McCurtain County offers nature lovers an assortment of activities for outdoor fun. Beavers Bend Resort, at the base of Broken Bow Lake, and Mountain Fork River are the focus for all the activities in this most beautiful part of our state. For a complete listing of events, lodging, attractions, outdoor activities, museums, and shopping opportunities, visit the official web site of the McCurtain County Tourism Authority.

Ride Through the Park
Take a trip on the C. P. Huntington S. P. railroad. This one-third size replica was built in 1863 and takes passengers on a 30-minute scenic trip through the Beavers Bend Resort Park. The open cars and rural route put you in the midst of the beautiful forest landscape. The Depot is open 10am-5pm during the summer and there are generally two excursions offered every hour.

Want to get closer to nature? Take a horseback trail ride each 2.5 mile ride is about an hour long. The Beavers Bend Depot & Stables also offers hay rides twice a week. Call 580-494-6613 for the schedule.

Wet Encounters
The Illinois River isn't the only place to float down a lazy river. Beavers Bend River Floats lets rafters take a 2.5 mile float down the lower Mountain Fork. Canoes rent for $21; kayaks, $10.50. The ride should last about an hour if the waters are calm, but you can take as long as you want. Visit their web site or call 580-494-6070 for more information. The WW Trading Post and Canoe Rentals offers a variety of floats on the lower Mountain Fork full day, half day, and overnight floats are available. Their extensive website, WWCanoes.com, outlines each of their trips. Prices per four-seat canoe range from $40 to $80. Floaters must be at least six years old. There are a variety of float providers in the area and many rent tubes for short trips.

Nature Trails
Little River National Wildlife Refuge showcases migratory waterfowl and other river creatures. This 15,000-acre refuge was created to help preserve the bottomland hardwood forest, and in this swampy habitat visitors can encounter flocks of ducks, rabbits, frogs, and alligators. The park is perfect for hot summer days because all the wildlife is viewable from the designated auto route—most visitors spot at least one alligator while in the park. If your family likes to hike, make plans for the David Boren Hiking Trail. This 16-mile trail winds from Beavers Bend to Hochatown. There are several shorter nature trails as well.

Nature and Culture Indoors
The Beavers Bend Nature Center is one of the best in the state. Guests can take nature hikes (sign up early for the sunset hike) and astronomy outings. The Forest Heritage Center and Museum is a must see it features 14 dioramas about prehistoric forests, papermaking, 1940s lumbering, and forest conservation. Don't miss the exhibit honoring the wildfire firefighters. Admission is free; allow at least 1.5 hours for the exhibits. Learn more at their web site.

For indoor fun, visit The Gardner Mansion and Museum which houses an outstanding collection of pre-historic Indian and pioneer artifacts. Call 580-584-6588 for an appointment to tour the Mansion and Museum.

The Museum of the Red River in Idabel has the most complete dinosaur skeleton ever found in McCurtain County and is sure to impress. For more information, visit their web site.

Festivals and Food
The Kiamichi Owa-Chito Festival of the Forest is held the third weekend in June. This three-day event at the resort park highlights the heritage, culture, and industry of Kiamichi Country. Enjoy forestry competitions, a large art show, and great musical entertainment. Check out the plans for this year's festival at their web site.

My favorite summer festival is the Valliant Watermelon Festival which is held in August. The entire town turns into a celebration of the watermelon! For more information, visit their web site.

No trip to Broken Bow is complete without a stop at Goody's New Orleans Style Snowball Stand. Don't let the name mislead you this stand has the best tamales around! For $9 a dozen (which will feed a family of four), you get Robert and Judy Goodner's handmade tamales and homemade, fresh salsa. The stand is located across from the entrance to the resort park.

Pam Washington is the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Central Oklahoma. She and her husband Mike have been married for six years and have traveled Oklahoma with their blended family of five children.