My daughters wanted to take our new puppy to a dog park we'd never been to before.
When we arrived, the designated area was less than ideal. To my surprise, they headed out to the playground. My daughters are 13 and 12, and another 13-year-old friend was also with us. As they played on the swings, of course taking pictures for their Instagram and Snapchat accounts, I found a nice bench in the shade and reminisced.
Where has the time gone? When you have a baby, many people tell you not to blink. That before you know it, they'll be grown and gone.
Of course, that seems so distant, you don't spend much time dwelling on the inevitable. Until one day you wake up to the realization your little ones aren't so little anymore. My oldest is entering high school in August. Giving me only four more years before she heads off to college. I hope to make the most of the time.
As I sat there on that bench, my mind drifted back to a camping trip we took to a state park when the girls were really little. While I set up our tent, they rode their tiny little bikes with training wheels up and down the road. The pool was really nice, so we spent a good amount of time swimming. We also rented a small boat and went fishing.
But the most fun part of the trip was simply taking a nice wildlife and bird watching walk on a beautiful trail. I can still feel their tiny hands in mine. Clinching at the slightest of sounds.
If it has been too long since you took a walk in the woods with your little ones, no matter how little or big they are today, Missouri's State Parks offer great opportunities to do so. The Katy Trail has long been one of my favorites. If you're looking for a park to visit, I encourage you to consider just taking a walk or going for a ride on the Katy.
Aside from spending time together, the benefits of exercising on a trail are numerous. Whether you are hiking in the backcountry or jogging in a city park, there's a good chance you will encounter wildlife and be able to view beautiful trees, plants and wildflowers. Of course, improving your health while breathing fresh air is a major plus. A dense summer forest canopy shades the Katy Trail in many parts. Keeping temperatures cool, even in the afternoon heat of a summer day, and making it a great place to exercise.
Finding a trail in Missouri is easy. Not only do we have a lot of them, we have some of the best in the country. City and county parks offer thousands of miles of trails. Thankfully, there is no cost to enter and enjoy our incredible Missouri State Parks. With 52 around the state, there should be one rather close to you.
All Missourians should be proud to know that a number of our parks are often recognized as some of the very best in the country. Katy Trail State Park, which at 240 miles is the longest developed rails-to-trails project in the nation, is a nationally recognized destination.
See you down the trail.
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Brandon Butler, the director of communications for Roeslein Alternative Energy, is an outdoors columnist for the News Tribune. Contact him at [email protected].