Family-friendly outdoor activities

Dry Hills Trail

Children who spend a lot of time outdoors benefit from exposure to nature in myriad ways, some of which may surprise even the most devoted outdoorsmen.

According to a 2006 study published in the journal Human Dimensions of Wildlife, fifth graders who attended school at a local prairie wetlands where lessons in science, math and writing were integrated in an experimental way had significantly stronger reading and writing skills than their peers who attended more traditional schools. Another study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that holding a class outdoors one day a week significantly improved the daily cortisol patterns of students, reducing their risk of stress and improving their ability to adapt to stress.

Parents who want their children to reap the rewards of being exposed to the great outdoors can encourage educators to incorporate nature into school curriculums 20 and also embrace these family-friendly outdoor activities.

• Nature treasure hunt: A treasure hunt in nature can keep kids engaged on family hiking excursions and provide an excellent opportunity for parents to teach children about the assortment of plants, birds and wildlife that live in the parks and along the trails near their home.

• Outdoor art class: Families don’t even need to leave their properties to spend quality time together outside. Pick a pleasant afternoon and set up an outdoor painting station, encouraging everyone to paint what they see. Fall is a great time to host an outdoor art sessions thanks to the assortment of vibrant colors that have become synonymous with autumn landscapes. • Bonfire: Outdoor activities need not be limited to daylight hours. A post-dinner backyard bonfire can entice everyone outside, where families can tell scary stories as they make s’mores. • Stargaze: Stargazing is another way families can spend time outdoors and learn a few things at the same time. Some blankets, a thermos of hot cocoa and a chart of constellations can provide the perfect complement to a sky full of bright stars. If visibility is compromised in the backyard, find a local spot where everyone can get a clear view of the night sky. • Fruit picking: Apple picking is a popular autumn activity, but families need not wait for the autumn harvest to enjoy a day picking fruit or vegetables at a nearby farm. Visit a local farm during its harvest season, teaching children about how the foods they love are grown and eventually make it to the family dinner table.

Families looking to spend more time together in the great outdoors can look to a number of activities people of all ages can enjoy.

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leaves hold onto their olive coloration longer, according to a fall color dial on the visitor bureau’s website.

Areas of the northern-most latitude will start to show color earlier than more southern areas. Generally speaking, the in late September and runs through early November for much of North America. Peak times for viewing depend on areas of travel and time of year. For large swaths of Canada and the United States, plan trips for late-September to midOctober. The Weather Channel offers maps and charts at www. weather.com/maps/fall-foliage for the peak times for many areas of the U.S.

For earlier colors, the visitors bureau recommends the inland leaf-viewing season begins

Street. tour of US-31. This three-hour, 175 mile route features the mature hardwoods of Manistee National Forest.

The coastline route, along with the nationally recognized M-22 highway, is suggested for later fall color tours.

While the area’s vibrant reds, yellows and oranges can be enjoyed throughout much of the season, Northwest Michigan is expected to see its peak leaf color between Oct. 1-17, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

For more information, visit the Visit Manistee County website at www. visitmanisteecounty.com/ fallcolor.

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The North Country Trail is principally a hiking trail that runs through the heart of the Manistee National Forest, but several sections are open to mountain bikes. They are allowed from the Marilla trailhead on Beers Road in northeast Manistee County to Dilling Road (21 miles) and from M-55 to Bowman Lake in Lake County (41 miles).

Be sure to consult maps available at at the Huron-Manistee National Forest website (fs.usda.gov/hmnf) so you know which sections of the trail are not open to mountain biking – such as the section between Dilling Road and M-55.

In northern Manistee County Arcadia the trails at Memorial Tree Park.

Dunes offers 12 miles of bike trails. The St. Pierre parking area is located on M-22 near the Manistee-Benzie county line.

Manistee County on M-115, has miles of biking trails for riders of all abilities.

The Betsie River Pathway winds for eight miles along the Bestie River. The first of two loops contains mostly flat terrain, winding through the woods for 6.6 miles. The second of the two loops is 2.8 miles that contains more varied terrain through meadow and wooded areas. The Betsie River Pathway connects to Crystal Mountain’s Aspen Trail.

The Betsie River Pathway trailhead is on Longstreet Road, just northwest of Crystal Mountain.

The City of Ludington is home of the Ludington Urban Singletrack Trail System.

There are three sections of trail linked by streets. The School Forest section, accessible from Bryant Road or Sherman Street, is fairly flat and offers mixed use trails that are wider for beginners. Once comfortable on the mixed use, riders can transition to the singletrack trails in Memorial Tree Park, located on Ivanhoe

The third area is the Dragon at Cartier Park, located on Lakeshore Drive. There is a bike trail connecting the Dragon and Crystal Mountain, located just north of

Maps are available at shorelinecyclingclub.org.

The longest dedicated bike trail in the area is the Betsie Valley Trail, which runs 22 miles from Thompsonville to Frankfort in Benzie County. Trailhead parking is available in Thompsonville, Beulah, Elberta and Frankfort. Visit betsievalleytrail.org for more information.

BICYCLE ROUTES

For those of us who prefer bicycling on hard surfaced roads, there are plenty of places for safe riding in this part of Michigan, including two U.S. bicycle routes that converge in Ludington.

The federal bicycle routing system identifies the best roads for long-distance cycling.

U.S. Bicycle Route 20 is an east-west route of just over 300 miles from Marine City on the east side of Michigan to Ludington on the west. Route 20 enters the area in Lake County, running through Luther and then on to Free Soil and then Ludington.

U.S. Bicycle Route 35 is a 500 mile northsouth route that runs from Indiana through Michigan – entering the state at New Buffalo and generally following the Lake Michigan shoreline to the Mackinaw Bridge and through the Upper Peninsula to Sault Ste. Marie.

In northwest Michigan, route 35 runs through the most beautiful scenery from Ludington to Manistee, Onekama, Arcadia and Frankfort on the way to the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Suttons Bay and Traverse City. Maps of U.S. bicycle routes are available at michigan.gov/mdot.

TAKE IN THE CHANGE. The changing landscape of Ludington's unspoiled natural resources offers a quintessential “Up North” experience close by. Pure Ludington delivers the perfect combination of unrivaled outdoor recreation and quaint, small-town charm –all within easy reach located at the intersection of U.S. 31 and U.S. 10. Now is the time to get up and go.

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