I love to watch my son enjoy a beautiful view… The Minaret Vista is a short drive from Mammoth Lakes, on the road to Devils Postpile. From here, you have wonderful views of the Minarets (the jagged, toothy peaks in the 2nd photo), Mount Ritter (13,157 ft), and Banner Peak (12,945 ft).
Category Archives: Travel
This Weekend! Harvest Festival, Ardenwood Historic Farm
Another of our favorite festivals is coming up this weekend… the Harvest Festival at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. This is such a fun festival for kids! The highlight of this event for us is the corn picking. How often do kids get to head into the fields and hand-pick corn?? My son (then four)Continue reading “This Weekend! Harvest Festival, Ardenwood Historic Farm”
South Tufa Trail, Mono Lake
On Friday, during our trip to the Eastern Sierras, we enjoyed a hike on the South Tufa Trail at Mono Lake, California. This is a short, flat 1-2 mile trail, perfect for kids, with a lot to see…. fun limestone rock formations, a salt-water lake, views of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the west, ancientContinue reading “South Tufa Trail, Mono Lake”
Butterfly, The Fen, Yosemite Valley
Quite a few of these beautiful butterflies were fluttering around “The Fen” in Yosemite Valley on Saturday morning. Haven’t heard of “The Fen”? It’s one of my favorite little spots in Yosemite Valley. It’s a short boardwalk trail through a marsh. If you follow the trail from the Happy Isles shuttle stop to the NatureContinue reading “Butterfly, The Fen, Yosemite Valley”
Fall Foliage, Rock Creek, California
Each year, for our anniversary, my husband and I celebrate with a little trip to Yosemite and/or the Eastern Sierras. One of the things we hope to see each year is the fall foliage. Sometimes we’re lucky, sometimes we’re not. This year, the display was stunning! Late last week, the colors were amazing up andContinue reading “Fall Foliage, Rock Creek, California”
Mono Lake…
IPhone photo of our son in Mono Lake yesterday, during our walk to see the tufa towers. What a beautiful day! I can’t wait to see how the photos I took on my Canon came out.
Silent Saturday: Sunol Regional Wilderness
Photos taken earlier this week during a hike to the Cerro Este Overlook in Sunol Regional Wilderness. You may also enjoy… Silent Saturday: Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve (San Ramon) Silent Saturday: Las Trampas Ridge Trail (San Ramon) Silent Saturday: Martin Canyon Creek Trail (Dublin)
Too hot…
We met friends this afternoon for playtime at Alamo Creek Park in Dublin, but it was way too hot to play (over 100F). My son started off enthusiastically, but quickly wilted. The ducks had the right idea. But we won’t complain. It’s supposed to cool down into the 70’s by Thursday. How’d we manage theContinue reading “Too hot…”
Still feels like summer!
I know it’s supposed to be Autumn, but the weather really heated up over the weekend. It felt hotter than it was all summer! Perfect weather for a swim! If we had the energy, our son would have us do this all day! I’m happy to stretch out summer as long as we can!
Silent Saturday: Monterey Bay Coastal Trail
Photos taken last weekend during a walk along the Pacific Grove section of the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. My husband took our son on a bike ride, so I could have some much-needed time to myself… Also from our day in Monterey… Going on a Bug Hunt Cyclo-Cross, Monterey Style Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitary
Cyclo-Cross, Monterey Style
I haven’t written much about my husband so far. Much of the time, while I’m out and about with our son, my husband is out riding his bike. At this time of year (September – January), this is how he spends his weekends… racing cyclo-cross. Yesterday, he raced at Fort Ord in Monterey (CCCX series),Continue reading “Cyclo-Cross, Monterey Style”
Scrambling: Fun on the Rocks
I wish more city parks had rock structures like these for kids to scramble on. The following photos were taken earlier this week at Emerald Glen Park in Dublin, California. The boulders challenge kids in a way the regular play structures don’t. In order to climb these rocks, children have to use their minds toContinue reading “Scrambling: Fun on the Rocks”
Silent Saturday: Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve
Photos taken on a hike earlier this week at the Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve in San Ramon… You may also enjoy: Silent Saturday: Martin Canyon Creek Trail (Dublin, California) Silent Saturday: Las Trampas Ridge Trail (San Ramon, California)
This Weekend in Oakland– Art in Nature: The Nature of Art Festival
This looks so much fun! In one of the most beautiful parks in the San Francisco East Bay, this festival will feature music, dance, sculpture, painting, poetry, theater, kids crafts, and so many other art forms. The Art in Nature: The Nature of Art Festival is being held this Sunday, September 23rd, along the StreamContinue reading “This Weekend in Oakland– Art in Nature: The Nature of Art Festival”
Take a “Signs of Fall” Walk
Saturday is the first day of Autumn. While it doesn’t quite feel like fall yet here in the San Francisco Bay Area, I know the seasons will begin to change soon. This is a great time to head outdoors with your child to look for the first signs of fall. This walk can be takenContinue reading “Take a “Signs of Fall” Walk”
Great Park for Nature Play: Chabot Park, San Leandro
Yesterday, we attended a wedding reception in a park I’ve never been to… Chabot Park in San Leandro. What a great park for nature play! There were quite a few boys between the ages of three and six at the wedding, and they had a blast running up and down the hills, along the trails,Continue reading “Great Park for Nature Play: Chabot Park, San Leandro”
Silent Saturday: Las Trampas Ridge Trail
A few photos from my hike earlier this week on the Las Trampas Ridge Trail in San Ramon… For more information about Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/las_trampas You may also enjoy… Silent Saturday: Martin Canyon Creek Trail
Go Climb a Tree
We’re lucky to have a couple parks nearby that have great trees for climbing. The kids are drawn as much to playing on these trees as to the man-made play structures in the parks. This one is in Kolb Park in Dublin. Our other favorite climbing tree is in Shannon Park, also in Dublin. DoContinue reading “Go Climb a Tree”
Finch Fun
Yesterday morning, my son was quietly building with his Lincoln Logs when he happily exclaimed, “Look, Mommy, a goldfinch! There’s a goldfinch at the feeder!” Now I had to run to the window to check it out, because I honestly can’t remember ever having any yellow birds in our backyard. My son was correct. TwoContinue reading “Finch Fun”
Article: 6 Tips for Outdoor Adventures with Kids
My article about getting outside for a hiking adventure with the kids has been featured on The Roundup at Circle of Moms! To read the article and pick up some tips about how to have a fun family hike, click on over to Circle of Moms here… 6 Tips for Outdoor Adventures with Kids. HappyContinue reading “Article: 6 Tips for Outdoor Adventures with Kids”
Suburban Nature Explorations 