by Shanti Hodges
I still remember the ?Oh, no? look in my husband?s eyes when the doctor confirmed a June due date for our son?s delivery. I knew Mark?s mind immediately skipped from ?We?re having a baby!? to ?We?re going to miss out on a whole summer of mountain biking and rafting.? And so there it was, the reality of a summer spent within concrete confines of Portland, Oregon nurturing a newborn.
When Mason arrived, we lasted about a week inside and then we had to get out. Going far from home wasn?t realistic for me yet, so “getting out” meant discovering our city in a whole new way. Slowly but surely, we found that exploring nature in an urban landscape with a baby didn?t mean the end of our adventures, it just meant the adventure wasn?t mountain biking Moab.
With this temporary ?grounding? we discovered that our backyard, like so many others across America, had much to offer in ways we had missed with our constant desire to head to the backcountry. When we stopped worrying about how far away from the city we could escape and simply looked around us, we discovered nature was everywhere.
If your lifestyle is decidedly urban, here?s a guide of options to help the family find a little piece of wilderness, in a park, on a sidewalk, or at the shopping center.

STAY CLOSE TO HOME – Start near your home turf and fan out from the front door. One of my favorite ?hikes? is not only the first I ever did with Mason by myself when he was four weeks old, ?it?s also just a few blocks from my house. This is also where Mark proposed to me and is less than ten minutes from a streetcar running into downtown.
WOOF, WOOF – Look for dog parks with trails or an open space to walk the perimeter as your dog plays. Portland, and many other communities, have beautiful dog parks, and even though I don’t have a dog these days, I have enjoyed “dog park walks” with other friends with kiddos in spaces I never would have visited otherwise.

LOOK FOR STRUCTURES – Seek out unique structures like historic mines, buildings, or churches. Even functioning dams or power plants can be interesting and great fun to explore. Check your city’s visitor bureau or chamber of commerce for historic sites and walking tour maps.
GO INSIDE – Museums with exhibits about nature can help cure a need for trees and rivers. Look for nature exhibits in museums. How about photography of nature or animals? This is a great way to battle outdoor cravings when a cold snap hits or a rainstorm forces you inside.

MANUFACTURED NATURE – Look for natural features in unexpected places; ponds at outdoor malls, or even business park landscaping. This can be an especially safe environment for a new toddler just getting to know the world.
CLIMB HIGH – We?re lucky in Portland with tons of stairs to climb up and down. The higher you go, the better the view, and with it a sense of stepping out and above the concrete jungle.
DARKNESS – Give stargazing a try. Moonless nights are best, but remember a headlamp or flashlight for a safer experience. Another option is to hop in the car and visit a park to see stars and twinkling lights of town; the ride home might even lull little ones to sleep. Even a family walk around the block before bed can make everyone snooze a bit better.
WEATHER – Get the right gear for your climate. While the price tag may be higher than expected, if you want to really explore rain or shine, sleet or snow, gear will ensure everyone in the family is prepared, and comfortable.
Shanti Hodges is the founder of Hike it Baby, a parent group dedicated toward encouraging families to explore nature with their newborns and toddlers. She has written for Outside, Men?s Journal, Marie Claire, Self, Shape and is the author of Women Who Run, a collection of stories about women worldwide who put one foot in front of the other. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
darwinsbulldog says
Immediately recognized the location of the first photo, the new nature play area a Westmoreland Park in Portland, OR – what an awesome place!
Erin Kirkland says
Isn’t it great! ~Erin K. editor
Erin Kirkland says
Hi Karen; here is the link to subscribe. It’s also located at the top right of the website: http://outdoorfamiliesonline.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d1dbbd3364498795088dd9aa3&id=e61dc59b17
Rebecca Walsh says
Yay! Shanti, so exciting to read you here 🙂 Cheers to outdoor adventures!
Shanti Hodges says
Thanks Rebecca! This was a fun article to write. I have another one coming out in a few weeks too! You should write for these guys! Your pieces are awesome.
Jennifer Johnson says
These are great tips! I didn’t really appreciate the urban wilderness until I had young children and started poking around closer to home. These closer jaunts don’t always fulfill my need for true wilderness, but help get more regular doses of nature into our lives. I’ve learned not to underestimate them!
Coombe Mill says
there is always more than you might imagine close to home, I love that it takes a major life event to make you stay close and discover your local area. I can see you will be off further afield in no time but at least you know know what you are leaving behind too! Thank you for sharing with me on Country Kids.
Sierra W says
I love, love, love this article Shanti. We are so fortunate to have a multitude of hidden trails, beautiful parks, and history to explore in Portland Metro.
Carla says
We live in a more rural area, but most definitely find nature when we are in town or bigger cities! We had a lovely time on vacation on the National Mall by the USDA building with children or spending 15 minutes playing with sweet gum balls in front of the planter at the art museum downtown. We even find birds, nests, and rocks outside the grocery store! Our libraries usually have nature around them as well. Nature is everywhere!