THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 22, 1994 TAG: 9411220058
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Mom, I'm Bored
SOURCE: Sherrie Boyer
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
IF YOUR seasonal calendar for the next weeks is already splattered with musts, and the feeling of despair prevails, trash the calendar and get outside.
Just do it.
There's nothing like a walk to realize how important it is to slow down. And nothing like a full calendar to force you on the walk.
The first time I walked with the children out of strollers I found myself pushing them along. ``Let's go. We'll never get to that playground if we don't move.''
But around block three, with three still to go, I realized that it is the walk, not the destination that counts. Now we move pretty slowly, wheeling those tricycles fast for awhile, then stopping completely to watch a squirrel bury nuts. I still have the urge to move them along, particularly on days when I need to move myself along, but I try to resist.
The walks are especially nice in places that are destinations in and of themselves, such as Seashore State Park, where the salt in the air, the breeze off the sea and the wavering branches of pine replenish the soul of child and adult alike. There, a short amble in the woods (about an hour) leads past bathrooms, wildlife and huckleberries. If the children tire, or never seem to get around the first bend, you can always turn around to get to the car. For details about the Bald Cypress Trail, call 481-4836. The park is located at 2500 Shore Drive.
If your children bike, try the park's Cape Henry Bicycle Trail, a 12-mile round trip that winds through neighborhoods in Virginia Beach. This may seem long, but friends say it's quite manageable for children who like to ride. The path is interesting, you can stop for a picnic (be sure to bring water or a sport drink), and you could just peddle part way, then turn around and head home.
If your children are of the sturdy variety, try the Osmanthus Trail, a 4 1/2 mile round trip that is a hiker's heaven. The adventure includes holly branches laden with bright berries, which is about as close as anyone needs to be to holiday lights this early in the season.
Other good places to stroll include Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 2005 Sandpiper Road. There is a loop combining the Dune, Seaside and Boardwalk trails into a one-mile stroll through woods and onto beach. It starts in the parking lot. For details, call 721-2412.
A more rugged trail is the 9 mile round trip False Cape Trail. You'll want bikes with thick tires for this gravel trail, but it's worth the bumps. Regulars say you'll see snow geese, ducks and swans in the two hours minimum you'll use on this adventure.
Yet another location for outdoor trails is Northwest River Park. There are several trails here, all linked by a service road that you can walk should you need to quit the trail and head for the parking lot. The park is located at 1733 Indian Creek Road. Call 421-3145 for information.
Wander the paths at the Norfolk Botanical Garden on Azalea Garden Road. True, the spring blooms are hiding, but the peacefulness of this vast green paradise will lure the children along as they look for small statutes and wildlife. For details, call 441-5830.
But just because there is a list here of trails doesn't mean walking is reserved for distant points. We mostly walk the neighborhood, and not always in the same direction. It's a wonderful thing to discover a new dog, mailbox, garden or lawn sculpture you never knew existed.
Remember that it is the space of time that counts. The freshness of the air. The methodical placing of one foot after another while your eyes enjoy your child in the crunchy splendor of fallen leaves. Time for your mind to amble for answers to queries about acorns and your heart to rejoice in the beauty of our Earth and its people. by CNB