Fall is in the air…

Summer may be best spent in the water, but fall is best spent on walking trails. What better way to kick off the autumn season and beat those end-of-summer blues than by planning fun days with your kids exploring walking trails and parks in town? We’ve got you covered with some top-rated spots in the Kansas City area.

Grab a bag of snacks and your water bottles and leave the cell phone at home. (Well, in the car. Or in your pocket. In case of an emergency.) If the kids are still small enough for wagons or strollers, grab those too. Especially now that school is in session, you’ll be reaching for those moments of one-on-one time to reconnect with the kids. Summer may be fleeting, but the adventures don’t have to end. Create a whole new fall routine of adventures.

This new routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Pick a new spot every Wednesday at 4:00, for instance, or whenever you pick the kids up from school and before dinner. Or maybe every Saturday after baseball practice. However this quality outdoor time aligns with your schedule, pencil it in—the outcome is so worth it for you and the kiddos.

We visited Burrus Old Mill Park in Blue Springs frequently this summer, mostly to utilize its amazing splash pad. The park is a perfect spot for fall adventures, too. The gazebo makes a great setup for peanut butter picnics with the littles, and the spacious playground (outside of the splash pad) is perfect for toddler or big-kid exploration. The view is so cool, too!

Waterfall Park in Independence (attached to Bass Pro Shops) is a nice hidden gem in the Kansas City area. Watch the ducks, geese and turtles on the overlook, take a stroll on its sidewalks or chill in the gazebo. Two nice playground areas entertain kids of all ages.

Little Blue Trace Trail is another one of my personal favorites. This 15-mile path is partially paved and includes picnic and bathroom amenities along with several emergency call buttons along the way should users need any assistance. This one has been my favorite for years.

A few more highly rated trails include White Tail Trail (Parkville Nature Sanctuary), Blue River Parkway and Minor Park Trail, Hidden Valley Park, Swope Park Mountain Bike Trail, Happy Rock to Shoal Creek Trail, Longview Lake and Little Blue River, Maple Woods Natural Area Trail and Hodge Park Nature Trail.

Use your weekly or biweekly strolls to pick flowers together. Point out all the brick houses, the dogs, the bicycles. Chat about the kids’ day. Ask what makes them happy. What makes them sad? What is their favorite food? How many yellow signs can they spot along the path? What outfit do they want to pick out for tomorrow? Sing your favorite song together.

For the younger tots in your life, use your time together to practice new words. “Cars go vroom!” “Dogs say woof!” Repeat the same words each time to work on their language skills—they will think it’s a game and not a vocabulary lesson.

Meet new friends and pets during your stroll. Usually when I’m walking with one of my kiddos and we see a dog, we ask to pet it, and that’s the beginning of a fun conversation. Pets are great ice-breakers when making friends. You can even get really creative and type up a scavenger hunt to take with you. Whoever identifies the most on your list gets to choose where to grab dinner.

Emily Morrison is a freelance writer, former copy editor, full-time mommy and Disney fanatic who lives in Independence with her husband, son, daughter and dog.

For more tips on getting out and taking a walk in KC, visit MARC.org/KCWalks!