adventure

FAMILY TRAVEL, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PRINTABLES
Get Out Guides
- August 2, 2021
Traveling and exploring with kids is so much fun, but finding those adventures and planning the activities can be time-consuming and frustrating. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a resource for parents, put together by like-minded outdoorsy parents, all about getting OUTSIDE with kids in the city you’re visiting?! And what if that resource included all of the fun ways to spend time together OUTSIDE, from outdoor dining to hiking and biking, to water activities and playgrounds? Friends, you’re in luck!

Run Wild My Child has that resource just for you! We are pleased to announce the launch of our Get Out Guides! Executive team member Nichole Holze has put her talent for finding unique kid-friendly outdoor adventures to use as the Editor of these new guides, which are available now!

What exactly are Get Out Guides?

As super-outdoorsy parents, we get asked all the time for our favorite outdoor activities with kids. We’ve tried so many. We love finding new creative, and unique ways to spend time outside together. And we want you to do the same. So, we put everything together for you in one convenient place! Introducing…our Get Out Guides!

The Run Wild My Child Get Out Guides are our one-stop resource for travel planning! We know what outdoor activities kids (and parents) love. We designed these digital ebooks (which you can print, if you want) with outdoor-loving families in mind! These guides are meant to help you plan your travels (both near and far) or perhaps even help you be a tourist in your own city.

They’re cultivated to be a resource to help you discover fun places to explore both close to home and while traveling. The Get Out Guides are community-sourced and vetted, with lists of things to do and places to see, each carefully selected to highlight a different adventure in a specific city or area.

What is in the Get Out Guides?

Our Get Out Guides are packed full of enough adventures to keep you busy for an entire vacation and beyond. While each guide is unique to the area it covers, there are a few commonalities that you’ll find in all of our Get Out Guides. The following items and topics can be found in each of our Get Out Guides:
- hiking trails
- biking trails
- outdoor dining locations (and to-go food options for outdoor picnics)
- parks and playgrounds
- farms and farmer’s markets
- unique outdoor attractions
- nature centers and gardens
- water adventures
- sample itineraries (if you only have a day or weekend to explore)
- resources
Each Get Out Guide is unique

Each Get Out Guide is jam-packed with our favorite tried and tested outdoor activities. We’ve included all the favorites (listed above), but each city has so many things that make it unique, so each guide will be a little different and tailored to highlight what’s great about each area.

For example, our Bentonville Get Out Guide has a “day in the life” page that highlights an ideal day from a local parent, extra biking adventures (because Bentonville is known for that), links to websites or social media for all of the adventures listed, places to stay and camp, and an interactive map that you can use to play your activities! The St. Louis Get Out Guide has all the traditional outdoor activities listed above, but includes additional fun things to do like golfing, fishing (fly fishing and spinning rod), geocaching, baseball, urban adventures, animal encounters, and more!

Why do you need a Get Out Guide?

Why wouldn’t you?!

But really, these guides are going to help so many parents just like you find new ways to explore outside with your kids. We want to cultivate a resource for busy families that aligns with our core value of getting kids off screens and outdoors. That applies while traveling or adventuring in your hometown. We want to make it a little easier for parents to plan outdoor adventures while traveling and be a resource for local families to discover even more adventures right in their own city.

Our Get Out Guides are different than traditional travel guides. You won’t find many major indoor attractions in them. Fewer play centers, more parks, and playgrounds. Fewer museums, more hikes, and creeks. Fewer restaurants, more patios, and picnic options. They focus on the OUTDOORS, on connecting you and your kids (not only to each other, but also) to nature. They’ll give you tons of ideas and inspiration for making lifelong outside memories with your family, and help you raise a nature kid.

We hope that these Get Out Guides inspire you to examine how you spend time outdoors while vacationing and open new doors to adventure right at home.

Who are the Get Out Guides for?

Busy parents that want to spend more time adventuring outside with their kids. Is that you?

Truly, our intention with these guides is to share adventures that are accessible for everyone. Whether you’re a local parent wanting new ideas for places to explore and things to do in your own city or just passing through the area on a family road trip and want to get outside to explore and play, this guide is for you. We know that you don’t have a million hours to research all the best outdoor places to play and plan your activities. And sometimes the research won’t get you the “good spots’ that only the locals know about! That’s why these guides are so good – they’re written by parents that know, live, and play in that area.

We hope our guides will bring value and a little relief when it comes to planning outdoor adventures. They will save you time. They will save you the headache. And they will blow you away!

How does RWMC put them together?

Each Get Out Guide is put together a member of our team or volunteer from our community that lives in the area they’re covering. Not only do we each know our respective areas VERY well, but we also reached out to other local moms in our online community to make sure all our bases were covered.

With each upcoming new guide we put out, we hope to gather contributions from our amazing community! And yes, that includes YOU! We have an intake form for anyone and everyone to make submissions of their favorite outdoor activities, adventures, and locations in their area. If your submission is included in the Guide, you’ll receive a spot on the contributor page with a link of your choosing!

What format are the Get Out Guides and how can I get one?

The Get Out Guides are digital downloadable PDFs. When you purchase a Get Out Guide, you’ll receive a link to download a zip file that contains the guide. You’ll also receive an email with the link. You can save the Get Out Guide to your computer or phone for easy access anytime you want. Or, you can print them out and refer back to them as you need to. Feel free to make notes on the places you want to explore or check them off as you check them out!

The Get Out Guides are for sale on the Run Wild My Child website.

Make sure to sign up for our newsletter so that you can be one of the first ones to know when a new guide is released!

Get Out Guides – Bentonville, Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas is a not-so-hidden-anymore gem of a place to visit, especially with kids. It’s where art and nature combine, where bike trails connect the entire city, and public art can be found on every corner. You’ll also find a thriving foodie culture and a world-class coffee scene. Northwest Arkansas is so much more than the home of Walmart and we want to invite you to see all it has to offer! Get the Guide!

Get Out Guides – St. Louis, MO

We are also launching the Get Out Guide for St. Louis, Missouri. If you know STL, you know that nature is everywhere in this city! It’s easier than you would ever think to find a challenging hike through the woods with gorgeous bluff overviews, a shallow rock-bed creek to explore, or long flat biking trails through parks, fields, and neighborhoods. Yes, St. Louis is home to the Arch and the Budweiser Clydesdales and the Cardinals (all of which we cover), but it’s so much more! It’s surrounded by limestone caves and coldwater trout streams and art and food! It’s a lovely place to live and fun to explore if you’re in the area. Get the Guide!

Get Out Guide – Cape Cod, MA

Cape Cod is a charming and picturesque geographic cape in the southeast corner of Massachusetts. It is a popular summer vacation destination but features tons of year-round outdoor fun and adventure. It’s an expansive area, and can be a bit overwhelming to find all the good outdoorsy stuff you’re looking for. The Guide will help you find a gorgeous beach to explore, a bike trail to trek, a windy river to kayak, a tidepool to explore, the best kid-friendly hiking trails, and our favorite ice cream shops. There are so many unique Instagrammable locations, amazing restaurants and boutiques, beautiful lighthouses, historic trails and museums, and so much more!

Get Out Guide – Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach is hands-down one of the prettiest, most fun, and outdoorsy beach towns on the Eastern Shore. Virginia Beach is the largest city in the state and covers a huge area, so it can be really overwhelming for families to find all the good outdoorsy stuff you’re looking for. That’s where our guide comes in! We’re here to help you find a gorgeous beach to explore, a bike trail to trek, a place to see wildflife, a tidepool to explore, and an outdoor patio to enjoy a seafood lunch with your kids. There are so many unique Instagrammable locations, amazing restaurants and boutiques, educational outdoor activities, skate parks, historic landmarks, gorgeous trails, kid-friendly museums, and so much more!

More Get Out Guides coming soon!

Stay tuned because we’re working hard on a few more Get Out Guides. Upcoming Get Out Guides include Lake Tahoe, Kansas City, San Diego, and MORE! We have boots on the ground with Creative Team members in these areas that are busy helping us find the absolute BEST outdoor activities. If you’re interested in submitting an idea for the Get Out Guides, visit THIS link or reach out to our Get Out Guide Editor, Nichole. You can find her on Instagram at @coleyraeh or on her website.

GET THE GUIDES

We are so thrilled to launch the new Run Wild My Child Get Out Guides! We hope that they help to inspire you to get outside and adventure together, whether close to home or on the road! Happy adventuring!

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FAMILY TRAVEL, INFORMATION, NATIONAL PARKS
Tips for a COVID-Safe Roadtrip with Kids
- June 29, 2020
Traveling looks much different right now than it looked last summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic still happening across our country (and the world), there are more restrictions on travel and lots of precautions and considerations that must be taken before leaving, along the way, and while you’re at your destination. Today, Nichole, a homeschooling mom of 2 and road-tripping expert, is here with some COVID-safe roadtrip health and safety precautions that families should consider in order to keep themselves and others safe.

Please note – any decisions to travel are highly personal and we encourage you to take note of the risks, do your research, consider your doctor’s advice, assess your family’s health and make your own informed choice. Do not travel if anyone in your family is sick or running a fever. The information shared here cannot guarantee anyone’s health or safety and is not meant to be divisive or comprehensive. Please do not travel through Indigenous communities at this time. This post contains affiliate links.

Making the decision to travel during a pandemic

Summer started months ago for many of us. Usually, by this time of year, the kids and I have been on the road for several extended trips already. As states began to reopen, we made the tough decision to drive from Arkansas to Arizona to surprise my Mom for her birthday. We hadn’t seen her in nine months and she lives two states away (one of those states is Texas). My husband and I talked for a week before we made a decision about the trip and it was not an easy decision to make. We decided to go with the idea that we’d be diligent, overly-cautious, and not take any unnecessary risks.

Road-tripping during a pandemic is a scary prospect, even more so to do it with children. There are a lot of things to consider and a lot of things we’d need to do differently for this trip. However, I found that by taking some protective measures, along with a few changes to our typical routine, we had a great COVID-safe roadtrip experience! Today, I’d like to share some of the steps I took to make our trip safe and successful.

Laying the plans and making tough decisions

I’ve made this drive at least five times already, but this time would be different. Normally, I am not one to stress over road trips, but if I’m being honest, this one made me worry. I approached our road trip planning (which is also a foreign concept to me as I rarely plan these shenanigans) with an overabundance of caution. We talked about all the options for overnights: camping versus hotels versus AirBnB‘s versus sleeping in the car.

After seeing if my kids and I could squeeze in the back of our Subaru Outback (not really), we decided against that option. I prefer more remote, dispersed camping, so public campgrounds with shared bathrooms were not an option for me during this trip. We don’t have an RV (though renting one may be a great solution!). After looking into the status of forest lands, I decided we would avoid them. Some lands are still closed within New Mexico and Arizona, and it is advisable to avoid Indigenous communities entirely due to the COVID outbreak. That left hotels and vacation rentals – both of which have their own issues and restrictions, but they were the best and safest option for us.

COVID-related safety precautions while roadtripping

Our final decision was to make the drive in two days rather than three, to minimize exposure. After careful research, our opinion was that hotels were probably the cleanest they’d ever been and I felt okay about staying in hotels. I picked a Drury Inn in our destination for day one (Albuquerque) and we left at home at 6 AM.

We are no strangers to long days in the car, but this one was different. Most of our favorite stopping points were either closed or not the best idea to visit. Palo Duro Canyon and Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa and Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. Not everything was closed – the Texas State Parks are open but require advance tickets purchased online and there are capacity limitations in place.

One of the great things about traveling out west (or anywhere) with a highly capable vehicle, is the ability to roll down unknown roads to find a breaking spot. We took several rest breaks along back roads and side roads. We avoided people and got the chance to experience some beautiful countryside.

COVID-related hotel safety precautions

After a long 13 hour day of driving, we finally pulled into a familiar Drury Inn (we’d stayed there two times before). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised upon our arrival to find the hotel very quiet with hardly any cars in the parking lot. The check-in process was smooth, all the employees and guests wore masks (my children and I included; it was required in the lobby). I was impressed with their social distancing measures in place.

To minimize any exposures, I carried one backpack into our room with what we would need for the night, plus our electronics. I wiped down any surfaces we would touch and we all relaxed for a moment while I ordered Panera for pick up. The restaurant was in the parking lot for the hotel and was incredibly convenient. Our hotel room was impeccably clean and any blankets, throw pillows, or comforters had been removed from the room so the beds only had sheets and pillows. We found that staying in a hotel and getting food to go felt perfectly safe with the excessive protective measures in place.

Roadtripping pit stops during a pandemic

We left Albuquerque the next day at 5 AM (mainly because my kids wake up ridiculously early). I stopped at a Starbucks because I know they require employees to wear masks and gloves. A few hours down the road (and every cheesy photo op along the way) we made a stop on a random dirt road off the interstate. That turned out to be a great choice because my kids got out to run free, I made some more coffee and even got their bikes down for them to burn some energy off.

When we needed to stop for gas, we took extra precautions. When pumping gas, I used a paper towel as a barrier between my hand and the gas pump. I wiped my card down after inserting it into the card reader. I brought my own hand soap to use in the bathrooms and sanitized my hands immediately after getting gas or going inside. If we went inside a gas station, we all wore masks.

The bathroom situation…

There’s one question that I know you’re wondering about, so let’s just get it out there. Yes, we also used the bathroom there. No, I didn’t bring a toilet along. And yes, we adhered to Leave No Trace principles. Yes, that kind of bathroom stop too.

I planned for roadside bathroom breaks and brought along toilet paper and a disposable bag to put used toilet paper in and planned to throw away at our next gas stop. Public bathrooms don’t totally terrify me, but we found it faster and smoother (less exposure) to use back roads and side roads for this COVID-safe trip. Depending on where you’re traveling, this option isn’t always possible, but it made us feel safer.

Here are few roadside bathroom break tips:
- urinate on hard surfaces;
- dig cat-holes for number two;
- bring extra toilet paper and/or flushable wet wipes;
- bring a disposable bag to store any used toilet paper with you;
- if you need privacy, open both passenger doors and hide in between them;
- if you are traveling with younger children, bringing a small, portable toilet for the little ones to use.
National Parks are re-opening…slowly

We also stopped at Petrified Forest National Park along the way, thanks to our Annual Parks Pass. I researched ahead of time to make sure the park was open and read about any restrictions or cautions. There were not many crowds and nearly everyone wore masks at any potentially crowded stops. Luckily, we had nearly every stop to ourselves. Most people were really great about keeping distance and being respectful of space. It also felt good to get out and stretch for a while.

When visiting a national park this time of year, it’s important to go early, bring sun protection, and carry plenty of water. We hiked the relatively short Blue Mesa loop and enjoyed the views of the Painted Desert along the way. If you plan on visiting a national park (or any park) along your way, do your research. It’s imperative that you check websites ahead of time for closures or capacity limits. Some parks are requiring reservations via advance ticket purchases. Please be respectful and obey city/state guidelines, especially within Indigenous communities. To learn more about recreating responsibly, please take some time to read this guide.

Things to bring on a COVID-safe roadtrip

Before heading out, we added a few things to our packing list to make this a COVID-safe roadtrip. I realize that wearing masks is a contentious topic (we’re not here to debate this), but they are required for some states. I am a practiced sewist, and made masks for my family with pockets for medical-grade filters. You can order masks from many different outlets now, depending on what your preferences are. My “clean all the things” bag contained: two kinds of hand sanitizer, a hand sanitizer in spray format, antibacterial wipes, baby wipes, Lysol spray, and extra masks.

I also decided to pack our food for breakfast and lunch. Snacks, drinks and a cooler are all a must. I’m okay with ordering food to go, but thought that eating out only for dinner would minimize any risks. Coffee is a necessity for me when I’m doing these massive solo road trips, and our backpacking stove is a great tool for making coffee on the road. Paired with my JavaDrip, it’s a fairly quick and easy process.

I would also recommend a backpack to carry things into a hotel for an overnight stay. Choose one that large enough to hold things for the whole family, so you’re not taking in multiple suitcases. My kids were not allowed to bring their stuffed animals into the hotel just to minimize any exposures. For more about my solo travel safety tips (and my backpack system) check out THIS post.

COVID-safe roadtrip recommendations & tips

Wherever you’re going, read ahead and do your research! Now is not necessarily the time for spontaneity and winging it along the way. Call ahead, check websites, ask questions, get suggestions and make reservations. Campgrounds are filling up fast due to more people camping and utilizing RV travel. Some parks are open, some are not. All of these things can be researched before you go to minimize stress, inconvenience and confusion. Also, bear in mind that the guidelines for masks vary from city to city and state to state. Bring them and be prepared to wear them (or make alternative plans if you choose not to).

Before leaving the house, lay out a tentative route plan, but allow for flexibility. We noted two small towns along our way that were closed to outside visitors. Knowing this let us plan ahead for pit stops. One of my favorite things I’d highly recommend is cheesy photo ops along the way! Say yes to these! You may not be able to get into the museums or attractions, but you can grab some super fun photos to commemorate your journey. Most of these are free from people and you don’t have to touch anything. Plus, it’s a great way to get out and stretch your legs. Atlas Obscura is one of my favorite resources for finding these fun photo ops. Just remember to be respectful of private property and follow local rules and guidelines.

The payoff

The main (well, and only) reason we made this big trip was to surprise my Mom for her birthday. She had absolutely no idea we were coming and I sneaky planned it with the help of my stepdad. My husband wasn’t able to come along due to work commitments, but gave me his full support for this endeavor. We could barely contain our excitement, nor could we wait for 6:30 AM, the decided-upon time to surprise her.

I hauled cardboard boxes with us from home. I bet my parent’s neighbors were very curious as to why I was assembling boxes on the corner so early in the morning. We tiptoed our way down the street and my kids hid in the boxes on the front step. I rang the doorbell then hid around the corner. It was without a doubt the BEST surprise of my life! I’ll never forget the joy and happiness when my Mom realized it was my kids in those boxes. We. Missed. Our. Family. Friends, I know you do too. I encourage you to take the trip. Do so with caution, but not with fear. For some extra-happy goodness, check out the full surprise video HERE. 100% worth it.

COVID-safe roadtrip resources

For a full list of the things we brought along to make this trip safe- click HERE.

For a list of helpful things to entertain kids on long trips – click HERE.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram at coleyraeh to see all of our adventures and shenanigans, including the return trip home.

You can read more about our family on my website.

Thanks for reading friends, if you have any questions please feel free to message me on Instagram or send me an email.

About the author

Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl, and they are on their fifth year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly thirteen years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can usually find her in the woods somewhere (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls), or on an epic road-tripping adventure with the kids.

You can find Nichole online in the following locations:
Website: http://www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
RWMC posts: Nichole
FAMILY TRAVEL, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Digging for Crystals with Kids
- November 11, 2019
Have you ever considered going on a real-life treasure hunt with your kids? You’ve probably heard of places where you can pan for gold or hunt for geodes, but what about digging for crystals and diamonds? Today, we have Nichole, homeschool mom of two and outdoor adventurer, here sharing her family’s newest hobby, digging for crystals! Did you know that Central Arkansas is home to some of the most amazing clear crystal quartz in the entire world? Nichole walks you through everything you need to know to get started digging for crystals with your kids, from where to go, what to pack, and how to clean them. If anyone’s up for a road trip to dig for crystals, I’m in!

Exploring outdoors Arkansas

Six years ago, our family moved from the Midwest to southern Arkansas. At the time, we had no idea just how much adventure there was to be found in Arkansas. It may not sound like the most interesting state, but there are so many amazing things to do in Arkansas!

As an outdoors-loving family, we are always seeking out new ways to explore the world around us. From hiking to swimming in hot springs, climbing mountains to exploring mines, Arkansas has some of the most amazing natural wonders in the entire Midwest.

We’ve now lived in Arkansas for nearly six years, and we are still finding new ways to spend time together outside!

Arkansas’s unique geology

Last fall, as part of our homeschool studies, I started searching for information about geology in Arkansas. It wasn’t long before we realized that Arkansas is one of the best places in the world for digging for crystals! What I learned was incredible! Arkansas has several veins of high quality, often clear, quartz that formed in the Ouachita mountain range, in central Arkansas.

Quartz is a very common mineral, the second most common on earth and forms under a wide variety of conditions. However, according to geologists, there are only two places in the world with quartz of such high clarity and quality: Arkansas and Brazil.

A new favorite family hobby emerged and now we enjoy heading out to treasure hunt all winter long.

Arkansas diamond mining

Arkansas is also home to one of two places in the world where the general public can mine for diamonds. Crater of Diamonds State Park, also in central Arkansas, is open year-round for diamond hunting.

This was actually where we started our journey of geology studies. While the idea of digging for diamonds was very exciting, we walked away feeling like it wasn’t the best option for our family. It is a very unique experience. While there are chances to find a diamond, it is a lot of work for little reward.

People do find diamonds though! In fact, just the other day a woman found a 3-carat diamond by surface searching. However, the stones are usually very small and not as easy to find, especially for kids. It is still a fun thing to try your luck at, but bear in mind that it may not be as rewarding for children.

A guide for Arkansas crystal hunting

I continued my research and learned that we were very close to one of the best places to mine for quartz crystal! We chose to visit Ron Coleman Crystal Mine, near Hot Springs, Arkansas. This is a commercial quartz mine that often produces some of the most beautiful (and massive) clusters in the world.

In my searching, I also came across an Instagram page run by the nicest couple. Betsy and Dillon of Passion and Prospect were more than willing to help guide us in our geology journey. They answered our questions and even got us started on where to dig.

If you aren’t local to Arkansas and are interested in some crystals from the place that we dig, watch their page as they often have crystals for sale!

Crystal mining supplies

In the days leading up to our dig, we started a “crystal corner” in our garage to stage our supplies for the weekend. In our research, we learned what tools were allowed at the mine and which were not. While the commercial part of the mine is not open to the public (except for tours), the “tailings” pile is. The tailings area is where the mining trucks bring dump truckloads of dirt and rock up from the commercial mine.

The mine has tools available to rent if needed. However, we thought it would be best to bring our own.

What to bring when digging for crystals with kids

In our corner, we gathered the following:
- Two, 5-gallon buckets
- Hand tools for gardening, including small spades and shovels
- Gloves, for us and for our children
- Old shoes or rain boots
- Old clothes that we didn’t mind ruining
- Hats and sun protection
- A collapsible or folding wagon
The day of the dig

The crystal mine is about a two-hour drive for us, so we got up early and had breakfast in the car. The mine does not have food available, so I highly recommend you pack a lunch and lots of snacks and water. I figured my children may lose interest in digging for crystals if we weren’t finding anything and snacks make everything better.

Arriving at the mine, you stop at the main office and store to pay your entrance fee and sign the waivers. We were so excited to see a HUGE crystal point sitting just outside the main entrance. The store has some amazing examples of what you could find in the mine. It’s also a great place to stop if you are only passing through and don’t have time to dig. The selection of rocks and minerals is outstanding!

Head out to the mine

After going over the waivers and rules, we jumped back in our car to drive down the hill and into the public mining area. It is a dirt road and parking lot, so be prepared for red mud right away.

We visited Ron Coleman mine for the first time the weekend just after our trip to the diamond mine. Within minutes of stepping out of the car, both of my children were shouting their excitement because the ground was sparkling! A vastly different response compared to the diamond mine, and immediate gratification for young children.

We didn’t have a wagon with us on our first trip but we have since added it to our crystal digging supplies. It’s great for hauling your tools to where you want to dig, along with all of your snacks and water.

Digging for crystals with kids

We selected a spot to start digging for crystals and set to work. Both of my children were so excited to play and explore. There is no running allowed in the dig area, so be sure to instruct your children. It’s for their own safety, as there are large boulders and rocks everywhere.

For smaller children, there is an area to the left side (while facing the main entrance from the parking lot) that is flatter and less dangerous. For the really small ones, a carrier or portable play yard may be best to keep them safe.

Our day passed quickly as we were completely focused on the task of digging for crystals. It was easy to stay focused because we were finding quartz treasures within minutes!

We found crystals ranging from milky white to clear, in all shapes and sizes! We were so grateful to have chosen a cool day to go dig because there is no shade available in the digging area. It’s quite a good workout to sort through the dirt and rocks. By lunchtime, we were all in need of a short break to refuel.

An afternoon well spent

While digging for crystals, the rest of our day passed rapidly. My children enjoyed playing among the boulders and rocks once they had found their fill of quartz. My husband and I worked ourselves to exhaustion digging. Each of us got more excited with the improving clarity of the quartz we found.

By the end of the day, we both knew we found a new favorite hobby. The mine closes at 4:30 pm, and by 4:15 pm we were cleaning up our dig area. The large buckets we brought were nearly full with crystals waiting to be cleaned.

We had spent the most beautiful day together outside, on our own little treasure hunt. Warmed by the autumn sun and completely exhausted from our day, we picked up our buckets and went back to our car, all of us smiling from ear to ear.

Things to note about crystal digging

Ron Coleman crystal mine also has tours available as well as a zip line. We haven’t done either yet but they sure look like fun! Here are a few things to remember:
- There are no bathrooms at the dig site, you must go to the campground or back up to the main office.
- You are allowed to take out all you can carry out.
- Bring lots of water, more than you think you’ll need.
- Pack a lunch and snacks.
- The clothes you wear to dig in will most likely be stained with the iron in the soil. Wear old clothes you don’t mind ruining.
- Remember to bring a change of clothes. We find it easiest to lay down towels and ride in our car over to the campground area to get cleaned up. There is a fee for the showers but no fee to change clothing.
- We have also changed at our car, bringing large t-shirts for the kids to be able to change under and I bring a dress to throw over an undershirt to change out of my dirt-covered clothes.
- The office workers LOVE to see what you find so feel free to stop back up there and show them your finds! You just might get featured on their social media channels.
Ron Coleman Crystal Mine nearby attractions

There is camping available at the mine as well, complete with a bathroom and showers and hookups for RVs. Nearby, in the town of Hot Springs there are several great restaurants, as well as more lodging and camping.

My favorite, Kollective coffee, offers vegan food options and has a huge tea selection along with great coffee. Hot Springs is also home to a National Park and has a wonderful visitor center that you can tour for free, along with two Junior Ranger programs.

Nearby, in the town of Mt. Ida, there are also several other crystal mines. We have also visited Wegner Crystal Mine and Twin Creek Crystal Mine. However, Ron Coleman is always our go-to favorite place to dig.

Cleaning your crystals

We spent some time talking with the office staff about the best way to clean the crystals. The very clear points often come clean with a simple water wash. However, to remove the iron staining it’s necessary to do more than that. Ron Coleman sells oxalic acid, in its crystal form. You can place your crystals in a very weak oxalic acid and water mixture to remove the red stains. This can be done with a ratio of 1/2 to one cup of oxalic acid added to one gallon of water.

Crystal cleaning tips
- Always clean your crystals outside! Clay and dirt can clog interior pipes on your sink or bathtub.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clear away dirt and debris from your crystals.
- If you’re using an acid bath to remove staining: ALWAYS add acid to water, not water to acid.
- Use a VERY weak acid solution, these ratios can be found in a simple internet search.
- The crystals can sit in the acid and water bath for up to a week if desired, keep the pot outside so any fumes will dissipate outdoors.
- There is an option to do this more quickly by heating the acid and water solution, but not boiling. However, this must be done outside as you are heating and acid and it can give off mildly noxious fumes. The best and safest way to remove iron staining is a cold water and acid bath for a few days to a week.
- Use gloves when working with the acid solution.
- Remove the crystals after the week is up, using gloves, and rinse with water.
Any work done with the acid and water solution should be done by adults, not children. In the photo below we are working on the first step, cleaning the crystals with water. Also, note the impeccable style my daughter has for crystal cleaning.

The thrill of the hunt

Half of the fun of hunting for crystals is when you are cleaning your treasures at home. Sometimes, your finds will surprise you with more points or more clarity than you had expected. Or sometimes you’ll be let down with what you thought was an epic cluster, only to find it’s milky white quartz with no points at all. But, that’s all part of the process and it’s a great lesson in patience, persistence and hard work.

From start to finish, it usually takes us about a week to sort through all of our finds. It’s a process that has taught us many things, but has also pulled us in and made us rock hounds. I am so grateful for this newfound hobby of ours and we are so excited that it is finally cool enough to return to our favorite weekend adventure!

More Arkansas outdoor adventures

It has been so much fun to discover all of the incredible outdoor adventures within our new home state. If you’re looking for resources for crystal digging, you can find almost all of what I had mentioned here, along with books to pair with your crystal hunting adventure.

If you’d like to read about one of our other favorite Arkansas adventures, you can read about them here. Our family has so enjoyed learning to love where we live and Arkansas has so much to offer for outdoor adventure.

If you’re in or around the Bentonville, Arkansas area, check out our Bentonville Get Out Guide! This huge ebook is curated by yours truly and contains all our favorite things to do, places to eat, and more in Bentonville. It’s filled with water adventures, hiking trails, biking excursions, outdoor dining, kid-friendly camping and lodgings, parks and playgrounds and other fun and unique outdoor adventures.

If you’re ever passing through, I’d love to share some of my favorites with you! Follow me on Instagram and let me know if you’re headed this way, maybe we could even go digging for crystals together!

Have you ever been digging for crystals?

About the author

Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl. Together, they are on their third year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly twelve years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can find her in the woods somewhere, (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls) or online in the following locations:

Website: http://www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
Other RWMC posts: Nichole

adventure

What exactly are Get Out Guides?

What is in the Get Out Guides?

Each Get Out Guide is unique

Why do you need a Get Out Guide?

Who are the Get Out Guides for?

How does RWMC put them together?

What format are the Get Out Guides and how can I get one?

Get Out Guides – Bentonville, Arkansas

Get Out Guides – St. Louis, MO

Get Out Guide – Cape Cod, MA

Get Out Guide – Virginia Beach, VA

More Get Out Guides coming soon!

GET THE GUIDES

Making the decision to travel during a pandemic

Laying the plans and making tough decisions

COVID-related safety precautions while roadtripping

COVID-related hotel safety precautions

Roadtripping pit stops during a pandemic

The bathroom situation…

National Parks are re-opening…slowly

Things to bring on a COVID-safe roadtrip

COVID-safe roadtrip recommendations & tips

The payoff

COVID-safe roadtrip resources

About the author

Exploring outdoors Arkansas

Arkansas’s unique geology

Arkansas diamond mining

A guide for Arkansas crystal hunting

Crystal mining supplies

What to bring when digging for crystals with kids

The day of the dig

Head out to the mine

Digging for crystals with kids

An afternoon well spent

Things to note about crystal digging

Ron Coleman Crystal Mine nearby attractions

Cleaning your crystals

Crystal cleaning tips

The thrill of the hunt

More Arkansas outdoor adventures

Have you ever been digging for crystals?

About the author

runwild.mychild