When my parents told me that we were going to Beavers Bend State Park in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, last summer, I wasn't too excited about it. I was thinking, “What fun can you have in Oklahoma?… In Beavers Bend where there are only outdoor attractions?” Fishing, boating, and swimming in a lake didn’t sound fun to me, so I thought that I wouldn’t enjoy the trip. Little did I know the trip would turn out to be a brand new state of fun!
Broken Bow is a beautiful place that has a “country” feel, with old buildings and many trees. The nearest Wal-Mart is seven miles away. Beavers Bend State Park is a great place to go when you want to relax, enjoy nature, and take a break from the chaotic world of technology. The large hills covered with trees are stunning, and you can get an even better view of the hills, as you yakanoe (a combination of kayak and canoe) down the beautiful waters of the Mountain Fork River, or as you are boating in the Broken Bow Lake.
There are many places to go and things to do that the whole family will enjoy (coming from a girl who thought she wouldn't like anything). Eagle watching, trout fishing, horse-back riding, hiking, swimming, golfing, jet skiing, and yakanoeing are just a few of the things to do in Beavers Bend. My family didn't do all of these things, but we did enjoy yakanoeing, jet skiing, horseback riding, train riding, boating, and swimming at Swim Beach, the local manmade beach. Out of all the things we did, yakanoeing was my absolute favorite. My dad made me get in the front of the yakanoe, which was a scary, yet fun experience. It was exhilarating to see my little sister, in the boat with my uncle and aunt, get stuck on a huge rock just after taking off. My aunts, uncles, and cousins would try to race us and see who was the fastest. It was a little hard at first getting used to using the paddles, but after I got used to it, the ride was a glide.
The hills speckled with rustic cabins, were a spectacular sight. It was also amazing seeing the turtles bob up their tiny, little heads and seeing the birds standing on the little "islands" in the river. My family's yakanoe was the first to get back. After everyone got back, we enjoyed delicious snow cones. I got my favorite flavor, strawberry cheesecake.
Our family stayed in one of the many cabins in the Beavers Bend Getaways. Our cabin, Eagles Wings, was very nice. It was two-story with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a full kitchen, dining area, living room, hot tub, a large porch, and a fire pit with benches for hanging out and making s'mores. The cabin also had a pool-table right outside of the master bedroom upstairs, which had one large bed, two small beds, and a foosball table. The cabin didn't have any internet access or phone service, but it did have a TV.
I learned so many things during our vacation including how to yakanoe and most important, that you can have fun in nature. You don't have to have a real beach, shopping mall, or even technology to have fun. You can just get in the car with your family, drive to Beavers Bend State Park, and have a brand new state of fun!
Beavers Bend State Park Website
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