As the weather has been warming up, we’ve been seeing more and more lizards on our walks. I believe these little guys (they are about 3-5 inches long) are Western Fence Lizards. We have them all over the place here in the East Bay. Maybe your child(ren) would like to go on a walk toContinue reading “Look for Lizards”
Take a Trash Collecting Walk
To celebrate Earth Day today, my son asked if we could walk around our neighborhood and collect trash. He’s been totally into this activity since last summer, when he earned his Junior Ranger badge on one of our visits to Yosemite. The ranger made a big point about continuing to be a ranger after weContinue reading “Take a Trash Collecting Walk”
Family Hike, Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, Oakland
After several days stuck home due to sickness, my husband, son, and I headed out today for a short hike through the Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve in the Oakland Hills. The 1.7 mile Huckleberry Path seemed about the right distance, and I’ve heard from many sources that it’s a great hike to do with aContinue reading “Family Hike, Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, Oakland”
Book Recommendation: Best Hikes with Kids, San Francisco Bay Area
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area (or plan to visit) and you have kids and enjoy hiking, you should have Laure Latham‘s (aka Frog Mom) book, Best Hikes with Kids, San Francisco Bay Area, in your personal library. When this book first came out last year, I checked it out from theContinue reading “Book Recommendation: Best Hikes with Kids, San Francisco Bay Area”
Earth Day 2012
How do you plan to celebrate Earth Day this weekend? Assuming my son is feeling better (he has a horrible sore throat today), on Saturday we will head to Crissy Field in San Francisco for Earth Stroll 2012. Sounds fun… “Adventurous activities and games, hosted by some of the Bay Area’s leading environmental organizations, willContinue reading “Earth Day 2012”
Thank You! Liebster Award & Versatile Blogger Award
I’ve recently been given two blogging awards by fellow bloggers, and I want to give a big thank you to the two bloggers who thought of me. First, I want to thank Family Outdoor Adventures for recognizing my blog with the Liebster Award. Even more, I want to thank them for writing their blog aboutContinue reading “Thank You! Liebster Award & Versatile Blogger Award”
Amazing Animals Scavenger Hunt, Oakland Zoo
We’ve had a membership to the Oakland Zoo for over three years now. We visit frequently, as it is a beautiful place to run around, with a great Children’s Zoo for the kids. And what better way for a child to see, in relatively close and safe proximity, wild animals from around the world. UsuallyContinue reading “Amazing Animals Scavenger Hunt, Oakland Zoo”
Take a “Signs of Spring” Walk
The wildflowers are starting to bloom, new leaves are growing on the tips of branches, gardens are beginning to sprout… this is the time to take the kids out for a walk to look for the signs of spring. This can be a quick walk around the neighborhood or the park, an exploration of yourContinue reading “Take a “Signs of Spring” Walk”
Simple Outdoor Play: Go to the Park
Need a bit of healthy, energy-expending outdoor time for your child(ren), but not sure what to do? Keep it simple. Go to the park. Any park. Just let them run around. Bring a bike or a scooter, and let them ride. Bring some balls, and kick them around. Climb on the play structures. Swing onContinue reading “Simple Outdoor Play: Go to the Park”
Tartan Day Scottish Fair, Ardenwood Historic Farm
Sunshine and warmth… much appreciated after a week of storms! And a beautiful day to celebrate our Scottish heritage. We attended the Tartan Day Scottish Fair, held today at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. The bagpipes, the fiddlers, the people walking around in traditional dress, the highland games, and historic reenactments were all interesting, butContinue reading “Tartan Day Scottish Fair, Ardenwood Historic Farm”
Family Bike Ride, Bayview Trail, Coyote Hills Regional Park
The 3.5 mile, paved Bayview Trail in Coyote Hills Regional Park is perfect for the beginning cyclist. I consider a good bike route for my son to be relatively flat, separate from cars, and under five miles. This trail seemed about right. My four-year-old had a little trouble with a slight hill at the beginningContinue reading “Family Bike Ride, Bayview Trail, Coyote Hills Regional Park”
This Saturday… Sunol Wildflower Festival!
One of our favorite Bay Area festivals, the Sunol Wildflower Festival, is being held this Saturday, April 14th. We attended this the last two years, and my son (then age 2 and 3) and I both loved it. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to attend this year, but I’ve been telling everyone I know toContinue reading “This Saturday… Sunol Wildflower Festival!”
Urbia Adventure # 1: Treasure in the Hills of San Francisco
Aargh, Batman… there’s treasure in yonder hills! OK, so pirate speak and Batman don’t really go together, but I can’t seem to get my little one out his Batman raincoat these days… not even for a bit of treasure seeking. We had an unexpected break in the rain today, so we drove into San FranciscoContinue reading “Urbia Adventure # 1: Treasure in the Hills of San Francisco”
Solo Hike, Rocky Ridge View Trail, Las Trampas, San Ramon
With summer only a couple months away, it’s time to begin training for summer hiking in the Sierras. Also, after the social and kid-oriented Easter festivities yesterday, I really needed to regroup this morning with a little alone time. I also felt the need for some exercise after the feast at my parent’s house yesterday. Continue reading “Solo Hike, Rocky Ridge View Trail, Las Trampas, San Ramon”
Outdoor Art: String Painting
We did this art activity at the Chabot Space Center‘s Tyke Explorer class last week. When I asked my son if he’d like to do this again at home, he said, “yes, but we’ll have to do it outside.” I asked him why, and he said, “it would be WAY to messy to do inContinue reading “Outdoor Art: String Painting”
Urbia Adventures: Exploring Nature in San Francisco
A friend recently told me about some fun-looking educational treasure hunting booklets created and sold through the Urbia Adventure League. These booklets were created based upon the concept of letterboxing (which I wrote about last week), but add so much more. Each booklet has at least ten pages packed full of information and activities designedContinue reading “Urbia Adventures: Exploring Nature in San Francisco”
Solo Time
As much as I love my family and friends, sometimes I need to get out into nature for a little alone time. Today my husband suggested he take our son to a friend’s sixth birthday party, so that I could go out for a hike. Hm… birthday party with ten or more kids, spun outContinue reading “Solo Time”
Nature Walk, Redwood Regional Park, Oakland
My favorite spot in the San Francisco East Bay to take kids for a nature walk is Redwood Regional Park, but, for a variety of reasons, we haven’t visited the park for a few months. We had a break in the rain late this week, so we headed to the park for a walkContinue reading “Nature Walk, Redwood Regional Park, Oakland”
Letterboxing: The Search for the Gingerbread Man
I’m happy to report that our first letterboxing experience was (mostly) a success. For our first outing, I wanted to do a search that was, 1) relatively easy, and 2) close to home. After searching on letterboxing.org for boxes hidden in Dublin, California, I was glad to find there was a box hidden in DublinContinue reading “Letterboxing: The Search for the Gingerbread Man”
Letterboxing: Getting Ready for the Hunt
Letterboxing has been around forever (well, at least, a few hundred years), but I just learned about it within the past year. Though I’ve been interested in trying it out with my son, it somehow seemed a bit overwhelming just to get started. But now I’m ready to begin. If you’re new to letterboxing, likeContinue reading “Letterboxing: Getting Ready for the Hunt”
hike.wander.wonder 