Digging for Crystals

A few weekends ago, my family took a quick trip to Jet, Oklahoma.  This is a State Park in Oklahoma and has a place for you to dig for salt crystals.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but ended up having a really good time!

View from our cabin of the Great Salt Plains Lake

 We took our time getting out to the dig site, which is completely free!  It was a bit chilly, so we did wear layers of clothing, but if you go in the summer, it might be a good idea to bring some type of shade.  We unloaded our shovels, sifters, water and buckets and got to work.  We found lots of crystals that day!

Just a sample of the many we found!

The dig site where lots have left their mark

 J was done in about 20 minutes - or as soon as he realized he was getting dirty.  H on the other hand, loved running around with her cousins, helping dig and then finally jumping into puddles!  We wrapped up in a few hours, left with loads of crystals, and headed back to eat some lunch.

While relaxing at the cabin, J was in the van when he all of a sudden started saying, "uh oh!!" he was pointing to this thing flying around in our van and of course I thought it was a huge, nasty bug and was about to call for Justin.  Turns out, it was a hummingbird!  It got in our van and was trying to find it's way out.  It actually let Justin cup it carefully in his hand and then flew away.  Pretty neat for the kids to see a bird up close.

And a horse up close.  Without the intention of being a wildlife kind of weekend, this kid was riding by on a horse and stopped to let the kids touch!  H was in heaven.

Kids showing off their crystals that they found

Church service in a nature chapel - songs led by Eli.  Yes, Princesses Anna and Elsa were in attendance

More wildlife!  A sweet bird just hanging out on the pavement.  We didn't let J touch, but he was so happy to see him up close!

 I love rural Oklahoma a lot.  I didn't realize it until this trip, but the fields that stretch for miles and run-down cabins have a soft spot in my heart.

On the way home, we decided to stop in Enid to sample Leonardo's.  It is SUPER fun and worth a drive from the city.  It is like Jasmine Moran's children museum on a smaller scale, but one thing they have that Jasmine doesn't is a huge tree house fort that you can get so lost in!  Very neat and the kids had a great time.

If you are looking for a fun weekend getaway, I highly encourage going to Jet to dig for salt crystals!  It's loads of fun.