We spent a weekend in Broken Bow, in the heart of Choctaw Country, for a two-day adventure in this gorgeous part of Oklahoma.
This area is a popular weekend getaway for anyone in North Texas because of its proximity and stunning nature!
It’s only three hours away from Dallas, offers so much beautiful nature, and lets you get in touch with your wild side.
Harrison and I have visited twice now, and each time has offered a mix of exploration and relaxation.
Choctaw Country
So what does Choctaw Country refer to, anyway?
The Choctaw Nation is actually a Native American tribe with deep roots in the Southeastern part of America. In 1830, the US Government forcibly relocated the members in the famous Trail of Tears.
Despite reoccurring hardships, The Choctaw Nation is now nearly 200,000 members strong, making them the country’s third largest tribe!
26 lakes, 7 mountain ranges, and 10 parks span their land, known as Choctaw Country.
Things to Do
Throughout Choctaw Country, you’ll find plenty of things to do.
Here are some of my favorite activities over my past two trips to Broken Bow.
I’ve divided them into three categories:
Explore
1. Go horseback riding
If you’re looking to explore the gorgeous nature in Choctaw Country, what better way than on horseback?
We rode with Riverman Trail Rides, where the trail guides are incredibly knowledgeable, the horses are well behaved, and the views are stunning.
Read this article to learn about our full horseback riding experience.
2. Do some jet skiing on Broken Bow Lake
When in Broken Bow, you need to spend time on the lake!
Our favorite lake activity is jet skiing, so we rented some from the Beavers Bend Marina.
Other lake activities include boating, fishing, swimming, paddle boarding- the list goes on and on!
3. Take a hike through the forest
With over 1 million acres of wildlife habitat, you can bet there are gorgeous forests in Choctaw Country.
4. Go on a scenic drive
This area is full of scenic drives!
You can stay in the Broken Bow area and drive the gorgeous road around the Beavers Bend Dam.
If you want to venture out a little further, there are great options for hitting the road, like the Talimena National Scenic Byway.
Relax
5. Catch the sunset over Beavers Bend
At the end of a day of exploration, a bit of relaxation is in store.
There’s something about the beauty of a sunset that helps me to relax, and this spot absolutely blows me away each time!
We take the drive around Beaver’s Bend Dam to get to the location on the left, and you’ll find the location from the one on the right at the overlook before you reach the dam.
6. Experience luxury in a cabin
One thing that makes Broken Bow stand out to me is the sheer number of luxury cabin rentals in the area.
If you simply Google it, so many options will pop up and you can choose based on your preference.
We stayed at the ZaZa cabin on our first stay, and at The Trees cabin on our second stay.
You’ll find that each cabin has something that makes it unique, like the tub in the floor in the ZaZa cabin, or the giant covered porch in The Trees.
7. Wake up to a fairytale forest
Waking up to a canopy of trees is definitely a great way to start your weekend getaway.
I felt so spoiled waking up to this gorgeous forest each morning!
8. Soak up the outdoors, hot tub style
Almost all of the luxury cabins come with a hot tub– so you’ll get plenty of relaxation in.
In the picture on the right, I’m holding a “Hurry Up and Slow Down” flag- it’s the Choctaw Country motto and it definitely rings true.
Get there and then stop and take in the nature, enjoy the adventures, and take time to relax.
Eat
9. Enjoy some crawfish at Shuck Me
For great crawfish and margaritas, hit up Shuck Me! They have tacos, meat and side baskets, and plenty of seafood options.
We actually went to Shuck Me twice in one weekend because we loved the atmosphere so much!
On their back patio there is a fun seating area that gives you a nature-meets-sports-bar feel.
And when it gets hot or rainy out, they have plenty of seating indoors as well.
10. Sharpen your wine repertoire
This area has several wineries where you can sample local wines.
We stopped in and picked up some wine from Fish Tales Winery– they are most well known for their sweet Muscadine wines.
However, if you like dry wines, I recommend the Light Cahill Chardonnay or the Fishin’ Buddies Cabernet!
11. Cozy up by the fire with some take out
One thing we experienced on both of our trips was rain!
It pretty hit-or-miss if you’ll have rain on your visit, but if you do, you can still make the most of it!
We picked up pizzas from Grateful Head and brought them back to our cabin so we could enjoy it while relaxing by the fireplace and cozying up to a movie.
After speaking with locals, though, it turns out the best pizza in town is found at Mountain Fork Brewery, so be sure to try it if you’re in the area!
Grateful Head pizza was on the doughy side, so we’d probably opt for Mountain Fork Brewery next time around.
12. Enjoy a picnic by the lake
You can pick up food from Adam & Eve’s Coffee Shop, or stop at the grocery store to prepare your own meal!
Fun fact- Adam & Eve’s has great keto and paleo options if you’re trying to be healthy on vacation!
Have you been to Broken Bow? Comment your favorite activities below!
Safe travels!
Jasmine
