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...]
Zipping Through the Treetops With Navitat Canopy Adventures
I’m afraid of heights. And speed. And any kind of adventure sport for that matter. But when an invitation to go zip lining through the trees in Wrightwood, CA, landed in my inbox, I knew I had to go.The prospect of spending a few hours in the trees was too much for me to pass up, even if I was scared out of my mind.As long as I’m coming clean, I’ll also tell you that I didn’t … [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...]
Field Report Friday: Orange Picking at Heritage Park
Picking oranges seems like a quintessentially Southern California activity. And yet finding a place to take the kids to try it out for themselves wasn’t so easy. Enter Heritage Park in La Verne. It features one of the last working orange groves in Southern California, where visitors can pick fruit right off the tree. The 1.1-acre Heritage Park includes Weber Ranch, home to a … [Read more...]