San Diego Union Tribune – Relaunch Into Summer Adventure with a Family-Focused Backyard

“Skip the molded plastic and set your sights on long-term, fun-friendly space that all can enjoy.”

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Unique and Playful:  Traci Taylor and Joe Metcalf’s backyard in their Mission Bay area home is arguably the family’s favorite spot to hang, quite literally. Back when the home was purchased in 2005, the couple seized the opportunity to build around their beloved Brazilian pepper tree. This treehouse soon became the family’s ever evolving project.

“A spiral staircase leads up into the 150-square-foot, multilevel treehouse, although there are also a couple of other ways to enter. The structure’s main level is approximately 10 feet by 12 feet — spacious enough for the children to lug up beach chairs and set them out, says Golden, “but Taylor said her kids usually bring a blanket or beach towel and picnic in the space. There’s even a pulley to send up lunch.”

“The playhouse is also a nice escape for Mom and Dad, who sometimes go up and enjoy a cocktail hour. But the playhouse may be the most conventional part of the yard” says Taylor to Golden. “We looked at getting a jungle gym, but it was too small for us, as parents, to play on,” Taylor further explained.

Traci and her husband made it their next mission to source pieces such as rings, swings and other types of apparatuses that were big enough for them to play on, in addition to their children. As their additions grew, so has their amount of time invested hanging in their optimized backyard oasis.

Read more on the following article by Caron Golden on the details of Traci and Joe’s backyard, as well as tips from Traci on how to create an authentic backyard of your own. SDUT

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