Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Making Trout Ceviche

So, in our recent Summer Newsletter, we included our recipe for Trout Ceviche: a "no-cook" meal that makes for some tangy & refreshing Summer Eats. I made some the other day and have been enjoying it for lunch when its too hot to turn on the oven.

Here's our step by step look at making it:

Trout Ceviche1

Fileting White River TroutThese were trout we pulled out of the freezer. Fileting fish after they've been frozen is much harder than doing it when they're fresh. We recommend fileting them right out of the river and freezing the filets.

Ceviche 2We just wanted to make a half portion of Ceviche, so we only chopped up a few limes and lemons.

Ceviche 3If you own a microplane, you can add zest from your limes and lemons to the mixture. No microplane? You can use a fine grater or even a fork.

Ceviche 4Raw trout soaking in the lemon juice- it almost looks like chicken broth.

Ceviche 5Ta Da! Cooked with no heat! Ain't chemistry cool?

Ceviche 6Tomatoes, avocado, and peppers. Since this was a quick batch of ceviche, we opted out on the onions and jalepenos- too many hazards involved in the chopping.

Ceviche 7
Stir in some olive oil, honey, and a few of your favorite spices and voila! Your cold, tangy and nutritious fish dish is ready!!

Want the full recipe for Ceviche? Subscribe to our Summer Newsletter and receive all kinds of fun information and updates.

Monday, June 27, 2011

How to Plan a Multi-Family Vacation

When I first read this article about "multi-family vacations", I thought...."Wait a minute, isn't that just called a vacation?"

Looking back on my childhood, I realized that my family almost NEVER took a trip alone.

There was Swimming in the pool with my cousins in Palm Desert, Camping with a huge group of friends in Yosemite Valley, and Skiing with my mom's side of the family in Lake Tahoe.

The few times my parents tried to take us places "alone", my siblings and I were horrified.
"What are we supposed to do...hang out with EACH OTHER?!?"
Teenagers on a Family Vacation
Actual photograph of my siblings "hanging out with each other" on vacation.

That never sounded like much of a vacation to me.

Whether the travel industry is finally picking up on something families have been doing for a long time, or whether the trend is actually on the rise with the precarious economy, Multi-family traveling might just be the answer for your next vacation.

We've seen it all at White Buffalo Resort, so Here's our take on the perfect multi-family vacation:

1) The Lone Flag-Bearer:

Now, you might be thinking "More people? Great! We can split all the responsibility!" Sorry to burst your bubble. When it comes to planning a multi-family vacation, it always seems to boil down to one staunch soul calling to arrange dates, lodging, arrivals and departures.

Find the most organized, datebook-loving person in your group and appoint them. Make sure they have good phone skills- I've never seen a group planning endeavor that didn't require multiple rounds of phone calls between parties.

2) Splitting the Bill:

Don't hand over that credit card for just anybody.

Most places are going to require a non-refundable deposit to reserve lodging. In the heat of the moment, it may seem easiest to put out the money yourself and collect every one's "shares" later.

We would recommend proceeding with caution, unless you really know and trust the people you're traveling with. Will you have to sic a collection agency on Great Aunt Angie?
We certainly hope not, but we've seen it happen.

Smaller, privately owned businesses may be willing to work with you here. We at White Buffalo know how painful it can be to go all "Ebeneezer Scrooge" on your friends and family, and have therefore been known to split bills twelve different ways down to the last percentage of tax.

Check whether your vacation location will let each person call to individually put down "their share" of the divided deposit, (we do). This way, all members of your party are equally committed, and less likely to cancel at the last minute, leaving you responsible for their part of the bill.

Friends bringing pets? Make sure they're aware of and responsible for any nightly fees for pets or additional guests. It may seem a little miserly to demand that your travel buddies pay up front, but its ultimately much better than tainting the end of your vacation with resentment, confusion and quarreling.

3) First one in gets the best bedroom.
Obviously.

4) Dividing Cooking:
From a mom's perspective, this makes any vacation, (especially camping) easier. Know your group's expectations up front. Will you want to eat every meal together? Dinners only? Eat completely separate, but come together to have s'mores over a campfire at night? If you do decide to eat meals together, it can simplify everyone's vacation to split things up beforehand. Designate a different party to cook for the group each night. Or decide on different side dishes each of you can contribute.

5) Togetherness.
Just cause you're on vacation TOGETHER, it doesn't mean you're inseparable. Don't remain dutifully glued to your group if it means missing out of something you're genuinely interested in. And if you're the planner- don't make group activities mandatory. Remember that people view "vacations" differently- and that while some need to see and explore and do everything offered, others just need a pool chair to lounge in. Be understanding- your goal should always be to avoid hurt feelings or resentment.

If your vacation desires diverge, plan a few days where you'll head in different directions. Make sure to come back together at night to share stories about your different adventures.
____________________________________

All in all- multi family vacations can mean savings, new traditions and fun. Our Deluxe Lodges are big enough to accommodate togetherness AND privacy, and there's always room in the campground for one more tent. Plan your next vacation together and see what memories you end up making.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Check out our Summer Newsletter

Celebrate the OFFICIAL start to Summer (yesterday!) by signing up to receive the Summer Edition of WBR's quarterly newsletter.

Monday, June 20, 2011

A Summer Weekend Well Spent

Too busy to blog lately- a good thing, let me assure you. Just wanted to share this e-mail from a lady who visited us this weekend.

"Just wanted to let you know that we had the most amazing stay at the resort. So relaxing, peaceful and beautiful. I am recommending this place to everyone I know. We stayed at the #5 cabin “trophy”. Best vacation yet. We will be back I can promise you this.

The canoe trip was so much fun and the water was just right. Clear and refreshing.

Thank you for some great memories with some amazing friends!!!!!!!"

Belinda
Natchitoches, LA

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Fishing Report June 11, 2011



Our longtime guests Bob & Vicki Leggit from St. Louis, MO have been camping at White Buffalo and fishing the White River for the past eight days.

Hear what they have to say about the River and fishing prospects at the moment.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Low Water on the White River

Praise God and Thank You Army Corps of Engineers, Bull Shoals Dam is SHUT DOWN today and our water is dropping steadily. After all the high water we've had in the last month, we are ready for the break. High water makes for great fishing, but it tends to scare off some of our more faint-hearted fishermen.

Just a quick plug- this is IDEAL water for fly fishing, we have two guests getting ready to go try their flies out now.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Summer Event: The Johnny Cash Music Festival

"Some say 'Johnny Cash was one of the Greatest Stars to come out of Nashville.' I tell them, That man came out of Arkansas."
-John Carter Cash

I'm totally enthralled with this idea.

Johnny Cash's Boyhood Home in Dyess, ARDyess, Arkansas- The House Johnny Cash grew up in
Johny Cash's childhood Home in Dyess, AROn Thursday, August 4th, Arkansas State University at Jonesboro will host a music festival featuring various members of Johnny Cash's family as well as other accomplished country musicians to celebrate The Man in Black's Life and Music.

Johnny CashTicket proceeds will go to restoring and preserving Johnny Cash's childhood home in Dyess, Arkansas. There are plans to restore a local New Deal era building as a museum and reconstruct a former theater to play an orientation film and documentaries about Cash's life.

For tickets, official line-up and more, visit the website link here.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Free Fishing Weekend in Arkansas


Once again, its that time of year when the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission puts aside its boats and binoculars in order to let the people FISH!

Any resident or non-resident is allowed to fish in Arkansas this weekend without a fishing license or trout permit.

The Free Fishing Weekend starts at noon this Friday, June 10th and goes 'til 12:00 am on Sunday the 12th, (just in case any of you license-less, night owl, diehard fishing insomniacs want to hit the river at midnight...)

Now, just cause its free, you can't get crazy...regulations for length, slot limit and daily limit still apply.

In any case, Free Fishing Weekend couldn't have come at a better time for White Buffalo. Generation on the White River has slowed way down this week- only six generators and ZERO floodgates! The high water has had the fish all stirred up and biting like crazy.

So if you haven't gotten away yet, and the heat hasn't melted your brain, this might be the weekend to dust off your tacklebox and head for the river.

Leave your wallet at home!