Day Hikes for Fall

The leaves are falling and thoughts of winterizing my rv come to mind. There's probably time for one last weekend getaway to one of our nearby State Parks or Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds - but this year, I'm thinking about some very spur-of-the-moment, no-fuss local hikes. Being a mom of two young girls, I am apt to keep an emergency kit, paper towels, bug spray, sunscreen, and drinking water in my car. Doing so makes it easy to jump in and ride away to a nearby trail or park. If you're getting the fever for a stroll through nature, make sure you carry a small pack with these items. Some granola bars or trail mix add an element of fun for the little ones, even if you're only out for an hour. Pick a spot where you can find things for your children to observe and collect, like leaves, pinecones, insects, small critters or rocks (our family has an 'observation only' rule where critters are concerned - and don't forget handwashing). You don't have to go deep in the woods to find a great place to hike - try a local park or nature center. If you have toddlers or younger children, don't go out too far unless you want to carry them back to the car. Kids don't need a hard-core hike through Yosemite, just some time in nature to observe and explore.