ML Interest Tag: witness

6 Places to Frolic in Fall Foliage

by Tiana Kubik

A highlight to being a Midwesterner is the change of seasons, which brings a dramatic transformation to our landscape and new activities to explore with the munchkins. The vibrant colors, crunchy leaves and smells of autumn almost makes our arctic-like winters acceptable – almost. The best time to view the colors is the first two weeks of October, but the gradual transformation has already begun and ends late fall. Read on to find our favorite spots to frolic in the foliage.

photo: TK Photography

North Park Village Nature Center
If you’re looking for a pure nature adventure without leaving the city, you will want to venture to North Park Village Nature Center. Located on Pulaski at Peterson, this nature preserve offers an intimate and peaceful place to visit fall. Walking through the preserve you’ll come across bridges over marsh, trails through wetland, woodland, prairie and savannah and steps up a hill that overlooks the 46-acres of land.  Once the kids have had their fill of the great outdoors, head to the educational center for books, nature-related toys and information on the preserve and the many animals that call it home.

5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
Chicago
Online: chicagoparkdistrict.com

photo: Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo BoardWalk
The Nature BoardWalk at the Lincoln Park Zoo has been re-done for several years now and each fall its beautiful new landscape explodes in fall color. The tall grasses, trees and pond turn shades of brown, yellow and red. From the bridge that connects the zoo pavilion to the Farm at the Zoo, you can get the full view of the fall foliage of the board walk with the Chicago skyline in the background. With the Lincoln Park Zoo, Conservatory and Farm at the Zoo surrounding it, the kiddos can get a full nature experience right off of the lakefront and get to witness Chicago come into its fall colors.

2001 N. Clark St.
Lincoln Park
Online: lpzoo.org

Gillson Park
Tucked away in Wilmette, Gillson Park is a stellar spot to witness the change in seasons. The tall grasses and trees surrounding the beach creates a beautifully framed view of Lake Michigan. The majority of the park is open field with a playground and tennis courts, which means you get a completely unobstructed view of falling leaves and browning trees. The parking is a little tricky for Gillson Park. Parking for non-residents is on Middle Dr. and on Overlook Dr. for Wilmette residents.

Sheridan Rd. & Michigan Ave.
Wilmette
Online: wilmettepark.org

photo: Morton Arboretum

Morton Arboretum
Morton Arboretum is a favorite spot for families year-round, but its extra special in the fall. Visitors can hike the trails, run through the maze or just sit and admire the brilliant fall colors. In addition to the natural colors of fall, The Arboretum introduces their own exhibits to enhance the beauty of the season. The Glass Pumpkin Patch, Nature Connect art series and the Scarecrow Trail bring the fall season out in a fun and engaging way for your little explorer.

4100 IL Rte. 53
Lisle
Online: mortonarb.org

Photo: Chicago Botanic Garden

Chicago Botanic Garden
With 385 acres of distinctly different gardens, Chicago Botanic Garden provides the most elaborate backdrop for foliage. The Garden also offers children seasonal Bingo cards that can help them spot what is new and different from the last season. If you want to celebrate the fall season and not just view it, visit the Botanic Garden during one of their many festivals and events. Be sure to check out the Fall Bulb Festival, with the kids, and the Autumn Brews: Seasonal Beer Tasting, for the adults!

1000 Lake Cook Rd.
Glencoe
Online: chicagobotanic.org/fall

Promontory Point
Promontory Point, located in Burnham Park on the southside of Chicago, is known for its fairytale appearance. The man-made peninsula gives one of the most awe-inspiring views of the city. Once the leaves and greenery gain their fall palette, this area is easily one of the more peaceful destinations to watch fall in the city take shape.

5491 S. Shore Dr.
Chicago
Online: chicagoparkdistrict.com

Where is your favorite spot to view the change of seasons?  Tell us in the Comments below.

—Tiana Kubik

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Fail-Proof Secrets to Capturing Baby’s First Steps

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

It’s one of the most anticipated milestones—baby’s first steps. It’s also one of the most difficult to capture with your own two eyes…let alone on film to show off to friends and family. Most bambinos make that march between nine and 15 months, which is a wide and hard-to-predict window of opportunity. Up your chances of catching the heart warming wobbly stroll at the precise moment it happens with these tips.

#1 Enlist a helper.
Whether it’s a grandparent, a sitter, or your BFF, having one person to help start Junior’s journey, and another to lure him (with plenty of smiles and “hoorays”) to the finish line.

#2 Skip the zoom lens. 
Instead of zooming in and out when trying to photograph or videotape your new walker, physically move in closer to your babe. Keep still with your elbows tight against your sides (even if your little one is all over the place).

Photo: Princess Consuela via Flickr

#3 Give your wee-one a push toy…that doesn’t offer much support.
A push toy (like the Fisher Price Corn Popper) is perfect for getting older pre walkers on their feet. It’s fun and colorful, but—beknownst to bebe—it doesn’t offer much support, so when they think they’re playing, they’re really thisclose to walking. #sneaky

#4 Study their cadence.
If you managed to witness their first steps, but now you’re trying to preserve it on film for friends and fam, try this: Recognize their (shaky) walking pattern. Newbies don’t really bend their knees, so steps are forceful and there is no break in momentum. When they are ready to stop they fall. Your job is to film as many steps before the fall as possible.

Photo: Johnath via Flickr

#5 Let baby go barefoot.
When a baby’s feet have direct contact with the floor, they are able to grip and practice balance more efficiently. With that being said, reserve barefoot walking practice for indoors—when outdoors slip their tootsies into a pair of flexible-soled shoes.

#6 Snap the perfect pic at the perfect angle.
To capture kiddo’s first steps in print, photograph or video tape them from the front as they walk towards you with their hands outstretched. Too cute! If you try to snap them from the side, you risk them squirming, falling, or crawling over to you short of their target.

What did you do to make sure you caught your little one’s first steps? Dish in the Comments section below. 

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady

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Take Flight: Inside Portland’s Best Bird-Watching Bash

by liz overson

September’s arrival means many things to Portland families — back to school, the arrival of autumn, and a chance to spend two hours watching thousands and thousands of birds roost. The tiny North American birds, known as Vaux Swifts, are back for their annual migration party and here’s how you can witness this natural phemomenon in action.

 Photo credit: Heathre via Flickr Creative Commons

The Scoop on Swift Watch
Swift Watch happens September 1-30th. Each evening runs from about 6–8 p.m. and is free. The tiny swifts will roost about one hour before sunset. At go-time, thousands of birds fly overhead from all directions, circle and huddle up, then dive into the chimney like a smoky tornado in reverse, settling in for a long night of rest. A hawk or peregrine falcon usually makes a nightly appearance to try and catch one of the swifts. Onlookers audibly ooh, aah, cheer and clap as the birds circle the chimney, then drop in carefully or successfully dodge a hawk. Audubon volunteers are onsite offering swift details and history, collecting donations and perhaps selling a swifts hat or two.

Photo credit: lauriesharp.net

Picnics and Cardboard Hill Slides
For families, Swift Watch has become a marker of the season. Parents pack picnic baskets, bring chairs and blankets, invite friends and neighbors and find the best spot on the hill to watch. There’s sometimes even pizza for sale onsite, if you don’t have time to cook (or eat) before you arrive, but it’s better to plan ahead if you can.

If you do end up getting to the general area a little early, grab some Mexican food and margaritas at Acupulco’s Gold (2610 NW Vaughn St., 503-220-0283) or frozen yogurt with all the toppings you can handle at Twist Frozen Yogurt and Coffee Bar (1650 NW 23rd Ave., 971-271-8756).

For the bigger kiddos, Chapman School has become a destination also because of the mini-sledding, grass-covered hill. Kidlets of all sizes bring cardboard flats and slide down the massive hill, then climb back up and do it again. Chapman School and Wallace Park also have an excellent playground, making it a fantastic night of play, community and bird-gazing.

Photo credit: bird-friends.com

Good to Know
The NW neighborhood around Chapman School gets packed every night for thirty nights so they ask that you clean up after your clan and keep your pets in check. Parking can be tight. With many streets around the neighborhood, something can usually be found. Condense your gear though, it could be a multi-block walk and there are steep hills. Parking near Montgomery Park gives you a quick getaway after the birds have finished.

Chapman School and Wallace Park
1445 NW 26th Ave.
Online: audubonportland.org

Are the swifts part of your family’s fall tradition? If so, let us know in the Comments section below!

— Liz Overson

 

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A Parent’s Guide to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion

by Krista Morgan

There’s listening to live music, and then there’s listening to waltzes and show tunes on 32-foot-tall outdoor pipe organs at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. A San Diego landmark since 1914, it’s the perfect spot for kids to soak up music that goes beyond The Fresh Beat Band.

Explore the Organ
This one-of-a-kind organ contains 4,530 pipes ranging in length from mere inches to 32 feet tall, and weighs more than 100,000 pounds. It’s been entertaining audiences for the past 90-plus years with internationally acclaimed organists (like Dr. Carol Williams, the resident Civic Organist and Artistic Director of the Spreckels Organ Society) and featured guests including the San Diego Children’s Choir. This is a great way to get your kiddos introduced to live music performance.

Attend a Concert
One of the best things about Spreckels Organ Pavilion is that it provides incredible entertainment for free. Every Sunday, from 2-3 p.m., your family  can make your way to Balboa Park and not only witness an invaluable piece of San Diego history, but partake in music styles ranging from classical to contemporary.

The other awesome thing about the Pavilion is the summer concert series. There are free concerts from June through August, with visiting musicians featured every Monday evening starting at 7:30 p.m. (opening night of the 27th Annual International Summer Organ Festival is Monday, June 23). If you want weeknight entertainment, stop by Tuesday through Thursday for the Twilight in the Park concert series, starting June 17. These evenings tout a variety of bands that will remind you why live music is always a good idea.

Another reason we love the Spreckels Organ Pavilion is its beautiful outdoor space. Kids can pretend to be stars on the big stage (when there’s not a concert happening) while parents can relax in the Pavilion benches.

Hot Tip
Be sure to check out the Sunday concert calendar to view the upcoming afternoon lineups, and then start planning your family’s summer nights by visiting the summer events schedule.

Spreckels Organ Pavilion
1549 El Prado
Balboa Park
619-702-8138
Online: sosorgan.org

Have you taken your kids to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion? Tell us about the experience in the Comments!

— Krista Morgan

Photos courtesy of Robert Lang, Spreckels Organ Society

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