Lake Catherine State Park a Perfect Vacation Destination

With the summer vacation season about to get underway families will be planning the perfect getaway. Many of you probably already have chosen your destination but if you're just now looking, I have the perfect little piece of heaven on earth. The place is Lake Catherine State Park located about 20 miles outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

I personally think this could be the best kept secret in the state of Arkansas. I love it because it's not overcrowded like some of the other nearby lakes and it has everything you need for that family vacation. If you like fishing, there are 16 species of fish in Lake Catherine including Wall-eye and Rainbow Trout that the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission supply to this gorgeous lake. With plenty of hiking trails for the adventurous, from rugged to easy all leading to a wonderful waterfall cascading over a boulder of rocks nestled in between towering trees surrounded by the beauty of the Ouachita Mountains.

If you love nature and the great outdoors this is the place for you. A variety of wildlife make this their home including, coyotes, bobcats, deer, geese and oh, don't forget about the snakes. Lake Catherine has a pristine swimming beach for lots of lake fun in the water, pedal boats, canoes and boat rentals are also available for rent at the nearby marina. And if that's not enough take a guided horseback ride through the scenic mountains.

Lake Catherine also has a camping area, picnic and playground area and several rustic cabins spread around the lake. I stayed in one of the one-bedroom cabins which had everything I needed including a kitchenette, screened in porch, outdoor patio and grill with a perfect view of the lake. If you ever go there, ask for cabin #2, it probably has the best view of the lake because it sits on top of a hill.

So the question is, do you want to stay in a noisy crowded hotel or stay in a serene cabin near a lake? The answer is a no brainer for me. Vacation or just a weekend getaway, the memories you take away from this place will be priceless. One word best describes Lake Catherine,  PERFECT.

From Texarkana travel East on I-30 then take Exit 97 in Malvern, then turn north on Highway 171 and travel approximately 12 miles to Lake Catherine State Park. I'm sure you'll have just as a great a time as I did.