Second Stop

Hidden Gems

Have you ever stumbled upon a treasure you didn’t even know you were looking for? On this winding road to our oldest son’s upcoming wedding celebration, we’ve made a few pit stops—and in one of them, we discovered a GEM that took our breath away.

Let’s rewind for a second.

Back when our oldest was a squirmy three-year-old—equal parts imagination and motion blur—we packed up our then-growing family (including a newborn!) and trekked to a mountain in Arkansas. Why? To witness the epic migration of butterflies. Yes, butterflies. Because obviously, that’s what grabs a toddler’s attention for more than 30 seconds, right?

Knowing we needed a strategy to stretch those attention spans, we may or may not have “planted” giant plastic crystals along the trail. Sparkly, colorful distractions hidden like treasures waiting to be discovered. And let me tell you—it worked. He was hooked. Who cared about butterflies? There were crystals! That hike became family legend.

Fast forward to the present—our Mothership cruising steady—we found ourselves chasing a new kind of magic. For years we’d heard whispers of a nearby destination but had never made the detour. This time, we did. And we were blown away.

Where is this enchanted land? Broken Bow, Oklahoma.

Yep. You heard us right. Specifically: Beavers Bend State Park. We only stayed one night on our journey East, but we’re already plotting a return. Mountains, rivers, forest... and something else.

Bigfoot Or maybe a hillbilly Yeti. Either way, we got a blurry photo as proof. (Skeptics beware.)

And if cryptids aren’t your thing? They’ve got horseback trail rides, kayaking, tubing, fly-fishing, a forest train, and a place called Yahoo Hill—but we won’t spoil that surprise. You’ll have to go find out yourself.

Bonus? Trick parking spots for giant rigs like the Mothership. We snagged one with a high score—and even impressed our neighbor Buddy and his wife Danielle from Rockwall, Texas. That’s one of the unexpected joys of this nomadic life: meeting people with big hearts, hilarious stories, and hometowns we might just roll through one day.

So yes, no alpacas this stop. But Broken Bow? A crystal-clear gem tucked in the trees.

The real takeaway?
Keep your eyes open. Pull off the road. Wander into the woods. You might find something beautiful—or just a really solid average that feels like exactly what your soul needed.

Oh—and before we hit the road again, our youngest insists on a ritual. We all gather, hands in, huddle up, and on the count of three:
“GO ADVENTURES!”
It’s our thing. You should try it. Or better yet, make up your own.

What hidden gems have you uncovered? What’s your favorite adventure memory?

Until next time—stay curious, stay kind, and safe travels, friends.
-To Infinity & Yonder