Frugal Family Travelers: canoeing

Showing posts with label canoeing. Show all posts

Sunday, February 28, 2016

4 Outdoor Jewels in Alabama

Our Frugal Family Travelers love exploring locations on and off the beaten path! Many times when planning a trip, we look for smaller outdoor gems that may typically be overlooked when traveling to an area/city with a bigger attraction. Those reading this post who travel with kids know that staying active is the key to a successful trip! We typically like to combine a big attraction with a small one to provide a variety of adventures when traveling. Outdoor gems, like the ones reviewed in this post, can certainly be combined with other family plans to satisfy this need and will also provide lasting memories.

So, whether you are planning an entire trip to Alabama, or just passing through, the 4 locations showcased in the post are worthy of your attention for both the unforgettable scenery and the history!

Note: The following locations are only a short driving distance of one another!

Moss Rock Preserve

Directions: Boulder Field Trailhead, 617 Preserve Parkway, Hoover, AL 35226

Cost: Free

With its beautiful waterfalls, rock formations and nearly 12 miles of hiking trails to explore, Moss Rock Preserve is a place that tips the travel scale and is certainly one our Frugal Family Travelers plan to visit again! There are 3 trail heads in the preserve, at different locations, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the trail map before departing. It is important to note that the area is managed and owned by the city of Hoover, so familiarize yourself with the rules before entering. We arrived at the preserve late in the day and therefore choose to explore the Boulder Field Trail Head for its popularity with the locals. It did not disappoint! With a short hike, we experienced beautiful rock formations and with an additional short hike we were able to explore beautiful streams and waterfalls. The pictures below are certainly worth a thousand words!

Boulder Canyon Nature Area

Directions: 1221 Montgomery Hwy, Vestivia Hills, AL 35216, Trail entrance is behind the Vestivia Hills Library. Park in the library parking lot. You can enter the library and take the trail out of the back of the young adult section of the library or walk around to the back of the library on the outdoor path.

Cost: Free

Our Frugal Family Travelers stumbled onto this little wonder in Vestivia Hills, AL. It is an awesome example of how community spirit, local government and the public school system can join forces to create a natural oasis for learning and respite from the fast paced world in which we live. The nature area encompasses approximately 20 acres owned in part by the elementary school and local government. The land and trails by the stream were originally cut by the Cub Scouts in the 80's with subsequent scouting groups adding to the trail which now extends behind the AMAZING Vestivia Hills Public Library. Our Frugal Family Travelers highly recommend exploring the trail and then the library! You may want to bring your own book and read at one of the outdoor benches or by one of the massive boulders you will encounter by the Patton Creek watershed.

Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

Directions: 12632 Confederate Pkwy, McCalla, AL 35111

Cost: Adults $2; Children $1; Seniors $1

Hiking, history, cabins, camping and a train all come to mind when recalling our Frugal Family adventure at Tannehill! Although, we did not stay in the park, it is certainly an option and one on our bucket list when visiting the area again! Our day here consisted of a picnic by the stream, hiking and exploring the rich history to be found here. Be sure to visit the Tannehill website for current museum times, train schedules and admission prices!

Oak Mountain State Park

Directions: 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124

Cost: Adults $5; Children $2; Seniors $2

Oak Montain State Park is truly a one stop shopping place when traveling. One could certainly stay here for numerous days! With clear lakes, boating/fishing opportunities, beautiful mountain biking trails, hiking trails, horseback riding, golf course, a waterfall and a bird hospital/sanctuary, there is not a reason in the world anyone would ever be bored while visiting Oak Mountain State Park. Furthermore, the cabins and camping opportunities are amazing!

This happens to be the second time our Frugal Family Travelers have visited Oak Mountain! We spent our time during this visit hiking to Pevine Falls as well as touring the bird sanctuary. Check out our pictures below to capture a glimpse of this jewel!

Tips:

Hike times vary for those of varying age and skill - factor in extra time. Never enter a long trail at dusk! Pack a first aid kit, water, bug spray and snacks! Sometimes cell service is limited or unavailable on hiking trails so let someone know when you enter and depart a trail.

View FrugalFamilyTravelers' photos on Trover

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission. As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Travelin' the Trace to Tishomingo

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a designated National Park and rightfully so. Spanning 444 miles through 3 states and encompassing 10,000 years of history, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a treasure trove for those who love nature, history and have a hunger for exploration! Along our journey to the beautiful Tishomingo State Park (located in the northeastern quadrant of Mississippi), our Frugal Family Travelers stopped at several locations on the northern end of the Mississippi section of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The pictures and discriptions below will provide you with options for places to visit in this area, should you choose to add any of these areas to your bucket list.

As mentioned earlier, Tishomingo State Park was the main travel target on our journey and it did not disappoint. Being that it was only 5 hours from New Orleans, this park was the perfect "get-away" for our Frugal Family Travelers. With canoeing, hiking and history wrapped up in a mountain setting, Tishomingo gave us the feeling we were nestled in the mountains when we were actually in the foothills of the Great Smokies. We enjoyed our stay in one of the rustic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) and spent our evening there grilling and making smores! By day we explored a trail leading over a swinging bridge (also built by the CCC) and hiked yet another to a pioneer cabin. The highlight of our experience here was a 6.25 mile canoeing trip on Bear Creek. With cypress tree littering nearly every inch of its banks, Bear Creek literally looks like something out of a movie. The patches of white water kept the trip exciting but were not overwhelming for our younger paddlers! We loved our entire visit here and highly reccommend this park!

Outside of rustic cabin. Approximate price is $60 per night.

Swinging Bridge

A view of Bear Creek!

Indian Trail Tree encountered while hiking.

Trail to pioneer cabin.

Scenes while canoeing on Bear Creek. There is a $30 canoe rental fee. Make a reservation with the park office (662-438-6914). Younger paddlers 7 and under may ride in the center of the canoe. Lifejackets and paddles are provided along with transportation to the beginning of the float trip.

The following are scenes from the Northern Mississippi portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway and the towns surrounding the parkway.

Elvis' birthplace in Tupelo, MS: We stopped a viewed everything from the outside however there is a museum and tour of the home offered for a fee.

Cave Spring is a stop right off the Natchez Trace Parkway very close to Tishomingo State Park.

Indian Mounds off Natchez Trace Parkway

(Click here for Google Map)

We viewed a great movie regarding the history of the trace and also saw an exhibit at the Parkway Visitor's Center, milepost 266, Tupelo, MS

Disclaimer:

Monday, July 13, 2015

A Great Place for Summer Fun on the Northshore!

Tickfaw State Park is located right outside Hammond, LA in Springfield. Wooded and lush, it is the perfect place to spend a day hiking, canoeing or cooling off at the splash pad. For those looking for a vacation or weekend getaway, the cabins and camping sites will provide the atmosphere for which you are looking. For those who enjoy hiking, the river trail is beautiful, as it actually parallels the river for the greater part of the hike, which provides an opportunity to observe all sorts of wildlife. There is also an amazing bridge at the end of the trail which joins the boardwalk trail, creating a loop back to the parking area. "Loop" simply means that the trail will take the hiker back to the original departure point. Those traveling with kids will appreciate loop trails because they take the guesswork out of the hike and eliminate backtracking. If you enjoy fishing, take a break at the bridge, and cast your fishing line to get your "catch of the day". However, make sure to purchase a fishing licence from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries before casting that line into the water as a licence is required to do so. Note: Access to the river trail is gained from the parking area down the road from the day use area which contains the splash pad. Enjoy and picnic at the Bottomland/Hardwood Pavillion after your hike or at any of the designated picnic areas in the park. See the map below for the locations of all of the offernings in the park! Place a call to the park office before you depart if you plan to canoe. In times when water levels are too high or low canoeing is not allowed.

If you are a frequent follower of our blog you know how Frugal Family Travelers feel about the State Park System and capitalizing on an annual membership! At only $80, it provides each person traveling in the same vehicle with a pass holder, admission and access to all Louisiana state parks and historic sites. If you frequent the parks, it is a great savings. Explore the Louisiana State Parks website for a full list of parks and historic sites offered and begin planning your travel with a stop at Tickfaw. Explore our blog to discover reviews of other state parks and take advantage of our page listing Frugal Family Adventures listed by state!

Cost:

$2 per person; Seniors (62 and older) and children (3 and under) are free!

Directions (click below to access Google Map):

27225 Patterson Road Springfield, LA 70462-8906

Tips:

Bring sunscreen, towels for the splash pad, water, backpacks for hiking, BUG SPRAY and don't forget your fishing licence!