At least one of our five kids always manage to make it into shots.
How he really feels about pictures…
He looks all sweet and loving but he was really falling asleep…
The day felt a bit like any other day but after Nick got home I bought some cheesecake for the two of us and later in the evening we got the drone out and I practiced flying it!
As a bonus, I did not crash!
It was a nice easy way to celebrate 13yrs of marriage.
We got to Pinnacle Mountain State Park right before the visitor center closed.
Me, “They have alligators in Arkansas?”
What?
No clue.
We went on the scenic overlook trail right next to the visitors center.
Really short walk.
All the walks on our trip were easy and short.
I was told I had to take it easy by my doctor due to a back injury so every walk was around 1 mile or less.
Lizard!
We also went on the Arkansas Trail loop.
It is the Arboretum as well so lots of signs with information about the trees throughout the walk.
My second oldest read every single sign.
These little machines would tell you information about the area if you cranked them.
There was a constant debate of who’s turn it was…
Thank you park people for the fun crank machines that helped my kids work on their sharing skills.
Speckled Kingsnake?
That is him slithering away in terror…
Our crew scared him.
ha
We did not stay very long at this park and I really want to go back when we can do the pinnacle hike!
It was too steep for this trip.
I was also constantly battling to get checked into the hotel before the kids bedtime.
Not sure I ever accomplished that goal…
Heron Pond Nature Preserve is really close to Shawnee National Forest.
This is the Heron Pond Trail.
It felt a little bit longer than the map said to get to the boardwalk.
But it was the toddlers nap time so that might have contributed to that feeling…
Nick ended up having to stay at the van with Little Bit and I took the older kids to the boardwalk.
Found it!
I was just about to turn around when we saw it!
I am so glad we kept going because it was beautiful!
I was really wishing for a wide angle lens!
The trees were huge!
You could see a bunch of little trails in the duckweed.
We read later that they were snakes, turtles and such.
It looks like you can just walk right on top of it.
I took a picture of this honeysuckle because the previous day’s drive through Shawnee National Forest was filled with the amazing smell of it.
And we were stopped to change a flat tire…
We did a small portion of the lookout point trail.
This is a great trail for when mosquitoes are bad.
It is right next to a cliff so it is really open and breezy but shaded.
I am always on the lookout for trails like this in Oklahoma for summer time hikes!
My oldest took some pics.
Siblings get the cutest smiles for pics.
This second boardwalk was super easy to get to.
It is right off Illinois Route 37.
Such cool trees.
There are a lot of trails here although we only did a few.
You could spend a long time exploring.