Blanchard Springs Cavern - Arkansas

Following a quiet night a Sylamore Creek Campground we spent part of the morning swimming in the creek. We had decided during the night we would head over to Blanchard Springs Cavern around 11 AM so it was a short but fun swim. We packed up our camper and took quick showers. We then headed to Blanchard Springs Caverns.

Inside Blanchard Springs Cavern

We arrived as we had planned but as usual on one of our adventures nothing goes as planned. We went up to the ticket station and were informed it was school day at the caverns and multiple schools were having field trips. Because of the field trips we could not get on a tour until 1:20 PM. At this point I asked about the Blanchard Springs Campground and was informed it would probably open back up today.

We decided to head down to a recreational area near the creek and have a picnic. When we arrived there were about 500 or more school students picnicking and playing games. Fortunately we were able to find a picnic table away from most of the chaos and enjoy our picnic lunch of sandwiches and chips. The picnic area is really beautiful and there is a large cave, not to deep. We did not go to the cave because the students were between us and it. I had been to this particular cave on a previous time and it was interesting and fun to see.

I remember this particular cave was very shallow and not too deep. I’m really not sure you could call it a cave but for lack of a proper term we called it a cave.

While we were eating our picnic a ranger opened the gate to the Blanchard Springs Campground which, if you remember from my previous post, had been closed due to potential severe weather and flooding.

We took a few minutes to drive down to the campground and look around. We were planning on staying but when we got down to the campsite was disappointed to learn the campsites located along the river had been closed for two or three years due to the fact the roads had partially washed out.

The area was still beautiful but at this point we were just disappointed and decided to forego staying at the site we had dreamed about staying at because we couldn't get to the site we had planned to camp. It is always so nice to camp next to the river and listen to the water run over the rocks. I hope they fix that road soon.

We returned to Blanchard Springs Caverns and at last got to take our tour of the cave. We chose to take the easier tour and went on the Dripstone Tour. This particular tour takes about one hour.

To enter the cave you have to ride down an elevator about a mile underground. The cavern is very large and in most places open. There are no narrow passageways to go through and the entire tour was on a sidewalk built in the cave.

The cave is illuminated with lights to enhance the various rock formations. Each group has a tour guide. Our guide was quiet knowledgeable and answered our group’s questions. The tour stayed on schedule and took about one hour. Oh, and this cave tour is handicap accessible. The tour we took was accessible for a wheelchair. I would suggest if you do bring someone in a wheelchair be sure to bring a strong person to push as there are some inclines both up and down.

The tour lasted about an hour and of course as in most cave tours there is a joke or two about bat guano.

At the completion of the tour you get to take a harrowing ride on a bus back down the side of a mountain to the entrance. The kids seemed to enjoy the bus ride as much as the cave tour. Seriously, the ride is crazy but fun so hang on to something.

Inside Blanchard Spring Cavern

I would recommend this cave tour to anyone. I am really afraid of heights and this cave has a few areas that made me nervous but nothing I could not handle. If you are claustrophobic it is a pretty wide open cave. The smallest part was the elevator down.

The picture I took on this tour was with my cell phone and no flash. We had not brought our cameras because last time we had gone they did not allow them due to white nose syndrome for bats. Once we entered the caves we learned that policy had been changed and we could have brought our camera. The lesson learned from this portion of our trip is call ahead and ask lots of questions.

Coming up in my series on our Arkansas Camping Trip is horseback riding and narrowly escaping an attack by a raccoon. 

For more information on Blanchard Springs Caverns visit their website at: http://www.blanchardsprings.org/

For more information on the Blanchard Springs Campground visit:  http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southern/ozarcmp.htm

Sylamore Creek Campground - Arkansas

Rock formations! Photo by Lucrecia Mouser

Our arrival at Sylamore Creek Campground was unexpected and after hours. There was a sign located on the door of the main store telling us where the campground host was located so that we could check in with him. 

 

It took a little searching but we finally located the host. He was friendly and helpful and it turned out he was active in Boy Scouting in the area so we talked for awhile about scouting. He recommended a site down by the river so we drove our pop-up camper down by the river and found a nice wooded area with a water view to set up. 

 

The site was gravel and a little to close to the next site for me but since there were only two other sites occupied we had plenty of room. We quickly set up our camper, pitched the kids tent, and cooked some hot dogs. We enjoyed our meal and lit up a campfire.

Pop up camper at Sylamore Creek Campground!

 

 

Not long after the sun was down and the fire was burning good Finnegan, our three year old, began telling me it was dark and we needed to go in the camper. We turned in for the night and slept peacefully for most of the night. At one point during the night my oldest son came from his tent to tell me the battery powered fan we had for there tent was not working. Of course I told him there wasn’t much I could do and I would look at it the next morning.

 

Finn at Sylamore Creek Campground!

In the morning, not long after the sun came up our youngest woke us up saying, “Sun up, time to get up!” We cooked a Dutch Oven Breakfast of biscuits, eggs, and sausage with cheese.  It is an easy one pot meal to cook. All you have to do is brown the ground sausage in the Dutch Oven, drain the grease and then add the eggs. Cook the eggs until they are almost done and then add the bisucits on top of the eggs and sausage. Cover the lid and cook the biscuits until golden brown, then add cheese and recover for about a minute. You will have a delicious, Dutch oven, one pot meal.

 

After breakfast we all headed down to the Sylamore Creek for some swimming and tubing. This is a nice feature of the campground and a welcome relief from the days heat. The water was cold but you easily adjusted after a few minutes. The kids skipped rocks in the creek, swam,  and explored the small rocky beach and surrounding area.

 

Not only does the Sylamore Creek Campground have RV sites, it also boasts a few tent sites, and several rental cabins. There is a small well kept store for any items you might not have remembered. There are two bath houses and a playground for kids. The bathhouse we used was very clean. The kids went into the other bathhouse and described it as scary. I didn't  go in so I am not sure what that was about.

Sylamore Creek Campground is a nice private owned camp on Sylamore Creek located at 214 Sylamore Creek Rd, Mountain View, AR 72560. The rates were more than reasonable. I would certainly recommend this campground. For more information on Sylamore Creek Campground visit their website at http://www.sylamorecreek.com/.
 

Nearby attractions include the Ozark Folk Center State Park, Blanchard Springs Caverns, and horseback riding. All of which I will be blogging about in this series.

Traveling Arkansas

My family and I recently traveled to Arkansas and our destination was Blanchard Springs Caverns and the Blanchard Springs Campground. This entire trip was one adventure after another which will have to be broken down into multiple stories.

I won't go into to many details about the first night but will simply say we stayed in a hotel somewhere in Arkansas and all was well. It was Day 2 that the adventure really started cranking up. 

We went to the Little Rock Zoo and had a pleasant experience. I will blog separately on the zoo in a later blog as I want to move forward in our trip to the evening adventure.

We arrived at Blanchard Springs Caverns around 4 PM which was perfect timing for being able to set up our popup camper, cooking supper, and enjoying the creek we knew from previous experience flowed next to the campsites.

When we arrived at the entrance a sign was posted announcing the campsite was closed due to the potential for severe weather and flooding. This really baffled me since I knew it had not rained for the last five days in Arkansas and the surrounding states and there was no severe or even anything other than sunny weather predicted for the next few days.

We decided to drive up to the Caverns and inquire with one of the Park Rangers. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by park staff and politely informed the campground portion of the park was indeed closed. When I inquired as to why, I was told that the park service was being extra cautious ever since the Albert Pike Park incident where several people were killed by flash flooding.

I inquired as to an alternate campsite and was given a campsite area that was a few miles down the road. A right turn, a left turn, a gravel road, several large pot holes, a few steep inclines and declines, and we finally arrived at the campsite which was along a beautiful river and cliff. We saw no one else around so I decided to take the road to the right to find a campsite. I figured it would loop around. It didn’t!

The next thing we knew we were traveling up, up, up, and more up. We were pulling the pop up behind us and there was absolutely no place to turn around. Suddenly I hit a large pot hole which caused me to bottom out and then it happened, the check engine light lit up.

At this point Lucrecia informs me we have no cell phone service. I told her if we had to we would pop up the camper on the dirt road and camp out overnight. It was at this location and time that she asks me, "Do you remember the movie 'The Hills have Eyes?'" Fortunately, my GPS was working and I turned it on so I could get my bearings. The GPS indicated I would come to a road in about 2 miles that would connect back to the highway.

Tubing on Sylamore Creek.  Photo by Lucrecia Mouser

It was a rough 2 miles but the check engine light went back off and we found our way out. We decided to pull into Sylamore Creek Campground, a private campground just down the road.

We were pleasantly surprised at the nice location. Although near the highway, there was not a lot of traffic or noise. The campsite itself came with a view of the river and was well shaded. 

I will have more on the campground and campsite in tomorrow’s entry.

Meaher State Park - Mobile, AL

I had meant to post this awhile back and it got sidelined. Better late than never!

Boy Scout Troop 101 was planning a trip to visit the USS Alabama and to head down to the Gulf Shores area to swim in the Gulf of Mexico. We needed a place to stay and Meaher State Park was the spot we chose.

We were tent camping so I will describe the tent area first. The tent area is a small area near the boat ramp with a few picnic tables and grills. There is no electricity and no running water, although water is nearby.

We were camping very close to Mobile Bay and can hear the traffic all night crossing the interstate over the bay. There is no privacy for the tents since we were all packed into such a small area. We were also surrounded by a huge chain linked fence.

I hate to be so down on an area but it really is just a place to put your tent. It had nothing that I liked for tent camping. A few positives were it was relatively quiet, other than the interstate, and the bathouse and park were extremely clean.

The RV section of the park was beautiful with a view of Mobile Bay, clean pads, water and sewer hookups, and grills.

If you are RV'ing or fishing then this park would be ideal for you. If you are looking for a place to tent camp, not so much the best location. It will do, but just be prepared to listen to the interstate.

From the website: "This 1,327-acre park is situated in the wetlands of Mobile Bay and is a day-use picnicking and scenic park with modern camping hook-ups and bathhouse facilities for overnight visitors. A boat ramp and fishing pier will appeal to every fisherman. A self-guided walk on two nature trails includes a boardwalk with a up close view of the Mobile Delta.."

For more information on Meaher State Park visit: Meaher State Park

Dallas-Richardson Holiday Inn

Recently, while at a convention in Dallas, TX, my wife, I, and a friend stayed at the Dallas- Richardson Holiday Inn. This was a nice hotel for a great price.

We rented a room with two double sized beds. I am not a fan of double beds but this seems to be the standard in most hotels. The room was functional albeit a little small.  The standard hotel furniture was present: TV with HBO, dresser, nightstand, alarm clock, ironing board, beds, etc. The room was clean and the AC functioned well.

The area of the hotel seemed and felt safe. The hotel itself was clean and the staff we encountered were friendly. I always travel with a fan and run it while I sleep so I did not hear any noise that was bothersome.

I had the opportunity to use the weight room which was a nice. It had various weight lifting machines as well as treadmills and bikes.

Afterwards I joined my wife at the Indoor Heated Pool. The pool was comfortably heated. It was only about 4 ½ foot deep so no diving and of course there was no life guard present. I did not see any pool towels but fortunately I was able to grab some out of the nearby weight room.

There was also an outdoor pool but it was too cold to swim outside.

At $100 per night I would recommend this hotel if you are ever in the Dallas/Richardson area.

For information and reservation for the Dallas-Richardson Holiday Inn visit:

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/richardson/dalrs/hoteldetail