Tag Archives: VacationSpr17

Pinnacle Mountain State Park~ Little Rock, AR

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We got to Pinnacle Mountain State Park right before the visitor center closed.

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Me, “They have alligators in Arkansas?”

What?

No clue.

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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.

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Lizard!

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We also went on the Arkansas Trail loop.

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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.

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These little machines would tell you information about the area if you cranked them.

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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.

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Speckled Kingsnake?

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That is him slithering away in terror…

Our crew scared him.

ha

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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~Cache River State Natural Area, Illinois

 

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Heron Pond Nature Preserve is really close to Shawnee National Forest.

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This is the Heron Pond Trail.

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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…

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Nick ended up having to stay at the van with Little Bit and I took the older kids to the boardwalk.

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Found it!

I was just about to turn around when we saw it!

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I am so glad we kept going because it was beautiful!

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I was really wishing for a wide angle lens!

The trees were huge!

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You could see a bunch of little trails in the duckweed.

We read later that they were snakes, turtles and such.

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It looks like you can just walk right on top of it.

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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…

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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!

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My oldest took some pics.

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Siblings get the cutest smiles for pics.

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This second boardwalk was super easy to get to.

It is right off Illinois Route 37.

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Such cool trees.

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There are a lot of trails here although we only did a few.

You could spend a long time exploring.

Parkin Archeological State Park~Parkin, AR

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I was not sure if this place would be a hit or not but then they showed us the weapons…

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They showed an educational video and let you play with the weapons at the end.

Smart move.

Bribery is always wise.

Ha

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This was the spot of a huge American Indian Village that they think was visited by Hernando de Soto in 1541.

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Brave move giving all of my kids weapons.

I stayed back to “document” better.

Or to not get maimed…

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My kids with blow guns?

Sure.

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Wonder Woman in training.

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I love walking around historic sites and trying to picture what it used to look like.

The mound is where the chiefs house stood.

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There is an old school house there from when a mining town was here.

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Such a fun and interesting stop.

Parkin Archaeological State Park