Looking for a getaway from your hectic everyday life? Consider a vacation at Beavers Bend State Park area in southeastern Oklahoma.
Nestled between the beautiful Ouachita and Kiamichi Mountains and located on the shores at Broken Bow Lake, the Beavers Bend State Park area offers an outdoor bonanza of activities for all ages and interests.
Affectionately known as Oklahoma's "Little Smokies," the area offers crystal clear rivers and lakes ideal for water enthusiasts who can swim, canoe, kayak, jet ski, sail and power boat.
You can also para-sail, rent paddle boats or houseboats, and of course, enjoy rainbow and brown trout fishing in one of the best river fisheries in the United States.
For those wanting an adventure on land, the pristine forests in the surrounding mountains offer trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and bird watching while surrounded by 100-foot tall pines.
Those who are into nature and science may want to visit the Forest Heritage Center Museum, which explores the history of logging in McCurtain County, go bird watching at Red Slough, or see a dinosaur at the Museum of the Red River.
Even toddlers can get in on the action with an excursion on the Beavers Bend Depot train, a one-third size replica of the C.
P.
Huntington S.
P.
train that was built in 1863.
Two rides per hour are offered so no one has to wait for long.
Youngsters will also enjoy the Forest Heritage Center Museum or the Beavers Bend Nature Center.
The Forest Heritage Center holds a forestry camp for children to educate them about the forest Golfing enthusiasts can play the links at Cedar Creek Golf Course, an 18-hole, 72-par municipal course at Beavers Bend State Park.
It has been ranked by Golf Digest as the best municipal golf course in the State of Oklahoma.
Fairways wind through pine-laden forests where you just might see deer, fox, wild turkeys and occasional glimpses of bald eagles as you play.
Those who don't want to travel with clubs can rent them at the pro shop and golf cart rentals are available as well.
Area restaurants offer cuisine for every taste, from seafood, to Mexican, to Italian, to fast food.
Many of the restaurants also make fresh, homemade cakes and pies.
If you have a gambling itch, try out your luck at the Choctaw Indian Casino in nearby Broken Bow, which offers 9,027 square feet of gaming and more than 460 slot machines.
About 400 square feet is reserved for non-smokers.
Use your winnings to grab a burger with the works and a milkshake at the casino's Blue Moon Cafe afterward.
In McCurtain County - the Beavers Bend State Park area - your weekend getaway can include almost any kind of lodging you prefer--from a rustic cottage to modern motels to elegantly appointed log cabins with hot tubs and fireplaces nestled in the towering pines, as well as unique bed & breakfasts and luxury resorts.
Some are even big enough for family reunions.
Most have kitchenettes, and some have hot tubs, fireplaces, decks, big screen televisions, and privately stocked fishing ponds.
For those wanting privacy, some cabins sit on lots as large as one acre.
Some cabin rentals even allow pets, but you should call ahead to verify before bringing them along.
Due to its natural beauty and the wide range of outdoor and indoor activities, the area is extremely popular, with more than one million visitors each year, so it is recommended you make your reservation for summer weekends and holidays at least six to eight months in advance for the best cabin selection.
Nestled between the beautiful Ouachita and Kiamichi Mountains and located on the shores at Broken Bow Lake, the Beavers Bend State Park area offers an outdoor bonanza of activities for all ages and interests.
Affectionately known as Oklahoma's "Little Smokies," the area offers crystal clear rivers and lakes ideal for water enthusiasts who can swim, canoe, kayak, jet ski, sail and power boat.
You can also para-sail, rent paddle boats or houseboats, and of course, enjoy rainbow and brown trout fishing in one of the best river fisheries in the United States.
For those wanting an adventure on land, the pristine forests in the surrounding mountains offer trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and bird watching while surrounded by 100-foot tall pines.
Those who are into nature and science may want to visit the Forest Heritage Center Museum, which explores the history of logging in McCurtain County, go bird watching at Red Slough, or see a dinosaur at the Museum of the Red River.
Even toddlers can get in on the action with an excursion on the Beavers Bend Depot train, a one-third size replica of the C.
P.
Huntington S.
P.
train that was built in 1863.
Two rides per hour are offered so no one has to wait for long.
Youngsters will also enjoy the Forest Heritage Center Museum or the Beavers Bend Nature Center.
The Forest Heritage Center holds a forestry camp for children to educate them about the forest Golfing enthusiasts can play the links at Cedar Creek Golf Course, an 18-hole, 72-par municipal course at Beavers Bend State Park.
It has been ranked by Golf Digest as the best municipal golf course in the State of Oklahoma.
Fairways wind through pine-laden forests where you just might see deer, fox, wild turkeys and occasional glimpses of bald eagles as you play.
Those who don't want to travel with clubs can rent them at the pro shop and golf cart rentals are available as well.
Area restaurants offer cuisine for every taste, from seafood, to Mexican, to Italian, to fast food.
Many of the restaurants also make fresh, homemade cakes and pies.
If you have a gambling itch, try out your luck at the Choctaw Indian Casino in nearby Broken Bow, which offers 9,027 square feet of gaming and more than 460 slot machines.
About 400 square feet is reserved for non-smokers.
Use your winnings to grab a burger with the works and a milkshake at the casino's Blue Moon Cafe afterward.
In McCurtain County - the Beavers Bend State Park area - your weekend getaway can include almost any kind of lodging you prefer--from a rustic cottage to modern motels to elegantly appointed log cabins with hot tubs and fireplaces nestled in the towering pines, as well as unique bed & breakfasts and luxury resorts.
Some are even big enough for family reunions.
Most have kitchenettes, and some have hot tubs, fireplaces, decks, big screen televisions, and privately stocked fishing ponds.
For those wanting privacy, some cabins sit on lots as large as one acre.
Some cabin rentals even allow pets, but you should call ahead to verify before bringing them along.
Due to its natural beauty and the wide range of outdoor and indoor activities, the area is extremely popular, with more than one million visitors each year, so it is recommended you make your reservation for summer weekends and holidays at least six to eight months in advance for the best cabin selection.