Martin Nature Park

You ever have one of those days where you feel like you are chasing your tail? This was one of those. We woke up ready to head to the zoo. A friend agreed to meet us there. Not thinking at all about the fact it was not only Friday, but a Friday in May, the end of public school year. I drove up on dozens of buses and a long line of cars waiting to get in. I called my friend and we started tossing around alternatives. She mentioned a small zoo on her side of town. Just before I get there we realize the little zoo is not open today. Twiddling our thumbs and trying to decide what to do.....

We ended up at the Martin Nature Park. It is a small park with walking trails among the throng of trees. There are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife, that is if you don't have screaming children with you. If there were any animals to be seen they certainly heard us coming.

There is a learning center with skeletons, skins, snakes, turtles, and stuffed wildlife. What I didn't know until visiting their websites is that they have educational classes most weekends. We may have to go back for one of those.

It's been a couple of years since I'd been there. Last time the girls jumped in the creek. That's why I thought we'd try a different trail this time. We took the wrong trail. That is the wrong trail for strollers and small children. It's the one that features a flower on their map. Warning to those with small kids, it's meant for adults who walk because their doctor makes them NOT for strollers.

It was beautiful though. Lots of running water. We saw a pair of geese with their four newly hatched goslings.  It was lovely when we weren't carrying strollers up and down steep trails and over tree roots. My plan backfired because the previous trail was just fine for strollers. After the flower trail we decided to stop and head back to the playground at the entrance. The mamas needed a rest.

How does that saying go, best laid plans? Yes, that defined the day. At least for me. For Tamarin, "That was a load of excellent fun!"