As any relationship guru will tell you, the best way to rekindle the dwindling fire of an otherwise successful relationship is to spend more time together. Quality time, that is! One of the most rewarding ways to do so is in a romantic, natural setting. If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you are in luck! You live less than a three-hour drive away from one of the most beautiful romantic getaway spots in the country: McCurtain County, Oklahoma. This is the home of Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake.
There is a big difference between typical vacations and romantic getaways. Vacations tend to be about “doing” – including sightseeing, eating, playing sports, and even shopping. Of course, romantic getaways can include all of these activities as well, but the focus tends to be less on the “doing” part and more on the two of you “being” together. And what better place to be together than in a locale voted by LIFE magazine as one of the “100 Places to See in Your Lifetime?”
Romance is alive in McCurtain County – in part because of the astounding natural beauty to be found here. The Ouachita Mountains provide just one of the breathtaking backdrops to be found in this place of immense natural beauty. This is the setting for casual strolls through pine forests amidst rivers and lakes that are bound to spark the kinds of lazy, meandering conversations that keep the fire of your relationship burning strong.
Running through this area are many gorgeous bodies of water, including the Broken Bow, Mountain Fork, Poteau, Upper Kiamichi, and the Little. They provide endless recreational opportunities, including paddle boating, water skiing, swimming, canoeing and even parasailing. But, most of all, they provide you and your special someone with a setting in which to get away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life in the Dallas/Fort Worth (the Metroplex) area. In McCurtain County, you can really get to know one another again.
Here are 7 ways to enjoy a romantic visit to McCurtain County:
1. Have a picnic under the trees:
McCurtain County has some of the most beautiful forests and wildlife areas in the United States. You and your partner can enjoy a picnic in nature while you rekindle your relationship in a refreshing, natural setting.
2. Stop at a local restaurant:
The park’s onsite restaurant offers you the opportunity to eat lunch on its outdoor deck while you engage in people-watching, enjoying the wildlife, or just seeing a new side of your special someone in a unique setting.
3. Enjoy a romantic evening in front of the fireplace:
The McCurtain County area offers a range of cabin options for romantic visitors, including a selection of luxury cabins. This is the chance for the two of you to spend time cuddling in front of the fireplace while talking about the day’s events or weaving plans for your dream future together. Or enjoying the relaxing benefits of a hot tub.
4. Hike hand-in-hand:
Taking a hike along the Mountain Fork river and Broken Bow Lake is a spectacular way to enjoy each other’s company while you explore nature together.
5. Sit on the porch and watch the (wildlife) go by:
The great thing about sitting outside on the porch in your McCurtain County cabin with your special someone is that there isn’t much to see or hear – apart from some of the most beautiful greenery and wildlife to be found anywhere in the country, that is. With the lack of traffic, neighbors, and city noise, the refreshing silence can be enjoyed with a special glass of wine. We expect you will catch on quickly to the slower pace that makes getting closer to him or her so easy.
6. Cook together:
Whether the two of you are seasoned chefs or are challenged just trying to heat a frozen pizza, there is nothing more romantic than cooking a dinner in a cabin together. No interruptions, no phone calls – just an open cookbook, a grocery bag or two full of ingredients, and the joy of tasting the fruits of your labors.
7. Stop in Idabel for an organic treat:
On your way to and from McCurtain County, stop by the town of Idabel and the nearby Honey Bear Ranch where together you can shop for delicious organic foods and other snacks.
For a romantic getaway idea that is less than a half-tank of gas away from Dallas/Fort Worth, grab that special guy or gal in your life, get on the road and escape to another world that is closer than you think.
Archive for » March, 2010 «
Having your property listed in sites featuring vacation home rentals is a great way to advertise. There are some free listing sites today and it is best to take advantage of them first since you will no longer have to pay for an agent whenever you get a booking. Listing vacation home rentals can be effective as well as profitable as long as you are willing to do a little work to ensure that your property is booked for the tourist season. A little work is worth the effort especially when you think about the money you will lose whenever you have to pay a third party or the amount you forfeit if your property is not booked. As long as you get the job done and you get more bookings, no work is too difficult!
Listing vacation home rentals is a way for homeowners to save money and also, to ensure that they get quality renters. Too many times, homeowners incur additional liability because most management companies’ no longer screen their paying guest and these actually cause damage to the beautiful homes. When you have your vacation home rentals listed, you can actually speak to everyone who is inquiring about your property. This way, you can choose people according to your best judgment. Of course, no one really knows how your new tenants will treat your property until they move in but there is something comforting about hand picking the people who are going to stay in your property.
Listing your vacation home rentals is pretty easy; all you need to do is to write an informative description of your property. For example you have to explain its location, or the sort of furnishings it has. You can also say how many bedrooms the house has and its best features. Remember that you want to make your property sound really attractive to make it stand out from the rest but you need to make your description as truthful as possible. Creating a catchy headline will catch people’s attention.
It also helps if you have a great picture that comes with your description. Many properties on the listing for vacation home rentals do not even get looked at because they do not have pictures available. If you really want to have bookings, using pictures is not something you should overlook, after all, pictures speak a million words and most people who are looking for property to rent would want to see what you have to offer so they won’t have to waste their time visiting your vacation home. This is especially important if your property is located abroad and your potential tenants have no way of visiting it. You might want to consider getting a professional to take a photograph of your property so you can use it for brochures, ads or other printed media.
Some people would suggest that you submit your ad to as many vacation home rentals listings as possible. You can also have your property advertised on newspapers and magazines but the internet also have free listings so you won’t have to shell out extra money.
Romance is alive in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, even if you are on a shoestring budget. Just a short 2-3 hour drive north of the Texas border in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, you will find the Beavers Bend State Park area. Here your efforts will be rewarded with all the natural beauty, quiet surroundings and privacy you need for a romantic time with that special someone. You won’t believe you are so close to home, since McCurtain County feels like it is a world away.
Here are 6 ideas for cheap romantic vacations near Dallas/Fort Worth in McCurtain County:
1. Polish your skills in the old-fashioned art of conversation:
As famed love doctors and Dear Abby-types the world over have said for ages, a sure-fire way to rekindle your love affair is through quality communication. Engaging in easy, meandering conversations about nothing-in-particular amidst beautiful surroundings can stimulate the mind, body and soul and bring forth romantic feelings in the two of you in a big way. The Beavers Bend State Park area near Dallas/Fort Worth features acres of pristine forestland, lakes and mountains to serve as the backdrop for the types of romantic conversations that warm the heart and bring you closer together. A slow hike in the beautiful woods can stir many a romantic notion.
2. Re-discover your love of board games:
How long has it been since you have played Scrabble, Parcheesi, checkers, dominos or Monopoly? Or put together a puzzle? Ages, I will bet. In today’s wired world of MP3 players, PDAs and text messaging, it is easy to forget some of the simpler pastimes that you used to enjoy so much. If your memories of simpler times include the playing of your favorite games at home or in the backyard, imagine playing them against the backdrop in an area that LIFE magazine voted as one of the “100 Places to See in Your Lifetime.”
3. Get friendly with the wildlife and the night sky:
Beavers Bend State Park has wildlife you will be hard pressed to find in D/FW Metroplex: deer, turkey, rabbits, quail, hundreds of different species of birds, an occasional black bear and even migrating bald eagles! Talking long walks or sitting just outside your cabin, you and your special someone will be afforded many opportunities to spend time with the flora and fauna that make the area renowned for its beauty. At night, the stars are unencumbered by city lights and you will find stars, and planets, the Milky Way and constellations you haven’t seen in a long while . . . if ever.
4. Rent a luxury cabin:
In McCurtain County there are a host of providers of luxury cabins, many of which are complete with kitchens, fireplaces and hot tubs. Start your culinary adventure with a trip to the local grocery store, picking out your favorite veggies, pastas and meats. Then, enjoy the lunch or dinner you cooked together next to the window or outside while you watch the wildlife go by. Of course, a glass of wine and a spell in the hot tub should heat things up as well.
5. Picnic next to a picturesque stream:
Picnics are one of the most classically-romantic activities in which a couple can engage. The food, the beverages, the blanket, the surroundings – it can all add up to big-time romance. In McCurtain County, you won’t have to look far to find the ideal spot to lay out your blanket, set out your basket and enjoy each other’s company over a sumptuous feast or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Whether you choose to prepare your food in your cabin or purchase a ready-made meal at one of the local food stores, picnics are a great way to create an ambiance of romantic fun.
6. Enjoy a glass of wine on your own private porch under the stars:
If you are a wine lover, bring a bottle or two with you on your McCurtain County romantic vacation getaway. Whether your fancy is red or white wine, you will enjoy it more when sitting on your private porch looking at scenery in an area that the Dallas Observer voted as the “Best Getaway from Dallas.” The fresh scent of pine trees and the infinitely starry sky stretching out above you – combined with the ambrosia from a glass of your favorite wine – will together serve as natural aphrodisiacs.
McCurtain County’s Beavers Bend State Park area offers countless opportunities for experiencing those romantic moments that most couples don’t get to have as often as they would like. If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and are looking to create for yourselves some very romantic moments, jump in the car this weekend and take the short drive the 2-3 hours to McCurtain County. Doing so could do wonders for your love life.