Occupying 84 acres within Mohawk Park, Tulsa Zoo (tulsazoo.org) is home to more than 2,800 animals and welcomes almost 600,000 visitors every year. The zoo represents species from across the globe, including tigers and snow leopards from Central Asia; meerkats and zebra from Africa; and anacondas and piranhas from the Amazon. The North American Living Museum Complex offers visitors the chance to learn about North America's land and wildlife. The complex includes live animals, plants and Native American artifacts. The zoo has a range of eating options, from snack bars to restaurants. Admission for adults is $8 (at the time of publication), and $4 for children.
The Kaleidoscope Children's Museum (kaleidoscopecm.com) offers children the chance to learn about arts and science through a range of interactive exhibits. The museum features a kid-sized city where children can try out being a waitress, a barber or a doctor. There are also two giant rock climbing walls, open to both children and their parents, as well as a detective lab where kids get the chance to solve a crime. When it's time for food, the museum has its own deli, serving a variety of snacks such as pizza and nachos.
At the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium (tulsaairandspacemuseum.org) children get the opportunity to learn about the history of aviation through exhibits ranging from a high-flying smoke balloon from 1897 to information on Oklahoma's contribution to the International Space Station. The range of flight simulators and hands-on exhibits available allow for an interactive experience. The planetarium puts on a variety of shows, including one aimed at children ages 3 to 10 that teaches them about the solar system.
The Big Splash Water Park (bigsplashwaterpark.com) features five water slides, a water roller coaster and the largest wave pool in Oklahoma. For younger children, the park has a shallower kid's pool. Big Splash Water Park is open throughout the summer months from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; on weekdays the park stays open until 8 p.m. for "Night Splash." The park does not open if weather conditions are poor.
