Back in 2020, we ventured to Mt. Nebo State Park to hike…and it was gorgeous. So when we started camping, I wanted to come back.

They only allow small campers up on the mountain because the drive up is VERY wind-ey. But we made it up, and we spent my birthday weekend camping and enjoying the park.

When we first got there, we had something VERY exciting happen- Remi lost her first tooth! We were taking a family photo and realized it was hanging by a literal thread.

So it came out. A few tears, but she was VERY proud of herself. And the tooth fairy visited us at the campground!

I LOVE her imagination. She spotted this empty patch of sand, and grabbed a stick and started writing. Then, she used a flat rock to “erase” her words. I love that camping gives us time to be bored and find fun things to do.

We settled in, ate dinner and played on the playground (which was right by our campsite), then played with glow sticks in the dark…and crashed for the night.

Saturday morning, we had breakfast and we had to go register at the visitor’s center. We did a little shopping there, and then we explored the park in our truck.

We trekked down to the vista at the visitor’s center for some fun views. Tyler started pretending that we all had call signs and pretend walkie talkies. Remi thought it was so funny!

LOVE these people.

We happened upon the waterfall trail, and we could hear water, so we got out to explore. We were in our pajamas. Tyler and Remi had on crocs and I was wearing Bikenstock sandals, so not exactly dressed for a hike…but we did it anyway. It was a pretty easy hike- just down lots of stone steps (and then back up). I love my adventurous girl. We call her trail blazer. She loves to go ahead of us. We let her do that (until we want to be close by for safety). You gotta let them feel that independence!

The waterfall was running. Not a ton, but enough to be fun to see!

After the hike, we hit the (very very cold) pool. It had gorgeous views and a fun slide! While I would have preferred to stay warm and reading on the side, I got in. You gotta embrace the fun, even when it’s cold!

We dried off and ate lunch, then Remi was BEGGING to ride to the visitor’s center for ice cream. It was .6 mile away, and I was hesitant to think she would do it. But she did! We like to say “Girls don’t give up!” and she said that to me as we were riding.

After the ice cream break, we went to a scavenger hunt with an interpreter. We were the only ones who showed up- and it was an awesome guided hike. She gave us a sheet of things to look for- berries, feathers, different colors (green, purple, yellow). She said there were some things we may not see- animal tracks and mushrooms (it wasn’t super wet for mud for the tracks and moisture for the mushrooms). But we amazingly found it all! Tyler spotted deer tracks here, and then Remi found our last thing- mushrooms! We had all walked past them….but she spotted them! Old eagle eye!

We did dinner and of course, smores!

Then we drove down to sunset point to watch the sunset. So pretty!

Remi’s new funny thing is “showing twos” (peace signs). She kept wanting me to take her picture.

A nice lady took our picture (after I tried to get our family and the sunset)- and I love it. Love our adventures!

We went to bed early, because I was setting the alarm to watch the sun come up!

We woke up at 5:15 (well, I was up early- my elbow was hurting- I’m having tennis elbow issues….) but we got dressed and drove over to sunrise point. It was GORGEOUS to watch the sun peak over the horizon. It was my birthday, and I loved starting it this way.

We did lots of relaxing. Reading, drawing, blowing bubbles….

On Sunday, we did one more (cold) swim.

And then we packed up. And Remi slept almost the whole way home. We had a big weekend!

If you would have told me 12 years ago when we got married that I would VOLUNTARILY plan a camping trip for our anniversary, I would have laughed in your face. That was NOT my thing. However, thanks to Tyler’s (redneck) camper- it’s a cargo trailer he’s insulated and run electric to- I enjoy it. The fun of camping without the tent.

We were originally planning to get away to central Arkansas, but Tyler was on call during our open weekend. The weekend we had available was the Garth Brooks concert (more on that later), so we decided to camp in NWA and do the whole two birds/one stone thing.

We took Friday off and set out on Thursday evening. We HAD to stop at Kobe for sushi. It’s Tyler’s favorite.

We got our campsite all set up and it was GORGEOUS. Right on the water on Beaver Lake.

We spent Friday exploring. We went to Hobbs State Park and hit the gun range there. We’re on a mission to visit all of Arkansas’ state parks, and it was fun to experience something different like the gun range.

Then we found a SUPER fun hole-in-the-wall place for a pizza lunch, and then we drove out to the War Eagle Mill to explore and have dessert.

On our way back to the campsite, our truck died. Like stopped running while driving died. We had to problem solve quite a bit. Tow truck, find a quick lube to try and change the fuel filter…then to the dealership when that didn’t work. But then we had to get back to the campsite- and I was going to call an Uber…but we had our cooler, all of our firearms, and other things we had to take with us. We were like, I guess we will throw that in an Uber….but our tow truck driver was SO kind and took us back so we didn’t have to worry about all of that.

Since we didn’t have a vehicle, we spent Saturday chilling. Reading, hammock time, naps- it was GREAT. Nancy brought us a truck before the Garth Brooks concert, and then after the show, we brought Remi back to the campsite with us.

We packed up late Saturday because rain was expected….but thankfully it rained overnight and was clear on Sunday! We got to go scootering around, play on the playground and fish before heading out. A LOT of fun!

And this picture is why we love going camping- all the exploration and imagination outside! Tyler and I were finishing packing up and Remi was about to do the “I’m bored” routine….but I told her to find some special rocks….and she was searching and sorting and cleaning and learning. LOVED it.

After lunch, we went to Fast Lane and had a little arcade fun before we drove home! A super relaxing and fun family weekend!