Summers in Florida

Catching up on Summer 2020 because it's been a crazy year!  But, this trip to Florida meant exploring new parks and beautiful beaches; kayaking clear water, watching manatees, eating good food, and finding the best coffee houses.  I always value my time there as I have grown to love the Sunshine State! It has definitely become another home for me and I am always eager to return.  

The trip started out with lunch at Lilly's on the Lake, a fun place with good food and lake views.  I am always up for fish tacos!  The next day my Mom and I explored Deland, the cutest dang town!  We started with coffee at Trilogy Coffee, where the barista used her skills to make a Pirate on top of my latte! We walked around downtown before heading the Kelly Park to take in the beautiful, crystal clear springs. 

Rock Springs/Kelly Park was breathtaking!  Because swimming in the Springs was not allowed due to Covid, we had the entire park to ourselves.  We explored the springs, took in the Florida sounds, and hiked the paved trails around the park.  It was worth the trade off of not swimming to be able to experience this without all of the normal crowds.  Tomorrow, Kayaking! 

Let's talk about kayaking at Lake Chaz.  The Chassahowitzka River is about 5 miles long and is completely spring fed; and it is gorgeous! It is home to hundreds of species of birds and the infamous West Indian Manatee.  The very first spring on our list was Seven Sisters Spring, and it's must see.  Of course, swimming is allowed at this magical place.  Up next was Baird Creek, a tributary that ends with a spring known as The Crack.  Tip* you must walk the last section to reach the Crack, but it's easy to do ... be sure to watch for gators :) Worth it in my opinion!  We ended the day with lunch at Crumps, a fun waterfront Tiki bar! 

I couldn't go to Florida without taking a dip in the ocean! Today we checked out two incredible white sand, crystal-clear water beaches; Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island (only accessible by private boat or ferry).  We spent some time on Honeymoon Island collecting seashells before heading to the ever secluded Caladesi Island where we took in the sun and incredible views.  Our day ended with lunch at Pearlys Beach Eats in Dunedin!

More info here: Honeymoon Island State Park

Last but not least, we visited the Second Largest Oak Tree in the state of Florida; it's estimated to be between 300-500 years old and was first discovered in 1811. It is located at Lake Griffith State Park! 

Until next time Florida! 🌴

Shona

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Tree House Weekend

 I have always wanted to experience staying in a Tree House so I was excited when I found Hidden Valley Wilderness Retreat located close to home here in Kansas.  It was the perfect weekend get-a-way for the BF's birthday.  I opted for the Serenity Creek Tree House (inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright) which is actually two treehouses connected by a private walkway to allow interaction with nature.  One wing includes the living room, kitchen, sunroom, shower and vanity.  The second wing includes the bedroom and half bathroom.  There are a table, chairs, and grill situated between the two wings so it's perfect for enjoying morning coffee or grilling dinner.  The property has 2 miles of hiking trails + 32 acres and two small ponds.  There is hot-tub that you can reserve that is private and the perfect ending to the day.  The kitchen is fully stocked and includes coffee pods, creamer, and sugar. The property also contains Graham's Treehouse, Courtney's Cottage, and the Hidden Valley Wilderness Suite available for rent.  Stan and his wife Denise were the perfect hosts and we can't wait to return!  

For my Kansas people or those passing through that want to experience nature, bookmark this!

Click Here - Hidden Valley Wilderness Retreat

The perfect weekend get-a-way!

Shona

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Waterfall Weekends

Let's talk about waterfalls in Arkansas; they are in abundance and very few people know just how many are flowing in this gorgeous Midwestern State.  One whole day of exploring in the Ozark National Forest and the Buffalo River area and we were definitely impressed with the waterfalls we were able to enjoy.  This is just the start of them too; with waterfalls located all over the state, it's time we head back to do more exploring!

Falling Water Falls

Haw Creek Falls

Triple Falls (aka Twin Falls)

Until Next Time Arkansas
Shona

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Kings Bluff and Pedestal Rocks

If you are looking for trail that will give you views for miles, this is it.  King Bluff and Pedestal Rock trails are both loop trails that connect so you can do both of them if you are up for 4.6 mile hike.  We only hiked Kings Bluff (about 2 miles) because we were on a waterfall search for this adventure.  Once we reached the bluff, you could hear the waterfall and even though it wasn't flowing much because of lack of rainfall, it was still a win-win for us.  The views here were gorgeous.  I'd rate this as a mild to moderate hike as there is some incline to the trails and rocky points to cross over.  Hiking tip: keep your dogs or children on a leash ... the bluffs and overlooks are very high and there isn't anything to keep you from falling over if you get to close.  I do like this as it keeps nature in it's natural state but it's a good reminder to always be careful when hiking in this type of environment.

As we continued the trail, we did come across many different pedestal rocks even though we didn't hike the actual Pedestal Rock Trail.  The formations of the rocks were incredible.  You could spot numerous caves along the way too ... which would be a good place to explore if you are into getting off-the-beaten-path.  One bonus for us on this trail: we were the only ones hiking at that time and it's dog friendly.

The trail-head of located right off Highway AR 16 just 6 miles East of Sand Gap.

Thanks for the view Arkansas!
Shona

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