It's Spring Break! I really needed these 12 days off..
While many people head toward the beaches and overpay for hotel rooms unless they know someone who lives there, we stayed home. I decided that one of the days I would take my boys hiking through one of our many State Parks. Turkey Run (pdf. file scroll down and tilt your head to the right to see map) has by far the best hiking trails. It also has a long suspension bridge and plenty of exciting terrain. I knew they would love it and it would be a LOT of exercise.
The plan was to take trail 6 to the cabin and trail 11 to the old church and then come back to the van for lunch. We did trail 6 and decided that was enough hiking before lunch.
We next went to the Nature Center, Alex's favorite part. We digested our lunch and watched some critters through one-way glass, Alex explored the touch table, (mostly the feathers because I showed him how the breaks in the feather fronds can sometimes go back together with a soft touch), and the live snakes and snapping turtle in the exploration room. (I should have changed camera settings more often to get the best lighting.)
Then began the hike. At first, the almost 9 year old claimed to be afraid of heights, but after he realized part of the trail was higher than the suspension bridge, he wasn't afraid any more. We crossed the bridge and Max decided we were going to go on trail 3. He wanted to do the ladders as well. So we took off. Little did I realize this trail was all ravine at the bottom and walking in the creek, then all stairs at the top! I was happy that though my knee grew sore, very sore, I was able to make it the entire way without extreme pain.
We were slightly muddy, sweaty, and tired when we finished our hike. We ended the day back in the Nature Center for a rest. Then I promised the boys some fun in the Game Room in the Inn. They enjoyed pinball, skee-ball, air hockey, and the motorcycle game. I let Alex buy a bag of shiny rocks for 3 dollars.
I slept really well!
While many people head toward the beaches and overpay for hotel rooms unless they know someone who lives there, we stayed home. I decided that one of the days I would take my boys hiking through one of our many State Parks. Turkey Run (pdf. file scroll down and tilt your head to the right to see map) has by far the best hiking trails. It also has a long suspension bridge and plenty of exciting terrain. I knew they would love it and it would be a LOT of exercise.
The plan was to take trail 6 to the cabin and trail 11 to the old church and then come back to the van for lunch. We did trail 6 and decided that was enough hiking before lunch.
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| Cabin is made of poplar wood. |
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| Lunch break! |
We next went to the Nature Center, Alex's favorite part. We digested our lunch and watched some critters through one-way glass, Alex explored the touch table, (mostly the feathers because I showed him how the breaks in the feather fronds can sometimes go back together with a soft touch), and the live snakes and snapping turtle in the exploration room. (I should have changed camera settings more often to get the best lighting.)
Then began the hike. At first, the almost 9 year old claimed to be afraid of heights, but after he realized part of the trail was higher than the suspension bridge, he wasn't afraid any more. We crossed the bridge and Max decided we were going to go on trail 3. He wanted to do the ladders as well. So we took off. Little did I realize this trail was all ravine at the bottom and walking in the creek, then all stairs at the top! I was happy that though my knee grew sore, very sore, I was able to make it the entire way without extreme pain.
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| The bridge is moving! |
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| One of the smaller sets of stairs. So. Many. Stairs. |
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| We climbed this waterfall. |
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| Smugness. |
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| Finally got to the top, but then there were stairs! 140 of them. |
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| Wet sock. No fun. |
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| Stairs are exhausting. Especially after the hike up the ravine and waterfall. |
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| The ladders! 3 of them like this. We went down. We survived. |
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| Selfie. |
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| Smile! |
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| He kept laying on all the benches..wonder why? |
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| Alex took this picture of the suspension bridge. |
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| He took this one, too. |
I slept really well!
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