Tag Archives: state park

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!

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.

Hiking, My Family, Parks

Pinnacle Mountain State Park~ Little Rock, AR

06/06/2017 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

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…