Takin' a walk on the wild (or not so wild) side...

This time of year always brings people out to the streets, parks and local outdoor places. Especially if you feel like taking a stroll. Walking is great for the whole family and there are so many neat places to explore in this city that, in many cases, can only be traversed by foot.  I highly encourage you and your little ones to explore a nearby park/forest in your area and see what it has to offer - you'll be surprised at how many beautiful pockets of woodland London has hiding amongst the buildings and nestled in neighbourhoods. 

Let's chat about the more public places for a minute.  London has so many parks!  Springbank Park down in Byron (South West London) is a big hit for walking/biking/rollerblading/skateboarding along the Thames.  It has lots of areas for soccer, BBQing, picnics, a splash pad and a few climbers for the kids.  It also houses the infamous Story Book Gardens, home of local London fun for the past few decades (see the link to StoryBook here).  There's Harris Park and Gibbons Park - both located downtown and great for more splash pad fun (splash pads open Victoria Day weekend and close Labour Day weekend).  At many of the parks you can find tennis courts (Gibbons Park being one of them), basketball courts, and always a picnic table area where you can enjoy some food and sunshine.  Local neighbourhoods have many Optimist Parks that house climbers for kids, more splash pads and even outdoor pools.  Check out the link to most of the major public parks in the city here.

Image courtesy of: www.london.ca

Feel like taking a walk through London?  There's a fantastic walk and bike path that offers you a leisurly stroll or a true hike through the forest city.  It basically starts in Byron (the neighbourhood located in South West London) in Springbank Park, and you can follow it all the way downtown and up to Western University.  There are beautiful views of the river, and lots of options for people that don't just feel like walking: You can bike, rollerblade, take your dog, scooter, or even skateboard(although  watch for the signs that warn you where it might be prohibited to use certain modes of transport depending on the part of the path you use).  Find the map to this bike path and more great places to hike here.
There are also so many gems of trails in our city that are lesser known and so much fun to walk! Medway Valley is a great place to take the kids and has breathtaking views of the Medway Valley Creek that has carved its way through the valley and meanders through gorgeous rocky precipices from Fanshawe/Wonderland area all the way to the Elsie Perrin Estates, down the road from Western University.  See a map of the trails here.  Be forewarned: Dogs must be on leashes and bikers aren't allowed here since the trails can be fairly narrow (I tried to take my kiddo in a running stroller through there once.  No dice.  It's best to take your itty bitties strapped to your back in a hiking-safe carrier).

Fanshawe Lake is a more well-known hiker's paradise (out in the North East end of London. See link here) but still a lovely as you can choose the trails that go along the lake itself.  There are various trails to choose from with various levels of difficulty.  Plus a great campground not far away that you can use for a day, or for a few weeks at a time. 

Know about the Komoka Trails? Then you'll also know about the gorgeous scenery to take in there as well.  Another beloved spot for locals that live in the Komoka/Kilworth/Byron area, it is a great walk and is great for young families too.  Check out the link here.

Warbler Woods is a small woodsy area located, again, in the Byron area of town.  If you are feeling like a workout, take a run through this forested area - there are two giant hills that go through this forest and give you a great bang for your workout buck (see the ESA link below for more info). 

Sifton Bog is also a great place to check out, if you want to pick some wild apples and maybe even see a deer or two.  It's located in the Oxford/Hyde Park/Riverside area of town.  The official entrance can be found off of Oxford Street West, just across the street from the TD Bank and Super Store area (see the ESA link below for more info).

There are fun clubs that have been around for while that offer nature walks, and group walks where you can meet other people and chat while strolling through our lovely city.  See the links for some of these options here:

Nature Walks

Home Hiking London TVTA

For more information on other great hidden-away places, check out the following link on London's Environmentally Significant Areas (ESA's).  There are so many to choose from, there is bound to be one near you that you can stroll through with your family. Please read their guidelines, however, since many of these areas contain species you might not want to encounter by yourself... or at all...plants and animals alike.   

So get out there, London, and walk your way through this gorgeous, forested city of ours.  Just be sure to always read the warnings, signs and follow all rules while out there to stay safe and always be sure to have a way to communicate with others in case of an emergency.   

As always, feel free to share in the comments below, or on our facebook page (click here), about the places YOU like to go for a walk in London.  I'm sure I've missed a few gems :)

Have a great day, London!

Image courtesy of www.london.ca

The abovementioned information is for entertainment purposes only. Locally Urban Mom is not responsible for misuse or any harm incurred when using pathways and trails that have been suggested in the blog post.  Locally Urban Mom does urge everyone to be careful, and use prudence and safety guidelines when using the aforementioned trail and park locations