After a long day, we were all a bit worn out. We were standing in the kitchen at home when my wife said, “We should go for a hike.” She didn’t mean it, and I didn’t want to go, but in the moment I decided to call her bluff and fired back, “Okay, let’s go change.” And with that, we were off!
We hopped into the truck with the boys, ready to hike before we even discussed where we were going. Alli suggested, “What about Stadium Park in Atascadero?” and the decision was made. Stadium Park was a good choice; it’s only about a 10-minute drive from our house, and even though it is nearby, we had only been there one other time. It offers a couple of different loops, both around 2 miles with an elevation gain of about 500 ft. Basically, it’s enough to get your heart pumping and offer some beautiful views of the coastal mountains and blue oaks, but not so much that it will take more than a couple hours.
As always, as soon as we hit the trail, the boys took off ahead, excited to explore and be the first to see what’s around the next corner. With water and a few snacks in my backpack, we headed up the hill. It was a warm afternoon, and it didn’t take long for me to start feeling the sweat roll down my back and the familiar burn in my legs.
The hillsides were covered in flowers. The trail was in full bloom with yellow, purple, and white flowers dancing in the breeze across the sprawling landscape. As we continued to head up to the top of the peak, my 6-year-old spotted the monolith at the top and made a break for it. It is a strange sight to see at the top of the trail and an unexpected but fun surprise for the boys. After snapping a few pictures, we continued on.
As we began our descent, we had to keep reminding the kids not to run. They only partially listened. As they raced to the bottom, they found a tree that was irresistible. It might as well have had a sign that said, “Climb me.” After climbing the tree, they moved on to balancing on logs and jumping off fallen trees. The forest became a full-on gymnasium for the boys. My wife and I agreed it was a great way to let them burn off some extra energy.
Before heading back to the truck that waited for us at the trailhead, we stopped to eat our oranges and drink some water while checking out the sign at the entrance that educated us about all the flora and fauna we had just seen on our journey. It was the perfect afternoon adventure and one we will likely do again very soon.
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