Living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area (The Metroplex) offers all of the comforts and conveniences of big city American living: the malls, the attractions, restaurants, and an endless variety of people are what keep residents entertained. However, if you have a family of your own, you may sometimes find yourselves lacking in the togetherness that families need to stay close.

These days, like so many Americans struggling to make ends meet, family life and togetherness can suffer for residents of Dallas. Just making the time to eat together as a family can be a huge effort for many, let alone setting aside enough time for chatting, playing board games and just having an old-fashioned good time.

If you find yourself in need of an inexpensive, convenient family getaway idea, try a Broken Bow Lake family vacation. Broken Bow Lake is located next to Beaver’s Bend resort park in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. The area is less than a 3-hour drive from North Dallas, making it an extremely attractive option for getting your family out of their rut and on the road to adventure. And, you can have an entire weekend of fun even on a very low budget. Many of the activities available to area visitors are free or are very low-cost.

Broken Bow Lake is known as one of Oklahoma’s most beautiful lakes. It is an ideal spot for boating and other types of water sports. The lake itself is huge: over 14,000 acres of clear, deep water that makes it ideal for waterskiing, wakeboarding, swimming, and fishing.

Water sports not your thing? No problem! The lake has about 180 miles of shoreline, making it an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts who love camping, picnics, hiking, and watching the wildlife. The area of McCurtain County is known for its beauty: the area was voted by LIFE magazine as one of the “100 Places to See in Your Lifetime” and by The Dallas Observer as the “Best Getaway from Dallas.”

What else can you do in the Broken Bow Lake area with your family? Here are just a few ideas:

1. Go bird watching

2. Rent a cabin for the weekend and have fun cooking all of your own meals together

3. Take a guided nature hike

4. Visit the nearby town of Idabel on your way to Broken Bow

5. Eat at one of the area’s quaint restaurants while you watch the people (and the wildlife!) go by

6. Bring a picnic basket, lay out a blanket and do a whole lot of nothing – together as a family

Whatever you fancy, if it involves some combination of being together as a family, relaxation, and spending time in one of the country’s most beautiful destinations, you should definitely give McCurtain County a try. Since the area is so conveniently-located for residents of Dallas, the trip to southeastern Oklahoma is a short one. And, with all of the family-oriented things to do, nobody will return home disappointed.

The lake is located just 12 miles north of the town of Broken Bow in southeastern Oklahoma, just off of Hwy 259.

Family fun has never been so convenient for residents of Dallas when you visit Broken Bow Lake in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. Find out more at: http://www.McFamilyFun.com.

On February 1st, 2009 the 43rd Super Bowl was played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Super Bowl is no longer a just a game, it’s a weeklong party with events spread all over the host city.

Raymond James Stadium is the center of attention and the location of Super Bowl XLIII. Near Raymond James Stadium fans can enjoy the NFL Experience, an interactive fan friendly attraction. Raymond James Stadium is ground zero during Super Bowl week, but the fun and excitement of the game extends to many venues in the Tampa Bay area.

Visitors to Tampa should check out the St. Pete Times Forum. This is Tampa’s busiest venue hosting over 150 events each year. In the week leading up to Super Bowl XLIII, guests of the St. Pete Times Forum can enjoy the legendary rock band The Eagles, Grammy winner Celine Dion, Comedian Dane Cook and two NHL Tampa Bay Lightning games. And just so there’s no confusion, The St. Pete Times Forum is located in Tampa despite what its name may indicate.

Located at the Florida State Fairgrounds, the Ford Amphitheater is an outdoor venue with a capacity of 20,000 people. On the Thursday and Friday night before the 2009 Super Bowl, the Ford Amphitheater is home to the Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash. Top acts including Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, Lifehouse and Enrique Inglesias will perform. The event will air on VH1 on January 29th.

Cross over Tampa Bay and visit the house of MLB World Series contenders, the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays won’t be around until April, but football fans can enjoy the Taste of the NFL at Tropicana Field. Guests to Tropicana Field can mingle with some of the NFL’s greatest players, enjoy live entertainment, sample food from every NFL city and be part of the NFL’s fight against hunger in America.

While you’re across the pond from Tampa, check out Jannus Landing. Jannus Landing is Florida’s oldest concert venue. Patrons and performers love the loose environment and intimate concert experience. Patrons enjoy this outdoor venue and all the excellent restaurants and bars within walking distance. The week prior to Super Bowl XLIII, Jannus Landing welcomes Keller Williams on Tuesday, January 27th and the Dark Star Orchestra on Thursday, January 29th.

Downtown Tampa will be buzzing with Super Bowl activity. ESPN will have a giant tent filled with lounges, bars and displays showing the future of sports. The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center will take you back to the 1960′s. On Saturday, January 31st, the Fab Four Tribute Band will have the audience singing and one lucky guest will win two tickets to the Super Bowl.

On January 29th, singer-songwriter John Legend performed his Grammy winning hits at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Ruth Eckerd Hall is known for its outstanding acoustics and John Legend’s music is the perfect fit for this excellent theater.

The Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg offers a sophisticated rock and roll experience on the Friday leading up to the big game. On January 30th, a rock band joined The Florida Orchestra in an electrifying performance of the music of Pink Floyd. Whether you are ‘Comfortable Numb’ or not, this performance is guaranteed to be an exhilarating ‘super bowl’ for your senses.

The Sun Dome is located on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus. The Sun Dome usually hosts the USF basketball team, but on the weekend before the Super Bowl this venue is transformed into a concert hall and breakfast club. On Friday, January 30th Gospel fans can enjoy The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration. On Saturday, January 31st the Sun Dome is host to the popular Super Bowl Breakfast. The Super Bowl Breakfast has gained a reputation of being one of the finest pre-game events. NFL coaches and players, including Tony Dungy and Derrick Brooks, offer inspiring words and present the 2009 Bart Starr Award honoring an NFL player with outstanding character.

The 2009 Super Bowl XLIII is an event that Tampa Bay is excited to host. The entire city is energized and enthused about the chance to share the best of the bay. For more information on Raymond James Stadium and venues in the Tampa Bay area visit KnowYourVenue.com. Know Your Venue.com is a one-stop spot for information on Super Bowl XLIII, venues in Tampa Bay and venues all over the United States.

Cameron Babbitt is President of KnowYourVenue.com. Know Your Venue.com features venues in the United States. Enhanced information on parking, seating, costs and our most popular feature, restaurants and hotels near the venue.

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