Category Archives: Camping

Roman Nose State Park ~Watonga, OK

11/28/2017 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

The Palo Duro State Park was a hard act to follow.

I knew any place we stayed after it would probably not seem as great.

At first, I was not sure about Roman Nose State Park but it grew on me.

Around the lake is a little bit dirty with trash and the sites are pretty close together but thankfully it was not very busy and we had plenty of space.

Such a pretty sunset.

The next day we hiked to Inspiration Point from the visitor center and it ended up being a very pretty hike.

I like any hike with bridges and boardwalks.

You do have to watch out for cactus right next to the trail.

The ground had a blue tint in spots.

Beautiful view at the top.

You can actually rent a teepee to sleep in!

They are available to rent in the summer.

I would not be able to do it because the bottom has gaps and I would worry about snakes all night but I am sure the boys would think it was awesome!

The nice park ranger told us about the springs and I was so glad he did!

It ended up being the highlight of the park for us.

This pool was magic!

And freezing.

My kids are crazy…

The playground is located near the spring.

I don’t know about your kids but mine have a lot of energy to get out before they get anywhere near the camper!

Small spaces and energetic children should not mix.

I pretty much kicked them outside all day.

I use these mugs a lot to boil water in the camper.

They don’t take up much room and boil quickly.

We got them for backpacking but they have worked great for the camper.

This ended up being a great stop on our way home!

If only all my kids did not step in dog poop just as we were leaving…

We also got a flat tire when we pulled in.

That is how our trips have gone so far, always something.

Do you have crazy things happen on all your camping trips?

Camping, Parks

Palo Duro Canyon State Park ~Canyon, TX

11/21/2017 Danielle Huddleston 4 Comments

I heard about the Palo Duro Canyon from clients several years ago and have been wanting to check it out since!

We arrived as the sun was setting and it was beautiful!

The next morning was foggy and still so pretty.

Since we had to be at the top of the canyon to pay for our campsite, we hiked the CCC trail by the visitors center.

It seemed like we were on the right trail by the first sign at the trailhead but it was kind of a crazy trail down.

Not sure if we missed it and were taking some offshoot or if that is what it is like.

We pretty much slid down…

We did find a nice path back up that had steps and bridges but when we got to the top they had not unlocked the gate yet!

We checked out the gift shop/museum for a bit but did not stay long.

I have found that I don’t enjoy having 5 kids indoors, especially in gifts shops and museums.

Next up I thought we should check out the Pioneer Nature Trail.

I could not find the entrance but we eventually found a trail.

I decided this might be the theme for the trip but on the way out I spotted the trailhead with a nice big sign.

Apparently, my looking skills can rival my children’s.

How did I miss this trailhead?

I will blame it on having five kids.

We stayed at the Mesquite Campground and it was nice!

It is a bit more of a drive(which is fun when you arrive at dark) since it is at the very back of the park but it was nice and quiet.

We saw a lot of roadrunners!

This one was at our campground.

I should do a video on organizing your RV kitchen so you can all achieve this look…

I am more of a hiker and photographer.

I will just keep to my strengths.

The sites are nice and big with plenty of room for kids to play.

There is also a nice trail right next to the campground by the bathroom.

It is called the Camanche Trail but was not on the trail map.

I took the boys on this hike while the girls did quiet time.

It has some really cool boulders less than a mile in.

It is an out and back trail but it is pretty long, not sure how long.

At least 3 miles one way.

We saw these turkey prints on top of ours on our way back to camp.

We must have just missed them.

At first, I did not want to bring scooters or bikes camping because it is ONE MORE THING to pack but they are worth the hassle.

Our youngest son pretty much lives on his longboard while we are at camp.

This is the only hike that I wish we could have done the whole thing.

It goes up to a rim trail that looks amazing but it was too far for one hike right now.

Maybe next time.

The part of the Rock Garden trail we did was pretty though.

It was a beautiful day for hiking.

Next, we went to see the cowboy dugout, I was sure we took the wrong way there but it ended up being the right trail.

I am pretty sure the only reason I don’t get horribly lost on new hikes is Nick.

He has saved me from calling for help…

This part of the hike was so pretty.

This view never got old.

So amazing.

The Lighthouse trail was the longest hike we did on this trip.

It was 2.72 miles one way.

Our kids are still acclimating to the cold.

Bundled up kids.

It was a beautiful hike and pretty easy.

It just ended though.

There were signs saying that was the end of the trail, you could not even see the lighthouse rock.

It was pretty disappointing to go all that way and not really see it.

There was a small trail that seemed to go out to it but we thought we were not allowed(there were a lot of trails that were not park trails) since it was not marked.

When we got back to the trailhead I did read that you can go up to the Lighthouse Rock so I think you can go on that trail?

It was confusing.

That is the Lighthouse Rock on the left.

The trail ends on the right and then a small trail goes up that hill.

I would just ask the park rangers next time if we are allowed to go up to it before starting the hike.

It was still a pretty hike though.

I like easy meals when we camp.

If it involves more than boiling water, I won’t do it…

Unless it is a bday that is.

I did make the girls cakes in the RV oven.

I would have bought their cakes but it is hard to find an allergy friendly one.

This Eye Found It game is one of my favorites for camping.

You race to find objects on your card before the other person.

The cards also becomes a puzzle though!

It makes around seven different puzzles.

Great for small spaces.

We finally got to scratch off a new state on our travel map!

In the middle of our stay was the twins birthday but I will do a separate post of that day.

So we will skip a day to our last hike.

We hiked about a mile out on the Givens Spicer Lowry Trail the morning we were leaving to head back to Oklahoma.

That last hike is always bittersweet.

I don’t know what I was doing with my hands here but it cracked me up.

I am so glad we made the trip to see this amazing place!

Camping, Recreation Area

Sandy Cove Recreation Area ~Canton, OK

09/28/2017 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

We went camping again last weekend!

Sometimes it seems like way too much work but usually when we get there and start seeing new things it all feels worth it.

Eventually…

We stayed at the Sandy Cove Recreation Area because it was close to an event we wanted to go to.

Electric hookup only and no dump station.

They do have places for you to get water though.

It was pretty much the only one I could find online and I was not sure what to expect.

I did not expect beautiful camping sites and the best swimming beach I have found so far in Oklahoma.

The only problem with this campground is there are a LOT of sand burs.

I never really knew about sand burs until I moved to Oklahoma.

They got on everything and everyone.

I kind of got used to stepping down and wincing.

One of our twins rolled in a bunch of them right when we got to the campsite.

Fun.

It seems like they show up in late summer and fall so if you wanted to avoid them spring should be fine.

This was our first time bringing skooters and longboards camping with us.

I have been hesitant because we already have to bring a lot for 7 people so I did not want to add more stuff…

But they kept the kids pretty occupied while at the campsite.

Pretty sure they are worth it for the few moments of peace.

I was still not completely sold on our campground but then I saw the beach…

I have been looking for a swimming beach like this for a long time.

It was amazing.

Beautiful soft sand, clear water.

Magic.

There was also a pretty scenic drive right next to the campground that I did not know about!

We made time for swimming the next day!

I did not bring a swimsuit and decided to swim in my clothes because it was just too pretty to miss out on.

Little bit loved the water but her okie blood got the best of her and she got cold.

Because it was not 100 degrees out…

Thankfully there were not many sand burs on the beach.

Lots of soft sand though.

Doesn’t this sand look amazing?!

We had been in the sun a lot that day.

I thought I would be fine since it was the end of September but I ended up getting fried…

That’s okay, I look cute as a tomato.

I could not stop smiling at this water.

My second oldest found a log and pretty much lived out every boys fantasy.

Sailing on a log on a lake.

We finally had to leave so we could eat dinner.

I don’t even attempt to have 5 kids eat in a camper.

I feel like that is asking for trouble so I am glad that all of our stops so far have had picnic tables.

2 nights did not seem like enough time!

One more look at that beautiful beach!

If you have a family that likes to swim, you need to put this place on your list.

It is worth the drive!