We often find the best family stops are the ones where you think you are heading one way, realize you are not quite where you meant to be, and end up finding something even better.
That was pretty much how this visit started.

My daughter and I first tried one of the outer trails near Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary in Red Deer, thinking we could access the sanctuary that way. We quickly learned that the main entrance is through the Kerry Wood Nature Centre area, although there are perimeter trails around the outside.

Once we found our way over to the Nature Centre, the visit became much more than just a trail stop.

The Kerry Wood Nature Centre building was closed while we were there, but there was still plenty to explore outside. Interpretive signs around the property introduced us to the natural history of Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary, including how the lakes were formed, while labelled trees and educational displays turned a simple wander into a bit of outdoor learning.

Then we found the really fun part!

Imagination Grove is a nature-based playground filled with logs, climbing areas, tunnels, wooden structures and plenty of places for kids to balance, crawl, climb and make up their own adventures. It feels much more like playing in the woods than visiting a traditional playground, which was exactly why my daughter loved it.

Right beside it is the Harmony Garden, where kids of all ages can experiment with different ways of making music using wood and metal features. It was one of those areas where you do not really need instructions. You just start tapping, banging and testing things to see what sounds they make.

We also wandered through the Jean Nichols Wildflower Garden, explored the many interpretive displays and explored more of the grounds surrounding the Nature Centre.

Kerry Wood Nature Centre and Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary sit in a beautiful natural area near the Red Deer River, making this an easy family-friendly outdoor stop while exploring Red Deer, Alberta.

We did eventually head into the Gaetz Lakes trail system too. But for this album, it is all about playgrounds, music, gardens, trees and the kind of unexpected exploring that makes a simple stop a lot more fun.