It’s October in Kansas City. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous so far. Brisk mornings, sunny afternoons. Maybe a little bit of rain here and there. The leaves are just beginning to turn.

What better time to get the kids outside! The Kansas City area has several fabulous nature centers with walking trails. We love the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in south Overland Park. Stop in at the visitor’s center for a fun scavenger hunt list for the kids to take on your walk.

For an easy stroll, there is a paved path of decent length. I take the jogging stroller and throw the babies in, then walk and talk with my kindergartener and first grader. We look at spiders, try to spot turtles at the pond, talk about the sculptures scattered about. They invariably ask me all about the different plantings they see. The Arboretum also has non-paved, mulched walking trails through the woods. The walk is beautiful and full of things to see, especially for little eyes that like to spy critters and “perfect” leaves. And pushing the double stroller is a great cardio workout for me!

Other similar spots to check out around town include:

• Ernie Miller Park & Nature Center in Olathe - check their schedule for fun storytimes and exhibits at the Nature Center in addition to their gorgeous prairie walking trails

• Anita B. Gorman Discovery Conservation Center in Kansas City - just a hop, skip and a jump from the Plaza, Midtown and Brookside, can you believe it? The Discovery Center has FANTASTIC Saturday programming for kids and it’s all usually FREE! This weekend: archery and frogs. Next weekend: bats and spiders!

• Burr Oaks Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs - four great trails to walk and super programs for kids and babies all month long

• Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary in Liberty - several walking trails (several are handicapped accessible) and wonderful kids’ programs and events - check their website for details on the Fairy Tale Forest later this month!

• Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City - in Swope Park near the Zoo, check out Magic Woods this weekend or hike the trails with a naturalist

• Wilderness Science Center in south Overland Park - this nature preserve is owned by the Blue Valley School District. Located behind Blue River Elementary School and Blue Valley Middle School, its building is primarily intended for use by school groups but the trails are open to the public after school hours and on weekends. A lovely walk in the woods.

• Kemper Outdoor Education Center in Blue Springs - located in Fleming Park, you’ll find everything from fossils, reptile and wildlife displays, gardens, walking trails and more!

Many parks around town also have great walking trails if you’re not looking for the formal educational offerings of a nature center. Pack some water, some snacks and a kid or two or four and head to:

• Kill Creek Park, Olathe

• Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa

• Longview Lake Park, Kansas City

• Weston Bend State Park, Weston, MO

• George Owens Nature Park, Independence, MO

For more ideas:

• Bike and Hiking Trails

• Map of Kansas City metro trails and the proposed regional link system

Did you catch a glimpse of the oh-so-elusive sun that came out of hiding yesterday?! How nice was that? If you’ve been feeling like a prisoner in your water-logged home the past week or two, now’s your time to get back outside. We are supposed to have a fantastic week, with September-appropriate temperatures nearing 80 degrees each day. Warm sunny days followed by cool nights…what could be better?

With gas prices so expensive and the weather so nice, how about hitting the trails with your kids? Grab your bikes and helmets, and get pedaling! Biking and walking trails have been a hot topic lately in the local news. According to Jennifer Blattman of the Mid-America Regional Council, the Kansas City region boasts nationally recognized trails and parks systems, including MetroGreen, a partially completed 1144-mile interconnected system of public and private open spaces, greenways and trails designed to link seven counties in the metro. The plan covers Leavenworth County, Johnson County and Wyandotte County as well as Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte counties in Missouri. There is also a new initiative in place for Kansas City, Mo–Trails! KC aims to add an additional 200 miles of connected trails to the system.

For some great ideas on where to bike, check out this site. Or if hiking is more your speed, take a look at the book Hiking Kansas City for some cool ideas. Get outside with your kids, get pedaling or hiking, and soak up that sun!