Looking for some fun ways to stay in shape in Tulsa?
Hey Tulsa! Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that summer temperatures are fast upon us.
Although we wish we were the type that got motivated enough to hit the gym a few times a week, we’re more about getting our kicks doing physical activities that we already enjoy or ones that happen to lend themselves to some much-needed time spent outdoors.
So, while discussing a few ideas for something to do last weekend, we decided we’d spitball a few more and put them together into a list you can use to stay active and have fun at the same time in Tulsa!
1) Go for a bike ride on Riverside
Whether you are a serious cyclist or just looking to enjoy a leisurely cruise, going for a ride on Riverside is always fun and a good little workout, too.
There are several checkpoints along the Arkansas River that provide free bikes (pretty pink ones, at that) to anyone with a credit card. You pretty much just swipe your card, grab your bike, and return it at whatever checkpoint down the way. No charge as long as your bike makes it back to one of the kiosks. Pretty cool, huh?
We personally like to start around the 15th and Denver part of the trail and ride to South Tulsa and back, punctuating our little journey with a cool one at the Blue Rose.
2) Take a lap or two at LaFortune
You can’t drive past LaFortune without noticing the hoards of joggers and walkers getting in their cardio for the day.
The trail offers a pretty good amount of shade and lots of opportunity to rack up steps on the Fitbit! Cardiovascular health gets more important the older you get, so taking a walk or a jog around one of Tulsa’s many parks is a pretty sound investment in your health.
3) Hike at Redbud Valley Nature Preserve
Possibly one of Tulsa’s best kept secrets, this awesome little swath of unmolested land is always a hit with first timers.
Cliffs and bluffs, little caves — this preserve is pretty interesting visually as far as local hiking goes, but what blows us away is that — according to oxleynaturecenter.org — within the boundaries of the Redbud Valley Nature Preserve lie plants and animals that exist nowhere else in Northeast Oklahoma.
It’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 8am to 5pm, so you’ll want to keep that in mind when you set out for this Tulsa gem. And make sure to bring your camera; you’ll want to get some photos of this place.
4) Play a round of disc golf
Long heralded as one of the best cities for disc golf in the United States, it’s logical that Tulsa has its own diverse share of courses, right?
Riverside, Haikey Creek, Chandler, McClure, Mack Taylor, Hunter, Dovillio, Reed, Mohawk (two courses), Copperhead Canyon, and River City Park all offer great disc golf within basically 20 minutes of anywhere in Tulsa.
You’ll actually use a different “disc” than the frisbee you might think of for throwing a little back-and-forth out at the Riverparks (hey — there’s a freebie for ya) or ultimate frisbee, but they can be bought cheaply at Academy Sports, Hobbytown (out south), or the rec center at McClure Park near 11th and Memorial (they have the best selection here.) These range from $10 to $20 or so.
The beautiful thing is that disc golf is free — you bring your discs and play. No green fees, no tee times, no collared shirts required.
5) Take a trip to one of Tulsa’s trampoline park: Sky Zone
We simply can’t do this place any justice compared to the following video, but we will say that you’ll be amazed how much cardio exercise you can get without realizing you’re doing it:
6) Laser tag, anyone?
While some people act like laser tag is a lost sport from the 90s and early 2000s, I can guarantee you that most of us in our twenties and thirties played a round or two of laser tag and had a great time.
Heck, we’ve even hit up LaserQuest at 31st and Sheridan on lunch break more than a few times.
Sadly — unlike riding a bike — laser tag didn’t exactly come right back to me when I played for the first time in, oh, 15 years or so, but it was every bit as fun as I remembered.
The thing about laser tag is that you never stop moving; you’re always squatting, running, dodging… you get the picture. Put this one down as another activity where you won’t realize how much exercise you’re getting.
7) Take a walking tour of Downtown Tulsa’s gorgeous architecture
The relics of yesteryear that loom over the “original streets” of Tulsa are a reminder of a time when bricks and labor were cheap. You’ll find few downtown areas in the US with as much beautiful Art Deco architecture as Downtown Tulsa — save for Miami, FL. These include historical wonders like the iconic Philtower, the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, and the Philcade.
If you’re looking to enjoy a more scenic physical activity, this is the one for you.
Tulsa has so many uniquely beautiful buildings downtown that you’ll want to set aside a few hours for this activity. You’ll want to bring your camera to this one, too.
8) Rock climbing at Chandler Park
If you’re looking for an activity that challenges that body and mind, you’ll want to point yourself west towards Berryhill. Chandler Park is one of Tulsa County’s coolest parks — sitting right at the top of a hill where West 21st St S turns into Avery Drive, way back west of the refineries.
Chandler Park’s climbing opportunities are numerous, with bluffs and outcroppings all over the hillside.
9) Take a trip to the zoo and see all the exhibits
Perhaps you’d like to get reacquainted with nature while getting some good exercise, but you’d rather do it protected by barriers of concrete and steel? Yes, that rhetorical question sounds a little condescending, but we’re gonna go with it.
Anyway, Tulsa has one of the best zoos in the country. There is so much to see here and you will walk miles doing it.
With indoor and outdoor exhibits, you’ll get plenty of time to rest and cool off when you need it, too. Bonus points if you choose to be the cool parent/aunt/uncle/whatever and bring the kiddos — kids are absolutely enamored with our city’s zoo.
10) Play a round of Par 3 golf at LaFortune
LaFortune’s par 3 course is one of my favorite courses in Tulsa. Why? It’s challenging, fun, and doesn’t take all day to complete a round.
We try to fit in a round at least once a week! Unlike longer courses, you won’t use a golf cart here — the holes are close together and (obviously) short, so you’ll hoof it on foot at this Tulsa golf course.
Oh — and no worries if you play after that 5 o’clock whistle; they have lights they turn on throughout spring and summer to let you get in a full game into the evening!
Night golf is especially fun and challenges you to play a little differently without the sun on your side.
11) Go bowling at Andy B’s or Sheridan Lanes
Sure, bowling is probably the least physically active thing on this list, but it’s a whole lot more active than sitting on your couch surfing Reddit, isn’t it?
I grew up in a family that enjoyed a few rounds of bowling on the weekends, even though we all sucked. It was something fun to do with family and friends, we were getting out of the house, and we were having some good laughs.
Andy B’s — way out south — is our favorite bowling alley in Tulsa, but if you’re a little more centrally-located, Sheridan Lanes might be your ticket. We’ve had plenty of good time at both places, no doubt.
Bowling is a game of concentration, coordination, and semi-precise movement, but it’s also great for teaching younger bowlers things like focus and sportsmanship.
12) Hit Tulsa’s big flea market on Saturday
“What does shopping the Admiral Flea Market have anything to do with getting fit?”
If you’re asking that question, you’ve probably never been to this flea market because it is absolutely HUGE. Not only do you get to shop from hundreds of vendors who are selling everything but you also get your steps in, too. It’s a win/win!
13) Smash a tennis ball at the Tracy Park Courts
Every once in awhile, we get the itch to play tennis. There are quite a few courts in Tulsa, but Tracy Park is always the court we choose.
Why Tracy Park? The courts — located at 11th just outside of the IDL — offer an unparalleled view of Downtown Tulsa’s skyline.
Tennis is such a fun and fast-paced game that you’ll be burning calories without even thinking about it.
14) Venture through Downtown Tulsa’s “secret” tunnels
No matter how long I’ve lived here, I still find people that don’t know of the underground tunnels that snake through Downtown Tulsa.
I can remember walking through these tunnels for the first time and being shocked at how they go from the “fallout shelter” look to “art deco masterpiece” as you continue through them.
Built in the 1920s to facilitate construction foot traffic between the Philtower and the Philcade, these tunnels eventually span 8 different buildings and even pass through the world-class Hyatt Regency hotel.
We hope you liked this list!
We think you’ll get a kick out of some of these activities. Like we mentioned before, a lot of these are great things to do with kids, too! Tulsa is plenty big enough to have fun in, so there’s no excuse for not getting off your tush and finding something interesting and physical to do!