Core area secrets

I remember as a young girl having a secret place that was close to home, but made me feel far away. A fort in a vacant field, or a loft in an abandoned barn, even underground tunnels, these places were my neighborhood destinations. What are your neighborhood destinations? Places close by where you can go to escape for an evening walk, or a Saturday picnic or just to get away for an hour.

The Matanuska River Park at Mile 17 Old Glenn Hwy., across from the Palmer Municipal Airport, is where I go most often.

There are more than 100 acres of trails, camping spaces, picnic and play areas in the old-growth cottonwood and birch forest. Maintained by the Mat-Su Borough, road access through the park is only available in the summer months when camping is permitted.

The rest of the year visitors park at the gate, where a handmade sign welcomes them in seven different languages.

The appearance immediately reminds me of campgrounds our family stayed at in the 1960s. There is no pavement and the forest floor is undisturbed.

Miles of trails fork off the campground loops to views high above the Matanuska River. In winter, the camping and day-use areas are groomed for cross-country skiers.

It is during these fall, winter and spring months that the only visitor you may encounter is a resident moose or sly fox.

Adjoining the park are the Sherrod soccer and softball complexes. The land for the park was originally purchased and donated by Max Sherrod, one of the original farming pioneers.

The day-use area and RV camping site used to be rows of cabbage and lettuce. Whether you walk the campground loops, explore the park on one of six marked trails or play in its open spaces, you will find yourself returning to this clandestine place.

Close to home and hidden behind the Palmer High School parking lot is the entrance to a maze of well-groomed trails.

Named in honor of runner Michael Janecek, these trails are the training ground of student cross-country runners during season, but available year-round to residents who enjoy a walk away from traffic.

The track of land between the high school and Palmer Carrs store is woven with hilly trails in a dense wooded forest. My first visit to these trails left me in fear of getting lost, but it soon turned into a favorite destination just minutes from my doorstep. (Actually, it is my dog Alice's favorite destination.)

Last summer my husband and I discovered another destination one evening when we decided to leave the lawn chairs of our driveway.

Looking at our boat and trailer at 9:30 p.m., we decided it was a perfect evening for a boat ride, but we weren't about to head to Big Lake or Lake Louise at that hour.

Fifteen minutes later we were launching at Finger Lake State Recreation Site off Bogard Road. We motored around the beautiful calm lake.

It felt as if we were 100 miles from our home, away from the telephone, television and never-ending lawn chores. It was such a perfect evening.

We are so fortunate to have these destinations in our neighborhood. Have you taken advantage of the secret places in your neighborhood?