Listen. Planning a family vacation doesn’t have to be a chore. It doesn’t have to require airfare for four, or lugging everything you own with you. And you don’t even need hours coordinating with a travel agent or scrolling through the internet for ideas.
Make things simple. Make your family vacation McCurtain County style.
At an easy drive away (pack those road games for the littles), McCurtain County Oklahoma offers a little something for everyone — and massive cabins to call basecamp.
And we have some tips to make the most of your trip. So wrangle those rugrats, pack up the car and get here already.
HUNT FOR TREASURE AT BEAVERS BEND MINING COMPANY.
Admit it: we all once dreamt of being a paleontologist, prospector, or pirate. In McCurtain County, you can be all three. At Beavers Bend Mining Company, kids and kids-at-heart can mine for dazzling gemstones and ancient fossils. And all without requiring a change of clothes.
Don’t miss the Dino Dig Experience, where you’ll see real dinosaur teeth and claws and even pet a 12-foot-tall interactive raptor. Kids’ got their second wind? Send them over to Pirate’s Cove. They’re guaranteed to sleep tight after a few hours on this life-size pirate ship, complete with rock walls, rope ladders, and creaking planks. Eyepatches not included, matie.
CAMPING, BUT NOT REALLY.
We take your home away from home seriously. We’re not kidding. It’s kind of our job.
From foosball and flatscreens to swimming pools and swing sets, our more than 2,600 luxury cabins have something for even the crankiest camper. Let the monkeys jump on the bed while you take a breather on your wraparound porch. Pour yourself that glass of wine from a local winery. Or enjoy a family game night before filling up on hot dogs and s’mores around the campfire (or takeout, if that’s more your style).
Don’t let your daydreaming get the best of you. Reservations fill up quickly, so book your cabin in advance. Like way in advance. Same thing goes for rentals and water toys.
WATERSPORTS, WALLEYES, AND WETSUITS — OH MY!
McCurtain County without a lake day is kind of like a chicken fried steak without gravy. It’s just wrong. And with more than 14,000 acres of crystal clear waters, Broken Bow Lake is the place to get your lake day fix.
Reel in a record-breaking rainbow trout. Or just work on that Oklahoma sunburn on the beach. For a more low-key afternoon, load up the group for a peaceful pontoon cruise. And don’t forget the bathing suits! Broken Bow Lake offers many designated swimming areas along its 180 miles of shorelines.
If your daredevils prefer more thrill than chill, we’re also your place. We’re talking wave runner rentals. Tubing. Even high-speed jet boat tours. Traveling with teens? (Yikes.) Send them down the rushing rapids of the Mountain Fork River in a kayak. Or get their blood pumping with paddleboarding, kneeboarding, wakeboarding — really any watersport their hormonal hearts desire. They’ll have so much fun they’ll almost forget to roll their eyes.
MAKE A FURRY FRIEND (OR TWO).
Once you’ve perfected your farmer’s tan, pop into Hochatown Petting Zoo for a wildlife adventure your family will be talking about for years. Befriend a brown skunk. Compare bellies with a potbellied pig. And bottle feed a baby raccoon, right here in Hochatown, Oklahoma. But watch out for those goats. They’ll eat anything. No, really. Pick up some feed before meeting everything from your favorite barnyard critters to rescued local wildlife and exotic birds, reptiles, and mammals. Your lucky shirt will thank you.
TAKE A RIDE ON THE WILD SIDE.
Your toddler is right. Walking is overrated. Trade in those hiking boots for cowboy boots and explore the Ouachita Mountains on horseback. Choose from a variety of stables, then pony up for a unique day of wildlife watching on the trails.
GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH HISTORY.
Acrocanthosaurus. Say that ten times fast. Or just meet one in Idabel at the Museum of the Red River. In McCurtain County’s best kept secret, you’ll discover more than 30,000 cultural artifacts from around the Americas. You’ll also come face-to-face with the most complete specimen of Oklahoma’s state dinosaur: Acrocanthosaurus atokensis. Your kiddo’s not into dinos? The museum’s variety of hands-on art programming might be more their speed. Either way, at a price tag of exactly $0.00, the Museum of the Red River is a must stop.
Alright, we did all the heavy lifting. Book your trip and #GetHereAlready.
