Tweet

As the dreariness of staying inside grows among families and individuals, I seem to see more and more people escaping to our nearest state parks. Personally, I go to state parks a lot because they are my quiet place to walk and look at all the trees. The trails have been more crowded lately.

• 

The impact of the coronavirus has made it so more people are wanting to leave their house and go out. They also have more free time to do this due to unemployment and their kids being out of school. The state parks are flooded by people, exercising, playing, walking their dogs and riding their bikes. Since I am also unemployed because of coronavirus, I have spent most of my quarantine days at State Parks enjoying the weather and watching people.  

Lately, I find that I am going to parks at night to escape the crowds of people and practicing my preferred type of social distancing. 

My current favorite is Greenwood Park over by the Des Moines Art Center. During the night I like to walk along the train tracks with a couple of friends and enjoy the scenery. Walking during night makes for a different kind of adventure. I find it is relaxing to not have anyone else around, especially the bikers who run you off the trail.

During the day, I have been driving around to different state parks like Browns Woods, Ledges, Red Rock Lake and Dale Maffit Reservoir. They all have their own character. At Ledges, you can climb high on to the ledges and look over the rest of the park. Browns Woods offers a trail that goes in a loop and can give you great exercise, and Dale Maffit Reservoir is a hidden gem located in West Des Moines that is perfect for a picnic on a beautiful day.  

Whether by day or night, I encourage you to give one of these parks a try.