Empanada. From the Spanish verb ‘empanar’; meaning to wrap in dough
The seed for Laurita’s was planted back in 2005, when I lived in the south of Chile during college, but I didn’t know it yet. I lived in the lakes region of Chile, a gorgeous area of forests, lakes, rivers, mountains and ocean…
]]>Empanada. From the Spanish verb ‘empanar’; meaning to wrap in dough
The seed for Laurita’s was planted back in 2005, when I lived in the south of Chile during college, but I didn’t know it yet. I lived in the lakes region of Chile, a gorgeous area of forests, lakes, rivers, mountains and ocean…
I spent time exploring the abundant fresh food through markets and gatherings with friends and family and local pubs. I was especially fond of the tasty little hand pies known as empanadas. I couldn’t get enough. Some of my favorites were: fried cheese ( a tangy, melty locally made farmers cheese of which I have yet to find an equivalent), fried empanadas filled with mariscos (fresh caught seafood, usually razor clams and a local specialty known to me only as ‘locos’) and of course the Pino (the traditional beef, onion, olive, hard-boiled egg).
Fast-forward 10 years and I find myself back in Michigan (after several years in Colorado) and yet again living in an area of abundant forests, rivers and lakes. There are days when I walk outside after a chilly rain, smell the neighbor’s woodfire stove burning and am momentarily transported back to Chile; and find myself with an intense craving for an empanada. So after a couple years of dreaming, doubting and recipe testing I decided to take the leap and start Laurita’s.
Recalling a hands on empanada forming lesson from my friend Lucia’s mom back in Chile and a Pino filling recipe taught to me by my Chilean host family, I set out to create my own take on empanadas that would highlight all the bounty Northern Michigan has to offer.
From the veggies to mushrooms to eggs, meat, and now even butter, cheese and black beans; I use Michigan grown and raised ingredients whenever possible because I truly believe in investing in our local farming communities in the Mitten. Not only does it help create a vibrant and thriving community, but it also tastes best!!
You can find Laurita’s empanadas and tortillas at the Harbor Springs Saturday Farmers Market Spring to Fall and in a little freezer in the back of the coolest local gear shop in town during the winter. ( Hint: It’s the Outfitter 😉 )
-Laurita
]]>Like many other quarantined people, I’ve taken up some new hobbies. Broadening my interests from painstaking embroidery to delicious bread-baking, the new activity I’m most excited for is beekeeping…
It began months ago, when my father in law asked my husband and I if we wanted to take over his hives due to an ongoing bear problem; between having an infant at home and not knowing the first thing about taking care of bees, I was hesitant, but ultimately agreed.
The hives were dropped in our back field at the beginning of April. Those early warm temperatures had me excited at the idea of Spring—this whole beekeeping thing was going to be a breeze. I dreamt of near-Summer sun, not having to bundle up to walk to the apiary, and stretched daylight keeping the field lit past dinnertime. The bees would be busy buzzing about, collecting pollen from the flowers dotting our lusciously green yard while my family would watch them fly by from the comfort of our Adirondack chairs.
Then mid-April hit. Snow, below freezing temperatures, winter all over again. We lost a hive. I was angry with Michigan’s weather, disappointed that I had forgotten about the possibility of snow into May. But with one hive left, I took it upon myself to do extra research to better their chances of survival. If my bees could survive the last bit of winter, stuck inside their little hive-house, then so could I.
Planning this year’s garden and starting the plants and flowers to support our colony is what has gotten us through the last weeks of “second winter.” We get to pick and choose what varieties of vegetables and blooms will benefit our little colony’s ecosystem. We’ve made it into a family activity—together we decide on what to plant and my husband and I take turns watering the seedlings with our daughter. Five months old might not be old enough to understand exactly what’s going on, but we like to narrate and she likes to try to grab the leaves.
The April snow has (mostly) melted; wildflowers have begun popping up all over our yard and the lilac bush outside of my window has sprouted tiny buds. When I go to check on our remaining hive, I’m happy to see the bees are thriving. I think that Spring has truly arrived, and each day I notice a few more bees taking flight, hearing the busy buzzing of a happy hive, signaling good things to come.
-Emily
]]>With all of this extra time on my hands, I felt added pressure to be a “good mom” (like Instagram/Joanna Gaines good). In my head, this meant stuff like cooking beautiful meals from scratch, never turning on the TV, and structured arts and crafts time. It also seemed like the time to foster my daughter’s love for the outdoors…
My first day home alone with Hannah, who just turned 2, started out pretty well. After a good, hearty breakfast, we headed out into the backyard to see what kinds of “treasures” we could find in the woods. After stumbling across a couple of golf balls, some “really cool” pine cones, and a few rocks, our morning quickly unraveled. She had decided that it was too windy out and proceeded to throw a fit until we got back inside. For the record, it was 50 degrees and there was a very slight breeze. After trying to convince her that it was a nice day and we should head back out, I gave up, hung up our coats and sat down in front of the TV. At first, I was super annoyed and frustrated that she didn’t WANT to take part in any of my “super fun” activities, but the more I thought about it, I realized that I had to take a step back and follow her lead.
The next morning, we woke up and started getting ready for the day (at this point one of my only goals is to get her out of her pj’s by noon). It was another beautiful day, so I told Hannah that I wanted to go outside. Well, she was insistent that she was going to stay inside and have a snack. A full 10 minutes later, we finally reached a compromise—I grabbed her yogurt and goldfish and we headed out into the yard with a picnic blanket for snack time. As we sat and enjoyed our snacks, I looked over to see Hannah with the biggest smile on her face looking up at the sky. I asked her what was up and she promptly scolded me, saying, “Shh Mama, I can hear a Woodpeck(er).” I was stoked! This was the enjoyment in the outdoors that I had been trying to force on her, but all it took was going outside on her own terms.
Picnics are her new favorite, and every time the sun is shining she asks if we can go outside and look for more animals. So far we’ve seen a ton of birds, turkeys, and deer, and her excitement every time she sees anything is contagious. Since then, we haven’t gotten hung up on any structured outdoor activities, but instead focused on just getting out here!
-Steph
]]>Hourglass meets lava lamp.
That image captures how I’ve been experiencing the world these past few weeks. According to google, nobody has invented such a contraption, yet. But imagine the hourglass inside the lamp–see the grains of sand streaming down as iridescent blobs burble around?!
]]>Hourglass meets lava lamp.
That image captures how I’ve been experiencing the world these past few weeks. According to google, nobody has invented such a contraption, yet. But imagine the hourglass inside the lamp–see the grains of sand streaming down as iridescent blobs burble around?!
Thinks of it as two new time zones being added beyond Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Not linear zones–think 3D. On the inside is a deluge of information–ever-present and ever-increasing to the point of incessancy. The outer zone is a slowing and morphing–days bumping into one another and even rolling backward. For the pockets of slowing, I am so grateful. (We’ve had more family meals in the past few weeks than we’ve had in months.) For the incessant deluge of news, I am not. But I’ve found a way to manage my racing heart after reading too much.
I turn to my kids, and say (truth be told, I holler): “OUTSIDE! Everybody, we’re going out in five!” This declaration is followed by pushback. And I push on: “Let’s go. Move it, people!” And out we go. (Ok, I’ll admit that having a dog helps.) Thanks to Stay Home, Stay Safe, we have no agenda but to get outside and mess around in the backyard, rolling back time to when my three teenagers were younger.
But sometimes just messin’ around is not enough for my racing heart. I need to make a more intentional effort to slow it down. As in, making time to stop the sand from falling so fast–instead channeling the lava lamp.
If you’ve ever gone with me messin’ around outdoors, you know one of my go-to favorites is 60 Seconds of Silence. Kid you not, this one works with kids of all ages–anywhere, anytime, anyplace. You just need to be bold enough to set the stage so that everybody can settle in. And settle in they do, because turns out teenagers need it too. We all need the lava lamp in our lives, and we need it now more than ever before. Last time we channeled the laval lamp, we actually set the timer for five minutes instead of just one…
Go on, get out there, and try it!
-Molly
]]>Sunny days in March are extraordinary. The warm, shining sun is a promise of the Spring weather to come and an invitation to explore the landscapes uncovered by melting snow. In Northern Michigan, we are finally experiencing the Spring weather that we deserve. But in my family, the first of the sunny, somewhat warm days means something special: syrup…
]]>Sunny days in March are extraordinary. The warm, shining sun is a promise of the Spring weather to come and an invitation to explore the landscapes uncovered by melting snow. In Northern Michigan, we are finally experiencing the Spring weather that we deserve. But in my family, the first of the sunny, somewhat warm days means something special: syrup…
My husband’s family has been tapping trees for as long as they can remember, and with the addition of our daughter this year, we wanted to extend the tradition a generation more. I think the ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe” order has given us a unique opportunity to slow down and appreciate our surroundings; by bundling up our four month old and taking her for a walk through our woods—checking sap buckets along the way—I feel that I’m starting her relationship with nature off on the right foot. And, as a family, we’ll always be able to look back on this special time and our “first” of many family traditions.
As the weather continues to get warmer, I’m looking forward to more time to explore our backyard and enjoy my surroundings. I am making a promise to myself that as life begins to speed up again, I will not forget to slow down and enjoy the many “firsts” still to come.
-Emily
]]>I woke up Tuesday to blue sky and sunshine, a perfect combination for a quiet hike and some fresh air.
One of my favorite Little Traverse Conservancy properties is the Hoogland Family Nature Preserve. For me, its proximity to home and 1.5 mile loop make it perfect before or after work hike…
The beginning of the hike is flat as it winds through the forest and creeps farther from the road. A gradual but long incline gets the heart pumping as you climb the to top of the ridge. This is always a nice spot for me to take a break, catch my breath and take in the 360 degree woodland views. I’m always impressed that even though M-119 is not too far away; I feel like I am in the middle of nowhere.
Once my breath is back to normal I start out again down the switchbacks to the valley below. The vegetation changes slightly as you enter a cedar swamp area with a small stream running through: My personal favorite part of the hike. A quick hop over the stream and you reconnect with the route that leads back to the trailhead. And before heading home, I highly recommend a walk across M-119 to take in the breathtaking views of Lake Michigan.
As we all settle into a new normal my gratitude for these beautiful Conservancy lands grows every day.
Take some deep breaths and enjoy a few moments of peace.
-Laura
]]>Working at The Outfitter is never boring. Whether it’s going across the bay to rescue kayaks left abandoned due to high winds or trying to successfully carry multiple, much-needed ice cream cones from Kilwins back to the store on national ice cream day, things are always busy…Last week we had a tornado scare, which actually excited a few of us because it was so unexpected. As the tornado alert reached our phones, I answered a call from someone inquiring about an immediate kayak rental. I was thrown off by this request, to say the least, but responded politely that the weather “wasn’t great” at the moment.
All this craziness at the store is relatively normal, so when our days off arrive, we—the staff—use our time wisely. Emily likes to garden and Laura enjoys taking trips up to Sturgeon Bay. You can usually find Jack mountain biking at Boyne School Forest or Avalanche Mountain. Paige enjoys being out on the water boating and swimming with friends, and Katie has taken up camping. Last week I biked the Little Traverse Wheel Way to Petoskey with my mom, got a fantastic sandwich, and biked back. It was a quick trip and the beautiful views from the bike path reminded me of how lucky I am to call this area home during the summer. Other days off I’ve attempted to learn to golf with the (much needed) help of my brother, paddle boarded, laughed a lot at family dinners, and enjoyed the sunsets.
The busy pace of the store and enjoyable interactions with customers is a gratifying part of serving the community as a member of The Outfitter staff. The days spent away from the store locate us in the community in a more active way and remind us all of what this special place has to offer. . . .
Get out here,
Jane
]]>Summer is in full swing. The sun rises early and stays up late, new flowers bloom daily, and mosquitoes swarm around me at dusk. It’s been a long year, we’ve waited patiently, and finally we’re getting a taste of the good weather we dreamed about all Winter long…
But, Summer days don’t just mean time spent on the water and forgetting to reapply sunscreen, they also mean hard work and dirty hands from harvesting in the garden.
After starting many of our plants during quarantine, we were finally able to move them outside in early June. My husband and I joke that our garden is a full-time job, and this year has been no different.
It’s no mystery that this Summer has been hotter than usual. Temperatures have been relentless, topping out in the high 80’s and low 90’s, and there has been almost no rain to speak of. And while my plants love the sun, they’re not so sure about the blistering heat and little rain. It’s been a constant battle to keep everything watered and growing.
The upkeep of our garden is of no fault but our own. We knew that planting a big garden would be a lot of work. Just as we feel that the weeds are under control in the tomato beds, we notice that the onions are overgrown. We have more lettuce than we know what to do with, but the carrots are struggling to grow. Finding balance is the trick—not only in gardening, but also in other aspects of life. Just as you shouldn’t ignore your carrots in order to have immaculately weeded tomatoes, you shouldn’t forget to slow down in the hustle of the everyday.
Luckily, gardening forces me to slow down. We’ve made it into a family activity: one of us weeds, the other waters, and the baby eats a handful of dirt. Plus, it’s extra special now that we’re beginning to harvest some vegetables. So far, we’ve gotten a few cherry tomatoes and a boatload of spinach and arugula. The tomatoes and squash have plentiful blossoms and the beans are starting to climb. Here’s to good weather and some rainy days ahead.
Happy gardening,
Emily
]]>During uncertain times, people look to normalcy. Offield Family Working Forest Preserve became a normal for me. A beautiful, easy-access, natural resource right outside your door — Offield Nature Preserve. A place for all activities for all ages…
The preserve is perfect for summertime hiking, biking, running, even hammocking. Some even go morel hunting in the preserve. The trails are lined with beautiful Trilliums and overhead coverage from the trees. It feels like an escape from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. During the winter, Offield has great cross country ski and fat-biking trails. Best of all, Offield is dog friendly.
My family loves having the preserve so close to home. We take our dog for walks almost daily, bike rides in the summer and walks during the winter. Some of our favorite family memories have been made in the preserve.
The trails at Offield are very well kept and easy for all ages to enjoy!
]]>This summer has certainly been a unique one. It is hard to remember what day-to-day life looked like before the pandemic hit. One of the few positives to come from this time of crisis is the number of people that have either picked up or returned to running. To this end I thought I would share a couple tips, routes, and otherwise useful information for running in the Harbor Springs area…
Before or after every run I use the website MapMyRun to map out a route. It is free to use, very easy to understand, and has just about every trail and road in Northern Michigan mapped. MapMyRun also has an app that allows for real-time run tracking if you are someone who doesn’t mind carrying a phone. The app is also free and offers a great breakdown of just about every statistic you could ever want.
As far as routes go there is always a big decision to be made: trail or road. A few weeks ago, Josh wrote a blog post all about trail running with some great suggestions at the end of it, and I would highly recommend taking a look at that. For the road runners out there, I do have a couple suggestions.
My favorite run right now is a loop around Round Lake that clocks in at nearly six miles. Odds are if you wait long enough along the route you will eventually see me run by. Parking at the Petoskey State park head South and pick up the branch of the Hiawatha Trail that reaches to the East of Round Lake. Follow that trail until Powell Road and then head West. This is the only section that is not on a designated pathway so you will have to run on the shoulder, but it is never very busy. After crossing Harbor-Petoskey road pick up the Little Traverse Wheelway and head South back towards the State Park. For any brave souls I would suggest an ice bath in Lake Michigan afterword.
Another of my favorites, though already very popular, starts in downtown and heads through Weque. Being right on the waterfront is hard to beat, and you have the chance to make the run as long as you want by picking up Beach Road. You could even follow Beach until you reach the Little Traverse Wheelway and take it back to downtown Harbor Springs if you have it in you.
To all the runners out there, I hope you are able to get out and have some great runs. There is always enough space to get out here while staying six feet apart!
-Jack
]]>Nothing beats a beautiful Northern Michigan sunset. While many things have been restricted this quarantine, this great hobby of mine thankfully has not. There’s just something about the sun slowly sinking behind the waters of Little Traverse Bay that will let you forget about all the stresses and worries in our lives…
]]>Nothing beats a beautiful Northern Michigan sunset. While many things have been restricted this quarantine, this great hobby of mine thankfully has not. There’s just something about the sun slowly sinking behind the waters of Little Traverse Bay that will let you forget about all the stresses and worries in our lives…
This quarantine has been very rough on everyone. It’s hard to feel right when all the things that make us human are shut down. But in this time, I’ve seen more beautiful sunsets than I ever have in all the time I’ve lived here. There are a lot of things to be stressed about in life, and with the pandemic thrown into it, many people’s mental health has suffered greatly. I myself have found a lot of hard days and nights during this time. And why shouldn’t I have? There is a lot of uncertainty, anxiety, sadness, and fear everywhere. A lot of the time I wonder if anything is going to be back to what feels like normal.
But there is one thing that has always been constant: watching a beautiful sunset and seeing the water and the sky change into colors you could never imagine them to be. And then you realize that everything is going to be just fine. I believe that everything works out for a reason, and every sunset is proof that life goes on, and things will always end up the way they are supposed to. If you are struggling with mental health during this time, reach out to a friend, your partner, your doctor, just anyone. You will be surprised how many people are also going through the same thing. We are all in this together. In the meantime, keep chasing those sunsets.
– Katie
]]>About two summers ago my brother and I started to build a pump track in our meadow. A pump track is a track in a loop for bikes but you don’t pedal, there are rollers that you pump to carry momentum. We would work on it every day for about two weeks until it was finished. We had so much fun on it and I progressed a lot in my riding…
When we got put into lock down I thought it would be a great time to make some improvements and new lines. I got out the tractor and got to work. I made a massive dirt takeoff one day when I was bored. Later in the week my dad and I cut logs to make a cage for the landing dirt. I did some final things to the jump and it was time to ride it.
I’m so glad I went out and made that jump because I have learned new tricks on it and I will keep progressing on it.
-Charlie
]]>My kitchen table is covered in plants. They’re waiting to be planted in the garden outside. However, looking out the window towards the garden, all I can see is snow clinging to the grass. The cold temperatures and snow flurries are a sign of the stubborn Michigan winter refusing to give up…
Luckily, we prepared for that unwelcome Spring freeze. We heeded the advice of grandparents and great-grandparents—not planting anything outside until “after Armistice day” or “June 8th” depending on whom you asked.
So, while we can’t plant outside, we can prepare for that elusive planting day. Reference books, grid paper, seed packs, and flats of seedlings have been taking over my living room for weeks. The garden map is drawn, soil is tilled, and the planting schedule is set. Our biggest challenge yet to face: deer.
Year after year, the deer end up jumping the fence and feasting on our veggies—kale and zucchini seem to be their favorites. We’re using the extra time at home this year to extend our fence upward, hopefully keeping out hooved friends out.
Growing your own food takes a lot of work: prep work, planting, watering, endless weeding, and harvesting. Like everything in life, there are ups and downs; just as you think you have your weeds under control, you get a potato bug infestation. But, like everything in life, the hard work you put in, makes the result that much sweeter. Nothing tastes better than food fresh from the garden, the product of your hard work, dirty hands, and sunburned body.
If you’re a beginner gardener looking where to start, the easiest (in my opinion) veggies to grow are zucchini and tomatoes—okay, those might be a fruit. It’s okay to start small, you don’t need to be a full-on farmer your first season. And if you don’t have a thumb green enough to start plants from seeds, you can always pick up some starter plants and cross your fingers for good weather.
-Emily
]]>Running through the woods right now is about as good as it gets! The bugs are still sleeping, the trout lily, trillium and spring beauties are popping up and you can see forever. The trails are pretty much dry and the leaves are soft – you can hear everything…
As ever, when the sun is out and the leaves are down, you need to check for ticks at the end of the run and watch for hidden roots and rocks – just like when you go for a hike. But you are trail running! So check and watch faster.
Running on the roads and sidewalks is great for building long-distance miles, sprint speeds and timing for improvement; running on trails can provide the same benefits plus, oh yes, so much more! Your typical 5k time will most likely be slower and you may even feel some different muscles by the end but oh, the places you’ll go. And you will get there on softer-than-pavement routes. Because the trail is rarely flat and level, your feet and legs and arms are always making micro-adjustments to keep you moving forward. Sometimes they are MACRO-adjustments that resemble more dancing than running.
Sometimes you have to leap over rocks or sticks or, on my favorite trail, the year-old dead porcupine carcass. You duck, you bob, you weave – all of these motions add up to strengthening your legs, quickening your reflexes, making you more aware of your surroundings. You can time it if you’d like, or you can run the hill harder than you really want to – same kind of benefit. You can socially distance yourself with a friend on the trail. You can explore new places and see new things. You can use what you have in the closet, for the most part, and many of us can reach the woods from our back door! Most running shoes will work fine on a normal, northern Michigan trail. Having said that, most trail running-specific shoes have aggressive traction, some sort of rock guard in the toe and sole, and, to note, are bizarre looking. A racing flat like a Brooks Launch for your fast road training days isn’t the best choice for the trails as you will be slipping on any wet leaves; a solid trainer like the Brooks Ghost or Adrenaline will work fine for a lot of the paths. I prefer running the woods in a dedicated trail runner like the Hoka Speedgoat as the traction is awesome and it has a tough outer shell that resists burrs and sheds a little water. I also like a taller crew sock to keep the dirt off and out, but anything will work!
We are so, so fortunate up here to have so many places that are dedicated to letting us get outside. Some of my favorite areas to run are either part of the Little Traverse Conservancy or the North Country Trail system. The Conservancy has a super great Website and app that will get you right to the trail head and list all the trails. The Northwest Lower Michigan chapter of the North Country Trail has a great Map, too, that will get you the trailheads.
Some great Preserves to try: Offield Preserve, Elmer Johnston, Good Hart Farms. NCT sections: Larks Lake heading north to Robinson, South from Stutsmanville toward Brutus Road, the Skyline section near Petoskey. Give us a call and we can help choose a spot to get going, and visit the LTC and NCT websites to find your trails!
-Josh
]]>Today we set out to re-find what used to be one of our favorite springtime outings–hunting for leeks. So, we dialed it back ten years and re-traced our steps to a low-lying, soggy part of the woods out back…
In 2010, I told the kids they could bring whatever they could fit (and carry) in their own backpack. A plastic boat, kiddie binoculars and crayons made the cut. Of course, I threw in lots of scooby snacks, too. Today we packed up our big-kid toys: a chainsaw in hopes of finding some gnarly trail maintenance and the two must-haves for harvesting leeks (we learned the hard way)–a sturdy knife (or dandelion digger) to slice the stubborn root hairs holding the bulbs underground and a cloth bag (so the leeks can breathe).
Just like a decade ago, we dawdled along not caring much about when we reached our destination. Turns out getting out-and-about for a bit of fresh air is what mattered more. So, today we stopped along the way tasting tubers (the spring beauties are up!), calling to our hounddog, Eddy, to give up the futile chipmunk chase, and staring in awe at a gimungous beech tree, albeit dead and down from beech-scale nectria.
There’s something humbling and therapeutic about wandering the woods in early spring–the promise of things to come. For me, it’s not just that pungent, earthy smell that sits first on the breeze but also what all these plants went through to make their perennial debut. Just days ago it was snowing and blowing to beat the band. And today, Voila! Wild leeks, trout lilies, spring beauties and Dutchman’s breeches are showing their panache.
As we near the wetlands, we’re reminded why leeks are the boldest of the bunch–an overwhelming pungence wafts through the air and elicits an “Ewwww!” from all of us. Oniony odor aside, wild leeks are quite glamorous with their iridescent green leaves and red stems on display above the carpet of dingy leaves. We spent quite a while wrestling with the roots and trying not to break off the stems, but we only stuck with it long enough to get a handful. Turns out, what we needed most today, even more than a harvest of wild leeks, was some good ole’ grubbin’ around in the dirt.
So during these uncertain times, I highly recommend The Great Leek Hunt as a reminder that spring is eternal and will come, always.
-Molly
P.S. Don’t forget to pack the scooby snacks!
]]>
About a month ago, we welcomed a new baby girl into our family. After the first couple weeks of adjusting to our new normal as a family of four, we realized we were getting pretty antsy just sitting around the house all day. Not to mention, our two year old was bouncing off the walls…
We always get outside for a couple hours each day, but the backyard was starting to get a little boring so we decided to set off on a mini-adventure to a nearby Little Traverse Conservancy property.
It takes some strategizing to wrangle our two year-old, get the baby into the carseat, grab snacks, put shoes on, and get out the door. Luckily, it was my husband’s day off, so between the two of us, we only struggled a little bit. We headed out to the Wilson Working Forest Reserve, off of Middle Road. Less than 2 miles from our house, it seemed like a good place to start.
Once we got to the parking lot, we put the baby in the carrier, re-tied the two year-old’s shoes for the 15th time and set off. The trail is a little over one mile and winds through a mix of open fields and old wooded logging trails. It has the perfect amount of ups and downs to tire out the toddler and some really cool views of farm land and forest. As a bonus, its not as well known as some of the other preserves in the area, so we usually have the trails to ourselves. Although we didn’t hike very far, we took our time to check out almost every flower, stick, and creature that we came across. We spotted a ton of birds, bugs, frogs, and even a snake. By the time we made it back to the car, everyone was tired, happy, and excited for the next family hike. It’s easy to take it for granted, but we have so many cool spots like this right out the back door.
-Steph
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