Tulsa Scavenger Hunt
Visit any five of the following locations and take a family photo! Email your collection of Tulsa Scavenger Hunt photos to tara.rittler@tulsakids.com, and we’ll try to share them on social media.
Tulsa: FREE
Gathering Place: Herons at Chapman Adventure Playground
There are so many iconic structures at Gathering Place, from the striking ONEOK Boathouse to the two-story fireplace inside Williams Lodge. But for our scavenger hunt purposes, we want to highlight one of the most recognizable elements from the Chapman Adventure Playground: the giant wooden herons!
Alternate: If you’re sticking to the more toddler-friendly areas, the banana slide is another fun photo op.
Hardesty Library storytime room
Hardesty Library: Storytime Room
Tulsa City-County Library is always hosting free events for families, including their popular Build-A-Reader Storytimes. We especially love the storytime room at Hardesty Regional Library — it’s made to look like you’re stepping inside a giant tree!
Alternate: Many TCCL library branches showcase interesting art. We especially love the bunny and Mother Goose sculptures in the garden behind the Herman and Kate Kaiser Library.
Route 66: Land of the Giants
Buck Atom, the 21-foot-tall Space Cowboy, found his home on Route 66 in 2019. Now, thanks to Mary Beth Babcock, Buck has several giant friends, which can all be found off of 11th Street between Utica and Peoria avenues. Take a selfie with Rosie the Riveter, Stella Atom, Meadow Gold Mack, Cowboy Bob — or Buck himself! Do some shopping while you’re in the area.
Alternate: The Golden Driller at Expo Square, of course!
Woodward Park: Teaching Garden and Arboretum
Open seasonally, the Teaching Garden at Woodward Park is a beautiful escape in the heart of Tulsa. There are trickling fountains, koi fish to feed, and plenty of eye-catching plants. Visit the barn for children’s activities, such as a reading nook. If the Teaching Garden is closed, visit the nearby Arboretum and snap a photo with your favorite tree! If you have time, pay a visit to the Museum of Tulsa History and the Five Moons ballerina sculptures.
Alternate: LaFortune Park is home to a growing herd of American bison! Created by NatureWorks, the Tulsa Herd is visible from Yale Ave. and will eventually feature 40 bison sculptures. (natureworks.org/tulsaherd)
17th and Riverside Park
River Parks Authority opened a new playground at 17th and Riverside in April 2026. It proved to be an instant hit with toddlers to tweens. Take a photo of your kids playing on their favorite playground feature or trying something new!
Alternate: River Parks oversees over 15 miles of bike and pedestrian trails, running from Southwest Boulevard on the north side, all the way to 101st St. on the east side of the river. Take a photo of your family biking, walking (or even roller skating!) somewhere along the trail.
Photo courtesy Tulsa Zoo
Tulsa: Family Attractions
Tulsa Zoo: World Globe
There are so many great photo ops at the Tulsa Zoo! From riding the tiger statues near the entrance to striking a pose atop your favorite carousel animal, the options are endless. But one of the most recognizable is the World Globe sculpture. The globe — a 10,000-pound carved granite sphere — rotates slowly thanks to a “thin film” of water and is a proven favorite with zoo visitors.
Alternate: Send us a photo of your favorite Zoo animal!
Oklahoma Aquarium: Bull Shark Tunnel
One of Oklahoma Aquarium’s claims to fame is that it houses the world’s largest collection of bull sharks. The sharks are visible via a walk-through tunnel. It can be downright eerie — but absolutely fascinating — to walk through the tunnel as sharks swim all around you!
Alternate: If your kid is a little leery of the shark tunnel, pay a visit to Seamore the sea turtle in the vibrant Sea Turtle Island.
Discovery Lab: Ballapalooza
When Discovery Lab’s current building opened in January 2022, probably one of the most exciting features was Ballapalooza, according to Discovery Lab’s website, “Working together, visitors must figure out the system of simple machines and exhibit components to move balls from the exhibit floor all the way to the oil derrick.” (discoverylab.org) What this looks like in practice is a bunch of colorful plastic balls flying through the air at any given moment. And when the oil derrick fills up, balls burst out of the top, raining down (harmlessly) onto the crowd below.
Alternate: Discovery Lab’s WorkShop frequently changes out activities and focus areas. Show us what your kids created or worked on!
Tulsa Drillers: Hornsby
We love Hornsby! If you attend a Drillers game this summer, try to snag a picture with this hilarious and charming mascot.
Alternate: If you can’t attend a Drillers game or fail to chase down Hornsby, simply take a photo at ONEOK Field.
Philbrook: The Shepherdess
One of Philbrook’s most recognizable works is William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s The Shepherdess. As of this writing, she is located on the second floor of the museum. But if you have a different favorite Philbrook artwork, we’d love to see a photo of that, too!
Alternate: One of the popular photo spots at Philbrook is standing in front of the koi pond by the Pavilion, with the museum in the background. Even if you’ve taken this photo a hundred times, the beauty never grows old!
Tulsa Botanic Garden: Tree Fort Thrones
It’s hard to visit Tulsa Botanic Garden without taking a photo of your crew sitting in the carved wooden thrones located in the Driskill Children’s Discovery Garden’s Tree Fort! As you wend your way to the Tree Fort, keep an eye out for nature-inspired sculptures lining the paths.
Alternate: Tulsa Botanic Garden is home to two garden kitties! We’ve seen them hanging out in the visitor center and exploring the gardens. If you can calmly and safely do so, see if they’ll join you for a photo!
Harmony Bridge in Bixby
Exploring the Suburbs
Sand Springs: Keystone Ancient Forest
Keystone Ancient Forest is a local treasure, home to trees that are centuries old as well as an abundance of wildlife. Keystone Ancient Forest is open Thursdays through Sundays (see website for hours). Trails range from paved and ADA-accessible to more difficult, with plenty of rocks to scramble over. Don’t forget to bring water, and check in at the Visitor Center before heading out if you have any questions.
Alternate: Case Community Park is a popular destination just off the highway. It is home to Sand Springs BMX, a splash pad, disc golf course, community center, sports courts and fields, and more.
Broken Arrow: Rose District Plaza Mural
The Rose District is such a fun place to walk around, with plenty of enticing shops and dining opportunities. Start your visit with a stop by the Rose District Plaza and its beautiful mural. If you visit Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings during the season, the Rose District Farmers Market will be set up!
Alternate: Elam Park in Broken Arrow is an accessible playground that’s fun for all. Take a picture on the zip line or merry-go-round!
Bixby: Harmony Bridge
Located adjacent to Washington Irving Park, Bixby’s Harmony Bridge spans the Arkansas River alongside Memorial Drive. This pedestrians-only bridge has been redesigned to have plenty of seating and interactive elements for kids. And the view is spectacular!
Alternate: Spend some time in downtown Bixby, exploring the fun restaurants and other businesses the district offers. Swing by the nearby Charley Young Event Park and take a pic with the gorilla statue.
Owasso: Redbud Festival Park
Owasso’s Redbud District is home to fantastic local businesses like The Copper Kiln pottery painting studio, Urban Okie Outlet, and not one but TWO coffee shops: Fulfilled Coffee and Chloe Lee’s Coffee & Bake House. Located within this vibrant shopping and dining area is Redbud Festival Park, which hosts festivals, movie nights and more throughout the year.
Alternate: Do you know Timmy and Cindy? Whimsical statues of these two children can be found throughout Owasso. Find a map of each location at cityofowasso.com/359/Timmy-Cindy-Project
Sapulpa: Little Taiyaki
If you want a truly unique treat, visit Sapulpa’s Little Taiyaki – it’s definitely worth the drive! Order your choice of soft serve ice cream in a fish-shaped waffle finished with your favorite toppings. Check the menu for this month’s seasonal flavors.
Alternate: Visit the new park at Rock Creek Bridge – take a photo of your kids crossing the historic bridge – it’s over 100 years old!
