There are a million reasons to love Arkansas. I spent this weekend at one of them: Petit Jean State Park. The sky was blue, the weather was perfect, and I didn’t even take my cell phone or computer. Here are a few highlights:
We did a little hiking, and, as you can tell, we are serious about it. Because only the most seasoned hikers take pink hairbows and stuffed dogs out on the trail:
My 7yo son took a look at this view and said, "So, those would be ‘rural’ areas?" And I thought, "oh my stars, I’m raising a city boy…"
I hollered "boys-slow-down-don’t-go-too-near-the-edge" so many times that the sentence no longer holds any meaning:
If there is anything sweeter to a momma’s heart than watching her oldest hang on to her youngest, then I don’t know what that would be:
Another reason to love Arkansas? Signs like this one:
Looks like you guys had a great weekend! I love the “view from the edge” pictures. Cracking up over the sign.
OH!! You brought me back in time. I graduated from UALR and my roomie and I went there one day with her kiddos (I lived with an amazing woman who had a deaf 4yo and a six yo, helped both of us financially). It was soooo pretty. One of my favorite photos of all time is one of me and the littlest girl sitting at the edge signing with that beautiful scenery in the background.
My dh gave me endless kidding about living in Arkansas (AR, AR, I just love ol’ AR, I love my ma, I love my pa, I just love ol’ AR was how he answered the phone when I called… we were dating), but it was soooo beautiful. I’ve said that if I couldn’t live in TX, I would take AR in a heartbeat.
Glad y’all had fun!
My favorite Mid-West billboard so far has to be “don’t give up, Moses was a basket case!” It’s about 80% of the reason I didn’t give up that particular day 🙂
Such wisdom and beauty… who wouldn’t love it here?!
that’s one of our favorite places to hike. love arkansas.
Oh my God! I’m loving the sign!
I’m skeered.
How beautiful! I’ve only experienced Arkansas as I drove I-40 on my way fr/ TN to TX, so it’s nice to know that there is more to it than flat fields and bad highways : ) It looks like y’all had a great time – and you’re right, there is nothing sweeter than your children loving on and protecting each other!
Never been to your state – the scenery looks stunning. That is my kind of hiking – hair bows and puppies.
I LOVE Petit Jean. I have an aunt and cousins in Russellville and Clarksville and when we lived in Oklahoma City (Air Force) we would go visit on weekends frequently. So beautiful!
However, now we live in Colorado Springs with TONS of gorgeous mountains and hiking spots, but it’s still sad that we’re too far for those weekend trips now.
Oh my word…beautiful pictures and wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing them.
Should I be skeered to move to Memphis?…..
I think it’ll be a whole new ball game for this mid-western girl! 🙂
Great pics. I spent the weekend at a Reba/kelly Clarkson conncert and it was fantabulous! I too posted pics. TFS.
What a nice view and great pictures. Those are scenes I would love to see everyday!
What a great weekend! The serious hikers were outfitted just right – a girl has to maintain certain standards. Now the question about what is rural made me laugh and the sign – love it! There really is a heartland to America and I’m thrilled so many of us love and appreciate it. All y’all Texans – early voting starts today – pray and go VOTE. End of commercial and thank you Shannon for sharing your weekend away with us – looked wonderful!
I just laughed out loud at your seven year-old.
Did his mama set up any “monkey alarms”?
🙂
The photo of your oldest and youngest touched my heart. My oldest and youngest are twelve and four (both boys) and I have so many pictures with the hand placed protectively around the shoulder . . . oh, it just doesn’t get any better.
It looks like you had a great time. I’d have a hard time coming up with anything sweeter than seeing your own children watch out for each other.
I love Arkansas. The sign is too funny.
Great sign, and super pics, especially the big to little.
Glad I’m not the only one hollering out useless phrases each day. Comfort in that.
LOL I’m lovin’ that sign!
Beautiful spot…I’m going to have to check that out one of these days; not too far from us, is it?
Meaningly phrase numero uno is ALWAYS “Be Careful!!” or anything in that family. Glad they stayed in one piece, regardless!
Lovely photos, and the ‘rural areas’ comment cracked me up. Reminds me of my son’s comment about my husband’s last job, which was in a suburb of Portmsouth that looked pretty rural: “Who wants to be superintendent in the middle of nowhere?”
When my dh told me 18 years ago that we would be living in AR, I didn’t want to go. “They only have hicks there. I’ve since found there is so much beauty, friendliness, warm, and home here. We love to visit the State parks with our kids and dogs, and I’ve warned my kids the very same thing, but somehow we’re all drawn to see how far down the edge drop off really goes! Loved the pictures of the kids! Priceless! Thank you for sharing.
Little Rock, AR will ALWAYS be one of our family’s most favorite places we’ve lived during my husband’s Air Force career. Beautiful state, great people…….
Love that sign! HA!
Looks like you had a great weekend.
What a beautiful state! Thanks for the pictures and the sign at the end…priceless.
that sign is hysterical!!
Great pics! LOL about the sign!
Oh, man, how I miss Petit Jean mountain. I used to live in Russellville and worked at Winrock International, (Winrock International not there anymore, moved home office to Little Rock) there atop good ole Petit Jean. Did you eat at the lodge? Oh, man you just made me so homesick. I live in Texarkana now and it’s not quite as scenic. 😦 Margie
These are great photos, Shannon! I am overdue for some good family time like that.
Steph
Shannon, Are you sure that sign wasn’t in Tennessee ?! Love the pics !
It is SO pretty there! Thanks for sharing the pics. Looks like a wonderful time with family.
And yes, that sign did “skeer” me.
Arkansas is my real home and I love it so much! Petit Jean is gorgeous. We went there after prom and camped and hiked all weekend. What fun memories! I’ve been meaning to take my kids there, and I need to do it soon!
We love Petit Jean!! I have been wanting to go since spring!
I have never visited AK. Looks lie a place i’d like to visit. Love ths sign! That is too cute!
I just cracked up about the laundry and the stain bottle..so TRUE!
What beautiful pictures!
-Sandy toes
Ahhh….home. Thanks for the sight of changing trees. I haven’t been able to see them in a while.
I absolutely LOVE Petit Jean – Haven’t been there in years but drive by all the time going between Little Rock and Fort Smith!
Oh my Mercy! That sign is too funny.
Love the pictures and I’m afraid the “rural” comment was priceless!
i love love love petit jean mountain!! another not to be missed in the area is the blanchard springs caverns… holy gorgeous, batman! I love that place… taking family photos down by cave opening was always one of my favorite parts… and now i take pictures of my own family there… so many years later that place is just the same and gorgeous as always!
Those pictures are amazing! I love how you can see the leaves changing. Wish I was there and definatly some place I would love to visit. There is something just so peaceful about nature.
Shannon, those really are gorgeous family day pictures. For all the nature ones, that one of your youngest/oldest sure tugged my heartstrings. You are all about manipulating my emotions. Stop it.
I live in Arkansas and I really love how beautiful it is. I lived in Dallas for three years and could not wait to see trees again. There are so many beautiful parks and fun out-doorsy things to do here. I love it!
Great pictures and I love the sign!!
Beautiful pictures. Arkansas is my home state and I think there is no place on earth more beautiful. I love your blog and your sense of humor!
That sign is horrible. I’m embarrassed.
Oh yes, that second to last picture is SO very sweet!!
Love the sign too! HA!
Pretty new design – is it just for Fall?
My favorite is the last picture!!!! Hadn’t been there since mid 90’s. LOVE IT!!!
And…i’m diggin the new design and colors!!
Looks gorgeous! We postponed our fall foliage trip to Arkansas (for a good cause, early pregnancy) but I do hope to make it up there one of these days. It looks lovely.
And LOL at the sign.
I have very fond memories of trips to Petit Jean (Or Petty Jeans as my sister used to call it). My dad used to have a ’57 Thunderbird that we would take up for swap-meets at the car museum.
Then in High School, our youth group took a retreat up to the cabins where the old chapel is. I have many memories of that place. It’s such a neat place!