Special Event

With Hikes, Hearts & Hugs, Petit Jean sends a valentine

Petit Jean State Park is shown in this file photo.
Petit Jean State Park is shown in this file photo.

With a nickname like The Natural State, it's no secret that Arkansas has beautiful scenery, and for some people, getting out in those inspiring settings for some fresh air and exercise could well be the best route to romance.

Petit Jean State Park is happy to oblige.

Hikes, Hearts & Hugs Weekend

Friday-Sunday at Petit Jean State Park, near Morrilton

Dinner: $50 per couple, $25 each additional person

Other activities: Free

(501) 727-5441

petitjeanstatepark.…

It has offered its Hikes, Hearts & Hugs Weekend, designed for couples or even family groups to come out and enjoy what the park has to offer, for many years (park interpreter B.T. Jones guesses it has been since the 1980s). This year, it's set for Friday-Sunday.

"We do hikes and programs geared towards Valentine's Day," Jones says. "Fun things for people to do together."

This year's schedule includes:

∙ A "leisurely walk" along the Rim Trail portion of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Boy Scout Trail overlooking scenic areas of the park that starts at 4 p.m. Friday and lasts about 1.5 hours.

∙ The "light in spirit," half-hour retelling of the romantic story of Petit Jean's namesake starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in the CCC Room at Mather Lodge.

∙ A more strenuous guided hike leaves the lodge and heads down to Cedar Falls at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

∙ A tour of Mather Lodge highlights the lodge's history and plans for its future at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

∙ A stroll from the M.A. Richter Memorial Overlook to the CCC Overlook is timed to take in the sunset from a scenic spot at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

∙ A program about the park's rock art and what it says about an ancient culture's views of love will be held at the Rock House Cave, 11 a.m. Sunday.

There are activities for a variety of skill and physical ability levels and, Jones says, "We've tried to advertise in the descriptions the difficulty level of each of the walks that we go on."

Since February weather can be fickle, it's wise to plan for cold or warm, wet or dry and to wear shoes appropriate for hiking. Flashlights for evening strolls and water are also recommended.

The big event is the Valentine's dinner at the Mather Lodge restaurant, a tickets-only three-course dinner with salad, choice of pork chop, chicken or pasta for the entree and a dessert room. Classical guitarist Matt Gardner will provide the entertainment. Dinner is 5-8 p.m. Saturday and tickets are $50 per couple, $25 per extra person, available at the lodge's front desk.

Participants are welcome to join in as few or as many of the activities as they'd like.

Jones says the whole point is to relax, enjoy and have quality time together as a couple or a family: "It's a good way to get away from it all and spend some time with the person you love. That's the idea ... to give people ... a break."

Weekend on 02/09/2017

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