Bringing the Ozarks and nature lovers together.
Karen Hackett
Tulsa, OK Travel Agent· 2 Years of Experience
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Arkansas, BransonInterests:
Destination Weddings, Fishing & Hunting, Theme ParksAbout Me
I am a native of the Ozarks, and bring fifty-plus years of experiencing family and personal adventures. I grew up in Harrison, Arkansas as the daughter of a huge outdoorsman. Almost every weekend, as a child, teen and young adult, was spent either at any one of the lakes of the Ozarks or the Ozark National Forest. Many days were spent in the backend of a bass boat, fishing with my dad. We fished on Beaver Lake, Norfolk Lake, Tablerock Lake, Lake of the Ozarks and Bull Shoals Lake.
My family of five had a twenty-foot camping trailer, which went everywhere with us. Especially as living space while we hunted for turkey and venison. May was spent listening for that elusive gobbler or jake, and beginning Labor Day through mid-December it was all about finding venison. Getting up early morning to don camouflage and face paint was a regular occurrence. Fond memories are the campfire at night, listening to the older generations making up wild tales. I spent many hours with my dad, walking in the woods to find the perfect place to be still and quiet, waiting for the game to come by. I was gifted for my twelfth birthday a twenty-gage shot gun. We camped at such places as the Ozark National Forest, Gulf Mountain Wildlife Management Area and Sylamore.
My favorite place in Arkansas is Eureka Springs, staying in many of the most popular spots – the Crescent Hotel, Basin Park Hotel and any number of bed & breakfasts. Two venues that are especially sentimental would be The Great Passion Play and Turpentine Creek. The perfect place for a destination wedding is Thorncrown Chapel, and I know all of the hidden gems in Eureka Springs. Branson, Missouri is the broadway of the Ozarks. With over thirty theaters, all-inclusive resorts, the showboats on Tablerock Lake, Branson is a fully-packed vacation. Nearby, Silver Dollar City is a nationally recognized amusement park.
A Little Bit About Me
A little bit about myself, I am blind. I lost my vision due to a fall in my home on January 6, 2021, and was blinded. In 2022, I spent seven months at a school in Boston learning how to be blind. To get to Boston, I had to fly by myself to and from Tulsa. I was booked on several airlines, so I know how each one works.I can still see - I see with my brain, my ears and my hands. I can tell you that sitting outside in a quiet, nature setting, I can enjoy the breeze on my face, the sun on my skin, listen to the birds sing and feel the bark on the trees. I also can smell the woods and flowers, so I can still see. And my memories from when I was sighted and in the Ozarks are all still there.