Tripping Out: This Retreat to Oklahoma is "Broken," But it's a Perfect Fix for the Heat

We've officially reached the beginning phase of a boiling summer in Texas, and we're all a little restless as we endure this sweltering heat in the concrete locale of Dallas.

The good news is that you’ve got two, maybe three days for the weekend, to escape to cooler pastures. So, where can you go, what can you do, where can you stay to shave off the 10 added degrees of hot summer temps living in a pavement jungle?

Thankfully, we’ve located some cool(er) travel spots to quench your getaway thirst. And if you're looking to be a road warrior, check back weekly for more summer escapes.

BROKEN BOW, OKLAHOMA

Located just three hours north of Dallas, Broken Bow is comfortably snuggled at the foothills of the Kiamichi Mountains and the Ouachita National Forest.

With an enviable to-do list of things to do, Broken Bow offers a bevy of summer recreational fun. Lots of entertaining activities are to be explored in this small rural southeast Oklahoma town, which features Broken Bow Lake and Beavers Bend State Park with loads of hiking trails. Experienced water babies should check out the kayaking opportunities at the Class 2+ Upper Mountain Fork River rapids in Beavers Bend State Park. The Lower Mountain Fork River is the place to go if you’re a less-than-experienced kayaker or vacationing with a family with young kids. You can find plenty of kayaks to rent through Cowboys Kayak Rentals or through Yippie Kayo Kayak Rentals, so don’t go making unnecessary purchases if your kayaking adventures are sporadic.

The town is also considered the home of the Choctaw Indian Nation, which means there are great opportunities to explore Native American history in the town’s two museums: The Gardner Mansion and Museum, and the Indian Memorial Museum.

Constructed in 1884, the Gardner was the historic home of the ‘Chief of the Choctaws.’ The museum's featured Indigenous artifacts encompass prehistoric times and the pioneering days when people in the United States moved westward. The Indian Memorial Museum is celebrated for its prehistoric pottery and has an impressive collection of antique glass, fossils and quartz crystals.

As for lodging, cabins are the way to go when visiting Broken Bow, though there is a healthy selection of chain inns, hotels and motels in Broken Bow and nearby Hochatown. Broken Bow Cabin Lodging features an array of luxury cabin rentals near the state park and the lake. One visitor from the U.K. was exceptionally pleased with her stay in a cabin at Bear Mountain Lodging, so much so that she felt “overwhelmed.” She also stated her accommodations were relaxing and she was able to enjoy deep sleep away from people and traffic.

If you've spent even a slice of your summer in Dallas traffic lately, we'd take that as your sign to book this trip now.