Category Archives: Parks

Animals, Parks

Foss State Park & Washita Wildlife Refuge ~Foss, OK

11/15/2017 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

The trip to Palo Duro was a bit too long to pull a camper in one day so I planned a stop around halfway.

Nick had to work on the day we left so we got to Foss State Park late in the day.

This dollar spot Target find worked out great to keep Little Bit entertained on the trip!

The full hookup sites that were open were a bit close together for me but it worked out.

I believe there are more available during the summer but they close some of the campgrounds in the winter.

The Washita Wildlife Refuge is right next to Foss State Park and I had been wanting to visit it for a while.

So we drove up to it and saw the rest of Foss State Park also the next day.

The lake water was so pretty and clear!

Look at this beautiful swimming beach at Foss State Park!

I can’t wait to go back when we can swim!

We did run into a problem with the wildlife refuge.

It happened to be one of the few days they closed areas of the refuge so people could hunt.

It was a bit disappointing but we went back the next day to hike the trails that had been closed.

Huge fields of white cotton!

So pretty!

This bridge was one of the few things open on the 1st day we visited.

There was a nice hiking trail right next to our campsite.

Nick is great at getting smiles and laughter for pics 🙂

I love how pretty Oklahoma grass is in the fall.

It lights up at sunset.

One of my kids took this, I did not get that close to a dead animal…

Foss State Park has a Bison Herd!

A quick trip back to Washita Wildlife Refuge before heading to Texas!

We saw so many deer!

And coot’s…

Even their signs had a southern accent…

A lot of easy, short hikes to see beautiful Oklahoma.

This lake was so beautiful!

I am so glad we stopped here!

Do you have a favorite state park where you live?

Here is a video of our time at the park and wildlife refuge!

Parks

Maplewood State Park ~Pelican Rapids, MN

10/31/2017 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

Maplewood State Park

I love this park so much that we ended up going three times while visiting family in MN!

The first time we ended up just taking the twins and my niece.

This is the woodland trail loop.

It is under a mile but so pretty!

I may have told my husband that I was not going home…

Minnesota in the fall is hard to leave!

My adorable niece.

For the second visit, we had all of our kids and came into the park from the south.

This is a small portion of the Star Loop trail.

Next, we walked some of this beautiful trail near Maplewood Church.

I had actually decided to try a family picture with this stunning backdrop but a birthday party started.

I could not bring myself to get out my tripod and set everyone up for a family pic with an audience.

We drove into in the park a bit more and ended up stopping to take this pic on a side road.

I love how it looks like everyone is cooperating and having fun but in real life, I had one mad at me and glaring for most of the pics…

On our 3rd visit, we had just the girls(the boys opted to stay and play with cousins).

We hiked on the Ironwood Trail.

I can’t get over how pretty the woods were.

The girls decided to throw leaves at Nick on the hike back to the vehicle.

Love these.

I am already missing fall in Minnesota!

Hiking, Parks

Gloss Mountain State Park ~Fairview, OK

10/02/2017 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

We went to Gloss Mountain State Park 3 times while camping nearby.

I went to the top with three of the kids Saturday afternoon.

She likes to stop in the shade.

Every hike, she is stopped somewhere in the shade.

These views always make the hike up worth it.

I could not resist going back that same evening.

I missed most of the sunset but it was still magical up there.

It was close to bedtime so I just took the two oldest up.

My younger boy asked that we walk to the end this time(there is a trail on top).

We did not make it to the very end of the trail since we were loosing light fast.

I always think of a Louis Lamour book called “The Haunted Mesa” when I am on top of Gloss Mountain.

As the light faded that book seemed to come to life.

It is not set in this location but reminds me of it.

So yes, I shared with my boys that I felt like I was going to be transported to another world.

My younger boy analizes everything and let me know that there are other worlds in a way.

Heaven.

I miss talks and moments like this, we don’t have them as often anymore.

My favorite hike was the next morning.

We all went up before heading home.

This place is always amazing.

Oklahoma skies showing off.

Trying to get everyone in.

Finally went to the end!

Also, don’t fall off…

Keep in mind that you are hiking on top of a mesa so drop offs everywhere.

It makes for a beautiful hike though.

Heading back down! You can actually see our camper in the parking lot below!

Minutes after driving down the road our awning ripped off our rv.

What would an rv trip be without a little added challenge?

If you bend an awning in half it will fit into your rv!

Good information to know.

You are welcome.

Here is a short video of our weekend.