One place I never thought I’d be writing about here is Disney California Adventure Park. But things don’t always go as planned, do they? You see, while playing hooky a couple weeks back to celebrate The Little Explorer’s 5th birthday, we discovered that Disney California Adventure Park is home to one of the coolest nature play areas we’ve yet explored. The park’s Redwood … [Read more...]
Exploring California State Parks With Kids
I’m a big proponent of exploring nature in your own backyard, which I think includes not just the space outside your home, but the larger neighborhood and city where you live. I believe that these local spots give you the best opportunity to make connections with nature every day – not just during the long, dreamy days of summer. In California, we’re lucky enough to have a … [Read more...]
What’s an Adventure Playground Got to Do With Nature?
Imagine an enclosed, supervised environment where kids can build, construct and interact with other kids. Add to that a guarantee of getting wet, dirty and maybe even muddy and you’re starting to get the picture of what an adventure playground is all about. No nets or guardrails here! While adventure playgrounds abound in Europe, there are less than a … [Read more...]
Los Angeles Nature Adventure #64: Cherry Blossoms at Lake Balboa
Until I visited Lake Balboa at Anthony C. Beilenson Park in Van Nuys with The Little Explorer a little more than a year ago, I had no idea there were some 2,000 cherry blossom trees right here in Los Angeles.It turns out that an anonymous Japanese benefactor donated the trees, which were planted in 1992 (at least, according to Wikipedia). These beauties originated from a single … [Read more...]
The Big List of Outdoor Adventures for Los Angeles Kids
Los Angeles may be well known for the Hollywood Sign and seriously awful traffic. But those of us who call L.A. home also know it is full of amazing outdoor places for families to play and explore year round. This big list of outdoor adventures for Los Angeles kids is a great place to get some inspiration. No more excuses for not being able to find somewhere to explore nature … [Read more...]