Category Archives: Hiking

Beavers Bend State Park, SE Oklahoma

12/03/2012 Outdoor Post 2 Comments

On our way to Beavers Bend State Park we stopped at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge and Heavener Runestone State Park.

The picture above was taken at Heavener.

It was POURING so we did not stay there very long.

We just walked down to see the runestone and then slipped and slid our way back up.

By the time we arrived at Beavers Bend State Park the rain had stopped!

Even though they had their big festival going on we had our choice of campsites because of the rain.

We chose a campsite right on the river between Grapevine and Hickory campsites.

I am not sure which one it was since it was in the middle of them both.

You could not park down at these sites but the parking was close by.

No one else was camping anywhere near us!

The boys loved the really nice playground they had at the park.

Of course!

We travel hours away from home to a brand new park and all they care about is the playground…

The deer were EVERYWHERE!

They seemed like they were used to people being around also.

They would just ignore you as you took as many pictures as you wanted.

The view from the Cedar Bluff Nature Trail.

It connects to their big trail the David L. Boren (26miles) but we did not go very far on it.

We had our dog and my husband was worried about the rocky terrain hurting her paws.

Next we took the Pine Ridge Nature Trail to the Heritage Center.

They have a museum there and an old log cabin so be sure to check it out if you go.

As we got closer to the Center there were signs with information about the animals and trees we were seeing.

It was a very kid friendly trail.

The fall colors were really pretty.

I love rain soaked leaves!

Over all it was a really nice park.

Since the Ouachita National Forest is on the way we tend to just go there instead.

I was told by many people that I needed to make the trip to Beavers Bend and I am happy I did.

That being said, we will probably continue going to Ouachita.

I love the Mountain terrain and it is a little bit closer.

Hiking, Kid Friendly Hikes, Outdoors

How to trick your kids into enjoying hiking!

10/12/2012 Outdoor Post 4 Comments

I did a post with a couple tips on hiking with young children a little while back. It was more on keeping your kids comfortable then entertaining them so I thought I would do a new one with some tips and tricks on hiking with children!

I am not above tricking my children into forgetting how many miles they have been walking!

I want them to enjoy their time outside not dread it!

Here is a list of ways I “trick” my children into enjoying long walks/hikes:

1. Play I spy! This has been a game changer for me. The boys love playing it! We play it in stores, on walks, and on hikes.

It is easy also! Just find something odd say it out loud and see who finds it first! Then it is their turn to do the same.

2. Give them a map.

For some reason kids just really like to look at maps! If you have a GPS device that is even better!

3. Give them a compass and teach them how to use it.

4. Bring along animal/plant identification charts

I really like the laminated ones I found at a nature center!

I recently found these also though and really want to get them!

5. Have a special treat waiting at the car/house, or if you are walking try to walk to a place you can buy something for them. I love actually going somewhere when walking instead of just going in a circle! We walk to the park, walmart, or a gas station often. The boys actually ask to go to them even though it is a five mile round trip!

You could also bring a special treat with you.

6. Do a nature scavenger hunt! I just did one while up visiting family in Minnesota and all the kids loved it!

We did the Nature Bingo I found here.

More ideas here and here.

7. Tell stories.

I actually learned this from reading Little Woman! You start a story and then they have to continue it. It is so much fun and keeps their mind off the fact they are walking! It does take a little work to teach them how to do it if they have never done it before but it is worth it!

8. Lastly pick a fun location! One with lots of animals, fun bridges, or rocks to climb!

Robbers Cave State Park

Ray Harrel Nature Park

Turkey Mt. Wilderness Area

Also the Mary K. Oxley Nature Center and the RSU conservation Trail.

I hope this post helps make hiking more fun for you and your kids!

Hiking, Outdoors, Parks

Robber’s Cave State Park Cabins ~Wilburton, OK

08/24/2012 Outdoor Post 1 Comment

We finally got a chance to try out the cabins at Robber’s Cave State Park!

The one we stayed in was laid out so that the main bedroom, kitchen, and living room were all in the same room.

The extra pull out bed was actually on the porch when you first came in.

We were there to celebrate this little man’s 6th birthday.

As an outdoor lover it makes me so happy to have one of my boys request a cabin for his birthday!

I took the boys for a walk down to the Cabin office to get an ice cream cone the first night we were there.

I decided to take the coon ridge trail back because I thought it might connect to another trail I saw near our cabin.

It did not…

We hiked a little bit further then I had planned but it worked out fine.

We hiked the whole trail on the last day we were there.

The park by the cabins is really nice and the boys loved having it so close.

Sunset on Lake Wayne Wallace.

We camped by this lake a couple years before.

I love watching the light fade away over the water.

I would never leave home if I lived on a lake.

At least not at sunset.

The next morning we headed to the Bella Starr lodge to watch the sunrise.

I found the perfect spot the night before while I was wondering around(lost).

Then we headed to the cave to rock climb before the heat came.

He loved it!

I think that Robbers Cave is a great place to take your family, it is so much fun!

With that being said, there are a lot of cliffs with very steep drops.

If you have children that do not mind or stop when you tell them to I would not recommend it!

We are very big into trail safety.

The first thing Nick did was bring the boys over(holding hands) to a steep drop to talk about what would happen if they did not listen and were not careful.

We also hold hands near any drop offs.

We found this little guy inside the main cave.