Our Fabled Nest

Raleigh was an easy choice to celebrate our birthday girl, Magdalene! She is our lazy adventurer… the one that loves to adventure but at a much slower pace. She loves to meander, sniff, take in all the sights and sounds of the woodlands. Her favorite thing is to pitter patter by a creek for miles watching the fishes swim by and the birds fly over… she also loves to frequent the pet stores and watch her beloved fish and birds in their tanks too.

Raleigh is pet friendly and can be budget friendly! We knew, since we spent a bit more on the foods, treats and goodies for the birthday week, we wanted to keep the day trip cheaper. Among that, our other requirements were stress free, easy leisure, no hurry, no worry, walking kind of hike. I know, we have four huskies how possible is that actually going to be?! Fairly easy, if we’re being honest!

Since, living outside of Raleigh a few years ago, we knew exactly where to take the birthday girl for her date and picnic with the crew! Shelley Sertoma Park! While the Art Muesum Park crossed our minds, we decided against simply because we love the urban, nature sense the park gives versus the Art Park. Being a lot noisier, crowded and it just doesn’t have the same vibe as walking through the woods, by a lake nor trees towering overhead.

Situated about 15 minutes north of Raleigh, Shelley Lake is in a beautiful suburban, park like setting. Neighborhoods surround the park; it is off a main road. Yet, still feels rather secluded and more in touch with nature even with the winter chill and barren trees. Two paths are the options here. First, is the Mine Creek Trail – this one is considered the Ironwood Section as part of the greenway. At only 2.4 miles, reasonably easy, flat, paved and ADA friendly and safe! The second trail at 2.2 miles, which we chose, was the Shelley Lake trail.

Access points for the trail are both off of Millbrook Road. We parked at the top of the hill, where the bathrooms, picnic area and playground are located. The second parking lot at the bottom of the hill is a lot smaller and not shaded. Once parked, everyone had a bathroom break, Forrest locked and loaded in his stroller, we took off for the trail. Even though it seemed crowded, there was still plenty of parking in the upper lot.

This trail is amazing, and we can’t shout enough good things about it!! We got a paved, shaded, wide, easy to navigate trail! We got the views, Atticus loves! It’s safe for folks with different abilities! Stroller and wheelchair friendly! YAY! Magdalene, our lazy adventurer, can meander and sniff in the best lazy walk kind of way… Laveena even gets to sniff and see all sorts of new things and the best part??? Forrest… Happy tapping in his stroller as I push him along the boardwalk, up to trees, along the paved route all the while pointing out interesting things that seem to captivate honey eyes. As, we are both Pisces, Forrest and I become “distracted” with the little things and I love sharing this with him! Pushing him in his stroller allows me to see adventures in a new light… we “investigate” birds cooing and squirrel’s scampering. He nudges the bark on old pines and birches and poplars, he turns his head left and right just to get the correct angle to watch the ants slowly ascend the trees, and that buzzing of a honeybee is so mesmerizing we have to watch her lightly land on a budding flower. His gentle soul teaches me each adventure is a new day to reconnect. He keeps me in check, life is too precious to miss any detail. The small things make life grand!

A few things to mention- even though it is paved, and extremely safe, we still would caution on some of the steeper areas. Assistance may be needed due to it being closer to 12% grade but other than those steep areas – adventuring differently can happen here! Around the end of the trail where we crossed the levee, there is geese droppings everywhere…. it is a mine field and as long as your four-legged kiddos aren’t hungry (not ours) it is relatively easy to step around. Not ours though -they’re thinking it’s a free meal -gross, I know. All though we had those few snags, we still feel confident giving this place 4 Paws!

Speaking of food, there is no sense in going on an adventure, if food isn’t involved right? Well, this crew hikes for food…. as I said before, we are a bunch of foodies. We love a good meal especially after we’ve worked up an appetite! Today’s meal was more of a snack versus our usual after a longer more strenuous hike. As a kid, I loved nothing more than those turkey and cheese Lunchables. As an adult, there is nothing more fun than making our Adult Lunachables – customized and gluten free to make them what we love! Pepperoni for the hubs, Smoked ham and cheese for practically everyone. I, personally, love just cheese and crackers. So simple but so good. Broccoli, surprisingly, Laveena and Atticus would probably throw paws over who gets the first bite… it is a crowd favorite, and we seem to always have broccoli as a side to most meals. Of course, a birthday date wouldn’t be complete without some festive birthday cookies!

Cheers to our next adventure!