Tag Archives: Arkansas

Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area and Campground ~Hagarville, Arkansas

The entrance to this campground is a bit intimidating at first since it is a water crossing. And then you proceed into the campground and are greeted by lots of information on flash flooding and escape plans…

But it was one of my favorite campgrounds I have stayed at!

We stayed there for the girls and my birthday last week and it could not have been more perfect. They loved all the adventures to be had there and I loved the beauty.

The boys are enjoying sleeping in a tent and getting a bit more space.

This beautiful waterfall is why I chose this one.

I was taking a chance and had several backups but this ended up being perfect!

No cell service so we used our radios often.

If this campground was not already fantastic enough the kids and Nick found this amazing stream behind it. It was like something out of a fairy tale. The kids loved exploring it and I loved taking pictures. There are no amenities and only vault toilets but it is such a beautiful place I could have stayed there for weeks.

I will be sharing more of what we did in the area also, we have been many times and always enjoy it.

Arkansas is so beautiful.

 

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park ~Prairie Grove, AR

While at Devil’s Den State Park, I picked up some brochures on other state parks nearby.

aadenDSC_6720

I had wanted to go to the Prairie Grove Battlefield for a little while so I was happy it was pretty close to where we were staying.

aprairieDSC_7022

The museum was small but had a lot of hands-on and interactive displays!

aprairieDSC_7023

The battle of Prairie Grove was a large Civil War battle and would be a perfect stop if you are studying that era or just find that time interesting.

aprairieDSC_7025

When you touched a cannon ball(what my oldest daughter is doing) it would show you a animation of how far it would shoot.

aprairieDSC_7026

My oldest liked looking at all the different weapons.

aprairieDSC_7027 aprairieDSC_7028

Little bit trying to lift a cannonball!

She did not succeed…

aprairieDSC_7034 aprairieDSC_7039 aprairieDSC_7042 aprairieDSC_7044

The grounds were so pretty!

aprairieDSC_7047

So many old buildings!

aprairieDSC_7048 aprairieDSC_7049 aprairieDSC_7050 aprairieDSC_7053 aprairieDSC_7056

There is a 1 mile walking tour but also a driving tour!

We did both and it was an easy way to learn some interesting history.

And really sad history.

Be prepared that it does talk about the ground being soaked in blood and other facts like that.

aprairieDSC_7058 aprairieDSC_7064

The first part of the walk was my favorite.

Lots of beautiful historic buildings to see and give the kids a glimpse of what it was like back then.

aprairieDSC_7066 aprairieDSC_7070 aprairieDSC_7075 aprairieDSC_7076 aprairieDSC_7077 aprairieDSC_7086 aprairieDSC_7097 aprairieDSC_7105 aprairieDSC_7108 aprairieDSC_7111 aprairieDSC_7116 aprairieDSC_7117

It looks so peaceful.

Such a contrast to what it must have looked like during the battle.

aprairieDSC_7118 aprairieDSC_7122

I can’t help but think of the families who lost everything just because their house ended up being in the middle of a battle.

aprairieDSC_7124 aprairieDSC_7130 aprairieDSC_7143

They find the Osage Orange’s so interesting.

I can’t blame them so do I!

aprairieDSC_7149 aprairieDSC_7162 aprairieDSC_7164

I really like to visit these kinds of places when they have reenactments going or other historical events.

If you are planning a trip just to see it, go to their website first and see if they have anything coming up.

It really helps history come to life!

Devil’s Den and Thanksgiving

We went to Devil’s Den for Thanksgiving.

Things I learned;

No matter what holiday, reserve a spot.

People like to camp for Thanksgiving apparently.

Also, if camping here make sure you get there while the office is open.

aadenDSC_6617

We almost did not get a spot!

I figured out we had to check in at the office before trying to find a site and just happened to catch an employee leaving.

My kids were tired and done with being in the vehicle.

It was pretty close to their bedtime and I was not sure we were going to be able to stay!

I was also worried my backup plan would be full and closed also.

aadenDSC_6629

The lady helping us said she had one spot left and gave us the number.

When we got to the campsite it said reserved and had a name on it so we drove back up to the main road to get a cell signal.

I started searching and calling to try and find another place to stay or find out what to do.

I do not do well in these situations.

I was panicking.

aadenDSC_6637

Thankfully right when I was about to lose it the ranger came by and we asked her what to do!

Thankfully she told us we could still have the spot that the person had moved to a different one.

When I went to pay at the office the next morning, someone was reserving spots for next year!

I guess I need to plan better next time.

aadenDSC_6639

aadenDSC_6641 aadenDSC_6674 aadenDSC_6698 aadenDSC_6699

The next day was Thanksgiving!

We paid for the site and went for a hike before eating pie…

I mean our meal.

aadenDSC_6702

I just wanted pie.

aadenDSC_6708

My kitchen 😉

aadenDSC_6718

Devils Den Trail.

aadenDSC_6722aadenDSC_6734aadenDSC_6738aadenDSC_6740aadenDSC_6749aadenDSC_6763aadenDSC_6774

We are still working with the twins on how to go down steep hills.

They keep trying to lean forward!

I really don’t want them falling on their face so we are trying to get them to lean back a bit.

It ends up being very awkward looking.

aadenDSC_6779

aadenDSC_6786

We like to read any rules posted out loud to the kids during a hike(because then it is not me but the park telling them to not do it).

One had stated that the caves were closed to protect the bats and that you are not allowed to through rocks at bats or other animals.

My oldest daughter saw someone throwing a rock in one of the caves to check how deep it was and got upset and said: “YOU COULD HIT A BAT!”

I will call this a win.

Glad she was listening.

aadenDSC_6793aadenDSC_6810aadenDSC_6812aadenDSC_6814aadenDSC_6821aadenDSC_6833aadenDSC_6846aadenDSC_6858

She was trying to take up the whole seat so her dad could not sit down.

Sweet.

Ha

aadenDSC_6861aadenDSC_6870aadenDSC_6876

This is one of my favorite hikes to do at the park and always a favorite of my kids.

aadenDSC_6889

There was a hawk just sitting on the bank.

You can see it to the left of Nick’s shoulder.

aadenDSC_6892

I am not sure what was wrong with it.

aadenDSC_6894 aadenDSC_6896

The kids liked watching it though.

I wished I had brought my telephoto lens…

aadenDSC_6898 aadenDSC_6907 aadenDSC_6918 aadenDSC_6930 aadenDSC_6932 aadenDSC_6936

We got to mark off another state on our scratch off map!

aadenDSC_7016 aadenDSC_6984

aadenDSC_6989 aadenDSC_6993 aadenDSC_7012

I was planning on sharing our whole camping trip in one post but I think that would be a bit long so I will stop on the first day.

Anyone else not do well with last minute planning and changes?

I think reservations were made for people like me…