Lassen Volcanic National Park with kids

When my children were about nine months old, my best friend, Chrissy, and I thought it would be a good idea to strap them to our chests and go hiking in Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Turns out, it wasn’t a good idea, it was a GREAT idea!  We had a wonderful day exploring the geothermal features of the park while introducing the kids to the first of many National Park adventures. Lassen is off the beaten path but well worth the drive. Here are some of my tips for visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park with kids:

WHEN TO GO:  The park is snowed in until June so my recommendation is to plan for a mid-June to mid-September visit unless you are in to snowshoeing.   We went in June and while all the roads were plowed, there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground which was a surprise to us. After all, we were wearing t-shirts and shorts!

WHERE TO STAY: We stayed near the town of Chester, in a cabin by the shore of Lake Almanor.  It was close enough to drive back and forth to the park every day, but much more practical for us than camping inside the park with a couple of infants.  Lake Almanor is a popular summer vacation destination and there are plenty of cabins for rent in the area.  If your family loves to camp, there are 6 campgrounds (3 of them are group sites) within the park. 

WHAT TO DO: I think every trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park should include a hike to Bumpass Hell.  It is a beautiful 3 mile hike over the side of a mountain and into a stinky, hydrothermal wonderland filled with steaming pools, bubbling mud pots, and multicolored streams.  Make sure to keep your children on the boardwalk so they don’t break the fragile crust on the ground surrounding the features. Mr Bumpass made the mistake of walking too close to the features and slipped through the crust, scalding his leg in the process!!!

Those with older children who are up to the challenge can take the 5 mile RT hike to the top of Lassen Peak.  On May 22, 1915, Mt Lassen experienced a large volcanic eruption and the effects of the volcanic eruption can still be seen throughout the Devastated Area.  Views from the trail leading up to Mt Lassen are nothing short of spectacular.

Another fun (and short!) hike is to Cold Boiling Lake. This trail is only .8 miles RT and leads to a lake with gas bubbles coming up which give it it’s boiling appearance.  For an even more incredible boiling lake experience, take the easy 3 mile RT hike to Boiling Springs Lake where the water temperature is 125 degrees due to a number of hot springs under the surface of the water.

This post is featured on Trekaroo’s Spotlight Thursday. Click on the link below and see who else is playing along!

Family Vacation
Redding

Lake Englebright

For so many of us, Memorial Day Weekend signals the opening of camping season. The weather is warm, the rain has slowed, and great outdoors is calling.  When I lived in Northern California, we spent several Memorial Days at Englebright Lake.  Located in the California’s Gold Country outside of Nevada City, Englebright is a quiet lake with a houseboat studded marina that seems to be off the radar of most Californians.  Every year, we rented a large party boat with a bunch of friends and made our way to one of several boat-in camping areas located on the lake.  It was so much fun to pitch our tents on the oak studded shores and circle our chairs around the campfire.  The men played horseshoes and had tri tip cooking competitions while the women lounged in the sun or climbed up the hills on hikes to the dam.  If the weather was warm enough, we would take the boat out to the middle of the lake and jump off the second story into the freezing water below.  It was a great tradition that we all looked forward to every year.

 

Sadly, my last visit to Englebright Lake was when I was pregnant with my children.  Evidently, air mattresses and twin filled bellies  do not work well together.  One night on the air mattress was enough to pull a bunch of muscles in my stomach (an injury I still feel the effects of) and cause me to have to leave the campsite in tears. 

I refuse to let that ill-fated visit be our last. I look forward to one day taking my kids on a camping trip at Englebright Lake with the children of my friends who shared in those trips of years past. We will share our “under the radar” location with a new generation and hopefully start new traditions in the process.

In the meantime, if you are in Northern California and looking for a fun spot to take the family, check out the boat-in sites at Englebright Lake. I hope your family can create some fond memories as well.

Family Vacation
Grass Valley

Mc Cloud Falls

Back before there was Mari and Ben, there was Toby and Raley. They were my first children and the thought of leaving them behind for a hike or a camping trip was incomprehensible.  They wagged their tails and happily hopped in the car and went along with whatever journey I had up my sleeve. Today, the dogs don’t join us nearly as many trips as they used to because honestly, two toddlers are hard enough to wrangle, let alone two dogs! Luckily, things are getting easier. Soon Toby and Raley will be hopping back in the car and walking alongside us on the trail. Until then, I have memories of trips past, including the one we took to McCloud Falls.

McCloud Falls are actually three different waterfalls located within two miles of each other along the McCloud River in Northeastern California, not far from Mt Shasta. There is a trail that runs along the river connecting each of the falls and the entire roundtrip hike is 3.4 miles. Its a great little hike for families with three different destinations along the way!

The Lower Falls are the most popular due to their accessibility. They are only twelve feet high but the water takes a powerful plunge over those twelve feet into a wide pool below, creating a beautiful scene. The base of the falls is a popular spot for swimming and picnicking. The edge Lower Falls is also a popular cliff jumping spot. There was absolutely no way you were going to get me to take the plunge (one fall off a cliff will do that to you) but Paul and my friend Kristi were happy to take the plunge over and over again while Toby howled with worry.

The Middle Falls are the most impressive of the trio. They are 46 feet tall and nearly 100 feet wide. The area surrounding the pool has plenty of boulders around it, perfect for soaking up the sun after swimming in the chilly waters at the base of the falls.

The Upper Falls are just a couple minutes up the trail from the Middle Falls and shoot over the edge to a pool 25 feet below. Most people only view them from the platform above but I have read that you can scramble your way down to the bottom.

Camping along the McCloud River is a wonderful way to spend a family vacation and explore a part of California that few people ever see. I look forward to taking Mari and Ben to McCloud Falls with my original babies one day, and  making some new memories as a complete family.

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Family Vacation
Mount Shasta

Alcatraz

The Rock. No not the movie that my husband insists we sit through every time it pops up on cable. I am talking about the ominous  island out in the San Francisco Bay that held some of the most notorious criminals of its day; Alcatraz.

Alcatraz closed it doors as a federal prison in 1963 and opened its doors as a member of the National Park Service in 1972. Now visitors can get up close and personal with the very cell blocks that Al Capone and the Birdman once spent their days. I strongly encourage visitors to buy their tickets ahead of time because the tours do sell out quickly. The only way to reach Alcatraz is by ferry and the trip out there is an adventure in itself. The day we went, we left the blue skies of the pier and headed towards the fog shrouded prison. I was glad that the weather got dreary as we got closer. It only added to the atmosphere.

During the day you can take self guided audio tours. The audio tour is quite comprehensive and very interesting. It was narrated by people who had lived on Alcatraz at one time, whether it be the prisoners who were locked in its cells or the people who helped run the facilities. We had fun posing Ben and Mari (who were infants at the time) behind the cells bars. I think kids old enough to listen to headphones for an extended period of time would really enjoy this tour. Its hard not to get excited about a place so filled with lore and mystery.

In addition to the cell block tour, you should take time to explore the Alcatraz Gardens, check out the multitude of sea birds (Alcatraz is a bird sanctuary) and take in the amazing views. Expect to spend at least 2.5 hours on the island. Keep in mind that there is no food service at Alcatraz so be sure to pack snacks for little ones. Weather is extremely unpredictable in San Francisco so dress in layers. You could arrive at Alcatraz when it is sunny and warm and leave in cold and windy weather. If you would like more information on Alcatraz click here.

Things To Do
San Francisco

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

As many of you know, the California's State Parks are in serious trouble due to budget cuts. A new list of service reductions and partial closures was recently released. The parks are remaining open in some capacity for now but California’s budget woes are far from over. In an attempt to bring attention to all the wonderful state parks California has to offer, I will be featuring a different CA State Park every week. I hope to bring attention to these treasures to increase awareness of what the state park system has to offer and encourage others to stand up and help protect these important places.

What comes to mind when you think of the Napa Valley? If you are like most people, sprawling vineyards and fantastic wines immediately pop into your head. While the vineyards are both beautiful and an important part of the valley’s identity, they are a relatively new addition to the landscape. For thousands of years, there wasn’t a grapevine to be seen. There were fields of grass, plains flooded with swollen waterways in the spring, stands of coastal redwoods, and forests of oak, maple and fir. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park is a great place to get a taste of the Napa of yesteryear and enjoy the trails in Ritchey Canyon. Camping, horseback riding, and hiking are all wonderful ways to enjoy the park.

Be sure to check out the pioneer cemetery to see the graves of some of the original settlers of the Napa Valley. You can just feel the history walking as you walk amongst the gravestones.

If you would like more information on Bothe-Napa Valley State Park click here.  For more info on hiking in the park click here.

Family Travel Tips
Napa

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

As many of you know, the California's State Parks are in serious trouble due to budget cuts. In an attempt to bring attention to all the wonderful state parks California has to offer, I will be featuring a different CA State Park every week. I hope to bring attention to these treasures to increase awareness of what the state park system has to offer and encourage others to stand up and help protect these important places . 

One of the most important moments in California history was when a man by the name of James Marshall found some gold flecks in the tailrace of a sawmill he was building for himself and John Sutter. This discovery lead to an influx of settlers seeking fortune in the form of shiny golden rocks and the establishment of the state of California.  The original mill was destroyed by flooding but a replica now stands in it place along with over 20 historic buildings in the old mining town of Coloma.  A trip to Gold Country is a must for any California native and a great stop for any tourist who wants to catch a glimpse of the oak covered hills where the 49ers set up camp in search of treasure. There are still opportunities to pan for gold and plenty of places to dive into history.

The Marshall Gold Discovery Historic Site is located in the town of  Coloma between Placerville and Auburn on historic Highway 49. If you would like more information on this State Park click here.

Things To Do
Auburn

Family Travel Tips
Placerville

Muir Woods

It was our very first hike as a walking family. Ben was the newest to join the clan of the upright and he needed a good place to practice. February was handing us cold day after cold day so we decided to head to the coast in search of a little more warmth. Muir Woods National Monument was our destination. I had never been to Muir Woods and was amazed at how close a redwood forest was to San Francisco. I had heard stories of busloads of tourists crowding the monument but on this brisk day in February, we had most of the forest to ourselves. It was lush, green, and beautiful.  I had seen redwoods many times before but being able to walk amongst them with my little ones for the first time was a moment I will always treasure. 

 

If you are visiting the San Francisco area and want to spend a few hours amongst giants (which you should) then check out the Muir Woods website for directions and hours here. 

 

Check out Twinfatuation to see others participating in Way Back When-sday.

Family Travel Tips
San Francisco

Mt Diablo

As many of you know, the California's State Parks are in serious trouble due to budget cuts. In an attempt to bring attention to all the wonderful state parks California has to offer, I will be featuring a different CA State Park every week. I hope to bring attention to these treasures to increase awareness of what the state park system has to offer and encourage others to stand up and help protect these important places .

If you have ever been in Sacramento, Stockton, or the Bay Area you have seen it. It stands alone. An icon in its own right, taking up alot of valuable East Bay real estate. An island of wilderness in a sea of humanity. It has been said that on a clear you can stand at its summit and see further than anywhere else in North America. Its Mt Diablo, and its the perfect place to escape the urban sprawl in Northern California.

At 3,849 feet, Mt Diablo offers hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, rock climbing, star gazing and wildlife viewing. My favorite spot on the mountain is Rock City, an area of the park with large sandstone formations and small caves. Its so fun to climb the rocks and explore their nooks and crannies.

No trip to Mt Diablo is complete without a trip to the summit. There is a visitor center at the top and the views from the observation deck are amazing. The best views usually come after a winter storm when the skies are crisp and clear.

Just below the summit the .7 mile Mary Bowerman Trail is a great little family hike with plenty of great views. We did this trail our kids were tiny and they did great.

There are plenty of other trails on the mountain to check out and some nice places to camp. For more information on Mt Diablo please check out the CA State Park website here. Gates open at 8 AM and close at sunset so if you aren't planning on staying inside the park make sure you are get back to your car in time so you don't get locked in. You can enter the park from either Walnut Creek or Danville.

Things To Do
Walnut Creek

Roadtrip Days 2: Up, Up, Up the Interstate We Go!

Interstate 5 is looonnnnngggggg..... California alone has 796 miles of nonstop I5 goodness for you to enjoy. It also attracts bugs made of super glue to my car. My kids think its funny to watch me scrub away at my windshield and curse at the remains of an insect that had a bad day.  I think its funny that they think its funny. Its one of those memories I know will stick in my mind forever. I have quite a few of those sticky memories from traveling up I5 as a child. I remember my fascination with the red dirt that is prevalent in the Lake Shasta region. I always thought it was the most beautiful dirt I had ever seen. As a matter of fact, it was probably the first time I really ever paid much attention to dirt at all. On this trip past Lake Shasta I saw much more red dirt than usual. The shoreline is considerably lower than usual due to drought. Luckily, the lack of water didn't seem to bother the kids. They were happy to get out of the car, strip down, and splash in the water for a bit.

We continued on through the mountains, gasped at Mount Shasta, mooed at happy California cows, and finally crossed the border into Oregon. Success. In the end we had conquered about 700 of those 796 California I5 miles. Success.

We drove through Ashland and I remembered the Memorial Day weekend in college I came home from class and announced to my roommates we were getting in the car and going north. We checked out the Shakespeare Festival, hung out at a dive bar in Grant's Pass, and slept under the stars near the Rogue River. What a great trip. It was also the same trip that inspired us to go on a 7 week road trip around the US when we graduated the next year. Now I am on a different sort of road trip. No dive bars with two year olds. The car is a bit more organized this go around. But it doesn't mean it won't be any less fun. I get to watch my kids see things that shaped me and hope that they shape them as well. And right now, those are the memories that I can't wait to have stick.

Road Trip Day 1: Congress Created Dust Bowls

 

I did it. I packed the car, managed to get both children inside, shut the doors, and started driving. I made my way through a haze filled LA while the kids remained transfixed on The Jungle Book. I cruised over the Grapevine as Lady and the Tramp managed to find true love once again. And then I grumbled as I watched the thermometer climb up into the high nineties. I grumbled a bit more as I started to be surrounded by melon, tomatoes, grape vines, and orchards, knowing it would be all I saw for hours upon hours. I know the drive up I5 all to well. I made it countless times when I trekked back in forth between Sacramento and Southern California during my 12 years as a Northern California resident. I know which fast food joints are at which exit. I know when to close the vents because a large cattle feed lot is just ahead and you don't want to be smelling that. But I don't know smelt. And until today I didn't know about the "Congress Created Dust Bowl".

(Photo courtesy of http://www.highwayhags.com )

I knew something seemed weird. There seemed to be alot more barren land than usual. I didn't remember there being so many acres along I5 without crops planted on them. And then it clicked. For some reason, the farmers were out of business and they were obviously blaming congress. The vastness of the area effected was staggering. It was eery to see so many acres with nothing but the skeletons of what used to be vibrant orchards. I figured it had to do with water. California has always seemed to have it battles with water. But tonight I began to research the issue and came to find out it had to do with more than just water. It had to do with smelt. Smelt are tiny little fish that live in the delta and have recently been put on the endangered species list. Their designation as an endangered species has made it much harder for farmers to get water due to regulations surrounding the newly protected smelt. Now I am no expert on smelt and do not know enough about this issue to take a stand on either side but I do know this. There is alot less land being farmed which means there are less people employed and less food going to market which in turn means produce will cost more for the consumer. I certainly hope the smelt are worth it. 

Gilroy Gardens

(photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

 

Circus trees. They were the brain child of Axel Erlandson and have mystified tourists in the Santa Cruz area since the late 1940's. At their peak, over 70 circus trees existed. Now only 25 survive in Gilroy Gardens, which proclaims itself to be the only horticulture theme park in the country. Mr. Erlandson never divulged his trade secrets, only claiming that he "talked to the trees" . His legacy now lives on amongst the Garlic Twirl and Budgy the Goldfish rides. This is not a Six Flags heart pumping thrill ride type of theme park by any means. The rides are more geared to the younger set and the gardens make hours of watching your children go in a slow circle while sitting inside of a variety of whimsical creatures much more enjoyable for the adults.

 

 

There is a water area open in the summer which is quite nice since it can get pretty hot in Gilroy come June, July, and August. Luckily there is also plenty of shade from all the gardens and plenty of water to enjoy.

If you have little ones and are looking for a nice place to spend the day in between hours of sampling garlic ice cream, garlic jelly beans, and garlic fries at the Garlic Festival this summer, I highly encourage you to check out the circus trees at Gilroy Gardens. Who knows, maybe you will inspire your little one to one day set up her very own horticultural circus.

Things To Do
Gilroy

Pena Adobe

We have so many adventures that I haven't blogged about yet. So many places to share, so many pictures to bombard you all with. Some places are grand like Lassen (I will get to it Tamara I promise) or Muir Woods and others are small like Pena Adobe. We went to Pena Adobe to take some pictures of the kids dressed up like little prairie children. I had purchased the cutest little bonnets from a store on Etsy and my friend JK had sent Mari the cutest little Little House on the Prairie dress so it was a must that we put them to good use. Mari had other plans. She had absolutely no desire to wear that bonnet for even a second. And so the fight began. I tackled her, tied on the bonnet and demanded Paul shoot as many pictures as he could as quickly as possible. This was the best bonnet shot we got.

 

 

And this is what we had to go through to get it.

 

Ben stole the show. He put on his best farm boy charm and gave me more than I could have ever hoped for.

 

Not that Mari didn't put on some charm when she was forced to endure the torture of the bonnet.

 

 

Pena Adobe is located in Lagoon Valley between Vacaville and Fairfield and is a nice pit stop from the Bay Area to Tahoe or Sacramento. There are hiking trails and nice spots for picnics. If you are interested in more on the hiking in Lagoon Valley here is the link to my previous post. Enjoy!

Some Days Life's a Fairytale

I don't miss Sacramento. Sorry all you Sacramento fans out there but it wasn't for me. There are a few things in Sacramento that I do miss. Dos Coyotes Border Cafe. That restaurant holds a very special place in my stomach. Whenever I come back up for a visit you better believe I will be waiting in line for my Ranchero Burrito. Chico's tacos.  Still the best shredded beef tacos I have ever had.  Driving over the river in fall. It really is so pretty see tree tops of all different colors edging the river below. And Fairytale Town. A Sacramento institution that is truly the perfect place to take a toddler.

We went to Fairytale Town with Auntie Chrissy one last time before the big move.  The kids hadn't been in a year and I wanted to take them back since they are big two year olds now.  Fairytale Town brings nursery rhymes and fairy tales to life with farm animals, play structures, and plenty of whimsical scenery. Everything is detailed to delight the toddler eye, right down to the hippo drinking fountain.

You want Three Little Pigs? They actually have three little pigs. You want Mary's Little Lamb? Well I do believe we spotted her (though I don't think she is quite so little anymore).

If you want to run under the Little Old Lady's Shoe, sail in Captain Hook's Pirate Ship, ride in Cinderella's Pumpkin Coach, climb through the Giant's foot on your way to slide down the Beanstalk, or help Jack and Jill fetch a pail of water, you can do it at Fairytale Town.

Whether its you find yourself sliding down the slide at Farmer Brown's Barn

or playing peek-a-boo in the Crooked House at the end of the Crooked Mile,

I guarantee a wonderful day will be had by all those young at heart.

California Academy of Sciences

Before we made our big move we just had to make it to San Francisco one last time. It is such an amazing city and I already miss being in such close proximity to all things SF. Recently the California Academy of Sciences reopened its doors after a 3 year closure for remodeling.  It is one of the largest museums of natural history in the world and one of the oldest museums in the country.  The remodel allowed the engineers to integrate tons of environmentally friendly features into the design of the new building. These include a system which results in the production of 50 percent less wastewater, 60 thousand solar cells for electricity generation, a 2.5 acre living roof, over 20,000 cubic yards of recycled concrete, natural lighting in 90 percent of occupied spaces, one million pounds of recycled steel, and wall insulation made from scraps of recycled denim. Hopefully the example that the engineers of this museum have set will encourage others to incorporate more environmentally conscious design into their future endeavors.

We made it out to SF on a rainy Monday while my mother in law was in town and met up with our friends Amanda, Kierran, Nick, Matt, and Owen. The museum has been a mad house since it opened and I think the weather helped keep the museum only moderately crowded while we were there. 

First we encountered the manta rays swimming in the water below us on our way to the African Hall. I love how they turned a normal walkway into a place for discovery.

The African Hall is the only portion of the original museum that was kept intact. It features taxidermy animals from Africa and a colony of South African penguins.  It is nice to have a touch of old in a museum so cutting edge.

From there we headed over to the Galapagos exhibit. It demonstrates how evolution can take place in such an isolated area. There was also this really cool floor that had a computer generated jungle floor on it. Little bugs would pop out from the leaves and the kids had a blast trying to stomp on them.  I think the real object was to kick the right kind of food over to the right kind of bug but we liked our version just the much.

Another highlight of the museum is the Rainforests of the World dome. It has a spiraling path that takes you from the forest floor all the way up to the top of the tree canopy. There are beautiful tropical butterflies and birds flying free throughout the dome which resulted in plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" from the group.

The entire bottom floor is an aquarium complete with tide pool touch tanks, bizarre alligator gars, and enormous aquariums depicting different ocean zones.

There are plenty of things that we just didn't have time for such as the planetarium, and the weather prevented us from making it up to the living roof, but overall it was a very full day and there was something for everyone to enjoy and explore.   I would highly recommend make time for a visit the next time you are in San Francisco.