Would you like to rekindle the romance with a mountain vacation where you and your significant other can cuddle under the stars while breathing fresh, mountain air? Or would you rather spend your vacation watching the setting sun turn crystalline water into liquid gold while you relax in a lounge chair beneath the sun's warmth? Believe it or not, you can get both vacations in the same spot.
Southeastern Oklahoma's McCurtain County - the Beavers Bend State Park area - offers the best of both worlds when you are looking for a hidden romantic getaway.
The mountains Many people may not consider Oklahoma when thinking about a couple's vacation, but the area is a slice of paradise when it comes to romance and relaxation.
The Kiamichi Mountains which are part of the Ouachita National Forest, whose name derives from a Native American word meaning "good hunting grounds," rise gracefully against the Oklahoma sky, creating breathtaking, smoky-blue vistas surrounded by thick forests of pine, oak, and hickory.
In the autumn, the leaves give a fiery glow of golds and bronzes and crimsons.
If you want to go on a romantic road trip, take the Talimena Scenic Drive, one of the most beautiful in the nation.
Winding through the mountains, the road even runs across the tops of some of the peaks, offering incredible views.
Pack a lunch and stop at a scenic spot for a quiet picnic where you may hear nothing but the birds and breeze in the background.
Bird-watching and hiking are also popular activities in the area.
For ornithologists, bird-watching is splendid in this region.
In the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area birders have sighted over 270 different species including many that are rare to Oklahoma.
While hiking, you may also see deer, raccoons, bald eagles and maybe even a black bear.
For a romantic place to stay, consider the Beavers Bend State Park area and its surrounding areas of Hochatown and Broken Bow.
You can rent accommodations ranging from cozy cabins to larger, more elegant log homes.
If you want to leave the stress of planning behind, some cabins even have concierge service and will make sure you fridge is stocked with food and wine when you arrive.
The accommodations in the Beavers Bend State Park area have everything you need for a romantic vacation.
Soak your cares away in a bubbling hot tub on your deck while the stars twinkle overhead.
Wrap a warm quilt around the both of you and snuggle in front of a roaring fire as you share a midnight glass of champagne.
Watch shooting stars leave their trails against a dark sky.
The water Broken Bow Lake at Beavers Bend State Park boasts some of the cleanest and clearest waters of any lake in the United States.
In fact, it is so clear that swimmers can see their toes down to six feet or deeper.
Water activities abound here.
Pack a cooler into a canoe or kayak and explore the many coves around the lake.
Take your pick of swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, jet-skiing, or just lounging on the banks as the water laps gently at your toes.
If you are into scuba diving, the lake's deep, unique rock formations and valleys make for a spectacular, fresh-water, scuba diving experience.
If you enjoy the serenity and challenge of fishing, cast for brown and rainbow trout in one of the best trout fisheries in the US.
The Glover and Mountain Fork Rivers are loaded with trout and can be fished from the banks or by wading.
You can also fish for walleye, crappie, catfish or largemouth bass on Broken Bow Lake.
If you are beginners to the angling world, don't worry.
Nearby guides can assist you and rent you any needed equipment.
As you can see, the best of both vacation worlds exists in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.
The area is considered a hidden gem, but now you are in on the secret.
Pack your bags and spend a romantic weekend in beautiful southeastern Oklahoma.
Southeastern Oklahoma's McCurtain County - the Beavers Bend State Park area - offers the best of both worlds when you are looking for a hidden romantic getaway.
The mountains Many people may not consider Oklahoma when thinking about a couple's vacation, but the area is a slice of paradise when it comes to romance and relaxation.
The Kiamichi Mountains which are part of the Ouachita National Forest, whose name derives from a Native American word meaning "good hunting grounds," rise gracefully against the Oklahoma sky, creating breathtaking, smoky-blue vistas surrounded by thick forests of pine, oak, and hickory.
In the autumn, the leaves give a fiery glow of golds and bronzes and crimsons.
If you want to go on a romantic road trip, take the Talimena Scenic Drive, one of the most beautiful in the nation.
Winding through the mountains, the road even runs across the tops of some of the peaks, offering incredible views.
Pack a lunch and stop at a scenic spot for a quiet picnic where you may hear nothing but the birds and breeze in the background.
Bird-watching and hiking are also popular activities in the area.
For ornithologists, bird-watching is splendid in this region.
In the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area birders have sighted over 270 different species including many that are rare to Oklahoma.
While hiking, you may also see deer, raccoons, bald eagles and maybe even a black bear.
For a romantic place to stay, consider the Beavers Bend State Park area and its surrounding areas of Hochatown and Broken Bow.
You can rent accommodations ranging from cozy cabins to larger, more elegant log homes.
If you want to leave the stress of planning behind, some cabins even have concierge service and will make sure you fridge is stocked with food and wine when you arrive.
The accommodations in the Beavers Bend State Park area have everything you need for a romantic vacation.
Soak your cares away in a bubbling hot tub on your deck while the stars twinkle overhead.
Wrap a warm quilt around the both of you and snuggle in front of a roaring fire as you share a midnight glass of champagne.
Watch shooting stars leave their trails against a dark sky.
The water Broken Bow Lake at Beavers Bend State Park boasts some of the cleanest and clearest waters of any lake in the United States.
In fact, it is so clear that swimmers can see their toes down to six feet or deeper.
Water activities abound here.
Pack a cooler into a canoe or kayak and explore the many coves around the lake.
Take your pick of swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, jet-skiing, or just lounging on the banks as the water laps gently at your toes.
If you are into scuba diving, the lake's deep, unique rock formations and valleys make for a spectacular, fresh-water, scuba diving experience.
If you enjoy the serenity and challenge of fishing, cast for brown and rainbow trout in one of the best trout fisheries in the US.
The Glover and Mountain Fork Rivers are loaded with trout and can be fished from the banks or by wading.
You can also fish for walleye, crappie, catfish or largemouth bass on Broken Bow Lake.
If you are beginners to the angling world, don't worry.
Nearby guides can assist you and rent you any needed equipment.
As you can see, the best of both vacation worlds exists in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.
The area is considered a hidden gem, but now you are in on the secret.
Pack your bags and spend a romantic weekend in beautiful southeastern Oklahoma.