I have to say that although I have driven through Pawhuska many times over the years, I have not…read moreever visited it as a destination (especially since it's recent renaissance). I'm not a PW fanatic so there was no reason. But, when some girlfriends suggested we go see the downtown movie sets and check out the historic downtown area, I decided to join them. I was so glad I did. It sounds like a cliché, but everyone was so friendly and inviting. We felt truly welcomed in every single locally owned shop that we visited. Some of our stops stretched into thirty minute visits with the stores' owners. Really, I can't remember when I've had an experience like this. If you have not been to look at the movie set (turning the downtown into Fairfax for the upcoming "Killers of the Flower Moon" film) you must. Although they were not filming in town the day we visited, there was still a lot of the film crew working on the set or showing people around. It was cool to feel like a part. Also, I can't stress how nice all of the other boutiques and shops were around town. (Before you leave, check out the swinging bridge and the Saint Kateri shrine.)

Old town was essentially a ghost town and it is in a fun revitalization process. Some neat little…read moreshops and of course all of the Pioneer Woman stuff. Frontier Hotel was sooo neat. Such friendly people everywhere we went

First thing's first: adjust your expectations. This is a historic venue. Sometimes the showers…read moretake a long time to heat up and sometimes they stay lukewarm. Sometimes it's hot or cold because there are no individual thermostats. Fans and heaters are provided aa needed. I haven't stayed in the winter, but in the summer, once the sun goes down, with the fans, it's quite pleasant. I stayed in the king bed two story suite. It's airy, full of light, roomy, beautiful. I adore the tall windows. There is a TV upstairs and downstairs. The bed is plush and comfy and the linens crisp, fresh, and clean. The bathroom is quite small, but inline with FLW and the times. The facility gives tours and they are interesting and enlightening! There is a restaurant on site, open Tuesday through Saturday (reviewed separately). It's the closest thing you get to elevated in Bartlesville. They have trivia Tuesdays, wine Wednesday, live entertainment Thursday, karaoke Friday, and regular Saturdays. Staff is always wonderful. Highly recommended. But please don't rate this unique, historical site on the same plane as four seasons.

Are you a Frank Lloyd Wright aficionado? Keep reading…read more.. The Inn at Price Tower is a Wright time capsule and well worth the time and expense to visit this building and immerse yourself in the architectural experience. I'm a retired architect and a big FLW fan. The "hospitality side" (ie: what normal consumers expect from a hotel property) is pretty non-existent. Let me explain: Not to get into mechanical engineering weeds, but the building has a 2-pipe HVAC system. This means that the entire building is either heating or cooling depending upon the season. No matter how hot or cold you may be in your hotel room, if the system is in heating mode (wintertime) there is no A/C available. Likewise, if the system is in cooling mode (summertime), there is no heating available. We stayed 2 nights in early May so the heating was still on (kind of between seasons), but since there was an oscillating fan available in our room, we were fairly comfortable sleeping. Not really a biggie, just be aware of the building's heating/cooling limitations. The other thing really perplexing was that there was no coffee service available in the morning. The in-house restaurant did not offer breakfast, the Lobby area provided no guest coffee service and there was no in-room coffeemaker provided - weird! In the last 30 years of business travel I can't recall a similar situation. In order to get coffee, guests are required to walk 2 blocks to a local coffee shop that opens at 6am weekdays and 7am weekends. Super inconvenient from a "hospitality" standpoint. So, if you're familiar with Wright's design sensibilities, you'll recall that he never had much use for bathrooms and elevators - both of which are super small by modern standards and current building codes. Don't expect the spa level experience you may have enjoyed at other boutique hotels - they 'aint there, lol! If you go into the Inn at Price Tower experience with a "Wright state of mind", you'll enjoy your stay and be able to forgive the limitations of the design. The tour is well worth the price, and I highly recommend participating. Our group consisted of only me and my wife, so it was basically a private tour. It was advertised as a 60-minute tour, but our Dosen gave us nearly 2 hours! Really interesting. Take-a-ways: Bring you own coffee maker and breakfast items. Be prepared for the seasonal interior heating or cooling situation and be sure to have reasonable expectations for living in a Wright-designed building for a night or two. If you have these, your experience will be a lot of fun. Enjoy!

Such a fun and unique stop! The Blue Whale is a classic Route 66 roadside attraction that didn't…read moredisappoint. We took some great photos with the family and enjoyed walking around the pond. It had a laid-back, nostalgic feel that made the visit really special. A cool piece of Americana--definitely 5 stars!

What a cute little spot along historic Rt. 66. Looks like it once had a play area attached. There…read moreis a small gift shop with some Rt. 66 items like pins and key chains. Originally opened in the 1970's it grew over time and eventually became a popular spot for locals to swim. The gift shop attendant said it was $0.25/person to swim. The owners hired life guards and installed picnic tables. The large parking area is dirt. Restrooms are on site. Swimming is no longer available and fishing is 'catch and release'. A sign post by the entrance lists points of interest and how far away they are.

Great place to take a break and picnic. Nice large gazebo with picnic table inside. Interesting…read moreinformation about the Osage Nation.

Meet a very sweet lady from Georgia while we were there doing our mission work through Youth Works…read more She made a hot day a little easier. It was wonderful to meet her since we were from Georgia.

What an amazing experience!! I had the opportunity to visit this museum with my daughter and my…read moremom. There is some street parking right in front of the museum and around the museum. Don't park in the parking garage right behind the museum. They will tow you. I was greeted when I walked in and purchased my ticket. After you buy your ticket, you walk into an area that has Maya Angelou "Still I Rise" playing along with images of black people. After the poem, you then walk into a room that starts breaking down the history. First, why black people, mostly freed slaves, are trying to escape the South, and migrated to Oklahoma. Then it shows you how and why these black towns were created (segregation). Then you walk to the "barbershop" and get to hear about some of the challenges that were starting to happen. Once you walk out of the barbershop and you see this large wall broken into 3 sections to show you how May 31, 1921, started and ended. It was powerful! Then, it breaks down the aftermath, the reconstruction and decline. I would recommend anyone who wants to learn about something historic. This is the place to do it. The museum is put together so well. It makes the information so consumable and impactful to anyone of any age and any ethnicity. They also offer tours and merchandise.

Really glad I made the trip to Black Wall Street. In recent years, it's been talked about more…read morethrough film, tv shows and new stories and wanted to visit the area. What a tragic part of history, but I am glad the area has been preserved for people to visit and learn more about this part of history. There's several boutique shops, cafes and murals you can visit. There's also a museum, which was closed at the time we visited. If you're in Tusla, definitely worth a visit.

You get quite a history lesson with your tour! Highly recommend it the owner is really nice and…read moregreat at telling stories.

The famous Tulsa Cave House was built by Joseph Koberling Sr. and James Purzer during the 1920's…read more Originally this cave like building was designed as a restaurant with outdoor dining. This restaurant served as a front to a speakeasy at night (with possible activity involving mobsters, shady business, etc). A long time ago there were tunnels (that are long gone, as they had collapsed, according to our tour guide and owner of the home) that served as an entrance and exit point. The Fire Department actually came to check and see around the home and had found some of those collapsed tunnels and that it would lead to the back of the home and over the hill. Since then, this home was owned by a few other owners and then was left abandoned for many years until Linda Collier purchased this home in 1997 and eventually repaired and restored the home. She opened this home to the public in 2007 for tours (only $10 per person). According to Linda, the home was in such a disrepair that the realtor she was with refused to enter. But as soon as Linda stepped in, she knew she just had to purchase it. She was going to move in but said that a ghost/ apparition convinced her not to move in. So she used it as a place for her woodwork and a place to write (she still does not live in the home). During that time, locals would ring the doorbell and ask if they could take a peek inside, as they had always known about the cave house but had always wondered what laid inside. Eventually Linda decided to provide tours for locals and tourists. My husband and I came for a visit on a Thursday afternoon (we had contacted Linda earlier that day and said she would be able to give a tour at 2 pm. She was so sweet to let us come in earlier, as we had arrived a bit earlier). We sat in the living room and heard a few stories of the home and looked at the old photos that she had to share of previous owners of the home and of what this home looked like before. She also told us that her home was featured on HGTV's "Home Strange Home" show and also is in the book "Weird Oklahoma." Then she showed us around her home and explained what she had done to the walls or what she had added, etc. Upstairs, there is a fun slide that my husband went down twice (lol, he's such a kid at heart). Linda had said that she added that slide for her daughter (such a cool mom she is. I wish I had a slide in my bedroom when I was kid). It was very interesting to learn about the history that Tulsa had. Also earlier in the week, some locals at a dog event we had gone to with our little girl dog, had told us about the Tulsa Cave House (although I already had this place bookmarked before visiting Oklahoma) and that they had gone on a tour and that it was worth a visit. Our tour was about 50 minutes and thought it was at a good pace and a fun activity to do. If you are looking for something out of box and happen to be visiting Tulsa, you should consider checking out the Tulsa Cave House. It is recommended to make an appointment beforehand. Although you may get lucky to do a walk in, if Linda is home.

If you are visiting the area from out of town, the Bricktown water taxi is a must! I did not except…read morethe tour to be as long and informative as it was so it exceeded expectations! Our tour guide, Anitta, was great! She was very fun and shared great tid bits of history and info. We went at 4:30 on a Saturday and our ride was perfect - not too packed as compared to other times. I definitely would recommend purchasing a ticket, at minimum, a couple hours or even days prior to going. I could see this being much more popular in warmer months. It was already very popular at the beginning of April on a colder day. Overall, if you are checking out the Bricktown area and want a fun activity to do, check out the water taxi! it's only 30 minutes and you get to see the whole area and then some!

Heather made the whole ride super fun . Even sang Happy…read moreBirthday to my daughter. Lots of information given .

The Gathering Place is truly one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots in Tulsa. It's definitely…read moremy favorite spot. I love to bird watch here! I bring my binoculars and always spot a great variety of birds. The trees are absolutely stunning... there are over 100 species of trees. Honestly... it's a little escape from a hectic world. It's the perfect place to bring a book, find your spot, and just relax for a while. Whether you're looking to unwind, enjoy nature, or have a quiet moment to yourself...this park is a hidden gem that never disappoints. Perfect for getting in your steps too! I like to go early morning before it gets too hot or busy. Starting in May they have free canoe rentals!! They also have very good food. Love their fresh fruit cups which they prepare every morning daily, their sandwiches are fresh and very good! I've also had their ice cream and it's delicious. When you first walk into the main building, you can check out chess pieces and other games. Some of the tables have the chessboard design printed on them. Perfect for getting your chess game on. Every Wednesday and Sunday, you can bring your dog. Over at the boathouse on the bottom floor they have a little museum called "Drawers of curiosity." Hard to believe The Gathering Place doesn't charge an entrance fee!! It's just simply amazing!

whether it was me seeing the roots perform while sitting on a hill, getting my steps in or catching…read morethe scenes for photography, the gathering place came a long way from it being a concept to it being brought to life. i had a previous job that was in the news field so i remember first reading about this place. i've tried the food.. i've walked across all of the paths.. i've seen art galleries.. you'll have to come see for yourself. it can get congested as for parking. coming along riverside can be backed up here & there. that also comes with the events that the gathering place hosts often. they're very local driven just as much as national talent that's been by for live music. it's wild for me to remind myself that it's (already) been 8 years since the park's been in place along with me first hearing about it. the grand opening also took place a day (9/8/18) before my birthday (9/9). i'm set to make a visit later this week & i'm already looking forward to treating myself. i miss the smoothie spot that used to be there.