June 1 - A Threefer! Arabia Mountain, Panola Mountain 12/47, and a Monastery

I wanted to get to a park for National Trails Day and my daughter suggested we check out Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area since it wasn't terribly far from her house. We also stuck our heads in Panola Mountain State Park, since it was just up the road, as well as the Monastery of the Holy Spirit cause why not?

Arabia Mountain was frankly strange, a lower version of Stone Mountain with nary a vistor's center or gift shop within view. It was tough to tell even where to park! We found our way to the Nature Center and walked to the 'start' of the 'trail' up the mountain. The 'trail' is kind of a "Choose Your Own Adventure" where the permanent cairns that mark where to go are "more like guidelines". We pretty much had the place to ourselves Saturday, which was nice. Weather wasn't too bad, sunny and hot with a nice breeze.

The mountain itself was a moon scape of weathered granite with occasional 'shallows' that had scrub plants growing in them.

Panola, it turns out, is the location of the Parks and Historic Sites headquarters. I thought that was neat. The only way up the mountain itself is with a guided hike, which was a bit disappointing, but the surrounding area was very nice and wooded and apparently quite popular.

The Monastery is impressive. We poked around a bit and visited the shops, museum, and small bonsai garden they have. We looooved the bonsai and felt very inspired! Our favorites were the boxwood bonsai.