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On a whim, my husband and I decided to check out the Ouachita Highland Games and Mountain Market while we were in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The games were held at Cedar Glades Park. We enjoyed driving along the quiet road through the forest. The well placed signs led us to the event with ease.
People of all different ages attended, and a good number of people were wearing their kilts. Queen Mary of the Scots and her court were dressed in period attire.
We enjoyed watching the athletes compete in the highland games (Braemar Stone, Open Stone, Heavy Weight for Distance, Light Weight for Distance, Heavy Hammer, Light Hammer, Caber, Sheaf Toss, Weight Over Bar). There was a bleacher at one of the events but I would bring a picnic blanket or some lawn chairs next time.
There was food, beverages, Scottish-Irish music, and plenty of merchants. There were booths selling drinking horns, metal crafts, jewelry, gemstones, clothing and more.
Favorite Shoppes
Medieval Romance Crystals
There were several wonderful jewelry booths, but Medieval Romance Crystals was my favorite. This mother and daughter team love what they do and their designs are beautiful.
I bought some drop-style earrings that this talented, ten year old designed.
Rainbow Obsidian earrings (left); Amethyst earrings with matching wire wrapped amethyst ring
They also have intricate beaded earrings, and sell necklaces, crystals, gemstones, candles and more. They have an online shop, but it only shows a fraction of what they have. You can see more of their jewelry on their Instagram page.
Northman Horns
Want to drink like a viking? You can with your very own drinking horn! This booth sold drinking horns (with or without a holder), horn mugs, and blowing horns. They also sell clothing online.
I did not see viking drinking horns for sale on Northman Horns’ online store, however, KelticKaravan Etsy Shop sells them:
KelticKaravan – Large 24oz Viking Tankard Drinking Horn Mug
KelticKaravan Etsy shop – Viking Ship Drinking Horn Scrimshaw Beer Mug Stand and Holster
Odin’s Horn
Howard Allman, Blacksmith
My husband and I were both drawn to Howard’s booth. We appreciated the beauty and quality of his work. These handmade grill tools will be the perfect gift for a couple of family members who love to grill. Howard also does custom work. His contact information is below:
Howard & Kathy Allman
PO Box 1865
Hot Springs, AR 71902
(501) 276-7542
odinshorn1431@gmail.com
Overall, this was a fun event. To stay informed on future Ouachita Highland Games, follow their Facebook page.
We watched the Cirque du Soleil OVO show, and it was an amazing experience! OVO is a circus show about insect life. Performers wear beautiful costumes representing a diverse array of insects as they play, find love and interact with each other.
This was our daughter’s first Cirque du Soleil show and I was curious how much she would enjoy it as a preteen. She absolutely loved it! She was captivated by the amazing acrobatics, the gorgeous costumes and the comedic element. Although she enjoyed the whole show, she was most impressed with the spider that was able to do a chin stand!
Circus performer doing a chin stand
The show lasted about two hours (including a 20-minute intermission), which was the perfect amount of time for us to fit this show on a weekday. We had an early dinner at home, attended the show, and was back before bed time.
Cirque du Soleil OVO Tickets
Cirque du Soleil OVOwill perform at Rio Rancho Events Center (Rio Rancho, New Mexico) from March 3, 2022 to March 6, 2022. Then they will perform at Microsoft Theater (Los Angeles, California) from March 17, 2022 to May 1, 2022.
You can book your Cirque du Soleil OVO tickets here.
Tip: Remember to review the event center’s policies (e.g., mask policy, bag size policy, etc.) prior to attending the event to avoid any surprises. Check to see if there will be any additional fees for parking and bring money for concession stands and souvenirs. You can also take photos as long as you do not use a flash so feel free to bring a camera too!
Cirque du Soleil OVO crickets performing acrobatics on trampoline and airmat
OVO Souvenirs
OVO also sells merchandise at the show and online. My daughter chose the OVO wood water bottle. If you want to preview the merchandise selection before the show, check out their online store.
On a plane that does not have a built-in screen for entertainment? Instead of holding your phone the entire flight and risking neck strain, just use this gadget. This neat gadget allows you to hang your phone so that you can watch movies handsfree.
Instead of buying travel size perfume or cologne that are often overpriced, just use these refillable, perfume atomizer bottles. They are easy to use and you can travel with your favorite perfumes or colognes without having to bring full-size bottles.
Never wonder whether you are over the luggage weight limit with this nifty, portable handheld suitcase scale. This gadget weighs only 2 ounces and makes weighing luggage a breeze.
5. Passport and Vaccine Card Holder, RFID Blocking
This passport holder is the ultimate travel organizer and comes in assorted colors. This light weight travel organizer holds your passport, vaccination card, driver’s license, credit card, insurance card, boarding pass, 2 sim cards and a small pen. This passport holder also includes advanced RFID blocking that prevents identify theft through RFID chips.
Bring this reusable, compact water bottle with you to the airport, and fill it up after you have passed airport security. You can avoid buying pricey water at the airport and help the environment by reducing single-plastic use. The carabiner allows you to conveniently attach it to your bag.
This light weight, waterproof picnic blanket is easy to pack and is useful for impromptu picnics at the beach, the park or while hiking. This travel blanket is 55 x 60 inches unfolded, and seats two people comfortably but can accommodate up to four people. It has loops at the four corners for stakes, but the model above does not include stakes. If you want a travel blanket with stakes, click here.
Fill up these cute, pastel colored TSA-approved travel bottles with your favorite shampoo, conditioner, body lotions, facial creams, makeup remover, etc. I love that these come with a small funnel, spatulas and cleaning brush to fill and clean these bottles easily. The spray bottle is great for storing facial toner. It even includes tooth brush covers and labels for easy organization.
Use these waterproof, travel shoe bags to protect and contain your shoes. Not only is it good for travel, but it also can be used in the meantime for gym workouts and sports activities.
Considering the amount of foot traffic hotel gets, it is reasonable to conclude that hotel carpets are dirty. Vacuums only pick up so much and dark, patterned carpets are good at disguising stains. So do your feet a favor and wear slippers. These cute slippers come in assorted patterns to fit all different personalities and comes with a matching travel pouch.
Caprock Canyons was surprisingly one of our favorite state parks in Texas! We stopped by this park on our way to Amarillo, Texas with no set expectations. We were thrilled to see so much wildlife with so little effort. Here are some of the animals we saw during our stay.
When we entered the park we were almost immediately greeted by a herd of Bison! Although the park requires guests to stay at least 50 yards away from the bison, we had a great view of them as they were crossing the roads.
Bison by the lake at Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas, USA
Bison crossing the road at Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas, USA
Prairie Dogs at Caprock Canyons
Prairie Dog Speaking at Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas, USA
We saw a coterie of prairie dogs just steps away from the sidewalk (near a playground). They were so adorable!
There were also prairie dogs at the Canyon Rim Trailhead. They blend in well with the dirt so remember to look carefully while you are there.
Prairie Dog at Canyon Rim Trailhead, Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas, USA
You may hear the prairie dogs before you actually see them. Have you ever heard a prairie dog speak? If not, check out this little guy talk in the video below.
Lizards
Lizard perching on gypsum rock at Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas, USA
We saw this cute green lizard during our hike on Eagle Point Trail. It’s perched on top a pocket of gypsum rock.
Other Animals
Here are some other animals you might encounter during your trip.
Burrowing owls – Near the RV bathrooms
Roadrunners
Wild turkeys
Mule deer
Bobcat
Coyotes
Rabbits
Snakes
Birds
Tarantulas
Bats – Brazilian Free-tailed bats can be seen at Clarity Tunnel. However, they are there seasonally and will likely be gone by fall. Bat guano (bat poop) is on the bottom of the cave so if you choose to walk or bike through Clarity tunnel try not disturb the ground and wear masks.
Catfish at Theo Lake
Overall
If you love animals and the outdoors, this is the place for you. Remember to bring a good pair of binoculars and a good camera (preferably with a telescope lens) to capture these amazing animals roam the park.
Travelers will get the satisfaction of scratching off each of these 80 popular bucket list destinations to reveal the beautiful hand drawn watercolor painted icons.
Travelers can protect their jewelry in these personalized travel jewelry boxes. Jewelry boxes come in assorted colors and can be personalized with a name or initials.
The Atlas Travel Journal is made of vegan leather and comes with 3 interchangeable journal inserts. It also comes with a random international coin, a 10 ml plastic container to hold a tiny piece of each country you travel, a small scroll of paper, and a World Travel Map that you can color in as you travel to each country.
This Handmade World Map Necklace is a unique, minimal and delicate. The necklace comes in yellow gold, brass, black rhodium, white rhodium, rose gold or 925 Sterling Silver options.
This genuine weekend bag is made out of 100% genuine leather and comes in assorted colors (i.e., light brown, dark brown and black). It is available in two sizes. This bag can also be further customized with initials.
This 20-ounce double-wall, vacuum-sealed stainless steel tumbler will keep your drink hot or cold for hours! The design has been laser etched onto the tumbler to provide a robust and stylish travel container for your favorite beverage. BPA Free. Made of 18/8 stainless steel.
Track your golfing adventures as you travel across the U.S. on this Top 200 U.S. Golf Courses Travel Map. This golf themed pin map is a fun way for any golf enthusiast to track where they have teed off across America! The list of courses was compiled using a combination of Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses and America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, as well as lists of the top courses in each state. With courses in all 50 states, it’s easy to track your golf adventures across the US!
Dreaming of a trip to New York City? Just return from an awesome vacation to Hawaii? These maps are the perfect way to plan your next adventure or remember that special trip you’ve taken. This stunning 3D laser cut map is made of premium Baltic birch wood. You also have the option to customize this map with your own message or a special marker (star, heart, home).
This custom outline travel necklace has endless possibilities! Memorialize your road trip, a favorite lake, state, and more. This handmade gift is personal, one-of-a-kind and is available in sterling silver or 14k gold filled.
These gorgeous minimalist promise rings for couples is made out of gold vermeil and enamel. Personalize these rings with your names, phrase, word or date.
This stainless steel travel map features a custom map of your choosing. Will it be your hometown, your current town, where you went to college, your wedding destination, or honeymoon destination? The possibilities are endless. Double-wall insulation keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. The mug comes with a thick plastic lid with a sipping hole that comes off entirely.
Gifting a trip to someone? This vintage ticket is a perfect addition to an abroad gift, and is a fun way to announce your surprise trip to that special someone! Personalize this with the person’s name, trip details, personal message, etc.
This Handmade World Map Earrings are unique, minimal studs for travelers and wanderlust friends. The earrings are made of 925 Sterling Silver. Available options of yellow gold, black rhodium, white rhodium, rose gold, silver, 14k gold.
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