Ideas for Urban Adventures - Parks, Fishing, Biking Outdoors

Ideas for Urban Adventures

Bruce Leighty/Getty Images Enjoy an urban escape: Fish in Chicago at Lake Michigan. Regional and green spaces formed a backdrop of my childhood, from Girl Scout campouts to family cookouts. One verdant preserve along the Los Angeles River even launched my directorial debut. Wielding a Super 8 camera through marshland and native grasses, I filmed a prehistoric caveman drama that "starred" my siblings and cousins. Looking back, I've hardly ever returned to those local settings, but that's going to change. I've rediscovered that urban adventures await all around us, thanks to city, county and regional programs nationwide. Hiking, biking, boating and fishing are but a few of the activities within easy reach of even the densest urban areas.

Los Angeles California br

In my own backyard, the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation manages some 65,000 acres of parks, trails and natural areas, the world's largest public golf course system, plus 25 miles of beaches. I set off one recent morning to check out some of the county's urban adventure offerings. Leaving the stress of the L.A. freeways behind, I soon encountered a wilderness of blooming yuccas, purple and yellow wildflowers, graceful egrets and stumbling goslings waddling after their mom. I cast for catfish, biked on an antique Italian Surrey bike built for four and took a paddleboat past serene islands in a lake fed by an artesian well. Lifeguard stations lined the lake's sandy beach, soon to be bustling with summertime swimmers. My location? Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, a 30-minute drive from the skyscrapers of downtown, though it felt like a world away. At $10 per car, the entrance fee is a small price to pay for a weekday urban escape along quiet nature trails at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. And it sure beats the price of an amusement park if you're planning a weekend adventure trip with the grandkids.

San Antonio Texas

Family, fitness and fun are major themes of the Parks and Recreation Department. Those who haven't spent much time in local parks since their own kids were young should take a second look, says Parks and Recreation Department spokeswoman Kelly Irwin. "Yesterday's quaint playgrounds may be today's dog parks and fitness courses. We even have skate parks that your grandkids would love for you to take them to." In addition to the city's famous River Walk, San Antonio prides itself on its network of greenways, creekways and bike paths. More than 25 outdoor parks feature fitness training equipment, an added enticement for older park users to stay in shape, Irwin says. That's especially important for Hispanics, who suffer from health issues such as diabetes in greater numbers than the general population. "We encourage residents to go out and enjoy all of our facilities," she says. "With a little planning, you can create multi-day escapes that the entire family will love, without ever leaving San Antonio."

Miami Florida br

In south Florida, residents can't head for the hills, but they can head for urban parks, beaches and historic landmarks operated by the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. "Latino communities are well-known for being family-centric and living in multigenerational households, and Miami-Dade Parks offers something for every member of that tightly knit family household to enjoy," says spokeswoman Laura Phillips. For a lively getaway under the stars, Tropical Park hosts Noches Tropicales. The free concert series features Latin music and dance, with a party atmosphere that extends to the parking lot. There, food truck vendors play music as they offer savory Latin dishes to the crowd. For more active family fun, kayak rides along Key Biscayne or canoe trips on the Coral Gables Waterway are two options available from Miami-Dade Parks EcoAdventure tours. An Everglades Expedition tour includes an airboat ride that stops at alligator holes, plus a watery nature walk known as the Swamp Tromp.

Chicago Illinois br

Though no alligators are involved, water activities are also plentiful along the shores of Lake Michigan. "Come Out and Play" is the slogan of the Chicago Park District, which oversees nearly 600 parks and 260 field houses. District-run adventures include sailing lessons on a 26 ft. keelboat and the Fish'N Kids summer program. The latter offers fishing lessons for kids 8 and older, with parents and grandparents welcome to sign up too. More experienced anglers will enjoy the city's 11 stocked park lagoons and other fishing locations where the catch might include salmon, trout or bass. And finally, to really get away from it all, consider a visit to one of the birding areas or sanctuaries in Chicago's parks. In 2007, the city's lake front was named an important birding area by the National Audubon Society. A quiet afternoon surrounded by nature may prove that sometimes the best urban adventures are the most tranquil ones.

Also of Interest

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