What We Did...Weekend 2

We Did It!

We got out for our first "What We Did...Weekend".

So what did we do?

Well it was Mother's Day Weekend and I'd been eyeing Raven Rock State Park since we moved here so we decided to try our first hike with Baby Girl.

Raven Rock State Park is only about a 30 minute drive from where we live which is convenient.

Also, there are no fees for parking which is nice.

We loaded up and made the short drive...allowing Bitsy to squeeze in a quick nap en route.

At first we tried carrying Baby girl on my back.

She was not for that at all.

She sure does look cute though doesn't she?!

So we switched it to the front in hope of better results.

We chose the simplest hike of the day.

The 2.1 Raven Rock Loop Trail.

Who wouldn't want to enjoy a path like this?

Seriously, all the greenery is one of the best things about living in North Carolina!

It was a cool 65 degrees when we started, which made for perfect hiking weather....especially when you have an extra 24 lb baby strapped to your front!

She's like a mini radiator!!!

We made it all the way to Raven Rock Lookout Point with only a few moments of unhappiness from our passenger.

I honestly think she was a bit bored and tired....we did cut her nap short by about an hour.

It had been a quiet hike thus far.

We'd only passed a handful of other hikers and besides them the only sounds were the crushing of the underbrush, the birds chirping, and the scampering of squirrels in the trees around us.

Family Photo Time.

We had just been standing next to another couple and it wasn't until after they left that we thought, "We should have asked them to take our picture".

Oops.

Bud propped the camera on a bench and set the self timer.

Not too shabby considering, eh?!

Check-out that view!

And here is the last picture of a happy baby in the carrier.

As we started the 2nd half of the loop Bitsy had had enough.

She did not want to be confined any longer and so we made the hard decision to nix the carrier.

"What," Bitsy questions, "would you like it if you couldn't see everything"?

Fair enough baby girl.

Next time we will try to use the carrier with you facing forward.

(Only after finishing the hike did we realize that was an option...again...Oops).

So we walked the path.

Happy Baby.

Singing Birds.

Photo Ops.

Other Hikers.

Pure Bliss.

Carrying this 'little' one the 2nd half of the walk was quite a upper body workout.

Her Daddy carried her most of the time, but I did try to reprieve him for a short while.

Let's just say that we learned a lot from our first family hike.

A. The paths were nice enough that we could have brought a stroller, there were a few parts where both of us may have needed to lift it up or down 'stairs', but it would have made for an easier trip.

B. 2.5 miles can take 30-40 minutes when walking in a neighborhood, but 2.1 miles of trail hiking can take an hour and a half when it comes to changing who wears the baby carrier and then ultimately giving up the carrier in lieu of alternate more taxing carrying strategies!

C. Taking your time on a trail so that you can take lots of pictures is worth every minute.  The moments together as a family are something we will remember and cherish more than anything else.

So what did we think of the park overall?

It was beautiful!

There is a wonderful picnic area that we are considering using in the future complete with covered eating and grills on site.

The trails are well designed and 'tidy'.

There are multiple different trails to choose from.

That being said we have big plans to return to the park and hike out to Lanier Falls.

That is about a 5-6 mile hike.  

We figure we will bring the stroller, pack a lunch and take our time.

More than likely we will walk 2.5-3 miles out there...eat and then make the hike back.

Sounds nice huh?!

Well I hope that you are looking for inexpensive ways to get out and door more where you live!

If so, leave me a message and tell me some of your favorite activities where you are.

You never know when we might get stationed near your neck of the woods.

Have a Blessed Wednesday!
P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway!