Close your eyes and envision you and your sweetie sitting side by side under a warm quilt while watching shooting stars flash across a nighttime sky. Dream of the sounds of owls hooting in distant trees as you sip bubbly champagne while soaking in your private hot tub overlooking a gently lapping lake. Imagine the scents of clean mountain air and pines and burning wood from your cabin’s roaring fireplace. You have just seen a glimpse of your vacation in one of the many romantic cabins in the Ouachita Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma.

When people think of planning a mountain vacation, they often consider places like Colorado or Idaho, but the Ouachita Mountains are no less beautiful. In fact, LIFE Magazine once named McCurtain County’s Beavers Bend area as one of the “100 Places to See in Your Lifetime.”

The lodging at Beavers Bend State Park and surrounding area offers a romantic vacation like no other. If you want seclusion and privacy, this is the place. Stock your cabin with food, champagne, and firewood, and you may decide not to leave it for the duration of your stay. However, should you choose to momentarily emerge from your comfy accommodations, you will have no shortage of things to do.

Hiking and Picnicking

Unlike most mountain ranges in the United States, the Ouachita Mountains run east to west instead of north to south. Their trails offer an abundance of different sights for hikers, who can climb to the tops of ridges to see a breathtaking vista complete with a soaring eagle, cross gurgling creeks by stepping on exposed stones, or make their way through tall stands of timber into remote areas that look the same as early-day explorers might have found them.

As you hike, don’t forget to look for some of the many wildflowers, such as bird’s foot violets, yellow trout lilies, or wild crested irises. If you go in the autumn, the forest’s leaves put on a snazzy show of gold, crimson, and orange as the leaves turn.

Pack a lunch of wine and cheese, fried chicken, or barbecue, and spread a soft blanket under a massive cypress or oak tree for a romantic picnic. After you’ve eaten your fill, lay back and listen to the chirping of red-eyed vireo, cardinal, tufted titmouse, or one of the many other songbirds that make the area their home.

Lake Activities

In the warmer months, your and your significant other can cool off in the crystal clear waters of Broken Bow Lake. Spend a lazy day floating or snorkeling, or if you are the more adventurous type, go parasailing or jet skiing. For exploring by water, rent a canoe or kayak and discover the secluded coves along the lake’s shoreline.

Angling types can relax while fishing for trout, crappie, channel catfish, or largemouth bass. If you are a beginner at fishing, no worries – trained guides can assist to ensure a day of fishing fun.

The Cabins

As the sun begins to set, retire to your peaceful cabin and rekindle your romance in a steaming hot tub or in front of a roaring fireplace. Anything you could possibly want is available in your cabin, including DVD players, barbecue grills, satellite television, and covered porches for wildlife viewing.

Some cabin owners offer a concierge service, so that you can arrive to find your cabin stocked with any groceries you might need, including wine or champagne for that midnight toast.

For a couple looking for a peaceful getaway, the romantic cabins in Oklahoma fit the bill perfectly. Only a few hours drive from Dallas/Fort Worth or Tulsa, the area is easily accessible, too.

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