What You Need

I realized belatedly that maybe I jumped the gun a little when I haven't even covered what you may need to purchase should you want to traverse across all of Fort Collins( and hopfully into Loveland and Windsor soon) via nothing but trail.

First I am a huge proponent of using the bike for exercise.  I hadn't really ridden a bike since I was in Junior High School.  So when my husband casually mentioned that it may be a way for me to work in exercise with the baby,  (ain't that a nice way of saying I needed to loose that baby weight) I was a little reluctant.  Really I was scared.  Getting back on a bike was scary.  And getting on a bike and then pulling my most precious cargo was even more scary.

So we went bike shopping and trailer shopping.  I am also a huge fan of local businesses, and try to support them whenever possible.  I would rather spend a few more dollars at Clothes pony, than go to Toys R Us or Target for birthday gifts.  We ended up purchasing me a nice ladies bike, with gears from Full Cycle (now located on College near Whole Foods).  The gears frankly intimidated me, but I am not one to shrink from a challenge.  ( I mean who here had gears as a kid?)  Not that you need gears, but I have learned that they are invaluable while climbing some bigger hills.  A fixed gear will do you okay, but WOW to gears.  You don't have to spend a bundle, you can even look on Craigslist for a used bike.

We went to REI for our trailer.  We love JAX, too, don't get me wrong, but we had a good coupon for 20% off at REI, and frankly you can not beat their return policy.  When it comes to our kids, we are willing to scrimp elsewhere in order to get the safest.  My hubby was in charge of making the trailer decision, as he is in charge of everything mechanical, or electronic for that matter.  Narrowing it down to two choices, the Burley or the Chariot.  The sales person at REI was very nice but had my husband at "shocks" on the Chariot.  The best thing about buying a Burley or Chariot is they have great re-sale value.  I will admit that I lost the battle over buying a single or double trailer.  At the time we only had one kid.  She was about 4 months old and hubby would be doing most of the pulling at first.  He did not want to buy the double.  I argued that should we have another child, a double would be a wise choice (even if it was $100 more).  We purchased the single Chariot and with it the infant harness, jogging kit, and bike attachment.  For the budget minded you do not have to get anything as fancy as the Chariot, you can buy an In Step at Target or Walmart and it will get you from point A to point B just fine, although I don't think it is as comfortable a ride as the Chariot which also has a nice storage bag on the back to carry everything you want to bring.  My friend Carrie blogs about trailing at  http://thefamilytrailhead.blogspot.com/p/biking-with-kids.html

Single Chariot with bike arm

We struggled with finding a small enough bike helmet for our daughter's abnormally small head.  We had to wait until she was almost a year before finding one to fit her.  But I do suggest you buy one, we had one mishap while riding where, Hubby had to stop quickly and turn to avoid getting hit by a car that just was driving stupid and he ended up flipping the trailer, which rarely happens.  But we were relieved to see that our daughter was just fine, strapped tightly in her harness, cover shut, and wearing a helmet.  Hubby, on the other hand was scraped up.

When I got pregnant with number two, I gave my hubby the "I told you so" speech.  We were able to sell our single Chariot on Craigslist after only a year and a half of use for $50 less than what we bought it for!  We had so many inquires minutes after it was put up.  The girl that bought it drove up from Boulder to get it!  We switched to a double and have loved it. 

We are now squeezing our five year old in with our almost three year old.  They tend to fight or squabble if it is too hot, or they have chosen to pack themselves too much stuff, but overall we love our Chariot.  I also use it as my jogging stroller on the trails.  I do not like the jog attachment, as it encumbers my ability to turn, but use the regular stroller wheels and it works great. 

I also suggest you purchase an extra hinge if your spouse and you are going to switch off pulling.  It makes transfer so much easier.  You will also need to carry with you spare tubes, a patch kit and a travel pump.  Any of the bike shops in town will teach you how to change a tube and make a patch.  Trust me, you don't want to be stuck miles from home with two kids and a flat tire that you can't change. I have gotten stuck off trail, with a flat, broken pump and my husband's tubes, not mine.  Hubby was out of town and I was besides myself at what to do.  I have always carried my cell phone, along with a $20 bill or a $20 Visa gift card for moments like that.  I was lucky to have a nice fellow biker (and you will see that most bikers are awesome) help me out.  She got my too narrow tube pumped and changed it...and then, let me leave the bike and trailer in her garage while I called a friend to pick me and my youngest up (oldest was at preschool).  She even left me her garage code in good faith.  Fort Collins my friends is awesome. 

Happy Trails

Spring Canyon Community Park

Spring Canyon Community Park is one of the choicest in the city.  Located on the Southwest side of Fort Collins on Horsetooth Road west of Taft Hill.  Just over four years old,  Spring Canyon has something for everyone.  From the splash park and Inspirational playground to the super large dog park with swim pond, tennis courts, basketball hoops, volleyball pit, softball fields, large greens for kite flying or ball playing, skate park, and mountain bike challenge the designers have thought of almost everything.

Right off the trail. A perfect Fall Background

Via Trail, use the Spring Creek trail. From the trail entrance at Taft Hill, ride is about 1.5 miles.  Should you be coming from further away, you may find the climb up the hills at Taft Hill a challenge.  Even in my best condition, I struggle on these hills.  (but that could be that it's on my way home, why is home always uphill?) The trail itself is shaded by trees and you may catch glimpses of foxes, rabbits, and deer.  There are several horse properties along the way, too.  Be watchful of snakes, as you may come upon them occasionally.  I have yet to see a rattle snake, but have rolled on by a Bull snake, and another snake of yellow color that I can not name.  The trail and byways leading to the park are used frequently so please use an audible signal if on the bike.  Also, because of the close proximity to the dog park, be aware that there will be many dogs on and off leash.

The park in its entirety is huge.  If you were to travel completely around it the whole park you will clock an entire 5K.  On the North West end of the park you will find a large pavilion with BBQ that are host to many parties and can be reserved during the weekends through http://www.fcgov.com/recreation/.  The bathroom facilities here are basic.  A drinking fountain out front and two stalls inside with metal seats (not much fun for us ladies or kids potty training).  Easiest access to this facility is actually off of Overland and Drake via car.  There is also Cottonwood park nearby (which is not Spring Canyon park, although both are connected by the pathways around Spring Canyon).  Also nearby is a gigantic field area that is used by the kid's football league and soccer teams during season.  During the week it is a virtual oasis of green.

On the West side is also the basketball courts (which we use to teach our daughter how to ride without training wheels), Volleyball pit, skate park, and Softball fields.  Further South you will find the gigantic dog park and another pavilion that can be reserved for parties on the weekend and a bathroom facility.  The bathroom is again, similar to the North pavilion.  Behind the dog park you can continue on the Spring Creek Trail for a longer workout or hike the Pineridge Reservation.

The very Southeast part of the park is the actual children's play area.  Truly three parks in one, it boasts a Splash park (open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day), Inspiration playground for children 5 and older or those in wheelchairs, and a small children's playground (signage suggests ages 1-5).

Giant Mountain and Slide

View of Big play Area

Themed around Horsetooth mountain and the Legend of the Sleeping Giant, Inspiration playground is really a masterpiece.  Children in the "big kids" area can climb, slide, swing, jump, sway, and imagine.  There are numerous more challenging climbing apparatus's that smaller children may need assistance on, but in general, kids of all ages flock to this area.  It can get quite busy during weekends and summer, so I do suggest you keep an eye on children younger than 6, as the big kids can get quite rambunctious.  Favorites include the miniature Horsetooth mountain, that children climb like mountain goats or run through, and the gigantic mountain slide.  If you look closely you can see the "giants" facial features in the slide mountain.  Kids can climb on the rocks then slide through the very fast tunnel slide.

Small Kid's Area

Splash

The "small kids" area has a crawl tunnel and smaller less scary slides.  My only problem with this area is that there is one or two big step drops that my children and numerous others (by observation) have fallen down and gotten hurt on.  This area also hosts the sand pit with water table (water no longer runs, but industrious children usually start hauling water from the splash park).  There is also two baby swings and two seat swings.  Included in this area (for reasons unknown to me) is the sit n spin...where children sit in a cup like apparatus and spin until they feel sick, the round spinney thingy (since I haven't a clue what it is called) where older kids like to walk on it to make it spin and then try not to get flung off and the teeter totter and horsey and car bouncy (particular favorites of my 2 1/2 year old)

The Splash park is pure genius.  Costing the city a pretty penny (something upwards of $10,000 a season it was almost nixed last year, until some wonderful donations came through) children and adults for that matter; run, jump, sit, and well splash to cool off.


Things we love about this park....almost everything.  Especially the bathroom.  For once children were thought of.  The bathroom is open year round (most parks are seasonal) and is co-ed. The outer chamber has two sinks, one that is supposed to be at kid level but I find still a bit high even for my above average height 5 year old.  It also has a metal changing table (hopefully you brought a changing pad).  Two individual water closets, both contain two toilets, one child size and the adult one has.......a toilet seat!  (oh the comfort oh the joy).  I have yet to use the restroom and not have toilet paper but sometimes there is no soap (pack your hand sanitizer).

Things we hate: Very little shade.  If you go, try and bring a small umbrella. The trees are just too young to give any shade, and while the designers thought to provide some canopies over some of the play equipment it all gets pretty hot during the worst of the summer months.  The sheer size is also a detriment to the sanity of any mother of more than one child.  You are guaranteed tears if you make the kids stick together, or you are driven insane by the sheer enormity of trying to keep an eye on multiple children spread out over three parks.  And the big kid swings are fairly far from the main play area.

What my kids say.  They generally choose to go to "their park" above all others in town.  Sometimes though, I just don't have the wear with all to put up with the bickering about taking turns on picking what we will do.  My five year old, I feel is almost ready to be sent off on her own, but boy am I nervous when the park gets as packed as it does.

Overall we give the park a 4.  We go back all the time, of course it is only about a mile from our house, but really, the kids love it and so do I.  But because of how large it is, I can't say it is optimal for me.
   

                  

  

Welcome

 Living in the Fort has afforded us the greatest opportunity to not only enjoy the outdoors with beautiful views, but incorporate family time and exercise.  This blog is meant to help you as a Mom, Dad, or caregiver enjoy the many parks and trails Fort Collins offers.  I was inspired today while on the bike pulling 100 pounds of my kids along the Spring Creek Trail.  Light bulb!!!  "I should write about the parks and provide you a review of each park that is accessible via bike trail."

 So here I begin a new adventure.  It is my hope that it will encourage you to explore, be able to make informed decisions, and have fun with your children and family.  My children are growing fast (5 and 2 1/2)  and pretty soon I won't be able to pull them along, and because they weigh so much now, I probably won't be able to go as far as I used to, but I shall try and make it as far as possible and review as many parks as possible over the summer.  I like goal setting, and my goal is to visit one new park a week.  I have been to almost all parks in the city with the kids, however, now I am looking at them from a different angle.  I will provide pictures, discuss pros and cons of the playgrounds and facilities.  I will talk about how age appropriate each one is.  And of course will let my own kids weigh in on their own likes and dislikes.

Since we practically live next door to Spring Canyon park, I will begin my reviews there and work my way along the Spring Creek Trail.  I will use Spring Canyon as m starting point for each adventure and give mileage from there.