again. The monument houses thousands of little bronze feet—a small tribute from each child killed in the Holocaust.
Open your door to history and culture at the Tulsa Jewish Museum. From exhibitions that celebrate Jewish American experiences to themed movie nights and cultural celebrations, the Tulsa Jewish Museum is a building filled with things to do in Tulsa.
Wrap up on the things to do in Tulsa
When you travel to Tulsa, you’ll discover a city that’s full of art deco architecture, underground arts scene, and better-than-the-coast food and drink.
With its cosmopolitan delights and Southern hospitality, Tulsa is a dynamic city known for bustling urban districts, excellent dining, an unrivaled love of the arts, and a collection of art deco architecture unparalleled in the nation.
Take part in the performing arts at Tulsa’s renowned venues, and experience the deep cultural roots of Tulsa. Your toes are in the birthplace of Western Swing while letting the sights and sounds of Tulsa tempt you into enchanting travels around the city.
Tulsa is a forward-thinking and progressive place while also looking to the past with a strong sense of heritage. The airport was named one of North America’s top ten best-run airports, so the view will be even better if you are flying.
The people of Tulsa are friendly and welcoming, and they like to meet new people and share their area’s culture with visitors. A perfect weekend getaway, Tulsa is just 90 minutes from Oklahoma’s largest city, Oklahoma City (also home to Barry Manilow).
