Are Your Teens Bored? We’ve Got You Covered
‘Tis the season of bored teens and unpredictable Oklahoma weather. While we can’t do much about the elements, we’re here to help you banish that dreaded school holiday specter – the “disgruntled adolescent” – with a list of family friendly fun.
Take It Outside
Tulsa is gifted with a spectacular variety of parks and outdoor recreation areas. With the right weather, or the right gear, spending time outdoors is one of the best antidotes to the “winter blahs.” Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Gathering Place
This spectacular green space occupies close to 70 acres, eight alongside the Arkansas River. The sports courts, BMX pump track and skate park provide incredible opportunities for outdoor recreation, while the Williams Lodge is the perfect place to curl up with a book and enjoy a beautiful view of the grounds on a cold or rainy day.
River Parks System
River Parks’ easily accessible trails include everything from paved multi-use paths adjacent to the river to 45 + miles of off-road options for hiking, mountain biking and trail running at Turkey Mountain. Looking for a hiking buddy? Check out facebook.com/turkeymountain for a volunteer-led, organized hike. If the weather allows, consider some fishing or try the disc golf course.
Keystone Ancient Forest
Nestled within a 1,380-acre nature preserve full of ancient cedars and post oaks, this park includes a beautiful visitor center (with bathrooms!), and 13 miles of trails with varying degrees of difficulty. Open Thursday through Sunday; leashed dogs are allowed on the first and third weekends.
Oxley Nature Center & Mohawk Park
Mohawk Park is a 2,800-acre park, with playgrounds, picnic shelters and disc golf courses. It’s also home to Oxley Nature Center with its 9 miles of trails and the Tulsa Zoo.
For Sports & Fitness Fans
TU Basketball
Catch some college basketball this month at TU’s Reynolds Center. Affordable tickets are available for both men’s and women’s games.
Tulsa Oilers
Photo courtesy Tulsa Oilers
The history of Tulsa hockey is surprisingly long for a city this far south. See what all of the excitement is about when you attend a Tulsa Oilers home game at the BOK Center.
WeStreet Ice Center
Brush up on your own skating skills with a visit to the WeStreet Ice Center. Check their calendar for public skating sessions (skate rentals are available), or learn to skate classes (first lesson is free)!
Miller Swim School
Miller Swim School’s Tulsa and Owasso locations offer one-off (or several-off) private swim lessons during the holiday break for those who’d like to perfect their butterfly or maybe even learn to swim!
YMCA of Greater Tulsa
YMCA’s “Youth Membership” is available for children ages 12-18 for $28.50 a month, with no contract and no joining fee. The Youth Membership includes full access to all Y locations and free group exercise classes. Three of the Y locations have indoor pools, too.
Music & Art
Upcoming Shows
Check out a local band with a national presence when Tulsa’s Cliffdiver plays Cain’s Ballroom Dec. 13. It’s an all-ages, hometown show that everyone can enjoy. General admission tickets are $20.22, all in, at cainsballroom.com.
For parents (or grandparents) who prefer a walk down memory lane with their offspring, try Dressed To Kill at The Vanguard the same night. This Kiss tribute band is also from Tulsa, and their all-ages show promises to entertain the whole family. Tickets are $20, with fees.
Red Heat Ceramic Art Studio
Red Heat offers a couple of holiday winter workshops where you can learn the basics of working with clay. As a bonus, you’ll walk out with a completed piece to add to your holiday décor, or perhaps give as a gift.
Purple Glaze Studio
Purple Glaze’s two locations are full of thousands of unpainted ceramics just waiting for your creative stamp. For a $4 supply fee and the cost of your ceramic item, you can paint to your heart’s content. The studio will glaze and fire your objet d’art, and you can pick up your finished piece in a few days.
WaterWorks Art Center
WaterWorks Art Center has art classes and workshops for ages 16 and up, and as well as other programs for all ages.
Philbrook Museum
This beautiful museum in midtown Tulsa has plenty of great programming during the months of December and January, including movies and workshops.
Living Things
Oklahoma Aquarium
In addition to a fabulous array of all kinds of water creatures, the Oklahoma Aquarium also offers a virtual reality ride. Choose from VR experiences like “The Shark Dive,” “Legend of Lusca,” or “Swimming with Humpbacks,” or step into the Hurricane Simulator and feel the force of nature with winds ranging up to 75 miles per hour.
High On a Hill Dairy Goats
Take a short drive to Kellyville to cuddle a cow or experience goat yoga. Painting and photography classes are also available.
Tulsa Zoo
Photo courtesy Tulsa Zoo
A perennial favorite, let your teens or holiday visitors loose at the Tulsa Zoo to commune with giraffes, elephants and chimpanzees, to name a few.
Open Any Door with Your Library Card
If it’s been a while since you’ve visited one of the 24 Tulsa City-County Library locations, you might be surprised to learn how many activities and resources are available, almost entirely free, with your library card. Of course, there are traditional books, but there are also CDs, DVDs, ebooks and audio books. Every branch provides access to free public computers, and the Central location even has a “Maker Space,” with a 3-D printer, sewing machines, laser engraving, screen printing, an audio recording studio and so much more. Library programs include arts, crafts and even yoga classes. (tulsalibrary.org)
Julie Wenger Watson is a freelance writer who’s worked in all aspects of music promotion. She’s also Co-Director of “Live From Cain’s,” a public radio show pilot.
