Category Archives: Parks

Camping, Hiking, Parks

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park

01/06/2015 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

We went to the Smoky Mountains after Christmas!

I thought I would share some of my favorite pics!

Laural Falls

Chimney Tops Trail

Snow!

There were a lot of steps on the Chimney Tops Trail!

Really cool homestead at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Beautiful hike on the Appalachian Trail from Newfoundland Gap.

We went up to Daniel’s Bunion.

It was 9+ miles total, out and back.

Gorgeous Views!

This hike was definitely my favorite!

This part made me nervous but it was beautiful.

Mingus Mill.

Beautiful sunset on the Carolina side.

Our last hike was on the Alum Cave Trail.

We just went up to the arch but it was still really neat to see.

I can’t imagine what this place is like during the summer since it was pretty crowded during the week in the winter!

So beautiful though!

Have you ever been?

What was your favorite spot?

Hiking, History, Parks

Heavener Runestone Park, Heavener, OK

12/01/2014 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

On our way back home from the Ouachita National Forest we stopped by the Heavener Runestone Park.

It is no longer a state park, the city runs it.

I visited the Heavener Runestone as a child while visiting family in the area so this place is always a bit nostalgic for me.

The path to the Runestone is only about 200 yards but filled with beautiful scenery.

As a child, I enjoyed all of the steps the best!

Although I would not travel very far to just come to this park I would definitely recommend stopping while in the area.

The Runestone is unique and filled with history.

I like discussing controversial history like this with my boys.

There are other short nature trails you could take while there as well.

You could stop by on your way to the Ouachita National Forest/Talimena Scenic Drive like we did or visit the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center.

If you are coming from the Tulsa area you could stop at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge on the way down.

There is a lot to see in Oklahoma so get out there and look!

Parks

41st Street Plaza ~Tulsa, OK

09/15/2014 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

I had been to this riverside park a while ago but did not get to spend much time checking it out.

We went back last month.

It is a pretty park with some nice playground equipment but I felt like my boys were a little old for the park.

The water features especially seemed geared more for little ones.

It worked out okay since not many of the kids wanted to play in the water that day but the boys would have been really bored if they were not allowed to splash due to small kids.

I allowed it as long as no other kids were nearby.

Their vivid imaginations came in handy as well.

They pretended to be alligators for a long time and that made it a fun place for them.

This would not have worked again if their were many kids around since they were taking up a whole water feature.

They enjoyed it since it was something new and different but I am not sure we will make this a regular stop.

If you have little ones that do not really like the big splashpads with lots of water going everywhere than I think this would be a great place for you to bring them!

I have read that the water stays on until October 1st, does anyone know if that is true?

All the other splashpads turn off after Labor Day.

This post makes me miss the carefree days of summer.

We are on our third week of school and still feeling the adjustment.

Only 170 more school days until summer…