[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by _redbird_

I love living NEAR a small town. But not in one.

Personally, I love the western half of OK known as the southern plains. That is home to various plains tribes prior to statehood and many of those tribal people still live there. Hopefully, most Muricans will hate it here and move along.

No argument here. Just a healthy nod of agreement.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by nep321

Well, now I'm concerned if I would fit in, in Poteau. I mean, I'm homosexual, liberal, love Hillary Clinton, and I'm white collar and highly educated with a master's degree. Would I be a misfit?

Poteau would be pretty tough for you I would imagine. On any one of those fronts.


You mentioned Eureka Springs. That place has always been a artist/tourist mecca and as a result it has attracted an eclectic mix of residents. Neither Poteau nor anywhere in SE Oklahoma has developed any tourist type place like that. Part of it is because they aren't willing to do so and the other issue is that Arkansas had already kind of cornered the market for the area in terms of that sort of stuff.

And to be honest, as nice as those parts of eastern Oklahoma are, the Arkansas side of the mountains have more to offer in terms of natural beauty, rivers and lakes and the like.

If I were you I'd maybe look at some small towns around Fayetteville or Hot Springs as they might have some of the amenities that would be lacking in a town like Poteau.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by nep321

But Eureka Springs is even smaller than Poteau. Where's the logic??

I don't like living in populated places that are busy.

If I were to move to AR, I would probably go for Little Rock or Pine Bluff. Fayetteville seems too college oriented, which I can't stand. I hate college towns.

Eureka Springs is a mecca for artists and alternative people with mountains and hiking on top of the village. It is quite touristy, though.

[Johnhw2]

I grew up in SE Oklahoma, Durant, but never really visited the rest of SE Oklahoma. Got a birthday in a couple of weeks and think about a long weekend in this part of the world. Any guidance on a nice place to stay in either Oklahoma or nearby Arkansas for a couple one of which thinks a Holiday Inn is camping out. So need a nice upscale cabin or hotel if they exist in this area. I see a lot of things to do just looking for an idea where to stay.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

I grew up in SE Oklahoma, Durant, but never really visited the rest of SE Oklahoma. Got a birthday in a couple of weeks and think about a long weekend in this part of the world. Any guidance on a nice place to stay in either Oklahoma or nearby Arkansas for a couple one of which thinks a Holiday Inn is camping out. So need a nice upscale cabin or hotel if they exist in this area. I see a lot of things to do just looking for an idea where to stay.

The state has a real nice lodge on the lake at Beaver's Bend. I'd stay there.
There are a few fun places to eat there at Hochatown and a couple of ok places toward Broken Bow. It's about 40 or so miles to the Talimena drive. The Mountain Fork River at Smithville is worth a stop and the drive from Octavia to Neshoba and up to Talihina is really pretty. The Glover river is also real nice but a bit tougher to get to.

What is amazing is how different that area is from even the Durant area despite their proximity.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by nep321

But Eureka Springs is even smaller than Poteau. Where's the logic??

I don't like living in populated places that are busy.

If I were to move to AR, I would probably go for Little Rock or Pine Bluff. Fayetteville seems too college oriented, which I can't stand. I hate college towns.

If for no other reason, E Sprigs is more liberal which fits into your political leanings more. As for Little Rock, there are parts that are very nice: you know that, you just did the whole tour of the city. I would have to wonder why in the world you would even think about Pine Bluff ? I am not quite sure why you would think Pine Bluff is up and coming? It was an up, popular, southern town many years ago. It is not likely to change back to what it was in the near future. Not to mention your having a masters degree, might make you feel slightly out of place with the overall attitude of people in the town.

[Oklahomagirl74]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

I grew up in SE Oklahoma, Durant, but never really visited the rest of SE Oklahoma. Got a birthday in a couple of weeks and think about a long weekend in this part of the world. Any guidance on a nice place to stay in either Oklahoma or nearby Arkansas for a couple one of which thinks a Holiday Inn is camping out. So need a nice upscale cabin or hotel if they exist in this area. I see a lot of things to do just looking for an idea where to stay.

Broken Bow Vacation Cabins - Cabins in Broken Bow OK

[StillwaterTownie]

Originally Posted by nep321

But Eureka Springs is even smaller than Poteau. Where's the logic??

I don't like living in populated places that are busy.

If I were to move to AR, I would probably go for Little Rock or Pine Bluff. Fayetteville seems too college oriented, which I can't stand. I hate college towns.

Really, though, by far, the biggest reasons why people hate college towns are due to the lack of decent paying jobs as well as limited shopping and too few good restaurants. Many people aren't impressed by fast food outlets all over the place.

[Johnhw2]

Thanks for the input on places to stay in SE Oklahoma.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by nep321

I don't care. I think Pine Bluff looks like a great place to live.

I am still wondering what it is about Pine Bluff that you find attractive? It has high crime as you have mentioned, is a small town that probably wouldn't be very receptive to your sexual orientation, there are almost no jobs, so being highly educated I wonder what you would do for a living and the entire town is minority or almost. Would this make you feel at all out of place? It might make some people uncomfortable.