Fun Weekend Getaway
Do you and your family love the great outdoors? Want a fun weekend getaway that includes something for everyone? Then head to southeastern Oklahoma – the Beavers Bend State Park area – to thean area affectionately known as the “Little Smokies.”
Beavers Bend State Park and the surrounding Ouachita Kiamichi Mountains are an outdoor lover’s paradise. The Kiamichi Mountains are part of the Ouachita National Forest. “Ouachita” means “happy hunting grounds” as translated from Native American, but you will not have to hunt for fun things to do on a weekend adventure here.
Beavers Bend State Park includes Broken Bow Lake, which has mirror-clear water due to its being surrounded by mountains. The lake is not only good for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, wave running, parasailing, and paddle boating, but the area is also great for scuba diving and snorkeling, thanks to its deep valleys and one-of-a-kind rock formations.
Of course, the lake also offers up great opportunities for fishing. Wet your line and see who can catch the biggest black bass, rainbow trout, brownie, crappie, catfish or walleye. Of course, the rainbow and brown trout fishing on the Mountain Fork and Glover Rivers is some of the best in the country. If you are new to the sport of fishing, the area has many professional guides and outfitters to help you catch your limit and to provide everything you need to have an outstanding fishing experience. Temporary fishing permits are reasonably priced for those who are only visiting the area.
The lakes and rivers in the area aren’t the only outdoor attraction, though. The surrounding, gracefully curving mountains also await those who want to breathe deep the fresh, alpine air. Miles of trails for every level of hiker offer a chance to see breathtaking views and a wide variety of wildlife, including migrating eagles, red-shouldered hawks, raccoons, deer, squirrels, and occasionally, blackbrown bears. For ornithologists, bird-watching is splendid in this region. InLift your binoculars and look for ruby-throated hummingbirds, mourning doves, chimney swifts, and bobwhites, among many other warbling songbirds. the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area birders have sighted over 270 different species including many that are rare to Oklahoma.
Hiking isn’t the only way to see the pine-covered forests and mountains, though. You can also see them as the Native Americans did – from horseback. Area outfitters have mounts for every kind of rider, from experienced to beginner, so climb up and explore the area from a whole new point of perspective.
For golfing enthusiasts, the 18-hole Cedar Creek Golf Course is considered one of the best in Oklahoma. As a matter of fact, Golf Digest gave the course a 4.5 out of 5 ratingcalled it the best municipal golf course in Oklahoma. The course, known for its wooded roughs and narrow fairways, winds its way through stands of pine, hickory, and oak. The 16th Hole is their signature hole that features a near island green – virtually surrounded by Broken Bow Lake. The course also has cart and club rentals, a pro shop, and resident pro.
At the end of the day, you can either head to one of Broken Bow’s many fine restaurants, or fire up the grill at your cabin and cook some steaks, burgers, or freshly caught fish. Cabin amenities also include fireplaces, covered porches, Jacuzzis, fire pits, satellite television, and DVD players. Some cabins sleep up to as many as 20 people, making it the perfect spot for a weekend family reunion.
Beavers Bend State Park is also handicapped accessible, accepts credit cards, and offers seniors discounts. For your next fun weekend getaway, head to southeastern Oklahoma’s McCurtain County, McCurtain County is an easy 2 ½ to 4-hour drive from Dallas, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, OK, Tyler, TX, Little Rock, AR and Shreveport. LA.
