Muir Woods National Monument

We hadn't been here in years! Before we had kids, this was one of our favorite places to take family and friends when they came to visit us. It was really inexpensive and was just a good way to give visitors a taste of the redwoods. It used to be only a $2 entrance fee, now the price has gone up to $5. Still affordable, but thats quite a jump in price! Anyway, we decided to bring my husband's grandma here since she hadn't been to California before. It was still a great place to visit, but a little trickier with the kids....for some reason, although it is an outdoor park, it was so quiet and our kids aren't quiet! So we had a bit of a hard time keeping the noise level down as it seemed like everyone was trying to enjoy the quietness. The walking paths here are pretty level and best if you have a jogging stroller, although a regular stroller would work just fine. Again, the redwoods are just amazing and there is a ton of history in this park as it was declared the 10th national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. There is also a nice stream running through this park which is fun to watch. It gets pretty busy on the weekends and especially in the summer at this park, so be aware of that. Parking can be an issue. Stinson Beach is right nearby which is also a good stop.
There was a Dad here with his 3 young active boys, so it was good to see that we weren't the only ones with little ones, but it was still a bit awkward. I felt sorry for the Dad as you could tell he was a little worn out and these boys were just all over the place. We didn't stay as long as we might have before, but we still had a nice time and it did get pretty cool so be sure to bring jackets.

Mt. Diablo State Park

So I hadn't been to Mt. Diablo for years and when we had family visit, we decided to head up the hill! One thing to keep in mind: if you are scared of heights, this is probably not the place for you! I did not remember how high up this park goes and how steep the drive is! There is a $9 fee to enter the park if you don't have a park pass, so that is also something to keep in mind. I've heard that Rock City is a good place to take the kids to go rock climbing and my husband has taken the kids there, but this time we just drove about halfway up the hill to Copper Peak. There was a great flat path that we followed for a little ways. I'd like to take the kids back to just kinda spend the day and wander around. This is a fabulous place to go in the winter as there isn't much shade; just a great wide open space to get lost in and discover!

Oakland Zoo

Ok, so this one is kinda obvious, but I cannot emphasize how wonderful the Oakland Zoo is, especially in the winter!!! If you have children under the age of 5, I would definitely recommend getting a family pass. Its totally worth the money. The Oakland Zoo has reciprocity with other cool places like the Lindsey Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek, so you can definitely put that pass to good use.
So we hadn't been to the zoo in months, and my playgroup leader put it on the calendar and I was ecstatic! It had been kinda rainy, but we decided to go anyway and I was so glad we did! I hadn't really been to the zoo in the spring and it was just gorgeous! There were flowers blooming everywhere! What else was so great was that there was hardly anyone there. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. This zoo is great because the kids can get up close and see the animals really well. The giraffes are my favorite, but the lions, elephants, tigers, and alligators are cool too. The children's play area is perfect for kids to climb and explore. The hills also give everyone a good workout and are sure to tire everyone out which is always a plus.
The rides at the zoo are always a blast. During the winter not all the rides are open, but the kids don't seem to mind. The price has gone up a quarter since we had been there, but I give my kids a limit and we stay within that limit, or we'd be there all day! What was so cool about this day in particular was that there was so little activity that we got to ride a couple of rides for free! The workers just let us on which was really cool. I wouldn't go expecting this, but just be aware. A "bonus" of going during the off season. Of course, during the summer there is more activity, but going during the winter definitely has its pluses! Enjoy!

Big Basin State Park, Santa Cruz Mountains

So we are in the Santa Cruz mountains again....but there is so much to do here! This is another redwood park that is really gorgeous. It was a sunny day which was fabulous, but in the shade it was really pretty chilly. Before heading out on our hike, we had a nice picnic in a shaded area that was again, kinda cold. Be sure to bundle up! The kids enjoyed running around the picnic area taking bites of their lunch here and there. The hike we did was kinda long, but no one seemed to mind and we enjoyed going up part of the mountain and coming back down. There were signs for a waterfall and after talking to a few people who were returning from it, we learned that it was quite far and required most of the day to get there and back. We decided that it would be left best for when the kids get older, although it sounded amazing! The best part of the hike was taking pictures in the huge redwood trees. I really do feel small every time I step foot in one and realize how tiny and insignificant I really am, but how amazing and awesome God is for His majestic creation. It is wonderful that He loves even me!

Castle Rock State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains

This is one park where our State Park pass really came in handy. You have to be careful as it is easy to miss this park as you drive by on Skyline at the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The only indication that there is a park here is this random bunch of cars parked in what looks like a makeshift parking lot. There are lots of cars parked alongside the road outside the park as well, but the signs are small, so its hard to tell that the park is even there. Anyway, if you are lucky enough to get a spot in the parking lot, grab it! It is only a short hike up the hill before you get to the top where there are these amazing rock formations that are awesome for climbing! The kids and my husband had a wonderful time climbing and running through the formations. Throughout this area, you will find various groups actually rock climbing which is really cool to watch. Somewhere too there is supposed to be a waterfall, but we've never actually found it. We visited this park a few times and really loved it. Its great in both the summer and winter, but definitely bring warm stuff in the winter as it can get cold. And as always, the reason for us going hiking is as follows:

Sunol Regional Wilderness~ a gem of the East Bay!

Sunol is one of our favorite places to visit in the East Bay! What we like most is that it has a great wading creek winding through it. We mostly visit in the summer when it is hot out and the creek is nice and cool, but this time we went in the spring and we still had a lot of fun. In the summer, we camp out right under the bridge at the farthest end of the parking lot. We bring water toys (mostly buckets), towels, a lunch and our swimsuits and the kids spend hours just playing in the shallow water. They like catching insects and whatever else they find in the creek. There are also rocks they like to move around to create small dams and a ton of discovery they do along the creek bank. There is great shade along the bank so I just like to sit back and watch the kids play and discover. At the end of the day, the kids are pooped so we are able to take them home and have a nice quiet evening!

If you are into hiking a ways and it isn't too hot, you can hike to Little Yosemite which has some great rock areas for the kids to play in. On your way there, there are various places you can stop to play by the creek. No toys needed as there are plenty of rocks and sticks to play with. Various other hiking paths are strewn about through the park. I have heard that the wildflowers here in the spring are incredible although we haven't made it out there for that yet. Can't wait, though; thats next on the list!

Hidden Villa, Los Altos, CA

This started out as a fun day and turned into a loooong hike! I had been wanting to go to Hidden Villa for a while; it seemed like a unique place. Finally, one Saturday we went and it was another gorgeous California day! It was kinda weird figuring our way around once we got there....there really weren't any signs and no real good guidance in terms of where to go for hiking. It was obvious that there were other events happening day, so we didn't want to disturb anything that was going on either. So we quietly walked around, trying to find our way. On our left, it looked like a cabin where there was some sort of gathering like a birthday party. It was actually a really cute setting for something like that. Further up ahead on our right, there was a wedding about to take place. Again, a beautiful setting in a more modern building than the cabin we had passed earlier. As we walked on, there were some garage like structures that seemed to house old farming equipment and such. Kind of weird with a fancy wedding just across the way, but we continued on and ended up hiking for almost 3 hours! wow! It got kinda long toward the end, but when you don't know the area all that well, you just kinda have to keep going. I do remember the views being pretty amazing from the top. Los Altos is just a beautiful area....the houses are gorgeous and its such a beautiful area nestled there in the hills. Would definitely recommend this area to go hiking in. There's a ton to explore!

Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA

This place is a lot of fun and we definitely recommend it!!! I took the kids on a rainy day during the week and although it was a school day, didn't really encounter too much school group traffic. This hall of science is located on the UC Berekely campus and its kinda crazy getting there, but definitely worth fighting through Berkeley to get to. The hall is at the top of the hills in Berkeley and you get the most amazing views from the top, fog or no fog. I also remember getting a glimpse of the Bears stadium as we drove by which was REALLY cool! Anyway, be sure to pay for your parking on the way from the parking lot to the actual hall. Its not much, but you do have to pay. There is also an admission fee, but definitely worth it. There is a ton for the kids to experiment and just play with here! Lots to build with and discover. Its just a nice place to follow the kids around to whatever fits their fancy. There was a small science show that the kids really enjoyed and we had a great day! There is a cafe on the lower level, but I had brought a lunch which I think is a better idea as there is also an outdoor area off the main floor from where you can see the amazing views. This area also has an amazing water and sand feature that will entertain the kids for a loooong time! They can create dams and hop from stream to stream. This trip can also be combined with any of the trips in Tilden Park, but it might be a bit much as the park is so spread out. The whale out in front of the museum is really cool too; a great picture opportunity! Enjoy!

Shoreline Park, Mountain View, CA

This was another favorite park of mine when we lived in San Jose. Not too far away was Shoreline Park, home to the Shoreline Ampitheater. The park is right on the bay and has a lake, so it can get pretty chilly but on this day, the sun was out and we were comfortable. There are miles and miles of mostly flat biking paths, so I would highly recommend bringing a bike to this park. Its a great place to spend an afternoon biking and making stops along the way to observe the wildlife and as you loop back to the parking lot, making a stop at the ship play structure, which is so unique and fun for the kids to play on. I think what I loved so much about this park was the fact that they play structure was so different than all the other playgrounds we had been to. Its fun for the kids to pretend they are out at sea. Be sure to bring your sand toys as the ship is anchored in sand. There are lots of geese at this park, so you kinda have to watch for the poop, but the kids will enjoy seeing them. There is also a small cafe that serves mostly lunch and snacky type stuff. There are large grassy areas to run around in and small hills to explore. Whats also really neat about this park is that it really isn't very busy, no matter when you go. Most of the people there are walking and there are a few families that stop to play, but it doesn't seem like too many people know about it, so its a nice quiet, calm, serene park to go to. There also seem to be quite a few lake activities, like paddle boating, fishing, etc. although we've never tried any of those out. But this is definitely a hidden gem!

Alum Rock, Inspiration Point, San Jose

This hike would have been perfect except for one tiny detail. Although I knew we would be out hiking in the afternoon, first thing in the morning I decided I'd work out for an hour and then spend the morning putting together packages to be mailed in time for Christmas. All fine and good except that this hike was on a significant enough of an incline that it pretty much rendered me useless for the rest of the day: i.e. not able to make dinner. Or maybe it was the fact that despite my already worked over body, I decided to play tag and hide and go seek with the kids as we climbed to Inspiration Point. Either way, keep in mind that this hike itself is enough of a workout and you probably don't need to do much else for the day. Anyway, on to my story.

My parents were visiting for the weekend and it was Friday. My husband was tied up at work for the afternoon so knowing that my kids needed to get out and run around, I suggested we head to Alum Rock which I knew would give my kids the opportunity stretch their legs. Along with my parents and brother, we decided to head to Inspiration Point, which I would totally recommend. It was another glorious afternoon complete with sunny skies! The hike was just long enough to fill the afternoon and give us a great view of the surrounding hills. Once at the top, we were able to sit and recoop for a while, which was really fun. There was a big rock in the middle of the staging area at the top and Caleb quickly proceeded to set up a taco stand and sell tacos to each of us! I must tell you they were delicious and would highly recommend purchasing one if you are ever so lucky to make it to the top!

I remember thinking on the way down how fatigued my legs were, but didn't realize how badly fatigued till we arrived home and I collapsed on the couch. Once collapsed, there was no getting up! I couldn't get my legs to move. It would have been helpful had I had an inkling about what to make for dinner, but I didn't so I just continued to sit too overwhelmed by my physical state and lack of dinner planning to get up. Thankfully, Macaroni Grill provides take out and we were fed. I felt badly having guests and no dinner plan, but its the way it goes sometimes and thankfully my family didn't seem to care. We had had another great afternoon!

Samuel P. Taylor State Park, San Rafael, CA

This was one of our very first adventures as a family after having moved to California! It was Thanksgiving weekend and after celebrating Thanksgiving Day with 14 friends and family at our house, we decided to spend the rest of the weekend as a family being outdoors. Our first stop was Samuel P. Taylor State Park outside San Rafael. It took us a good while to arrive, but it was worth the trip! There really isn't anything more magnificent than the redwoods. They are majestic and so regal with how tall and straight they loom against the sky! Since it was November, it was chilly enough to feel like fall, but not too chilly where we were too cold.

After arriving we first stopped to eat our picnic lunch. We enjoyed the quietness and coolness the redwoods provided. The kids ran around and as you can see, Cora was plenty happy in her backpack carrier watching the goings on.

Once we were fed, we headed out. Since this was one of the first times we were out, we weren't quite sure what we were doing: where to go, how long to hike for, which direction to head in, etc. We figured it out though and were just glad to be out enjoying the great outdoors, not something we'd necessarily be doing in Minnesota that time of year with three young children. As we walked along, I was beginning to realize how important this was for my kids. They were so happy being out: exploring, jumping, running. Everything was new and exciting. More importantly, they weren't stuck in front of some computer or tv screen, their mind being numbed by the images animated before them. They were using their minds, taking in God's creation and gaining an appreciation for His majesty and artisic passion as a creator. This is the hope I had for my children as we embarked on these adventures. That they would see and grow to love the God that so artfully and intricately created the outdoors.

The damp smell of the redwoods invited us deeper into the forest and we kept walking. The sheer size of the trees was mezmerizing. The kids got such a kick out of being able to step inside the tree and feel like they were within a secret fort. We completed the short loop trail just as the sun was setting even though it was only about 3:30. It is amazing how much the temperature drops the minute the sun starts to go down behind the redwood canopy. We arrived back at the car in time to hop in and and return home to a cozy crock pot dinner. Another day well spent!

Joshua Tree National Park, Cottonwood Springs ~ Spring Edition

So this was our second time at Joshua Tree within the span of a few months. Again, its one of my favorite spots! This time around, the weather was much warmer which was nice. I put the kids in pants, more to protect their legs from scratchy bushes, not so much for warmth. I tried to keep their tops light and cool so that they wouldn't get too warm. We packed up a lunch with my mom and headed out! This was early April and there were a few school groups out which was fun to see. It reminded me of my own field trip to Cottonwood Springs.

So we found a shady spot under a bush and had some lunch. We let the kids run around for a while and then headed out on a little hike. It was a little warmer than we had anticipated, but we found a nice place for the kids to climb rocks and they enjoyed themselves. I love the scenery here; the desert is truly a beautiful place! We will definitely return!

Redwood Regional Park, Oakland

If you haven't checked this park out, I would highly recommend you go! We had an amazing day in the Oakland hills. This park would probably be best visited in the summer as there is heavy tree cover which provides a ton of shade. However, we visited in November and although it was nice when we started out, towards the end of the afternoon it got really cold! We started out at the playground, which on its own would be a great outing if you didn't have a whole afternoon. It has an amazing play structure, with a walking path going by it so bring the bikes and scooters! The playground is set in a huge clearing, which is great for a game of frisbee or catch. Just having a picnic at this park would be a great day.

After letting the kids play at the park for a little while, we decided to head out on our hike. There was some great scenery as we headed out; I loved the moss that grew on almost every tree, the green color was so vibrant! I took almost as many pictures of the park as I did of the kids! We started out on the path that went around the base of the hill, then headed up. The path was mildly steep for most of the way and the kids did a great job heading to the top. After a little while, it got really steep and my husband carried Nyah on his shoulders and I carried Cora. We would have never made it to the top with them trying to walk on their own; it was just too steep. We passed some mountain bikers on their way down ~ scary, but probably lots of fun. Once we got to the top, we realized we were directly across from Mt. Diablo and had some amazing views of it through the trees! At the top, the path leveled out for a while which was nice and gave us a chance to to enjoy our surroundings before heading down the hill and into the shade and coolness of the afternoon. Once we got to the bottom, the temperature was in the 40's so we were hurrying to get to the car as we were all getting cold. On our way to the parking lot, we passed a small group camp. I have no idea how they were camping out with the chilly weather, but they seemed to be having a good time.
Another amazing day out with my family....we plan to go back as there were many parking areas where we can stop and head out on a hike and explore. Can't wait!

Bishop Ranch Preserve

This is a great short hike close to home. I think this was Cora's first official hike on her own, free from the restraints of the backpack! And as you can see, she couldn't have been happier! Thankfully, she made it to the top without any major calamity, although there were a couple of times I was sure she was going to take a serious tumble down the hill. It was a great starter hike for her. Again, this hike was short, we were probably gone a total of an hour and a half to two hours. Sometimes, though that is all we need to get us out and have the kids run around for a while. What was neat about this outing was the dead tree limbs at the top of the hill which provided the kids with a lot of climbing when we reached it. For my husband and I there was the great view of the valley below. We encountered a few people on the way up and there was one guy with his two dogs. I forget what kind of dogs they were, but they were running around like crazy which the kids found entertaining. It was neat to see the dogs enjoying the beautiful day and having the space to stretch their legs and run around. As for us, we enjoyed our time at the top, then headed home.

Ano Nuevo State Reserve, Half Moon Bay, CA

This was a great trip! We headed to beautiful Half Moon Bay, CA to Ano Nuevo State Reserve to check out the elephant seals on what has been deemed "loser beach". Now, elephant seals.....I didn't really think about it, I just thought they'd be your everyday run of the mill seals; I thought "oh this will be nice for the kids to see seals in their natural habitat.'' Boy, was I in for a surprise! When they named these seals elephant seals, they weren't kidding! These guys are monstrous! It was January which is apparently mating season. Unfortunately these guys were unable to find mates, so they beach themselves to pass the time. How we are able to get so close to them I have no idea, but you can! The sign as you approach the beach says to stay 25 feet away. I'm not sure why you would want to get any closer?? Even though all these guys do is lay around (they could totally care less that we are anywhere near them) I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to get any closer than 25 feet.
Anyway, there were probably 5-6 seals spread out across the beach, giving the kids plenty of space to explore without bothering them. Did I mention the weather? It was HOT! Yes, you would think the beach in January would be freezing, but no....it was probably 80 that day. Of course I had put the kids in long sleeves and pants (or at least the girls) wanting to make sure they were warm enough. So unfortunately, I think we were all a little on the warm side that day. But besides that, we really enjoyed the day. We hung out for about an hour or so and then headed back down to Princeton by the Sea to Barbara's Fish Trap for dinner. What a great place to end our day! A nice casual atmosphere and good food. We'll be back!