Oak Mountain State Park

Papa (Allan, Sr.) and Michaela

So, last spring 'Miss' Lezli (Hunter's teacher this year) told us about Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, AL. It is the largest state park in Alabama. The weekend of March 21st, we finally made it out that way to celebrate March birthdays (Michaela - 5th, Allan - 7th, Papa - 22nd).

We met up w/ Allan's parents on Saturday morning. Allan's mom brought a cooked brisket that we warmed on a grill and made sandwiches with. We sat around visiting while it warmed up.

Pre-haircut. Sweet girl!

Nana (aka Wilma Chunn, Allan's mom)

Hunter and Michaela were having fun trying to catch the lizards. Daddy helped them.

Michaela wanted to hold a lizard, too, so Allan caught one for her and put it on her arm. She liked it until it started to move, at which point she threw it off her arm!

After lunch, we went to rent a couple of paddle boats. (We decided against taking the camera on the boats!) Hunter was disappointed that his legs were too short to paddle.

After paddle boats, we took a short hike through the TreeTop Nature Trail. This trail has cages along the way where there are injured birds of prey who can not be released back into the wild. The trail leads to a Wildlife Sanctuary within the park.

If only Hunter (in red) could share his energy w/ the rest of us! He led the way all the way up to the sanctuary AND back! I followed behind w/ Michaela on my back, struggling to see b/c I had gotten sunscreen in my eyes. All I could think about was getting to a rest room where I could rinse my eyes out.

A bird of prey they brought out for the vistor's at the Wildlife Sanctuary.

I can't wait to go back. There are cabins to rent (we tried to get in - they were booked). And I would love to go in w/ the gear for a proper hike on one of their longer trails. One trail is suppose to lead up to a waterfall!