Butterflies and “pointy oak”

Debs Park is a surprise burst of greenery in the middle of one of L.A.’s grayest, most congested corridors. It’s been around forever, but the Audubon Society came aboard a few years ago and really spiffed it up. We spent nearly two hours here (a week in toddler years). There’s a children’s garden with fountains, a water pump, drought-resistant plants, and lots of shovels and buckets for digging. There are well-maintained trails for all levels, but we opted for the half-mile path near the entrance. It’s mostly flat and fairly shady, with lots of poison oak warning signs. When I told Jack poison oak would give him a rash and be itchy, he spent half the hike saying, “Don’t touch the green, Mom. That’s pointy oak.”

This is truly a special place. The visitors center even lets you borrow jogging strollers, backpack carriers, and binoculars to use in the park. It’s open Wed.-Sun.

Fire Chief Jack

Fire Service Day in Los Angeles = free balloons, free hot dogs, unlimited access to fire engines and ambulances, and one elated 3-year-old boy.

Griffith Park West

We usually stick to the east side of Griffith Park, with its merry-go-round and trains, but we explored the Fern Dell area last week since we were driving past on our way back from the Hollywood Bowl. The playground is old and shadeless, so we abandoned it quickly and picked up a trail that follows an oasis of ferns and trees along a stream with a series of small waterfalls. It was an ideal half-mile hike for a 3-year-old – a rail kept him from falling in, he loved the waterfalls, and I loved the shade (it’s triple digits here now – welcome to fire season). This is an area of the park that was scorched by wildfires last spring, but it’s looking robust and leafy now.

After our “hike”, we stopped at The Trails, a little shack with an urban sophisticate’s menu – pear & goat cheese tarts, scones, vegan hot dogs – and joined a bunch of other moms with kids at the picnic tables.

p.s. One month until the Hollywood Bowl opens for the season. It’s one of my favorite things to do in L.A. in the summer!

A Hike without Jack

Earlier this month, thanks to the generosity and patience of Jack’s grandparents, we snuck in a trip to the Caribbean and rented a villa with some friends on St. John. I was not looking forward to it in the way I usually look forward to vacation (too far away, too much to worry about, etc.), but we ended up having a splendid time. For the first time I can remember, I didn’t work a travel writing piece into the trip or try to see or do much. I read two books, slept 10 hours at a time, and gazed for long, meditative periods at the sea. I think we missed Jack more than he missed us. He was busy playing bulldozers with Granddad, eating gelato, and reveling in all the undivided attention.