My family and friends spent the last Labor day weekend in Mountain View, AR, it is located deep in the Ozarks surrounded by mountains and rivers which offers an exciting outdoor adventure for the whole family. We had an amazing time and it’s one of those trips that you just don’t want to end; half way back home the kids were still asking when were we going back to the house on the mountain.
During this recent trip, we stayed at Overlook Lodge. It is perfect for a big family who wants to get out of the city, to relax and enjoy nature. The lodge sits on forty acres atop a mountain overlooking the Ozarks National Forest and White River. It’s Gorgeous!!! Plus, nothing to worry because it’s a gated property with security access and got cameras in the surrounding grounds.
Tip: Hummingbirds are our frequent visitors so bring table sugar or something they prefer to eat to make them happy and they’ll sing for you all day long:)
Our group is multicultural – Brazilians, South African, American and me the Filipino but luckily we’ve got the same mindset; to have fun and soak in nature the best way we can. We’ve got at least an adventurous spirit in all of us so it was easy to plan this trip.
Here is a list of some of the activities that we did which are perfect for the kids:
Outdoor Play
We got a huge playground with perfect view. What else could you ask for?
Fishing
It was my kids first time fishing; we didn’t catch any but we all had fun. Besides, look at that view!!!
Rafting
This is not what you are thinking… this is NOT whitewater rafting!!! My kids are definitely not ready for the rigors of whitewater rafting. This one we did is perfect for even a one year old baby. White river has really mild current and is great for canoeing, kayaking, rafting and fishing. Anglers White River called it a “floating trip” where everyone can enjoy cool,calm water and beautiful scenery. Plus, you can bring some foods and drinks.
Tip: Fishing keeps the kids entertained the whole trip but if you decide not to fish then be ready with some games or jokes/ stories for the kids not to get bored.
We stopped at some point to stretch and enjoy nature’s beauty.
Caving, Hiking, Swimming, Picnic
Blanchard Springs Caverns, named by Life Magazine as “one of the most extraordinary finds of the century” this living cave keeps growing and constantly changing. There are a lot of outdoor activities to do; this is a perfect family destination.
We took the Dripstone trail, it’s shorter, easier and takes visitors almost half a mile through the Caverns. It’s a different world underground.
After our cave visit, we had picnic and did a little climbing, hiking and swimming…
Mountain View, AR is the Folk Music Capital of the world. And we are so lucky to experience this unique Ozark culture. We enjoyed our night listening to live folk music on the historic Court square. It was unforgettable.
My favorite part is when we arrived back to the lodge after a day of adventure, we got to relax and watch one of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen. And we got to be silly and funny:)
Tip: Mountain View, AR is a dry county, so those who enjoy having a glass of wine or a beer in the evening must plan accordingly.
Are we going back to Arkansas again?!? Yes, definitely…
Thank you for reading and please click here for my family’s Fall experience in Arkansas.
xoxo
This looks like a very relaxing family vacation! Would love to go there with my family.
Yeah… you should go with your family:)
What a fun trip, we love Arkansas as well, but haven’t been in a while! Love the sunset pics!
Yeah, th sunset is my fave:) Thanks for reading… happy travels… xoxo
What a fun trip– and those caverns look amazing! Arkansas is perfect in the summer. So much outdoorsy things to do that are maybe too cold to do during the winter haha!
YEAh!!! WE love Arkansas… especially the kids:) Thanks for reading… I am so glad to know another Filipina blogger in Dallas:) Let’s catch up one of these days… xoxo
Wow, what a gorgeous collection of photos! Your little girl is so cute, and that sunset shot you got, wow! Just beautiful!
Thank you, some shots were only taken from my phone:) oooh… My girl is such a character LOL… and loves the camera:) OMG… yeah… Such a beautiful sunset:)
The ozarks are so beautiful, and it looks like you had a fun group to explore with!
It is beautiful!!! we are definitely coming back… And yes, we had a fun group:) The kids had a blast!!! Thanks for reading… xoxo
I have to say that I am genuinely surprised. I never even thought about visiting Arkansas assuming (evidently, wrongly) that it is a fairly boring land. Waterfalls, caves, rivers – wow! Very impressive! Looks like you and your family had a lot of fun during that weekend.
hahaha… you are not alone:) I think most people never really thought Arkansas as a destination but oh boy… it is definitely one of the states that has a lot to offer to both young and old people:) Time for real adventure, check it out yourself:) Thanks for reading… xoxo
Great tips. I didn’t know about the hummingbirds liking sugar or that the area was a dry county. It looks like a lot of fun and the scenery beautiful. I don’t know if i could stand hang out in water that cold for too long, but looked fun.
Yeah… they’ve got sweet tooth huh hahaha… But yeah, we had amazing time:) Hope you can visit this State, great for some outdoor fun:) Thanks for reading… xoxo
Sounds like my type of trip – to have fun and soak in nature 🙂
You definitely need to visit soon:) Next time we’re gonna try zip lining:) Thansk for reading … xoxo