Choctaw Country Destinations
By Amanda LaMora
As the calendar turns the pages of another chapter in the year, we find ourselves lost in the business of spring. It’s a season marked by renewal and a transition toward the light, and it practically vibrates with its own energy of growth and productivity. If you find yourself exhausted by all the spring cleaning, change and preparation that come with this season of revitalization, you’re not alone.
When life starts to feel busy and hectic, I think it’s best to shake things up a bit by placing yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. If you’re not native to Oklahoma, there’s another world to discover just on the other side of the Red River. A world that says, “Hurry up and slow down.” We might just find taking the time to slow down could lead us to feeling refreshed and inspired for new adventures.
First, you have to ask yourself: What does relaxation look like to me? Maybe it’s unwinding with a velvety glass of your favorite wine, lost in conversation with a close friend under a canopy of viny branches and tufts of cottony clouds. It might be escaping to a cabin where the world seems to simultaneously shrink and expand, your universe condensed to nothing but the surrounding rustic walls nestled in a vast galaxy of ancient trees and wild valleys. It could even be something as straightforward as a day at the spa, melting under the fluid touch of an expert massage therapist and lost in waves of peaceful music and aromatherapy. It’s up to each of us to discover what works for us.
So, relax. Take a deep breath. Find your center. Here’s where to start:
1. Book a Spa Day Of course, the hero of the ultimate relaxation experience belongs to spas, and The Spa at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant lives up to this expectation, cape and all. It’s a virtual bath of the senses that will leave you with feelings of peace and tranquility flowing through every pore. With services including invigorating body treatments, heavenly massages and customized facials, plus all the accoutrement of a full-service hair and nail salon, after just one trip to this slice of paradise, you’ll be planning your next visit … and the next.
2. Visit a Winery If you’ve never visited a winery, you may have this preconceived notion of a pretentious place full of snobbish people — I know I did before my first winery experience many years ago. Thankfully, I couldn’t have been more wrong. If your ideal day of relaxation involves a refreshing vintage and memorable conversation amid the beauty of Mother Nature, these places were made for you. Choctaw Country is home to several incredible wineries, including Blue River Valley Winery and Crystal Creek Winery, both conveniently located near Durant, Whispering Meadows Vineyards & Winery in downtown McAlester and Fish Tales Winery & Bistro in the gorgeous, forested hills of the Hochatown area — just to name a few!
3. Escape to a Cabin Sometimes, there’s nothing more relaxing than shutting the rest of the world out and escaping to a remote cabin in the woods. It’s a place where you can make deeper connections with the people you hold dear and appreciate the beauty in the mundane miracles of this beautiful planet without all the usual distractions. Hochatown is home to some of the most sought-after cabin escapes in the area, including Broken Bow Cabin Lodging, Beavers Bend Luxury Cabin Rentals, Broken Bow Lake Cabins and more.