I have been pretty grumpy lately. We all have times like that in our lives when nothing seems to be going our way. For various reasons, this is one of them for me. But I’ve discovered that one sure-fire way to turn my bad mood around is to get out of the house and into nature with the kids.
Thankfully, we’re lucky enough to live in a part of the world where natural beauty and outdoor recreation are accessible and abundant. Right now my favourite local getaway with the kids is Buntzen Lake [map]. On a weekday afternoon it’s not too busy, and the water is just the perfect end-of-summer temperature. There is a sandy beach for the kids to play on, lots of picnic tables, a dock and boat launch and the ever-important flush toilets. Or if you’re up for a hike you can follow the walking trails.
We encountered some local wildlife on a recent visit, including a squirrel who stole a peanut butter sandwich right off our table. It was truly impressive, the sandwich was almost as big as he was and he ate it really, really quickly. I tried to stop him because I’m pretty sure PB & J isn’t good squirrel food, but he was too fast for me. So learn from our mistake and don’t leave your food uncovered. 
Here are some photos I snapped at the lake:
What about you? Do you have any favourite local get-aways? Or any tips for fending off the squirrels at Buntzen Lake?
(Image of the sign from our friend Raul at hummingbird604.com)
