My husband and I loaded our 14-year-old, 11-year-old and my folks up in the car and headed out to Tulsa Botanic Garden for The Garden of Lights and it did not disappoint. When we drove over the hills, and up toward the Garden, someone said ‘Look.” We all turned to look out the window and almost gasped at how pretty the display was from a distance. Soon we were parked and walking toward the main entrance. Once inside, team members greeted everyone with a smile as lights twinkled through the glass windows, and you couldn’t help but get excited like you were a kid again too.
I will be the first to admit my cell phone pictures don’t do the display justice. It’s magical, whimsical, romantic, and good, clean fun. You can hear the sound of the train going around the tracks as the breeze off the water leaves you with the crisp night air on your face. You can also hear the laughter from all the families around the bond fire, making smores and memories. Within seconds you know you’ve stepped out of the hectic holiday bustle and into a moment in time you will never want to forget.
I watched my parents giggle and admire every bit of the lights and the garden as if they were teenagers again. At the same time, my husband was savoring the beauty of being outside with the warm glow of Christmas lights, nature, and very little technology in the sense that the kids had no desire to be on a cell phone.
I watched as the stress of Monday-Friday seem to leave his big broad shoulders while he laughed and smiled at the kids and all their appropriate yet rambunctious behavior and fun. On this night, MASA food truck was in the house, and they DID NOT disappoint. We spent about $30.00 on food and drinks, then took a buzzer and walked up to the Mabee Grande. Inside we discovered The Holiday Model Railroad thanks to the Tulsa Garden Railroad Club.
The trains were so fun along with all the holiday villages, figureens, cars, tracks, etc. Before we knew it, our food was ready, and we were all laughing and savoring new flavors while enjoying the trains going around the track. My parents remembered their childhood and sharing stories with the kids, and they shared about their days at school. Santa even made an appearance, and we had to visit with him.
The kiddos got some hot chocolate, and we finished walking around the Garden, knowing it was about time to go home. It wasn’t my first visit, and it won’t be my last visit. We enjoyed everything from the kindness of the team at the Botanic Garden to the other guest and the fantastic food. It was a great way to create a new holiday tradition and memories we will savor for years to come. Thank you, Botanic Garden, for an experience that, for our family, was just right. It was a blessing to disconnect together at the end of a busy week.
Friends, I hope you’ll check them out. You’ll want to look at their online calendar before you go so you know more of what to expect. I even looked up what food truck would be on hand and sent a link to their menu to my folks before we headed that way. Also, because I know you’ll ask. The bathrooms were very clean just like the rest of the grounds. LOL.
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