Lack of simple access to hilly or remote regions shouldn't hinder your exploration. Small children's finest treks are ones nearest to their homes, which families may repeatedly return as their kids become older. Living in Cincinnati, Ohio, Maggie Young-Lipschutz visits the 125-acre Stanbery Park trails with her six- and three-year-old children. "My husband and I consider Stanbery the best-kept secret in Cincinnati. Trail jogging, hiking, and kid-oriented stream play are all great activities geometry dash in this lovely location. Over the months, we have visited this park often and even participated in family trash collection events to assist to maintain its beauty.

Pennsylvania native Barrie Nager travels to Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia while staying near home. Situated in the center of a city, this region has 57 miles of paths and is rich in woodlands, meadows, and Wissahickon Creek. "For a city hike, there is nothing better," claims Nager. "Wissahickon is an incredible resource for so many people."

A healthy challenge for smaller people, Lily Marsh is an almost two-and- a-half-mile out-and-back track that winds through the forest and past swampy wetlands finishing in breathtaking vistas of Payette Lake. Why might children find it appealing? "Hucksters," explains Boise-based mother of five-year-old twins Sally Spaulding. "When you're trekking this simple and generally shaded path, check out the bushes; you could just be rewarded with a tasty trailside feast. Usually around July, my children devour these tiny beauties—ripe in the summer. We love swimming at Payette Lake and camping in Ponderosa State Park; this trek inside the park is a great choice for adults and small children seeking a fun-filled day of mountain hiking and swimming.