Exploring all areas of the parks to locate unseen magic is our jam. That means checking out kid’s play areas, bathrooms, restaurants, shows, queues, attractions, shops and more. We have felt like we have seen all areas of the parks in our years of visiting and we are always amazed at how much we have yet to discover. As we were walking past the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail we looked at each other and said, “I’ve never been in there.” So, in we went. The first stop was the map just at the entrance. We knew there were a few hidden Mickeys on the map. Our first adventure was discovering where they were hidden.
The first one is in the lower left hand corner by the Ahwanee Camp Circle. There are three logs that form a Mickey head.
Another one can be found in the top left corner in the stream between Hibernation Hollow and Squirrel Scramble. Look for three rocks in the stream posing as our favorite mouse.
The third one is left of the middle of the map, by the Hoot-N-Holler Logs. At the bottom of the slide on the left there is a Mickey waiting to be found.
As we continued inside the area we felt like we had stepped into an actual forest of Redwoods. If you, or your kids, are feeling a bit of sensory overload, this is a great place to escape and unwind for a bit. We had a great time just strolling through enjoying the scenery. Even though there were crowds of people and kids running through the play areas we still felt a sense of peace and quiet.
If your kids are feeling constrained in their strollers and they just need to run and release some energy, head to the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. It is a big area so you will need to stick with your kiddos to keep them in your sight. We enjoyed climbing up the towers, jumping on the net bridges and going down the slides. Obviously, this is a kids play area, but parents and adults can explore as well. Just keep in mind that there are little kids everywhere and to keep your movements and speed under control.
One of our favorite secrets we found was in the Spirit Cave towards the back of the park. There is a glowing rock where you place your hand and after it “reads” your energy your spirit animal is revealed. There is a sign just outside the cave to explain the attributes of your spirit animal. It was a fun activity that kids and adults can do together. The spirit animal characteristics definitely sparked some conversation in our group. Are you industrious as the beaver? Strong-willed as the salmon? Loving as the bear?
The area is quite shady and there are many benches available to sit and relax. You could pull out your PB&J that you packed into the park and enjoy your lunch. You can watch the kids, and adults, attempt to cross the net bridges, or try to sneak in a little nap if you can find a quiet spot.
The unseen magic of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail area is in just the area itself. It is a part of the park that is less likely explored because it doesn’t have a ride or a show or traditional Disney characters. It is worth a few minutes or several minutes of your day to soak in all the details and to experience a complete change of scenery.