Tara is a great place for a weekend getaway for the whole family. You can unwind, unplug, and get back to nature.
The benefits of outdoor exercise are numerous including improved mental health and concentration, reduced stress levels, improved fitness levels, and greater creativity.
We have lots of outdoor activities that families can do together, but we have picked our top 5 favorite family friendly things to do, just in case you need a little help with planning your weekend.
#1 Bird Watching
Learning about birds and bird watching is a great way to introduce your child to the outdoors. Tara is in the Mississippi Flyway, so we see a wide variety of songbirds and wading birds, some of which are very colorful.
Our Spring Outdoor & Birding Weekend is in early May each year and provides a great opportunity to learn about birds and bird watching. We offer organized birding outings, interpreted by an outdoor birding enthusiast or you can walk our nature trails, sit on the back deck, or take a trip out to the rookery to bird watch. Bring a decent pair of binoculars and a good bird identification guide or app.
Even on those days that you don’t see many birds, walking the nature trails is good exercise.
#2 Bicycling on the Trails
Bicycling on the dirt and grass roads at Tara can provide a great outdoor experience for you and your kids. You’ll see a variety of habitats, get great exercise, and you might even come across some deer or alligators and maybe even turkeys.
Guests of our festivals or those staying at our lodge are welcome to bring their mountain bikes to Tara and explore the over 50 miles of roads and nature trails. We do not currently offer day passes for bicycling.
There are a lot of unique places to explore at Tara, and you’ll get to see more of our scenic views by bike than you can by foot. Take a picnic with you and stop at a scenic location for a family lunch.
Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult and helmets are required.
If you’d like to get a group of friends and family together to schedule a group bicycling event with an overnight stay at one of our cabins, give us a call!
#3 Mississippi River Nature Weekend
For those looking for a fully packed schedule of activities, the Mississippi River Nature Weekend in August is a good choice. We’ve incorporated some special kid-friendly activities into our annual nature weekend – so you can bring a kite and enter the kid’s kite flying contest, bring your bike to ride on the nature trails, ride on the open-air bus and learn about the birds found at Tara, or canoe with Quapaw Canoe Company on the Mississippi River. Day visitors are welcome on Saturday.
#4 Fishing
Fishing is a great way to spend time with your kids and create a long-lasting memory. Who doesn’t have fond memories of fishing with their dad?
Overnight guests enjoying our cabin rentals are welcome to bring their rod and reel and try their hand at fishing the many lakes. You won’t have to go far from the lodge to find a place to fish or you can find a more secluded spot further away.
We’ll provide you with some recommendations on where to go and ask that you respect our creel limits. You’ll find crappie, bass, bluegill, and catfish in our lakes.
We currently do not provide any day pass fishing opportunities.
Family Weekend Getaways
We have several lodges and cabins that are perfect for families. With multiple bedrooms that can accommodate more than a dozen guests, you’ll have plenty of room to relax and unwind. Give us a call and plan your next family getaway.
