With spring semester in full swing, here are some good walks in the city to release stress.
One of the reasons I cheer for the end of winter each year is because I can finally start to go on walks again. I’m a little too easily distracted for meditation, and sometimes I have a little too much energy for journaling, so the only real, foolproof way I have found to relax and clear my mind when it’s buzzing is to put in my headphones and go on a walk. This past summer I stayed in Tulsa for work and found myself taking a walk nearly every evening at the end of my day. I could watch the sunset, listen to my latest playlist and decompress from the last several hours of teaching art to eight-year-olds. Sometimes it was the best part of my day.
There are a few elements that are essential for a good, relaxing walk, and perhaps the most important is the location. Are you in a garden, a park or a neighborhood? Are there plenty of plants to look at, pretty houses to admire, a path to follow? Does the path vary at all? How long is it? Is there a good spot to stop and admire the sunset or feel the breeze for a moment? These are all the things I consider for a good walking spot, and luckily Tulsa has many options that check all of these boxes.
Gathering Place
Yes, this one is obvious, but it deserves the hype! Gathering Place is a perfect spot to take a walk because it’s full of greenery and nature, big enough for a good long walk but also possible to choose a shorter path if desired, and there are tons of stops and activities along the way. Some of my personal favorites are the Cabinet of Wonders located inside the boathouse on the far side of the park, and the Lodge, where I usually stop and read for a bit after a good walk.
Woodward Park/Tulsa Rose Garden
A two for one! Woodward Park is a great spot, especially in the springtime because there are so many beautiful flowers and trees in bloom. I wandered over there last spring for a walk and had the best time admiring all the fresh blossoms and different types of plants. The Tulsa Rose Garden is within the park, and I honestly couldn’t tell you where one stops and another begins. For all I know,those beautiful flowers actually belong to the rose garden! Either way, this spot is perfect especially for those looking for a more scenic walk to clear their head.
The Philbrook Gardens
Free with your TU ID, the Philbrook is the perfect place to take a walk, both in and outside the museum. The gardens are gorgeous at all times of the year, and often have special plants that change with the seasons and sometimes even the exhibitions! Philbrook has a botanical curator on staff who works to specifically pick out elements for their garden. If you keep following the path to your right once you reach the large pond, the garden loops around and you can also visit their outdoor cabin and maybe catch a glimpse of one of the Philbrook garden cats!
Tulsa Botanic Gardens
Although you do have to pay admission, the Tulsa Botanic Gardens is another gorgeous space to enjoy a walk. They too have a variety of beautiful plants, a large pond and several different places to stop and reflect, if that’s your thing. My personal favorite special touch is a large monster head that can be found along the path, and you can even go inside of the head and admire the stalactites on the ceiling!
No matter what kind of walk you’re looking for, Tulsa has a spot for you and a relaxing way to release any spring semester stress.
