A great hometown

One of the first things you will notice about Tulsa is the multitude of restaurants. I recommend getting away from the typical chains and trying some unique restaurants such as Tucci's on Cherry Street or the Chicken Char on Peoria. You shouldn't miss various musuems such as Gilcrease with its amazing depictions of the old west or Philbrook with its beautiful architecture, art and gardens.

Quick Tips:

If you want to fit in with fashion, think Abercrombie and Fitch. You will seriously think you just walked into an Abercrombie and Fitch magazine when you see everyone. So preppy is definitely in around Tulsa.

Best Way To Get Around:

If visiting I would suggest renting a car. You can get taxis, but they can get expensive, and because there aren't very many the wait can be annoying. Be prepared for traffic, and a lot of construction, particularly around 71st Street and on all the highways. There is technically public transportation, but it would be the least favorable way to get around town. Tulsa is also very spread out so walking would not be a good way to get around town.

Zios is the perfect place to get great food at a great price. You will be hard pressed to find better Italian food at this price. In fact, having gone to many "fine dining" Italian restaurants, I have found Zios to be tastier and more enjoyable. Zios is great for the family or for a romantic dinner. Be forewarned that it is one of the most popular restaurants in Tulsa and it gets packed every night, so don't expect to be seated immediately if you arrive during the dinner rush. During dinner it is very lively so don't go there expecting an extremely sedated atmosphere.

Philbrook is an art museum housed in the mansion of the Phillips family (they started phillips 66). The first thing that amazed me was that someone actually lived in such a huge house. One simply walks around the rooms of the house and enjoys the artwork. Looking out the back windows into the gardens you feel as though you have been transported to an Italian villa. There are multiple types of artwork, from Rennaisance European artists, to Japanese artwork, modern pieces, there is even a history section with selections from ancient Egypt. Typically Philbrook will also house a temporary exhibit of some kind. If you come during the spring or summer make sure you give yourself time for the gardens, and even think about a nice romantic picnic on the grounds.

Bells can be a lot of fun for the young or young at heart. It is very small but will give the kids a couple of hours of entertainment. It has a roller coaster, a couple of water rides (where you will get wet if you go on them), miniature golf, along with your basic amusement park rides. The best time to go to Bells is when its having a date night, which means that everything is 2 for 1. That helps keep the cost at a reasonable level for this small but enjoyable park. While at Bells you will find yourself mostly around junior high age kids, mixed with a few younger and older kids and teenagers and some parents along for their wallets.