Affordable Weekend Getaways - For Corporate Retreats from jenny hanson's blog

In these rough economic times, businesses, both large and small, have had to tighten their fiscal belts. To accommodate the downturn, many businesses have cancelled or refrained from scheduling weekend retreats, small conventions, or executive golf outings. However, cutting your corporate budget doesn't mean having to give up these kinds of corporate outings. You simply may need to rethink the venue. For affordable weekend getaways that allow your loyal employees to mix business with pleasure, look no further than McCurtain County, Oklahoma the Beavers Bend State Park area.

Businesses in Dallas/Fort Worth, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Shreveport will find the Beavers Bend State Park area is only a few hours' drive from their company's location. It is an ideal spot for corporate retreats, for team-building exercises, and for other kinds of business meetings. With a scenic environment, modern accommodations, affordable cabins nestled in 100-foot tall pines, a lodge overlooking Broken Bow Lake, and an array of recreational opportunities, the Beavers Bend State Park area is the perfect getaway for parties of any size.

Several facilities offer space for meetings. The nearby Museum of the Red River has a full-service, modern conference center, with audio/visual facilities, a full kitchen, and four meeting rooms, three of which can seat 75 people and one that can accommodate 250 people.

The Lakeview Lodge, overlooking beautiful Broken Bow Lake, offers a meeting room that can seat 45 people complete with DVD/DVR player, WiFi, and food and beverage catering service. Cozy meeting rooms in the lodge are ideal for small groups of five to 28.

The Forest Heritage Center has two meeting rooms that can seat between 40 and 60, with a projector, screen, and catering available. All are perfect for sales meetings, seminars, workshops, and management retreats.

Once the meetings are over, your employees will have a wide choice of activities for sharing fun and friendship. Those who are into water sports can snorkel, go canoeing, kayaking, swimming, power boating, sailing or jet skiing in the crystal clear water of Broken Bow Lake. You can even parasail if you want.

Birding enthusiasts can hike one of the park's many miles of trails, where they may not only see birds such as Bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks, bobwhites, and ruby-throated hummingbirds, but also squirrels, raccoons, deer, and the occasional black bear.

Fishing types can try their hand at catching Brown and Rainbow trout, largemouth bass, crappie, or catfish in the 14,000-acre lake and nearby rivers. McCurtain County offers the best trout fishery in the Mid-South. Guides are ready to assist novice fishermen.

Horseback riding excursions are also available for any level of rider, from beginner to advanced. Your employees can climb into the saddle and see the mountains and forest trails from a whole new view.

And, you know what they say - many businesses deals and decisions are made on the golf course, and the nearby, 18-hole Cedar Creek Golf Course fits the bill perfectly. With its breathtaking views of Broken Bow Lake and pine-rimmed, narrow fairways, the par-72 course, nestled in the foothills of the Kiamichi Mountains, is considered one of the most beautiful in Oklahoma. The 16th hole is considered especially challenging, because it is surrounded by water on three sides - it plays like an island green. It was recently named by Golf Digest as the Best Municipal Golf Course in Oklahoma.

If you are looking for the best resort in Oklahoma, please visit us at Southern Oaks Resort & Cottages Oklahoma.