Even Small Towns are Fun!! #optoutside

We always choose to #optoutside on weekends, rain or shine (just not 100 degree weather while pregnant though). You’re familiar with the REI motto right?  Brenton and I were talking about how if you look hard enough for it you can find something fun to do anywhere! And small towns have ample opportunity to #optoutside since there isn’t much around = space to roam!!  We love exploring new places and we believe the best way to do that is to strap on those sneakers and hit the trail! And let me tell you Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge did not disappoint.

For the Oklahoma landscape that is normally flat as far as the eye can see in Southwest OK there are sweet little surprises of mountains! Obviously not 14ers or even 2ers but its topography and there is usually a hiking trail there!

We headed out on the first day of Fall to hit the trails 45 minutes from Altus in Wichita Wildlife Refuge.  The wind was blowing the tall prairie grass and I could just image all the creatures that once walked this land.  I have to be honest and say that I was super alert for rattlesnakes and petrified of ticks.  But we all came out unscathed and pest free, as far as I can tell.

What we did find though was a 50 foot tall waterfall in the middle of the prairie (and a pond for Sadie) via the Post Oak Falls Trail!! Granted it did rain 8″ the day before and we had to ford some streams Oregon trail style.  We unhooked Sadie and hopped from rock to rock praying we didn’t slip and fall in.  Sadie immediately found a huge stick and jumped in expectantly.  Just waiting for us to throw it in!

The rock wall even had a ledge to prop the camera up on to take a 23 week family photo… I say family because if you look closely Sadie is right there behind us.  She nearly 5 and still can’t stand still for a photo, she absolutely hates them!  Anyone else have pets who are camera shy!?!?

So if you are bored and in a small town here are some resources to help you #optoutside better:

1. ALL TRAILS APP ||  This app can pull up marked trails based on your location! It how we found hiking in Montana on our road trip and how we found the Post Oak Falls trail!
2. FACEBOOK || Yes, the granddaddy of social media.  Type in your location and see if there are any opportunities within driving distance for a farmers market or hiking groups!
3. SNEAKERS || Not trying to be snarky but we need appropriate footwear to get outdoors and explore. So just lace up your sneaks and put one foot in front of the other and walk out that front door.  Opting outside in your small town is just as fun!

Okay friends, time to get those endorphins pumping and learning about your community via foot!

Also… if you are bored in a small town, steal your friends’ kiddos for a day.  They’ll keep you busy and more than likely want to #optoutside!!