Recycled tires

Did you play on old tires as a child? Our school playground had a circle of old tires planted in the ground, and we played there happily each recess. Someone decided that tires were breeding grounds for mosquitoes, though, and out went all the old tire playgrounds...










Happily there is a large tire playground at one of our state parks, and it is nearby! We went there Saturday morning, and spent over an hour playing. The kids love the tire swings and zipline more than anything else there, but they did climb and balance as well. They are excited to know that we will be using this park as part of homeschool - yes, playtime can be gym class, as long as they are getting good exercise.










Another great thing about this park - it is part of a larger chain of parks that follow the Patapsco river. Together they offer history, hiking, playgrounds, and camping. We have taken hikes at a few of the other parks, and did so at this one as well. The trail winds down the hill and follows a creek, where we hopped from rock to rock and watched a crawdad swim to safety under a rock. We watched a millipede cross the path, smoothly climbing over roots and stones. We walked away from the noise and busyness of the city, smiled at other hikers, and enjoyed a bit of nature together as a family. It's nice to escape every so often.