By Tim Engstrom, AlbertLeaTribune.com

It had been too long since we walked at the local state park. And besides, our boy can walk and loves to do it.

Well, until he gets tired.

Lisa is my wife. Forrest is our son. Alta is our pooch. The four of us hopped in our station wagon and headed to Myre-Big Island State Park for a nice walk in nature on Sunday.

There were campers all over the place. I guess they like our local nature showcase. It&8217;s a good park.

Forrest is 15 months old and enjoys his new talent to get everywhere.

On Saturday, we were at a city park in Ames, Iowa, for a friend&8217;s graduation celebration. The kid walked everywhere. So on Sunday, his legs probably were tired, but there he was, walking down the trail like anyone else, only a little slower. It&8217;s good for children to play outside, and this child loves to be outside. Typical boy, he&8217;s not afraid to get his hands dirty, slimy, whatever.

We started off on crushed limestone but soon veered into a grassy trail. Forrest walked for a short while, but finally decided he&8217;d rather be carried.

So I carried him. Then Lisa. Then me. Then a sit-down break. Then Forrest fell through the space between the bench seat and the backing. Waa! Then definitely Lisa.

The best part for the toddler was interacting with nature: bugs, flowers, leaves, grasses, sticks, clovers, dandelions. He enjoyed looking at this swampy wetlands we encountered and grabbing the tall grasses on its edge.