Review: Wescott Nature Preserve, New Jersey

Outdoor Appeal: 10

Setting: Grassy meadow paths slope down towards the wooded ravine that carries the Locatong Creek to the Delaware River.
Explorable Op's: A ton. Although the preserve is a relatively small swash of land, it still has a wilderness feel to it. The creek is perfect for exploring because it isn't exceptionally deep. The trails are just long enough to give kids a real sense of accomplishment. They will feel like they are miles from the car but in reality it's only a few minutes away.
Difficulty: Moderate. We parked on the eastern most parking area on Raven Rock Road and from this starting point most of the trail loops in a meadow and is grassy with slight up or down pitch depending on which way you're headed. Along the Locatong Creek the trail can be quite muddy. Also, the jump down the ravine into the creek bed is a steep 10 drop. So for those reasons this hike is moderate with kids.

Facilities: Primitive. No bathrooms. No water fountains. Not even a Starbucks. Review: Our trip to Wescott Nature Preserve was a short one for a reason I'll get to later on in the review. But the time we spent there up until the end of the adventure was darn nice. We were lucky enough to pull in the parking area about the same time as another car pulled in. A woman with a dog got out and I asked her for some suggestions about trekking through the preserve. She told me about the mud on the trail, the path to get to the creek bed and she let us use a few squirts of insect repellent, which I was thankful for. The meadow looked like the perfect place to pick up a deer tick. It was an impossibly beautiful July day when we went, with blue skies, a breeze and temperatures in the 70's. We made our way down the grassy trail and entered the woods. Before long the muddy section of the trail opened up before us and as the woman told me, I was definitely going to get muddy. Frank was on my back and Max handled walking through the mud pretty well. The path down to the Locatong Creek was only about a 30 second walk from the muddy section. This was a little bit of a challenge with Frank in the backpack and Max slipping down the slope, but all in all it was uneventful and no one got hurt - yet. The creek bed is perfect for kids to explore and it has the feel of a "secret spot" because it is nestled down in a ravine with the wall of the bank and the forest protecting it from the sun. You're maybe about a 1/4 mile from your car at this point but you feel like you're deep in the woods. I had enough foresight to put the boys in bathing suits so getting wet wouldn't be an issue. Frank, the one year old, had a good time walking in and out of the shadow pools, digging his hands into the tiny pebbles and, for one of the first times, throwing rocks into the creek. Max did a lot of the same but he felt he needed show his strength by choosing rocks about half the size of his head to throw in the creek. I have to admit, the splashes were impressive. But I tried to point out some more manageable stones for him to throw in while I was busy making sure Frank didn't take a header into the creek. But Max's luck ran out when he tried to maneuver over some large rocks while holding a long salami shaped stone. He slipped and fell and what was going to be a torpedo when launched into the water wound up smashing his fingers on the boulders he was walking over. It was obvious from the moment it happened that this was not a normal fall. He held his and out as if it was a foreign object that he just couldn't identify. On close inspect it turned out that his pinky finger got the weight of the stone. It was bleeding a little bit and turning purple and swollen. So the 1/4 back to the car, uphill, while carrying two kids - one in a bit of pain - seemed plenty long. We took Max to the doctor then the ER later in the day and he did indeed fracture the end of his finger, although we couldn't see anything on the X-ray. For many reason, Wescott Nature Preserve will always hold a special place in my mind. Besides the misadventure, we highly recommend the trip.
Recommendations: Little hands shouldn't throw big rocks! No, really, it could have happened anywhere and it was bound to happen sooner or later. But as always, I recommend taking your phone with you. Spraying everyone with insect repellent is also a good idea. Dress the kids in something that they can feel comfortable getting wet in and have a change of clothes back at the car. In light of the fractured finger, it's generally a good idea to have some first aid kit with you. But to be honest, if the injury is too big for cotton balls and band-aids then I'm heading to a hospital, quick! And even though Max did break his finger, there wasn't a whole lot anyone could do for it. They put a splint on it at the hospital just to keep him from bumping it. Finally, Dilly's Corner did wonders for everyone. Grandma and Grandpa met us there. We had ice-cream and french fries and the finger was forgotten about until our 3 o'clock appointment. All's well that ends in ice-cream. Happy trails.

Review: Nockamixon State Park, Old Bethlehem Road

Outdoor Appeal: 8
Setting: Lake front visit, shallow gravel beach, view of pilings of an old dock and the Lake House Inn. Why not a 10 for Outdoor Appeal? Well despite the lake setting, it does have an abandoned feel to it. The details are below.

Explorable Op's: A few. There are hiking trails that are accessible from the parking area but this post is just about the lake access. It is a quick stop for a picnic or just to mess around near the water.

Difficulty: Easy. There are two place to access Lake Nockamixon from the parking area. The closest is a steep drop at the lakeside parking spots, but it is only a few feet down. The other way to get to the lake is simply by walking down the barricaded section of Old Bethlehem Road. About one football field from the barricade the road tapers into the lake.

Facilities: Primitive. Nothing but a garbage can.

Review: Old Bethlehem Road appears on both sides of the lake and it seems that the road actually did span the valley before Lake Nockamixon was created. Apparently at some later time there was a dock at the north side of Old Bethlehem Road because the pilings are still sticking out of the water like a miniature scene from an old seaport. This was a quick trip for us. We were on our way to grandmom's house and we just needed a little time out of the car to expend some energy and cool off. In many ways this was a perfect little trip. Walking the abandoned section of Old Bethlehem Road is easy for small kids, both down to the lake and back. You don't have to worry about traffic, meandering or even walking too far. It's only a football field in length so you can easily see the lake on the way down and the parking lot on the way back. The visual goal is good motivation for little kids. The lake is very shallow at both access points with knuckle size stones blanketing the wading area. It's a very manageable place for kids to explore and relatively worry free for parents. Plus the view of the lake is beautiful.

Recommendations: Bathing suits and a change of clothes. Even if you're not planning on getting wet, it's pretty tempting to dip your toes in the water. If you're looking to make the trip more worth your while, there are hiking trails that head out from the parking area. We ventured down the Quarry Trail through a few turns and then headed back. But the Quarry Trail looks to be a very short loop on the map - 3/4 of a mile at most. From our short trek we found out that it skirts the lake for 100 yards or so and is very manageable for kids. Hope you enjoy. Happy trails.

Review: Van Sant Airport

Outdoor Appeal: 10 (note: a 10 rating is usually given to a place that is primarily a natural setting. But Van Sant Airport is an outdoor gem that is worth a 10)

Setting: The park and airport sit on top of a ridge in Upper Bucks County. To the north is a view of another ridge. To the south and east the land falls away to the valley of the Delaware River. There are commanding views in all directions without the normal two dimensional sense you get from an airport on flat land. The runway is grass and planes typically take off towards the river, so it looks as though they are flying off the top of the ridge. It's a gorgeous setting.

Facilities: Civilized. The airport has restrooms, picnic tables and chairs in shaded areas and a very small area to sit inside the airport.

Review: It's sunny, in the mid 70's, a few puffy clouds in the sky and you're kicking back to watching the mirical of flight for a few hours. It's hard to beat Van Sant Airport on a sunny weekend. It's one of my favorite passive activities in Bucks County. We've been a few times and it's always been a treat. So what makes Van Sant Airport so different from other aiports? As I described above, the setting is phenomenal. Watching planes fly off the side of a mountain is just more exciting than taking flight from a flat stretch of land. Also, I mentioned the miracle of flight? Well the planes you see at Van Sant aren't your normal CESNA's and the like. It's a sports aviation airport, which I've gathered to mean that the planes are a bit unique and it truly is a miracle to see how some of these planes get off the ground and how they land. You'll see restored and vintage planes from the early part of the 20th century a la the Bloody Red Barron, gliders, ultra-lites, stunt planes and others that I can't identify. Many of them are brightly colored with bull's eyes and stars. Some look as though they couldn't possibly fly. We once saw an ultra-lite that had no sheet metal or fiberglass covering the body of the plane. It was just a series of triangulated pipes welded together, wings and a propeller - kind of like something the Wright brothers might have built. It was astonishing to see the thing land. Van Sant also attracts a large biker crowd which can be a show all in itself. By mid-day Harleys line up along the runway and it makes the whole place feel more festive. Plus, as pictured to the right, you can get a very close up view of the planes. There are picnic tables and chairs in the shade and sometimes on the weekends there is a grill going. It's a beautiful setting and a great atmosphere. Any given weekend day in the warmer months can make you feel like you are seeing a truly unique spectacle.
Recommendations: Bringing some picnic supplies is highly recommended. Although lots of planes go in and out of the airport, there are times when most of the planes are flying and the air-traffic slows down. Consider stocking up at the Kimberton Whole Foods in Ottsville. If you're coming from 611 it's on the way. There is plenty of shade to escape the sun but sunblock, a hat and sunglasses will go a long way. Staring at the sky for hours does funny things to your eyes and face. Happy trails.

Review: Peace Valley Park, Indian Path trail

Outdoor Appeal: 10

Image via Wikipedia

Setting: Lake Galena, nature center, hiking trails, hike/bike path, Neshaminy Creek

Explorable Op's: A ton. Outside of the organized sports realm, Lake Galena and Peace Valley Park together have most outdoor activities that someone in the Delaware Valley would care to take on with kids. Hiking, biking, paddling, sailing, birding, picnic areas, playgrounds. With the exception of camping, the park has as much to offer as most state parks.

Facilities: Civilized. The nature center has restrooms, changing tables for infants, a learning center, taxidermed wild animals, gift shop, views of the lake as well as coffee, tea and hot chocolate for a nominal donation.

Review: There are lots of different trails in the park to explore. So when looking at the trail map it may seem a bit daunting to try to figure out what might be a managable hike for you and them. Fear not! The trail system forms a lot of small loops that criss cross over one another so there is almost always a "short cut" back to the car if you need to end the hike quickly. The day we set out I wanted to make sure that we had a pretty short trail with a few neat destinations along the way. I've found that it is easier to keep the 2 year old walking when there is a surprise waiting around the bend - and I do try to hype the surprise and ask him what he thinks it might be to spur him on when the trail gets "tough." The one this particular day I chose to hike Indian Path to Pond Path, a short zigzag on Woods Edge and finish up the loop on Pine Path. I'm guessing it might be a half mile total. I chose this loop because it has three surprises along the way. On Indian Path there is a Indian shelter built out of saplings and tree bark for the siding. From the inside you can see how it was made - pretty neat! We spent about 20 minutes checking it out which seems like a long time to be contained in a small space but it was a real wonderland for both Max and Frank. From the shelter we headed to Pond Path and made our way towards Woods Pond. It happened to be very muddy the day we went so Max couldn't decide if he was all that excited about how sloppy the trail was. The pond wound up being a bit of a problem in that Frank, the one year old, wanted to go in and Max wanted to get take off his sandals to shake off the mud. So we didn't stay very long because I didn't really want to comply with either of their wishes. We started our walk back and came to a small stream that crossed over Pond Path. It was flowing nicely because of all the rain we had just had. It turned out to solve the broken dreams we left behind at Woods Pond. Max could take his sandals off and wash the mud off and Frank could easily walk in the water. The stream had a sandy bottom and was only a few inches deep. We spent another 20 minutes walking back and forth over the stream, gathering rocks, throwing rocks back in, setting leaves afloat and watching them get swept away by the currents. Neither of the boys wanted to leave, but time had marched on towards lunch and curiousity was taking us a little too far up the stream. So we packed ourselves up, took the zigzag on Woods Edge and headed back to the parking area by way of Pine Path.

Recommendations: Truth be told, it's not easy to hike with small children. They meander, tire quickly, want to be carried, have to go to the potty, trip, fall and all kinds of other dilemmas pop up along the way. But I think even a two year old gets a real sense of accomplishment when they see that they have made it back to the car - snacks and drinks awaiting. And time spent in the woods is never wasted in my opinion. So when hiking with kids it's always best to be prepared to do very little hiking. If it's possible, have a few neat stops along the way. And "neat" is a perception you will need to project to the kids. Give them time to exlpore, be patient when they don't want to walk further, flexible and above all else, make it a fun adventure. The woods is a great place to let kids' curiosity run wild - well, not too wild. There's poison ivy out there! But giving them some freedom will make it fun for everyone. And in the end it doesn't really matter what you do outdoors. Just getting out can be enough. Happy trails.

Review: Doylestown Historical Society Public Park

Outdoor Appeal: 6
Setting: small downtown Doylestown park, reflecting pool, slate paved terraces, Canal mule statue, chess tables, some trees and flowers and a swash of grass flanked by an old stone wall

Explorable Op's: A few. This is a small park that's meant for respite and reflection so there isn't anything there specifically geared towards kids. Although the reflecting pool, the mule and the open running space provided by the slate slabs seem to be enough for 20 minutes or so.

Difficulty: Easy. The park is terraced but most surfaces are covered in slate slabs and are flat.

Facilities: None. But downtown Doylestown is just around the corner so you are never far from food, drink and restrooms.

Review: As far as I can tell this small park doesn't get a lot of use. There are chess matches played here once a month and on Friday and Saturday nights in the summer the park can get mobbed with kids who are looking to loiter. But usually we don't see anyone else while we stroll through. It really is a nice sanctuary tucked away from the rest of the downtown area. We go to the park often and we normally stop by on the way home from town. As I mentioned above, the reflecting pool, the mule and the open area of slate slabs seems to offer enough for my kids to run off some of the extra energy they may still have left in them. The park has a clean, finished look to it. Most of the park is covered in slate. There is a large tree that stands guard in the middle of the park and gives shade to the two chess tables. Uphill from the park is a gravel parking lot and the back of the shops on Oakland Avenue. The back of the shops are brick so it doesn't take away from the ambiance of the place. The place feels down right civilized!

Recommendations: This is definitely the place to take a cup of coffee from any one of the 6 (or is it 7 now?) cafe slinging shops in town and relax for a bit. The park provides a view and a calming sense of quiet - something Europeans seem to value but Americans are still a bit uncomfortable with. Jules Thin Crust Pizza is just down the street a few doors. I recommend picking up a pizza and some drinks there and walking up to the park with the family. Jules is usually mobbed so it will be nice to eat outdoors away from rest of town where you won't be bothering anyone and no one will be bothering you. Now, in the Review above I mentioned that kids frequent the park on Friday and Saturday nights. But I'm going to go ahead and recommend both nights for a family visit. Nothing scares an adolescent more than being around family on a Friday or Saturday night. When they see you coming with a pizza and your kids they'll realize that you are planning on staying and they'll scram in a hurry. Enjoy!

Review: Tyler Formal Gardens

Outdoor Appeal: 7

Setting: Hillside garden, sculptures, fountains, hedges, some trees and a trail overlooking the Neshaminy Creek

Explorable Op's: A lot. The area is truly beautiful. The fountains seemed to be a big draw for the kids. The hedges aren't really a maze but they do just fine for a bit of hide-and-seek. There is a trail that has some views down a steep drop to the Neshaminy Creek.

Facilities: Civilized. Although we didn't explore Tyler Hall further than the first floor and the balcony area, it is a gorgeous building and its exterior sets a regal backdrop to the gardens. There are restrooms in the hall and the student center isn't far away with just about anything you may need as a travelling parent.

Difficulty: Moderate. The terraces of the gardens are flat. But the garden is situated on a hillside. If you walk all the way down to the "tennis court" level of the gardens it is a nice little hike back up to Tyler Hall and the parking area.

Review: When you think "community college" most don't envision something like Tyler Formal Gardens. At one time this was some one's house - George F. Tyler and Stella Elkins to be exact. Tyler Hall is very collegial in a New England brownstone kind of way. The gardens are mostly grass and hedges at first glance. But as you walk through there are fountains, a gazebo and flowers, some hidden some in plain view. The time of year you visit has a lot to do with what's blooming and what you'll see. It is a beautiful setting but it's certainly not the Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg or Longwood Gardens. The gardens in themselves aren't much of an attraction in my opinion. But Tyler Hall and its commanding view, the college center and the gardens together can make for a very nice little trip. On the balcony of Tyler Hall there is a wrought iron sign of an Indian pointing towards the Neshaminy Creek. The sign says, "Indian Rock." If you follow the path down to its end you'll find the best view of the creek from the ground, although it is obstructed a bit by trees. Be careful on Indian Rock. After the rock the path drops off a cliff and it's a long way down.

Recommendations: Keep your self-guided tour moving. Kids probably won't be able to explore everything they want to. Max and Frank really wanted to go in the fountains but obviously Tyler Formal Gardens isn't the kind of place for that. Take a quick spin around Tyler Hall. Meander through the gardens. Hike back up the hill to the balcony of Tyler Hall. If you're sure of your ability to keep your kids safe, venture down to Indian Rock to have a look. From there head towards the student center. If you go during the warmer months you can grab something to eat and take it outside and sit at a table with an umbrella. Besides Indian Rock, this little trip has a very refined feel to it. I enjoyed being in a distinguished setting yet I still felt free to let my kids have fun exploring. Plus it's free. It's a tiny gem and well worth the hour or so you spend. Hope you enjoy. Happy trails.

Review: Eureka Stone Quarry, Roadside Attraction

ReOutdoor Appeal: 3
Setting: Big Digger!
Explorable Op's: Big Digger!

Difficulty: Easy, but watch out for big dump trucks.
Facilities: None.

Review: This is a quick stop on your way to someplace else. Eureka Stone Quarry - in Rushland near the intersection of Second Street Pike and Swamp Road - has a huge, old, black excavator that will turn heads of small boys while driving by. We've driven by a few times and today we decided to stop and attempt to take a look. There is parking on the right side of the entrance just beyond the excavator. We went to the depot in the middle of the entrance and proceeded to knock on the door even though there were signs that said "Authorized Personnel Only." Really, what could a middle-aged guy with two kids under the age of 3 be threatening anyway? We knocked on the door. There were two women inside. One came over to open the door. She looked hesitant until she spotted the boys. I asked if we could get a closer look at the big digger. I told her we weren't going to climb on it or even touch it. She said that would be fine and we were on our way. Huge dump trucks rolled in and out of the quarry every few seconds and it was pretty scary for our oldest son Max. He liked the trucks but the noise of it all was a bit much for him. We went over to the excavator and walked around it and took a few pictures. The digger was in constant competition with the dump truck the whole time. The boys didn't know which to look at. After about 5 minutes we were back in the car on our way. It was just a quick stop but quite a thrill.
Recommendations: Be sure to ask permission to look around if you stop in during working hours. I know, this place is just asking for it by putting a big digger out front of their entrance, but it is a bustling quarry and outsiders don't have any legal right to trespass. Also, the dump trucks are moving fast. Be very aware of where your kids are. The last thing the drivers are expecting to see is a kid running around the depot.

Review: Schofield Ford Covered Bridge, Tyler State Park

Outdoor Appeal: 10

Setting: Short access trail to Tyler State Park via Schofield Ford Covered Bridge, crosses the Neshaminy Creek with views of the bridge downstream on either side

Explorable Op's: A ton. The trail to the bridge is only about a 1/4 long but the Covered Bridge Trail does lead into the rest of Tyler State Park. The bridge is only accessible for hiking, biking and horseback riding so exploring the bridge is safe.

Difficulty: Easy. The trail to the bridge is actually a gravel road so it's plenty wide and there are no rock or roots to contend with. From the parking area off of Swamp Road there are two options to access the Bridge. You can follow the sign that says "Covered Bridge Trail" and take a steep set of stairs down the from the parking area or you can walk back out of the parking area and follow the road down to your left. Both options are easy but the stairs could present a problem for small hikers who are not yet totally aware of the absolute power of gravity.

Facilities: Primitive. No restrooms, water fountains or any other modern convenience nearby. But the trail is short so you're never far from the car.

Review: There are lots of covered bridges in Bucks County. I think there are 12 total. Max loves to go through covered bridges when we're driving. But the problem with most of them is that the whole experience takes about 5 seconds from start to finish. The wonderful thing about Schofield Ford Covered Bridge is that you kids can explore the bridge for as long as they want. No vehicles are permitted on the bridge so it clear for inquiring minds to wander about. Kids can even walk up the sloping beams to the small porthole windows to look out onto the creek both up and down stream. There are areas on both sides of the bridge that are have more sparsely

placed tree growth so you can put some distance between you and the bridge to get a good look at it. On our visit we walked over the bridge and downstream to a rocky shore along the Neshaminy. The view of the bridge was great, there was a cliff embankment on the opposite shore and, perhaps most importantly for the kids, an abundant supply of flat skipping stones. We went in early spring so geese we flying low in gaggles of 3 to 5 up and down the creek which made for a good show. This is our favorite covered bridge to visit. The trail is a perfect length for kids under 5. The surprise of "finding" the bridge around the bend in the road is a real show stopper for this age group. If you have older kids the bridge will provides quick gratification for the beginning of a longer trek into Tyler State Park and a welcome and visible end to the journey upon returning.

Recommendations: This is a good place to have a camera. It's a quintessential Bucks County scene and whether you are a tourist or a local a picture of a covered bridge is quaint memoir of your time outdoors. The areas around the bridge have trees to provide shade but are open and grassy enough to spread a blanket and have a picnic. The area we explored downstream on the

Tyler Park side of the creek had a gradual slope into the water and the stones were small enough that they didn't cause too many stumbles while walking. So if the temperatures are warm enough you may want to wade into the creek a bit to explore or go fishing. Although water ways always pose a possible danger, this area was relatively safe for knee-high wading. Back at the parking area there are open fields that look to be vacant of human activity, with the exception dogs walking their owners, year round. It occurred to me that this might be an ideal place to fly a kite - especially if you are the one just learning or relearning how to fly. You should be free of audience here.

Review: Doylestown Airport

Outdoor Appeal: 5

Setting: Local small craft airport, flat land, not much of a geographic view outside of airport grounds although the sky is wide open. Small picnic area

Explorable Op's: Very few. The main attraction here is the air-traffic. The area to view the planes is very small.

Difficulty: NA. This is a place to view planes take off and land. There are about 50 yards of flat ground to cover.

Facilities: Civilized. The airport has restrooms, vending machines and an indoor seating area. All are within seconds of the picnic area.

Review: We've been to the Doylestown Airport dozens of times with the kids and it is always a sure way to get some free entertainment. Like most small craft airports, the best days to visit are on the weekends. Doylestown has planes taking off and landing every few minutes on most Saturdays and Sundays. The outdoor area to view the planes is a small fenced in grassy yard so it's ideal for small children. They have a sense of freedom to roam yet they can never get too far away. The staff and pilots are friendly and often wave to the kids as they taxi down the runway. It's a great way to spend an hour or so on a Saturday or Sunday.

Recommendations: The picnic area has plenty of tables so bring a snack, lunch or even dinner if the timing is right. There is very little shade so think about sunglasses, sunblock and hats. We've noticed that a helicopter lands on Wednesday nights around 6 pm. This may actually happen every evening but we just happen to go on Wednesdays. Also, if your kids are into it, bring a toy play or helicopter with you to play with. It's a real hit with everyone.