By EMILY D. COOK / Community Columnist

Spring break is a great time to visit Oak Mountain State Park with your family.

Does your family love animals? If so, we have plenty to see.

You can stop at our petting farm to see goats, pigs, roosters and a pony.

The horses from the stables might even stop by the fence to let you see them.

Or visit the Treetop Nature Trail, Alabama Wildlife Center or Oak Mountain Interpretive Center to see birds of prey, baby birds in the nursery, and native reptiles and amphibians that are found in or near the park.

Hiking, biking and horseback riding on our miles of trails are fun ways to get some fresh air and exercise.

With 30 miles of hiking trails and 25-plus miles each of biking and horseback riding trails, you are sure to find a trail that fits your skill level.

While out on a trail, try your luck at geocaching, treasure hunting with a GPS.

Are you into golf? Try out our 18-hole course that is surrounded by beautiful woods. You may have a visitor while out on the course, as wildlife is known to wander away from the woods.

Archery is a new activity in the park. We have an archery range that is home to a youth section with targets up to 20 yards, a shooting platform and an adult section with targets up to 50 yards.

Bring your bow and arrows and test your skills. You need to have a valid hunting, wildlife heritage, or wildlife management area license in order to use the range if you are between 16 and 65.

With three large lakes in the park, fishing and boating are fun and relaxing ways to enjoy the park.

Boating on the main lake by the beach includes canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. You can boat at the back lakes, but with canoes and flat bottom boats, which are popular with fisherman.

Also at the back, you will find Flipside Watersports, our cable wakeboard park.

There is so much to do and it doesn’t cost a fortune to get in. Park admission is $5 adults (age 12-plus), $2 children (ages 4 to 11) and seniors (age 62-plus) and free for 3 and under.

Please remember that you keep Alabama State Parks open by visiting them. Thank you for your support.