Stopover At Lebanon, Mo

As I was having a hectic week traveling from one destination to another, I decided to take a day’s break at one of my layover locations that happened to be in Lebanon, MO. This was a very sudden decision and hence I had not decided on the accommodation and also the kind of activities I was going to engage in. I was anyway looking to relax and did not want to indulge in very tiring activities. As I arrived at the Floyd W. Jones Lebanon Airport, I spent a quick couple of minutes surfing the internet for suitable suggestions for accommodation. I was specific about the fact that the place should be near the airport so that I will not have to rush back in a hurry to board my next flight.

This is when I stumbled upon OYO Lebanon which was a short 6 minutes’ drive from the airport, ideal for me. The prices also fit my bill and I was looking forward to visiting this place. I had not made a booking as I wanted to make a proper decision until I took a closer look at the place and amenities. Upon arrival at OYO Hotel Lebanon, it had a very rustic interior. The ambiance was warm and cozy. The rustic theme seemed to continue all through the place. The hotel also had a beautiful green backyard that looked and felt very relaxing. I booked myself into a King size bedroom. The room was spacious and had well done wooden interiors. The room came with a vending machine, TV, a secret safe, etc. The attached bathroom had fresh linens, and all the essentials wrapped and placed at the appropriate places. The staff had kept the mandatory information manual on the study table, which had the safety instructions and emergency exit information, all the important internal telephone numbers were listed too. The restaurant was a multi-cuisine one with several options. As I was in Lebanon, I thought of treating my taste buds with some local cuisine and ordered through the room service. To my delight, the food arrived before time, piping hot and fresh. The food was well presented and garnished. It has just the right amounts of everything and was a treat. After I completed this tasty meal, I made myself a strong coffee from the vending machine kept in the room. Now I was all energized and all set to explore through the locales of the place. I stepped out of the hotel and immediately found an uber ride.

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To begin with, I first headed to the NRO Zipline for some adventure. Since I was there on a weekday, there were not many people. This offered a breathtaking view of the Ozard Hill area. Before going on the zipline, I was rendered safety instructions by the experts present at the location. The brief included lessons at its ground school level regarding the intricacies of steering, braking, and self-rescue; after this, I was harnessed and went on the zipline. I felt an adrenaline rush while on the line and the view is just beyond words. After a fun time here I thanked the staff there and left. I headed to the Bennett Spring State Park. Bennett Spring is the state’s third-largest spring. The park features; among other activities: trout fishing; lodging; camping; a dining lodge; fly-fishing schools; a nature center; a swimming pool; float trips; hiking trails; a general store and picnicking. But as I was running against time this trip, I just walked through this piece of green land that was home to many activities as mentioned.

By now it was evening already and I had my next flight early in the morning. So to end my trip on a good note, I was headed to Starlite Bowling which was just a stone’s throw away from OYO Hotel Lebanon. So after a game of bowling and a quick drink and dinner, I could walk across to the hotel. There are 16 traditional ten-pin bowling lanes available to the public at Starlite Bowling. The venue also offers glow-in-the-dark bowling, bumper bowling lanes.

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

I had to call it a day after this and headed back to the room. I freshened up and packed my bags. I dialed the reception from the phone in the room and informed them that I would be checking out post-midnight and they said they will have the formalities in place. I had pre-booked an uber to help me reach the airport. It was overall an excellent trip. The stay was great, the city was great. I just wished I had a little more time.

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons