One of my family’s favorite places to spend time in Gilbert is near the corner of Greenfield & Guadalupe. There you’ll find the beautiful Riparian Preserve right next to the Southeast Regional Library.
And, if you’re up for a longer walk, there is a third spot you could add in that is an absolute gem! Keep reading to learn more about how my family spends our time at these special spots.
The best part about this day of play is you can park your car once and have access to all of these spots! Not only does this make for an easy, one-stop day of play, but there is also something to do for the whole family.
If you’re looking for more FREE fun for your family, be sure to visit our events calendar that only shares free events for kids and families happening around the East Valley.
XO,
First Stop: The Riparian Preserve
The library opens at 10am (except on Sundays) so, if you’ve got early risers like me, your first stop will be walking the Riparian Preserve.
The Riparian has a lot to offer including walking over 4.5 miles of trails, wildlife sightings with opportunities to feed an endless amount of ducks, educational areas for outdoor enthusiasts, and a play area that includes shaded picnic tables and a sandy Dino dig.
Did I mention they also have several restrooms along the trails?
I personally like to park my car near the library’s entrance, walk along the North side of the library and catch the trail that leads to the first large body of water called Water Ranch Lake. There you’ll find a bridge with a bunch of ducks not-so-patiently waiting to be fed.
Bring a box of plain Cheerios or whole grain cereal and let the kids toss the cereal to the ducks! Or use a bag of frozen peas or corn as an ice pack for your snacks and double duty as a snack for the ducks. I’ve met and chatted with so many other Moms on this bridge because our kids end up sharing duck food with each other when one person runs out.
After we fill up some duck bellies, we continue along the bridge and head straight toward the play area where my kids get to climb all of the cool structures. Most of these are in the sun so when we need a shade break we enjoy a snack at one of the shaded picnic tables or continue East toward the Dino dig.
From here you can stop by the restroom before deciding to hit the trails or head back to the library for a break from the great outdoors.
Here are some other notable free activities at the Riparian:
- Walk with the Riparian Naturalist – a guided tour with a naturalist to learn more about the Riparian’s plants, animals and history
- Family Bird Walks – offered every third Saturday, October through March, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- The Early Birds – a birding club open to ages 7-13 that meets immediately before Family Bird Walks
- Observatory Viewing – view the stars during public viewing hours on Friday and Saturday evenings from sunset to 9:30 PM
If you’re not necessarily looking for free fun but low-cost fun, there are also several organized activities put on by the dedicated staff that are typically reasonably priced.
Second Stop: Southeast Regional Library
Anytime out-of-town guests come with us to the Gilbert library, they are always in awe of how big it feels inside and comment on how much natural light comes in from outside thanks to the extra-large windows all around the building. It is a beautiful space!
My kids and I love to attend story time, read through the assortment of board books, and complete puzzles by the window. Any Maricopa County resident can request a free library card here, although you don’t have to have a card to take advantage of the activities offered.
I’ve already put together a comprehensive list of FREE things to do at this library with ideas for different age groups. Check out the full review!
BONUS Third Stop: Carl’s Damaged Pet Warehouse
If you’re feeling like taking a hike, Carl’s Damaged Pet Warehouse is a 1-mile walk away from the library and you can access this gem on foot using the Riparian Preserve trails.
If it’s easier for you to just hop back in the car, Carl’s home is also about a 5-minute drive down the road. It’s a privately-owned residential property so there are no set hours, but it is perfectly situated on a bike trail for easy public access.
My family loves to pack food for and feed the farm animals, and I pack a lunch for all of us to enjoy at the big grassy area just across from Carl’s place afterward.
For a full review of what food to pack and what to expect when you get there, read the full post on Carl’s animal sanctuary.
I love this, these are all great places that we love to visit! However, please do not feed cereal (or bread) to the ducks, it really is not good for them! It fills their belly with processed food that doesn’t have the nutrition they need. Some better options are cut grapes, frozen peas or corn (can do double duty as an ice pack for your drinks/snacks!), chopped lettuce, oats, or birdseed.
Beth, thanks so much for the great suggestions! We will add these to our list when we update the post.
There are signs right by the lake that say whole grain cereal is approved feed to use, but I like your suggestions too!