Things to Do in Jenks

Ornamental trees, wildflowers, and other foliage grow throughout Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Gardens, spread across 170 acres of the Osage Hills approximately 10 minutes northwest of downtown Tulsa. Visitors can follow a 1.5-mile nature trail through the Cross Timbers forest, also traipsing through a prairie and persimmon grove. Various species of butterflies flit through the forests and tall grasses beside a 7-acre lake, along with deer, the occasional turtle, and other wildlife.

As a basket drifts against the twilight, the only sound one can hear is a burner whispering to invisible gas, commanding it to push the carriage higher into the evening sky. At Go Hot Air Ballooning, flights stay close enough to the ground to witness deer wandering the earth, and each excursion—from private rides to tethered convoys—takes off with passengers' well-being in mind. An FAA-licensed pilot with more than 20 years of ballooning experience—and a perfect safety record—takes the helm of each flight, personally confirming each reservation and watching up-to-date weather reports to ensure safe flight conditions. Though the in-air portion lasts only an hour, most journeys take up to four hours in all, allowing passengers to witness such behind-the-scenes action as the pilot inflating the entire balloon with his lungs.

The Randy Heckenkemper–designed layout of South Lakes Golf Course winds its way through seven lakes, resulting in a watery, 6,413-yard wonderland worthy of exploration. The course’s sinuous fairways slink around the lakes at many points, forcing players to aim carefully for the dry bermuda grass. Large bentgrass greens crown each hole, offering a welcome reward for golfers who manage to keep their balls dry or those who require a running start in order to give themselves a jumping high-five. And when the round is done, players can always head back to the clubhouse area to utilize the 13,000-square-foot practice putting green or all-grass driving range.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Total length of 6,413 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 70.7 from the back tees
• Course slope of 119 from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard

My Little Dollhouse’s team of playtime experts creates a pastel-hued paradise for kids. A hand-painted stage is the focal point of the playroom and provides a spot for kids to model princess costumes as music plays and a disco ball glints and shimmers. Little ones can also play in and out of playhouses or receive manicures at the nail-painting station.

In addition to open playtime, My Little Dollhouses also hosts themed birthday parties during which guests have access to the center’s cache of costumes and accessories in a private party room and can put on a fashion show or dance. Staff members take all the guesswork out of setting up and cleaning up, and they furnish partygoers with baked treats, balloons, and party favors.

Though contained within a 2,700 square-foot studio, The Yoga Room Tulsa's instructors still manage to explore every corner of classic and modern yoga traditions. They teach more that 40 classes a week, including gentle sessions designed to encourage beginners to give yoga a try and others fueled by billboard-topping songs that develop a rhythmic flow from pose to pose. Their second-story space combines elements of raw wood and exposed brick with the amenities of a yoga studio, including hardwood floors, a full sound system, and yoga mats.