As a mom, I often find myself caught in the never-ending whirlwind of laundry, snacks, and the occasional existential crisis about whether I’m doing this whole parenting thing right. So when we decided to escape to Caddo Lake on the Texas-Louisiana border, it was with lots of intention and the hope of a little bit of a break. Just a short four hour drive from our house, we soon found ourselves in a totally different world.

We rented a charming, historic cabin at the Texas State Park, and let me tell you, it was like stepping into a storybook. The bald cypress trees stood tall in the bayou, draped in dreamy Spanish moss, making me feel like we’d been transported to a magical land. The kids adored the cabin and declared the back porch and surrounding wooded area their kingdom. They had ample pine cones and trees to play among and the weather was literally perfection.

We enjoyed our meals outside, which was fantastic, even with a two-year old in tow. All the girls did so well, truly.

One of the trip’s highlights was a boat tour with the legendary Old Jigger. I’m pretty sure he could’ve been a stand-up comedian—his stories had my kids enthralled. It was a bit of a splurge, but definitely worth it. We learned so much history and saw so many aquatic birds. We kept our eyes peels for an alligator, but they must have all been busy.

Evenings at the lake were pure magic. We stargazed while roasting marshmallows for s’mores, which was great until my toddler decided that his marshmallow needed to be a science experiment—hence the charred gooey mess that somehow ended up in her hair. As we sat there laughing under the stars, I felt a sense of calm wash over me, despite the sticky hands and wild giggles. Nature is amazing, and we have such an amazing creator.

There are four hikes you can do at the park We did two of them, but the highlight was the forest loop trail. It was “moderate,” which I quickly learned means just enough uphill to make you question your life choices while carrying a toddler who insisted on walking… then not walking… then being held… then walking again. But amidst the sweat and slight insanity, we found wild beauty berries. We all tried them and decided they tasted like a pleasant but mealy apple.

The last morning we were there, the park rangers did an “Art in the Park” program and all the kids made prints of fish and sat on the pier to do a watercolor of the Sawmill Pond, will all it’s lily pads and bald cyprus beauty.

As we packed up to head home, my heart was full. This trip wasn’t just about the beautiful scenery or the delightful stories; it was about those little moments that make parenting so ridiculously rewarding (and a little messy). Caddo Lake reminded me that even in the midst of chaos—like a two-year-old’s hot dog slingshot—there’s beauty and laughter to be found.

So here’s to more family adventures, sticky fingers, and magical moments that remind us why we love this crazy ride called parenthood. I highly recommend the Caddo Lake State Park and especially renting one of the historic CCC cabins there. We can’t wait to go back.