Embrace the beauty of southeastern Oklahoma and unwind among nature in Talihina. Our summer trip to the Kiamichi Mountains was spent relaxing in the perfect AirBnb and spotting birds all along the Talimena National Scenic Byway.
Lodging
We opted for an AirBnb this time around so we could settle into a place surrounded by the great outdoors. Hotels in Talihina are sparse, so a vacation rental in the area is usually the best bet.
We found Susie Q’s Mountain View Retreat on AirBnb, and it turned out to be an absolute gem! The owners were so hospitable and friendly, and they equipped the property with everything a guest could need for a comfortable stay.
The guest suite is attached to the owner’s home but is its own private space furnished with a kitchen, sizable bathroom, and two beds. The place was beautifully decorated and came equipped with everything you could need to have a relaxing stay. Our hosts thought of everything, from coloring books with sharpened pencils to binoculars and a little birdwatching guide. They even stocked the fridge with a few drinks, provided an array of spices to cook with, and set out a little bowl of candy that we enjoyed during the trip.
The property surrounding our room was wonderful! The outdoors was populated with plenty of bird feeders. We saw an abundance of wildlife during our visit. The large deck was a perfect place to spend the evening watching stars and cows crossing the neighboring property. There was plenty of outdoor seating and low lighting when the sun went down.
One of our favorite amenities was the hot tub! Even in the heat of the Oklahoma summer, a soak in the hot tub after the end of a long day was delightful. The hot tub was clean and set up high enough on the deck that we could look down across the neighboring pastures at the many cows coming and going.
We will absolutely book our next stay here.
Dining
My take on local dining will be a little biased. I’m vegetarian, and spots around southeastern Oklahoma don’t always have the best meatless options. I still ate good during our trip.
My partners had planned out one of breakfast stops long before we even hit the road. On Saturday, our day trip to Mena, Arkansas started with breakfast at Skyline Cafe, a local restaurant known for old school diner food, including my boyfriend’s favorite: the corned beef hash. I don’t ever plan on relinquishing my lifetime of vegetarianism, but my boyfriend swears that if I ever decide to try meat, they’ll drive me all the way to the Skyline for that corned beef hash.
My breakfast wasn’t anything fancy. I had the French toast, which was relatively simple, and hashbrowns that were a little greasy. At the end of our meal, we happily added a pin to their visitor map that they use to document diners during their over 100 years of business. Definitely cool to see a piece of diner history!
During our last trip to Mena, we stopped at Coney Q, and I insisted we return this time around. This local ice cream shop specializes in “built-up” shakes, or shakes piled high with any treats you could imagine. I got the banana pudding malt, a banana malt piled high with Nilla wafers, fresh bananas, graham crackers, and vanilla icing. It was definitely a sugar overload, but so worth it!
Some other notable meals during our trip were the veggie fajitas at El Rancho Mexican Grill, the pasta at Little Italy, and the coffee at The Ouachitas in Mena.
Things to Do
On our second day in Talihina, we made the trip to the Honobia Creek Store. This local staple offers souvenirs, a little diner, and plenty of Bigfoot lore. We poked through the souvenirs in search of a plush Bigfoot, but didn’t find one we had to have.
We also had to take a trip along the Talimena National Scenic Byway. The road is definitely at its peak in the fall, but the drive is still beautiful in the summer. Both black vultures and turkey vultures could be spotted circling the skies, and occasionally some will land along the road to snack on poor, unfortunate roadkill. You also have a good chance to spot white-tailed deer and the occasional wild turkey.
The Birds
The birdwatching on our Talihina trip was incredible! Our AirBnb had plenty of amazing little spots for birdwatching, and my new pair of Dreamgulf binoculars made it easy to spot birds anywhere. My wonderful boyfriend, always the photographer, helped me capture a few photos since my camera skills aren’t always the best.
The owners of our AirBnb had set up plenty of hummingbird feeders, platform feeders, and suet feeders around the property. Several ruby-throated hummingbirds visited the feeder throughout the day. Males, females, and plenty of juveniles stopped by to sip nectar right outside of our window.
We also spotted plenty of baby cardinals, Eurasian collared doves, and red-winged blackbirds visiting the platform feeders. I was also lucky enough to spot beautiful painted and indigo buntings occasionally. I’ve never spotted an indigo bunting in the wild before, so it was definitely one for my life list! If you’ve never been birding in Talihina during the summer, I highly recommend it!
Whether you’re determined to spot a painted bunting or just want to relax surrounded by greenery, Talihina is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Oklahoma.