1. Holiday Inn Express–Jenks
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (918) 296-7300, (800) HOLIDAY
Address: 150 Aquarium Dr.
Description: This Holiday Inn packs a lot of interest in a small space. The matchbox-size lobby’s high ceilings and walls feature murals with an Italian flair and an elaborate chandelier. The hotel has 76 rooms including 19 suites. This is a nonsmoking facility. All rooms have coffeemakers, fridges, microwaves, irons and ironing boards, hair dryers, and complimentary premium movie channels. The hotel also has an indoor pool and spa, steam room, sauna and outdoor tanning deck, a business center, fitness center, small convenience store, and a guest laundry. Some of the suites have kitchenettes. Newspapers are available at the front desk. A short walk south and you’re at the Oklahoma Aquarium; a short walk north and you’re at the shops, restaurants, and movies of RiverWalk. Ask about discount coupons for the aquarium.
2. Jenks Public Schools
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Education
Telephone: (918) 299-4411
Address: 205 E. B St.
Description: The Jenks Public Schools district covers 39 square miles and includes some areas outside its city limits. At its nine schools, the district serves approximately 10,000 students. The system is divided into two elementary schools, two intermediate schools, a middle school, freshman academy, high school, and alternative center.If you look at the success of Jenks High School graduates, you’ll see why that ranking is so high. In the past decade, Jenks has produced a number of National Merit Scholars and two Presidential Scholars. More than 80 percent of Jenks graduates go on to college, many to some of the nation’s most respected schools.Jenks High School offers approximately 30 Advanced Placement courses each year, with Pre-AP classes offered for middle school and freshman academy. Languages offered include Spanish, French, German, and American Sign Language. Jenks has also begun a Chinese Initiative program designed to provide educational, cultural, and language opportunities for students. Among the features of the program are a principals’ exchange, a guest teacher program for teachers from China, and student exchanges for both middle school and high school students.Visual and performing arts opportunities include vocal music, band, orchestra, art, drama, speech and debate, and cinema. Athletics offered include baseball, basketball, cheer and pom, cross-country, golf, soccer, fast- and slow-pitch softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling.In 2005 the Jenks Public Schools received the prestigious Malcolm Balderige National Quality Award. The award, given to businesses, educational organizations, and nonprofit entities, is based on a number of criteria, including leadership, strategic planning, focus on market and workforce, and measurement, analysis, and results. The award puts Jenks alongside recipients like the City of Coral Springs, Richland College, IBM, and Xerox.
3. Circusoul
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 310 Riverwalk Crossing
Description: If you ever dreamed of being that “daring young man on the flying trapeze,” you can do it just across the river from Tulsa in Jenks. Just south of the Riverwalk shops, close to the pedestrian bridge, you’ll see the 30-foot trapeze rig that Kerry and Allie Valdes use for their classes. Kerry says, “Most of the people who come here have never tried trapeze before. If you can climb a ladder and hold the bar, you can do this.” Classes are one and a half hours long and include demonstration, education, and the experience. The Valdes have a full trapeze rig supported by four large A-frame structures, a fly bar, catch bar, safety lines, and net. The first challenge is climbing the 23-foot ladder. The facility is outdoors, so it’s totally weather dependent. They’re closed from about mid-Oct until it warms up in the spring. Walk-ins can sometimes be accommodated, but it’s best to call ahead. They will also be giving classes in aerial silk—that’s the thing that looks like a long scarf that the Cirque de Soleil performers do such amazing things with. A basic session runs approximately $35.
4. Ale Haus
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (918) 528-6600
Address: 500 RiverWalk Terrace, Ste. 135
Description: The Ale Haus almost defies categorization. Continental—yes, you’ll find European favorites like the signature Beef Wellington, French duck a l’orange, and Spanish paella on the menu. Fine dining—yes, the atmosphere is quietly sophisticated, with its dark wood, stone, and subdued neutral color palette, and soft music. But you’ll also find awfully good pub grub here. The casual signature dish is fish and chips. And the burgers get great reviews—especially the Boondock burger with spinach, Bermuda onion, and spicy Pepper Jack cheese.In summer the outdoor beer garden is a popular spot. It’s a great place to kick back and enjoy people-watching. Smoking is allowed out here.The clientele is generally 35 and older—looking for good food and low noise level. Children are welcome but they’re expected to behave and order off the regular menu. There’s no children’s menu, coloring sheets, or crayons. It’s a good date-night place—not too fancy or stuffy but definitely with an upscale ambiance.There’s full bar service with good lists of wines, beers, and ales. But the Ale Haus doesn’t stop at the glass. Try the Guinness Soup, a rich cheesy concoction with a goodly nip of Guinness, or the Bailey’s Irish crème brûlée.The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Mon through Sat. It’s closed on Sun.
5. American Heritage Antiques
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (918) 298-9408
Address: 101 E. Main St.
Description: American Heritage sits in a prime spot on the northeast corner of East Main and North 1st Sts. Like most antique stores, the inventory changes and you can never be certain what you’ll find, but the selection here is diverse and can range from scrimshaw and Native American items to kitchenware and art glass. Among the items they have carried in the past are art glass mushroom light shades, die-cast toy tractors, and salt-glazed rolling pins.
6. Milynda’S Memories
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (918) 298-5962
Address: 102 S. 1st St.
Description: Milynda’s, which used to be called Rebecca’s Memories, houses booths of 54 vendors. In addition to antiques, you’ll find some handcrafted items. Quality and stock vary from booth to booth, but one booth, near the front door, stands out for its display of glass. Well lit with rope light, the glass and crystal is shown to maximum advantage. In particular, a Northwood coin spot cranberry pitcher grabbed attention with its colorful sparkle.
7. Miss Mcgillicutty’S
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (918) 298-7997
Address: 106 E. Main St.
Description: This store is huge—the rooms just keep on rambling. With over 30 dealers, Miss McGillicutty’s carries a bit of everything. They have a number of pieces of furniture, both antique and reproduction—armoires, dining sets, even pianos. You’ll find the usual dishes, books and toys, jewelry—and the unusual, perhaps antique fishing lures or tackle.
8. Azur Couture
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (918) 299-2350
Address: 500 Riverwalk Terrace Suite 115
Description: You’ll be met at the door by Poshcious, owner Dara Dupler’s fashionably wrinkled shar-pei. Dara combs the markets on both coasts for fun, funky, and the trendiest fashions. This boutique is for the young, sharp and definitely hip shopper (sizes 0 to 12) looking for designer jeans and T-shirts or a one-of-a-kind dress. Trendy babies (newborn to 6 T) can get outfitted here, too.
9. Island Nation
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (918) 296-9801
Address: 500 Riverwalk Terrace, Suite 110
Description: It’s summer here even in the winter. With bamboo ceiling and walls, beachwear, and seashore-related decor items, you expect to hear the waves hitting the sand. This shop carries Tommy Bahama, Tori Richards, Life Is Good T-shirts and caps, Reef flip-flops, and much more. For a whimsical touch for your bath (or cabana, you lucky dog), pick up a couple of Happy Hooks—clothing hooks decorated with flamingos, palm trees, or mermaids. Or, if your bathroom is as close as you get to a watery getaway, try some of the wonderful Aromafloria bath and body products.
10. Pearl Diver
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (918) 299-3427
Address: 101 W. Main St.
Description: What an appropriate shop for the town that hosts the Oklahoma Aquarium! Pearl Diver carries pearls from many parts of the world—strung into necklaces, set in rings, and used in other pieces of jewelry. But the fun thing to do is “pearl dive.” Maybe that’s over-describing it—you won’t even get wet. Pearl Diver has an aquarium full of saltwater oysters from Hawaii. Each of them has been X-rayed and is guaranteed to contain a pearl at least 7 millimeters in diameter (pea-sized). If you’re lucky, the oyster you pick out with a pair of tongs (that’s the diving part) could have two or even three pearls—and they can be white, cream, pink, or black. Pearl Diver carries jewelry pieces to mount your pearl—the most popular being a tiny starfish/cage to snap the pearl into. And if you want an unusual gift, you can get a gift package containing an oyster in a can and a cage pendant to put it in. You have to open the oyster with a knife, but these aren’t the heavy-shelled oysters that are served in oyster bars, so it’s not a big deal. Open Wed through Sat.
11. West Southwest Territory
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (918) 296-0957
Address: 807 E. A St.
Description: Billed as “Tulsa’s only Native American owned and operated Southwest store,” West Southwest Territory carries an extensive collection of Native American–made jewelry, rugs, artwork, and pottery. Owner Vicki Holliday, of Cherokee descent, has made it her goal to represent as many tribes as possible and to promote Oklahoma-made and U.S.-made items. Pottery comes from many tribes and pueblos, including Navajo, Zuni, Acoma, Cherokee, and Sioux. Vicki also has delightful, handmade Cherokee dolls by Cherokee artist Margaret Flannagan. The assortment of jewelry, particularly turquoise, is impressive, and if you need a buffalo head to hang over your fireplace, you can get a beautiful one here for only $2,750.
12. Oklahoma Aquarium
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 300 Aquarium Dr.
Description: The Oklahoma Aquarium, on the banks of the Arkansas River, will open your eyes to underwater wonders. Exhibits range from the simplest of sea creatures—sponges, coral, and anemones—to complex animals with intricate behaviors like the electric eels, the archer fish, and the octopus.In addition to impressive exhibits like the walk-through Shark Adventure, where giant bull sharks, the largest in captivity, and lemon, sand tiger, and nurse sharks glide right over your head, smaller tanks, like the one displaying the jellyfish, hold visitors captive watching the watery ballet. The Coral Reef exhibit features a whole wall-window into the habitat of brightly colored fish. Over 200 exhibits house thousands of animals from at least 350 species.In addition to the exotic fish, Oklahoma natives are on exhibit. You may not spend much time looking at bass or sunfish, but linger at the paddlefish tank. When one of these prehistoric-looking fish feeds, its mouth opens like a two-car garage. They swim through the water, mouth gaping, sifting out minute plankton for food. And don’t miss the ancient snapping turtle (more than 120 years old) or the giant blue catfish.Other Oklahoma natives are on exhibit in the Hayes Family Ozark Stream area. Beavers, otters, and raccoons are the stars here. There’s also a den cam in case the beavers are having a bit of a snooze when you visit.Check the Web site for feeding schedules and times when the shark and ray touch pool and the turtle feeding pools are attended. Whether it’s big doin’s like the shark feeding or a smaller-scale activity—like putting krill on the side of the tank for the archerfish to shoot down—there are a number of things going on each day.Don’t forget to stop in the Karl and Beverly White National Fishing Tackle Museum, with its displays of antique tackle. From rods, reels, and lures to boats and motors, this is the largest, most complete collection of fishing tackle in the world. A Tulsa company, Zebco, produced the world’s first backlash-proof casting reel. See it and its snarly predecessors here.Grab a soda and a sandwich and enjoy a lunch on the deck overlooking the river. And be sure to make your last stop the gift shop, where you’ll find all sorts of fishy items, from stuffed animals to art.The museum is open every day except Christmas.
13. Fun House
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (918) 254-1646
Address: 500 RiverWalk Terrace, Ste. 100
Description: The Fun House features all sorts of video games, arcade games like whack-a-gator and ice ball, skeeball, air hockey, and coin-operated pool tables. This is a good spot for working off some energy on a rainy day.
14. Oklahoma Aquarium
City: Jenks, OK
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (918) 296-3474
Address: 300 Aquarium Dr.
Description: This place is fun for the whole family. With regular demonstrations, fish and turtle feeding, and touch pools, the experience is enhanced. And there are lots of special activities aimed at children and youths. Seacamps, offered during summer and winter breaks and on school holidays, give youngsters a chance to learn more about the environment and the oceans, and the creatures that live in them. Special days are offered for scout groups and homeschoolers. The Discovery Channel’s popular shark week is celebrated at the aquarium with extra demonstrations and activities. How about sleeping with the sharks? The museum has several sleepovers each year. College students interested in related careers can apply for internships at the aquarium.