Are we ready to take a long hike with our little boys?

Today was the Willow Glen 5K a big fundraiser for our elementary school. We signed up the family to walk, after all 5K is a little over three miles. I also had an ulterior motive. I was curious as to whether our family had now graduated from nature trail to more serious hikes.

By serious, we're not ready to climb half dome, yet... But it would be great to do some hikes in the three to five mile range.

Taking up the rear we finished the walk/run in one hour and 40 minutes. Not too bad. And although Xander's "socks were on fire" in the last mile we made it without too many complaints.

So now we just need to find a great five mile hike in our area, pack a picnic lunch and head out. It has been more than four years since we've taken a hike that was more than one mile, and I can't wait to get the boys out and about and explore some nature.

Take a hike: Sanborn Park

When I was eight years old my sister and I led a hike in upstate New York. It the first the time I remember hiking, although we spent plenty of time playing in the woods behind our house. We ended up in the dump. Despite the smell, I love hiking.

So, last year my husband and I started to take our preschoolers on hikes. On our first trip we decided on San Antonio Park in Mountain View, Calif. It is a very accessible park with tennis courts, and a hillside where people fly kites. It is also so popular that parking is scarce. After our first well intentioned visit, we left without a parking space, we discovered almost by accident Sanborn County Park in Saratoga, Calif.

Sanborn is a very special park. First it includes 3,688 acres of wooded land and trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It reminds me a little of Big Basin State Park, but without the crowds. Second it has a fabulous nature trail that is perfect for preschoolers. It is short, but not paved. There are large tree caves, and magical bridges to cross. The boys love hiking there.

We don't go as much as I'd like, but every two months or so we go for a hike at Sanborn Park. The boys run ahead of us on the trail squealing. We stop and listen to the wind rustling in the trees. We take a look in the pond, and we try to find fish in the creek. We play in an old hallowed out tree. In short we have a relaxing adventure, and commune with nature.