"Hidden Homes" Nature Trail
I have been wanting to try out this local trail for quite some time lately and we finally got the chance to do it today! We have a lot of really great parks and trails in our area some just about a 5-10 minute drive from where we live. It's not often we get to do something new seeing as through the years of living here we have discovered quite a lot so, this trail was fun and new and something we discovered together as a family!
The Hidden Homes Nature Trail is a very basic and short (1/4 of a mile) footpath around a quaint little lake. This path is extremely child friendly with larger than life animal homes children can play in and discover. The homes include an owls nest in a giant tree, a bald eagles nest, a mouse burrow and many more. Each home has a description of the animal and the way it lives in its home. The walk is so easy and short that my 23-month-old was able to do the whole thing without being carried or put in the stroller. The animal homes are very frequent so he didn’t get the chance to be bored or stray off the path until we reached the next home which was nice because keeping a toddler busy is half the battle!
Animals such as rabbits, birds, ducks, fish and lizards are all natural inhabitant of the area and can be pointed out to the kids which makes the adventure much more interesting and fun. At the end of the path are some telescopes so you can see the the pond from a closer view which my little guy spent a lot of time doing!
The trail is located across from the River Center which is an area dedicated to educating others about the San Joaquin River and its history. At the River Center you can find a gift shop as well as a museum, there are public restrooms, awesome shady areas for picnics as well as picnic tables and umbrellas. There are numerous activities and events you can plan ahead by visiting: https://www.riverparkway.org/index.php/river-center.
If you are local I hope you get the chance to check this trail out! If you are not local I am sure your area has many local trails or parks with similar activities and can usually be found on your city or county website! There is nothing like getting outside and exploring with the family!
Happy adventuring and thank you as always for reading!
