If you’re like me and have an active toddler, preschooler or even youngish school-age kid, you probably spend a lot of time at your local park. It might even be the one way you spend time outdoors regularly with your child.
But the truth is, I kinda hate parks. Not the getting outdoors and playing part, of course. And not even the play structures themselves annoy me as much as they used to (watching the little explorer’s pride at developing new skills has helped them grow on me).
No, the reason I dislike parks so much is because they usually feel anything but natural to me.
Let me explain. Most city parks consist of a play structure or two, swings and a sand box. Larger locations may also have picnic tables, baseball diamonds, basketball and volleyball courts and maybe even an area for skateboarders.
But nature trails, vast expanses of grassy areas to run on, ponds, rocks and trees perfect for climbing, tree-lined areas to wander through and the like are much tougher to find. At least here in Los Angeles.
And so the explorers and I are on a mission: To find the best parks for exploring nature in the Los Angeles area (and beyond, most likely, cause you know how we like to travel).
In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll be sharing those parks we discover that combine traditional park elements with more natural features to offer a great place for unstructured outdoor play. I’ll even offer some simple ideas for connecting with nature at the parks we review.
But first, we need your help! If you’ve got a favorite park or one you’d like to know more about in or around Los Angeles, let me know. Leave me a comment or send me an email. We’d love to check it out for you!
@Mel: Thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like a great spot to take the family nature club.
Growing up near Thousand Oaks, we loved to go to Wildwood Park. There is a playground and sand, but also a big fort to play in. Just past the fort are miles of trails, Wildwood Creek and lots of opportunities for nature play. It's been years since I've been there, but it is high on my list of places to take my kids next time I get out that way.<br /><br />(And now that I know about the