Vacations Blog

Lake Balboa, of the Encino Balboas

You’ve traveled to a famous city with your children.  You’ve hit the amusement park, the museums, the beach, the snow, the slopes, whatever that city is famous for.  You’ve driven, shopped, eaten, and listened to the whining, and done some yourself.  You’re tapped – physically and financially…but you still have a day or two of vacation to kill.

I humbly suggest going to the park.

Every city has parks.  Some are decent and well-run and some are downright scary.  A little research ahead of time will help you find some diamonds in the rough, however.  Talk to the locals, do a keyword search on the internet, and don’t forget the city or county’s parks and recreation department.  Many municipalities have very well-developed websites that catalogue and offer contact information for their network of parks and facilities, so you can find a park close to where you are staying or one that is accessible by mass transit.

Los Angeles is home to a great number of parks, Griffith Park being its most famous.  But don’t let that big brother make you think he’s the only show in town:  there are so many local parks that are well-maintained and safe and offer the exact same thing:  a place for your children to run around and tire themselves out so you can get some rest.  In the San Fernando Valley, one of the most popular is Lake Balboa/Anthony C. Beilenson Park.

The fancy upgraded park at Lake Balboa

Lake Balboa is a man-made home for ducks and geese and all manner of local water fowl.  Surrounding the lake is a network of paved paths for walking, running, biking, and scootering.  Two play areas host universal playground equipment that was just installed this year.  Several pavilions dot the grounds for parties and barbeques.  Families congregate, children play, dogs frolic, horses trot.

Universally accessible playground equipment

Separate areas for big and little kids

It's educational, too!

Inexpensive treats and activities are available – ice cream trucks are ever-present on weekends.  On the far side of the lake there is a dock where pedal boats can be rented:  $9 per 30 minutes for a family of four (kids must be 3 feet tall) and payment is cash only with picture ID.

Pedal boats for rent

Just across the parking lot from the dock, a company rents out quadracycles – cycling vehicles that look like this:

Quadracycle, courtesy of SurreyCompany.com

True, you can probably go to a park at home.  But when you are in a new city, the kids need something familiar to ground them, and what is more second-nature to a child than running free at a park?  Plus, you get a better feeling for the nature of a city when you’re doing something as simple as playing.

Playing!