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Tulsa Area Travel Group Meeting, October 19, 2024

October! Another fall sneaking up on us has folks around here excited, although the 90+ degree temps this weekend are putting a damper on their enthusiasm. But we can always be enthusiastic about travel, right? And if we're not traveling, let's get together and talk about travel.

The next Tulsa Area Rick Steves Travel Group Meeting will be Saturday, October 19, at Panera Bread at 41st and Hudson in Tulsa (that's 5601 E. 41st, between Yale and Sheridan), at 9:30 a.m.

Several of our regulars will be traveling this month, so I want to repeat some thoughts I've shared previously, especially for folks who are leery of attending a travel group meeting, fearing they'd not fit in or don't have enough experience:

Our meetings are all about sharing our experiences and learning from others. We love hearing each other's stories, asking questions, and offering our own hints and tips. For those of you who are new to travel groups, picture this: A congenial group of folks who, when they ask to see your pictures, mean all of them. A group of folks who mean it when they say "Tell me all about your trip." A group of folks whose eyes do not glaze over when you start talking about your travel, whether it be travel past, future, or just hypothetical. A group of folks who are eager to learn, share, ask and answer questions, give and receive advice. For some of us, the meeting is the high point of our month!

As always, all travel related topics are open for discussion, and all comers are welcome. It's an open forum - come join in the fun. We want to hear your stories, answer your questions, see your photos and scrapbooks, and share your enthusiasm.

If you love to travel, or would like to travel, or are curious about travel, come join us. Anyone is welcome; you don't have to have been on a Rick Steves tour, or any tour at all. You'll recognize us by the RS books on the table, and the big smiles on our faces.

Posted by
4046 posts

I have an airline credit I desperately need to burn. Thinking about flying in for the weekend and attending the meeting. I've never been to Tulsa! Or Oklahoma for that matter!

Posted by
6536 posts

Dave, Tulsa is one of the best kept secrets in the country. Beautiful architecture - Art Deco downtown, dating from the Oil Baron days of the 1920s. Great cultural center - we have 2 TWO symphony orchestras, one of which has been called "world class" by Joshua Bell, among others. Our Tulsa Ballet is one of the 10 best in the country. Great art museums (one of which is closed for another year or so, being completely rebuilt.)

If you were to drop in on us, we'd welcome you heartily. Some of our most active and well-traveled members won't be here this month, but those of us who do show up would love to meet you. And we should be back to full force for our November 16 meeting.

Posted by
6536 posts

We haven't taken that tour, but I know people who have, and they loved it. There's also a tour of the underground tunnels, originally dug (some say) as ways for the ultra-wealthy oil magnates to get safely from building to building without having to expose themselves to the public sidewalks.

Oh, and both Kim and Dave, depending on when you're here, I strongly recommend the Sapulpa Christmas Chute, an amazing holiday treat. It'll run Nov 14 - Dec 29 this year. I don't really know how to describe it, several blocks of amazing decorations down the main street of town, themed canopies covered with thousands of lights and decorations, open from 8:00 am until about 9:00 or 10:00 pm.

Stan and I worked the Chute as volunteers last year, and had such a good time we immediately signed up for 4 more days. When was the last time you were anywhere where everyone - everyone, regardless of age, status, income, background - was smiling? Our main job was picking up trash and telling folks where the toilets were, and it was still wonderful.

I keep trying to get this on Nigel's Traveling the Alphabet thread, but keep missing the "S" slot.

Posted by
4046 posts

I have my plane ticket. I have my hotel. I have a message out to the Tulsa Tours people to see if I can do a private Art Deco tour on Saturday afternoon.

@Kim... I didn't know you participate in this. I always thought you were only in Paris. Maybe I will return some day... and see if the young adult wants to join me for that visit. Funny enough, we're in Istanbul now. He wanted to do a "last hurrah" trip after our May trip -- it was centered around going back to Istanbul. I thought it was more about visiting someone he met in Istanbul than a last hurrah, but he mentioned maybe doing another Christmas Market trip in December if I have time. We'll see what happens...

Posted by
6536 posts

Dave, didn't you know that Kim is an Okie? She's managed to drop in on our meetings a couple of times, and we are always delighted to see her.

What fun that you're coming to see us! I hope we have a decent turnout; our tow most-traveled people will be in Africa that week, and our other Kim - from here; she and I are the ones who started up our local group - will also be on a trip.

But I will alert some of the other regular or semi-regulars that you will be here. Even if it's just a few of us, we'll have a great time. And you will love Tulsa.

See you soon!

Posted by
10236 posts

Ha ! Dave, I have only gotten to participate twice, but it is great fun when a trip home coincides with the right weekend and the opportunity to join Jane, Stan, Kim, and all the crew !

Have you heard back from the Tulsa Tours team about Saturday ?

I just love that you are going to be there !! This is so very cool !

Posted by
4046 posts

I'm excited to be there, too. I just sent the message to the Tulsa Tours folks about 8 hours ago, so I haven't heard from them yet. I'm in a pretty tight window for the tour (the group tour runs Sat morning at 10, which conflicts with the travel group), so they may have trouble finding someone to cover a private tour for me.

Posted by
4046 posts

My sincerest apologies, but I won't be able to make the meeting today. My travel buddy known in my trip reports as "the young adult" learned yesterday that his stepmother has stage IV lung cancer with metastasis to the bones. She is a bright spot in his life. The prognosis is grim ("We hope she'll make it to Christmas")... so, I'm hanging around here this weekend to support my friend.

Posted by
6536 posts

Oh, Dave, I'm so sorry to hear about your young friend's situation. How terrible for him, and of course you want to be there for him.

Please give him a hug from his secret friends in Oklahoma, and let him know there are people all over the world - literally! - who care about him.

And please remember us; we'd still love to meet you and have you share in the fun and joy we have in our local group.

Best wishes to you and to the "young adult." No emojis allowed, so please visualize the "heart" I'm sending you both. -- Jane

Posted by
10236 posts

Oh Dave, so sorry for this terrible news for the young adult and his family. Thinking of you and him as you are there to support him.