A rainy weekend getaway in Gore, OK. My husband’s birthday came up recently, and I decided to surprise him with a semi-local weekend getaway. We both love to travel, but between limited time and a tight budget, we don’t get to do it as often as we’d like. So, we kept it simple—just an hour away for two nights.

Blue Doors at Tenkiller

The original plan was to spend Friday kayaking on the Illinois River and Saturday fishing. That was the idea… but it didn’t go quite as expected.

As we drove through torrential rain—my husband behind the wheel—I sat in the passenger seat, receiving a literal “rain check” for our kayaking trip. The river had flooded so badly that all the outfitters rescheduled their bookings for the weekend.

So, kayaking was out.

Thankfully, we had a cozy cabin booked—our backup plan turned out to be the perfect retreat. The cabins were arranged in a U-shape around a large shared community space. In the center stood a small pergola with a stage, several outdoor tables and chairs, two firepits, and a massive octagon-shaped pavilion with a full kitchen underneath. They even provided propane and firewood, which made outdoor cooking super convenient.

That evening, my husband grilled us steaks while I prepared a salad in the little kitchenette inside our casita. As soon as we sat down to eat, the rain returned, so we curled up indoors and watched a movie on the tablet while enjoying our dinner. Not what we planned—but honestly, still pretty perfect.

The next day was Michael’s birthday. I had planned to go fishing with him all day, but once again, the weather had other plans. The rain poured so hard that water started creeping over the roads. Still, we found a local spot called The Deck and decided to give it a try.

At first, I was skeptical. The menu was full of breaded and fried items, which usually doesn’t bode well for someone who’s gluten-free. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to eat anything. Michael ordered a calzone, and it looked absolutely delicious—handmade, fluffy, and golden brown. He confirmed it tasted just as good as it looked. I ended up ordering a chicken fajita wrap, minus the wrap, and we shared a basket of queso fries topped with onions and bacon. Yes, it was as good as it sounds. What we thought might be truck stop-style fried food turned out to be a great meal. It was a good reminder not to judge a book by its cover.

That evening, the skies finally cleared. Blue Doors brought in a couple of local musicians to entertain guests, and for the first time all weekend, the rain held off. I jokingly called it Michael’s birthday miracle. Guests and locals alike gathered around as Mitchell Trimmer and his buddy sang under the pergola. People talked, laughed, and enjoyed each other’s company—many of them complete strangers, but somehow it felt like community.