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My family and I are planning to visit Tulsa over Spring break. We're only going to be there for two days. We are checking out Tulsa and OKC to decide which one we prefer for relocation.
TWO QUESTIONS:
What would you suggest we visit in two days to get the vibe of Tulsa?
We've got a 3 year old and are into family and outdoor activities.
Also, a vibrant and growing church is important to us too.
What are the differences in your opinion between Tulsa and OKC?
For your two day visit, hit the zoo & Mohawk park (the zoo is in the park), the air and space museum is across the street. I would visit cherry street (15th, from peoria to the east) and Brookside (peoria from 32nd to 51st) as well as downtown, particularly the blue dome and brady areas. If you have specific dates in mind, Brady has one weekend a month where all the art galleries do live demos for the public.
Down south you can hit the shopping areas (41st&Yale, 71st&Memorial) as well as the Oklahoma Aquarium and Riverwalk and Jenks. Other key things to hit would be Gilcrease, Philbrook, Woodward Park, Riverparks and Tulsa Garden Center.
There are vibrant growing churches from every denomination. give some more info and I'll try to help you find one. Although you have to watch out that Tulsa is home to many churches that get referred to as "Six Flags over Jesus" because they are huge, prosperous, and not necessarily focused on practicing what they preach.
Hey warmweather! Sgrizzle definitely hit the main things you should try and fit in. Seeing as you only have two days I would really see what the weather is like. If it is nice then I would definitely visit the Tulsa Zoo and then hit the riverparks. I really think your 3 year old would love seeing all the different animal statues they have around the park, especially the giant bear one with a waterfall. Also Woodward park is a great way to spend the afternoon and I always loved visiting there as a small child. If the weather is a bit cooler then I would go to the Oklahoma Aquarium or one of the museums, but not sure if you could keep the young one enthralled long enough with the paintings.
As for churches may I suggest Lifechurch.tv. It is definitely different then your normal church, but they really follow what they teach and Craig Groeschel is one of the best pastor's I have listened to. If you don't know to much about the church let me fill you in a little. There are multiple campuses across the United States and each campus has a campus pastor that is there for the congregation. The speaking however is done via satellite and transmitted to the different campuses where you watch the sermon. The church is non-demoniantional and definitely very contemporary, but the people I have met since attending the campus in south Tulsa have made me feel more welcome then any church I have ever gone too. Have a great trip and if you have anymore questions don't hesitate to ask.
What are the differences in your opinion between Tulsa and OKC?
Tulsa is pretty, OKC is ugly.
Tulsa has little hills. OKC has the wild wide open prairie. I prefer the wild wide open prairies, but then again, I am not like most Americans whose brains explode of they can't find an earthly absess of some kind, or a giant body of saltwater.
Tulsa had it. OKC is up and coming.
Tulsa has art. OKC is getting art.
Tulsa has a culinary scene. OKC has a culinary scene. (Argue that all you want, but Tulsans have a V-chip in their heads that disallow them from believing there is more to OKC's food culture than Toby Keith's and Bricktown.)
Tulsa has the Arkansas River. OKC has the Oklahoma River and Lake Hefner.
Tulsa has no theme parks. OKC has theme parks.
Tulsa has Midtown. OKC has Midtown and Nichols Hills. Both are covered in trees and lush landscaping.
Tulsa has a dozen major lakes within an hour's drive. OKC has just a few, and further away.
Tulsa has a major casino a stone's throw from the city. OKC has only Remington Park and Casino.
Which brings me to facilities. OKC has a world-class race track for horse racing. Tulsa has a racetrack, but it's okay.
Tulsa has a kick-ass fairgrounds. OKC is improving theirs.
Tulsa and OKC both have decent zoos, but OKC's has more and better exhibits.
Tulsa has the Tulsa Ballet and the Tulsa Symphony. OKC has Ballet Oklahoma, OKC Philharmonic and the Canterbury Choral Society.
Tulsa has Mayfest. OKC has Festival of the Arts.
OKC has Opening Night on New Year's Eve. In Tulsa, make your own plans.
Tulsa has Dfest. OKC has the deadCENTER Film Festival.
Tulsa has Oktoberfest. OKC has Oktoberfest.
Tulsa has Fourth of July on the River. OKC has the Bricktown Fourth of July. Both are equal in festivities.
OKC has Aerospace America. None in Tulsa, that I am aware of.
OKC has Downtown in December. Remember to get back with be on that one, Tulsa.
Tulsa has Cherry Street, Blue Dome and Brookside. OKC has Bricktown, Automobile Alley, MidTown, Asian District, Western Avenue and Capitol Hill.
And I can go on.
Can I throw the measuring stick away, now? Let's play, Oklahoma.
From a rugged territory to the Oklahoma Run
We've made our dreams come true,
just look at what we've done
We're the Heartland of America,
our heart is in the race
We've sailed our prairie schooners
right into outer space
We are young and we are strong,
we are comin' with a roar
Sooner than later we'll be knockin' on your door
Say hello to the future,
gonna shake the future's hand
and build a better world
upon this sacred land
Guts and grace and mercy, we have shown them in our turn When the fields had turned to dust and the skies began to burn When the storm shook our souls and the mighty buildings fell Through fires and desperation our faith has served us well I choke back the emotion, I'm an Okie and I'm proud So when you call me Okie, man, you better say it loud Now we look into the heavens at the eagles climbing free It's the spirit of our people on the wing, can you see?
We're Oklahoma Risin', brighter than a star Stand up and sing about her let the world know who we are We're the sons and the daughters, children of the West We're Oklahoma Risin', risin' up to be the best
[quote=okcpulse;7771605]Tulsa has little hills. OKC has the wild wide open prairie. I prefer the wild wide open prairies, but then again, I am not like most Americans whose brains explode of they can't find an earthly absess of some kind, or a giant body of saltwater.
Tulsa had it. OKC is up and coming.
Tulsa has art. OKC is getting art......... And Tulsa is adding more. (new Philbrook Museum Expansion Downtown,etc.)
Tulsa has a culinary scene. OKC has a culinary scene. (Argue that all you want, but Tulsans have a V-chip in their heads that disallow them from believing there is more to OKC's food culture than Toby Keith's and Bricktown.)
Tulsa has the Arkansas River. OKC has the Oklahoma River and Lake Hefner........... If Tulsa had the same all encompassing land mass as OKC we would have the beautiful Lake Skiatook (you can sit out on the lake and see downtown from it) and lake Keystone. The "Oklahoma River",,, a drainage ditch they are trying to fancy up. Doing a nice job of it though I must admit.
Tulsa has no theme parks. OKC has theme parks....... Frontier City and Bricktown
Tulsa has Midtown. OKC has Midtown and Nichols Hills. Both are covered in trees and lush landscaping......... Noooooo comparison, Tulsas Midtown blows away OKC's midtown/Nichols Hills. Plus, far South Tulsa in the hilly area by the river is becoming the new Midtown type area.... with neighborhood after neighborhood after neighborhood of cute little cottages like this.....
But if you want to compare midtown to midtown for biggest, most beautiful, grand and elegant, etc. Bring it on,,, but be prepared to take a seeeeerious asswhuppin
.............I do have to say though, that OKC is far ahead of us on offering urban living options like the ones they have near their downtown.
Tulsa has a dozen major lakes within an hour's drive. OKC has just a few, and further away.
Tulsa has a major casino a stone's throw from the city. OKC has only Remington Park and Casino.......... New major casino will open up in about a month in South Tulsa, soon to add a hotel, then next phase is a bridge and Riverwalk type development on their property on the other side of the river.
Which brings me to facilities. OKC has a world-class race track for horse racing. Tulsa has a racetrack, but it's okay.
Tulsa has a kick-ass fairgrounds. OKC is improving theirs.
Tulsa and OKC both have decent zoos, but OKC's has more and better exhibits.......... Don't forget the Oklahoma Aquarium,, yea its in Jenks, but its just across the river lol. Oklahoma Aquarium
Tulsa has the Tulsa Ballet and the Tulsa Symphony. OKC has Ballet Oklahoma, OKC Philharmonic and the Canterbury Choral Society.................... Tulsas ballet is one of the top 10 in the country and is recognized world wide as one of the finest. You would have to go to NYC, Boston, etc. to see better. It makes other local companies like the one in Dallas look like a bunch of stumbling clowns..... Besides the Tulsa Symphony now headquartered in the Jazz Hall of Fame Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame (http://www.okjazz.org/internal/index.cfm?id=59 - broken link) , we also have the Signature Symphony Signature Symphony Home .....Tulsa has the wonderful Tulsa Opera Tulsa Opera and the old standby the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus https://www.toconline.org/ lets not forget about Theater Tulsa and all the myriad other local theater companies.
That video on UTube is awesome. Thank you for sharing it with us cause I've never seen it before. I don't like MOST country music and I don't really like rodeos, but the entire thing was really neat.
Robyn had done a video to the same song and personalized it with pics of her family and her area. It is really cool!!!
Tulsa has the Arkansas River. OKC has the Oklahoma River and Lake Hefner........... If Tulsa had the same all encompassing land mass as OKC we would have the beautiful Lake Skiatook (you can sit out on the lake and see downtown from it) and lake Keystone. The "Oklahoma River",,, a drainage ditch they are trying to fancy up. Doing a nice job of it though I must admit.
Do you know the history of the Oklahoma River? It's not a drainage ditch. It is an actual river (the North Canadian) whose natural beauty was destroyed in the 1950s when the Corps of Engineers straightened the river channel to prevent future flooding of central OKC. They accomplished their mission, but destroyed the beauty that was once the North Canadian River that was a place of recreation and home to Delmar Gardens in the early 20th Century. Thankfully, beauty is being restored, but it will take time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TulsaArtist
Tulsa has Midtown. OKC has Midtown and Nichols Hills. Both are covered in trees and lush landscaping......... Noooooo comparison, Tulsas Midtown blows away OKC's midtown/Nichols Hills. Plus, far South Tulsa in the hilly area by the river is becoming the new Midtown type area.... with neighborhood after neighborhood after neighborhood of cute little cottages like this.....
Tulsa's Midtown blows away Nichols Hills??? No, I have to disagree. The digs in those photos are a lot of what you find in Nichols Hills. And let's not forget Gaillardia, Rose Creek, Bocage and Val Verde in northwest OKC. You will also find those types of homes going up in rugged forest-covered far northeast OKC. And there is also Chatenay in far south OKC.
I feel both affluent areas of Tulsa and OKC are full of beauty in their own respects. Heck, people out on the west coast actually believe these cribs are non-existent in Oklahoma. Let's treasure our best-kept secrets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TulsaArtist
OKC has Aerospace America. None in Tulsa, that I am aware of......... Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium... Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium
I think you misunderstood me. I was talking about major airshows. But, on that note, Tulsa has the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. Oklahoma has Science Museum Oklahoma... right next to the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TulsaArtist
lets not forget about Theater Tulsa and all the myriad other local theater companies.
As in Oklahoma City, with Lyric Theater, Black Liberated Arts and those at Oklahoma City University. I am glad that Ballet Oklahoma is reinventing itself. I am looking forward to their future offerings. I thought Tulsa Opera folded. Were they able to stay afloat? If so, that's a good thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TulsaArtist
Tulsa has the Arkansas River. OKC has the Oklahoma River and Lake Hefner........... If Tulsa had the same all encompassing land mass as OKC we would have the beautiful Lake Skiatook
Once again, people are misunderstanding Oklahoma City's geography. Oklahoma City's urbanized area is a third of the city's land area. Lake Hefner sits right inside OKC's urbanized area, and is only 6.5 miles northwest of downtown OKC (You can see both the OKC skyline and the northwest BD skyline from Lake Hefner). Northwest OKC is built up all around Lake Hefner.
Skiatook Reservior is twice the distance from downtown Tulsa. If Lake Hefner were 13 miles from downtown OKC, it too would be outside of the city limits.
Oklahoma City isn't "spread out". A simple look at an OKC street map should be enough to tell you that the contiguous urbanized area, which is 243 square miles, takes up a small portion of the city's land area. According to city zoning plans, only 300 square miles is set aside for urbanizing development, 14 square miles is set aside for another reservoir which is planned next to Lake Stanley Draper, and the rest is either large tracts of private property or land set aside for conservation efforts such as the Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge.
As far as festivals other than the signature festivals I listed, OKC has Red Earth Festival, Shakespeare in the Park, Ghouls Gone Wild on Halloween, Bricktown Blues & BBQ Festival and the Deep Deuce Jazz Festival, ReggeaFest, Paseo Arts Festival, weekly sailing regattas on Lake Hefner, the Asian Festival and the annual Mariachi Festival in Capitol Hill, the heart of the Latino community.
None of this makes one city better than the other, I just feel that there are a lot of qualities in OKC ignored by many in Tulsa.
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