Small preserve packed with some fun activities. 
 

Set just off a quiet residential street, you might never notice that the Tanglewood Preserve and the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL) were there, unless you spotted the wooden sign on the busy highway a few blocks away. But wander past the parking lot of this nature preserve, and your kids will find themselves in a wooded oasis!

The park is small, at only 11 acres, but that makes it quite manageable, even with young kids! We love to do a circuit of the pond in every season because there’s always something new to see. Look for animal tracks in the snow in the winter, downy goslings and ducklings in the spring, and lush lily pads that cover the water come summertime. The deck that juts out into the water provides a fantastic overlook, and is popular with kids of all ages.

The path is relatively even, paved in parts and grass in others, and makes a nice loop with a jogging stroller as long as your wheels can handle a bit of terrain. A walk through the dirt path on the other side of the preserve crosses over wooden bridges and through shady trees, and is the perfect spot for nature exploration.

CSTL also houses an exhibit of animals, mainly reptiles and birds. The blue-tongued skink is a favorite! A forthcoming dinosaur exhibit is slated to open in the summer of 2019. There are bathrooms on site (although no changing tables), as well as picnic tables under the trees for a snack or lunch.