Weekend trip suggestions?

[southerngirl]

My wedding anniversary is mid-September and we're lookng for a place within a short (2-3 hours) drive of Tulsa to go for the weekend or maybe just one night.  

Not OKC- we lived there for a couple of years.  Eureka Springs is an option- we've only been once, for one night, so any suggestions for there are welcome too.  Big Cedar resort in Missouri looks really nice, but a little far if we can only go for one night.  Although I would love to know if anyone's been there what they thought, maybe for a future trip.  We'd like to be able to have a nice dinner, maybe go hiking, and just relax.    

Thanks for your help!

[Hometown]

I've been wanting to stay overnight at the Price Tower Hotel in Bartlesville.  Take a tour of the old Phillips Mansion while you are in Bartlesville.  We enjoyed the tour of the old mansion.  I can't suggest is a great place to eat in Bartlesville though.  I'm picturing smothered chicken and a cucumber and tomato salad with a fruit bowl dessert.

[bugo]

I recommend my old stomping grounds, the Ouachita Mountains.  I stayed at the Eagle Creek cabins near Octavia ( http://www.guestcottages.com/ ) back in 1996 and would recommend it to anyone (unless they have changed since then).  You could also look into the lodge on top of Rich Mountain at Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Arkansas, and there are cabins at Beaver's Bend State Park near Broken Bow. You'll find some of the best (if not THE best) scenery in the region.  Octavia is about 3 hours from Tulsa, as is Rich Mountain.  Beaver's Bend is a bit further, maybe 3.5 hours.

[jne]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

I've been wanting to stay overnight at the Price Tower Hotel in Bartlesville.  Take a tour of the old Phillips Mansion while you are in Bartlesville.  We enjoyed the tour of the old mansion.  I can't suggest is a great place to eat in Bartlesville though.  I'm picturing smothered chicken and a cucumber and tomato salad with a fruit bowl dessert.

Hey, I was going to mention the Price Tower.  There is a restaurant near the top of the price tower and its great.  I've been looking for an excuse to stay in a room there.
Otherwise, I'd say you are on the right track thinking Eureka.

[guido911]

quote:Originally posted by jne

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

I've been wanting to stay overnight at the Price Tower Hotel in Bartlesville.  Take a tour of the old Phillips Mansion while you are in Bartlesville.  We enjoyed the tour of the old mansion.  I can't suggest is a great place to eat in Bartlesville though.  I'm picturing smothered chicken and a cucumber and tomato salad with a fruit bowl dessert.

Hey, I was going to mention the Price Tower.  There is a restaurant near the top of the price tower and its great.  I've been looking for an excuse to stay in a room there.
Otherwise, I'd say you are on the right track thinking Eureka.

Agree with Eureka Springs. Lots of bed and breakfasts and more than a few nice restaurants and shops.

[sauerkraut]

I was going to say OKC but you took care of that. What about Joplin, MO? A bit farther  is that Music City in Missouri who's name escapes me now. They say that's quite a place to see, but rather expensive. (OK, I just remembered the name it's Brandson, Missouri Music Town~ I know I spelled it wrong). Two-Three hours driving time really limits you. If you can increase that time limit and do a longer vacation you can go visit the Dallas/Fort Worth area, theres lots to see and do there. The Texas State Fair in Dallas is coming up soon too. There is also Wichita, Kansas but that is over three hours. I wish you the best.[]

[mrB]

Here's an easy drive due east of Tulsa. Lots of 'cabins' along Hwy 7 to rent. National Park areas with river valley and mountain hiking trails! My wife and I went there on an anniversary weekend about 4 yrs ago. Cool little towns to drive through and have lunch/dinner etc.

Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway
http://www.arkansas.com/things-to-do/scenic-drives/arkansas-scenic-7.aspx
http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2155/travel.html?map=Northern_Section
http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/motorcycling/Lets_Ride_08.pdf
http://littlerock.about.com/library/weekly/aa040801a.htm
http://www.arkansas.com/city-listings/city_detail/city/Jasper

[tulsa_fan]

Is Jarrett Farms north of town still open?  It was very nice we've stayed a couple of times.  The dinner was amazing.  There were tons of places to hike, we didn't because it was winter.  Here's their website if they are still an option, you could still hit Bartlesville for some culture as well.

http://www.jarrettfarm.com/rec.htm

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by mrB



Here's an easy drive due east of Tulsa. Lots of 'cabins' along Hwy 7 to rent. National Park areas with river valley and mountain hiking trails! My wife and I went there on an anniversary weekend about 4 yrs ago. Cool little towns to drive through and have lunch/dinner etc.

Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway
http://www.arkansas.com/things-to-do/scenic-drives/arkansas-scenic-7.aspx
http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2155/travel.html?map=Northern_Section
http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/motorcycling/Lets_Ride_08.pdf
http://littlerock.about.com/library/weekly/aa040801a.htm
http://www.arkansas.com/city-listings/city_detail/city/Jasper

I second this idea.  AR 7 is a great drive.  If you do choose this option, you should drive back to I-40 along hwy 123.  It goes through the valley while hwy 7 goes along the ridges.  A beautiful drive.

[joiei]

Considering your limits, what about going to Fayetteville?  The unversity has a hotel on Campus and you can walk to Dixon Street for dining and shopping, one of my favorite used bookstores is Dixon Street Books.  A plus is the Farmers Market that congregates around the old Town Square.  And there is a bakery/coffee shop just down the hill from downtown, I do not remember the name right now but excellent pastries much better than the Panera bread ilk.  

Another suggestion is the lodge at Quartz Mountain.  Beautiful setting, hiking, birdwatching, quite, serene and a good restaurant.  Try to get a room facing the lake.  

And Wichita is only 2 1/2 hours drive.  Nice museum, Old Town Bistro for some nice dining that doesn't cost a ton.  The river is nice for walking along.  

Paris, Texas and get to see the Texas Effiel Tower?  Hey, it is a thought.  

Ozark, Arkansas and you can do a little wine tasting.  

[GG]

Here is a retreat the wife and I like to go to.  It is about 9 miles east of Tahlequah.   Very secluded and the people that run it are great.

We used to go to Eureka Springs a lot but since we found this place we have not been back.  

http://www.roomatthetopoftheworld.com/

[southerngirl]

Thank you so much for all the great ideas!  We will check them out and make our plans.  And we'll have several places to keep in mind for future quick weekends.

Thanks again!

[sauerkraut]

Let us know what you plan to do. Whatever you do I hope you have a good time.[]

[Conan71]

There's always one of my personal fave's Canebrake Resort if you are looking for seclusion and time alone.

The guest cabins are new and very nice.  The whole place has a great vibe.

If you are looking for more things to do and see, I'll 9th or 10th the suggestion of Eureka Springs.  Perfect time of year to go there.

[okieinla]

Originally posted by southerngirl

Big Cedar resort in Missouri looks really nice, but a little far if we can only go for one night.  Although I would love to know if anyone's been there what they thought, maybe for a future trip.  We'd like to be able to have a nice dinner, maybe go hiking, and just relax.    

>I stayed at Big Cedar a few years ago. We went middle Oct for the fall colors. It was beautiful. The resort is very nice but wish we had upgraded our rooms.
Agree that it's too far for just one night.
If you do decide to go, check out Dogwood Canyon Nature Park while you're there. We took the Wildlife Tour - fun. Dogwood also has horseback riding, fishing, kayaking & paddleboats. Branson is close by as well.