So… your kids are out of school and there’s a whole bunch of days ahead of you. You want to get outside but you’re not sure exactly where to go. Fortunately, we’re surrounded by lots of amazing possibilities here in the Bay Area. I try to plan out a couple of day-long adventures and then…
One of my favorite childhood pictures is of me and my dad kneeling by the side of a ditch looking for frogs. What strikes me most about that photo is the fact that it is not based on the location. It is a father and son looking into a small piece of the world to…
On Saturday night, we (the 3 year old and myself) joined several other families for a night hike led by NatureBridge. We had never actually been on an organized hike (although stay tuned for a round up of several different organizations in the Bay Area that offer organized hikes for families!) so it was a…
It’s true, friends. You will be able to get to more trails if you have a car. But if you are one of those people who are much kinder to the environment due to your lack of vehicle, the trails of the Bay Area are still open to you! Below are various trails you can…
Be warned: I’m starting a love affair with Open Spaces & their trails. It turns out there are lots more of them than probably you know about. Unless, of course, you are someone who knows a lot about Open Space in the Bay Area. Anyway, we went hiking at Baltimore Canyon Open Space, which is…
As we sit on the cusp of the over-promised El Nino winter rapidly approaching, and the clouds gather overhead to unleash a torrent of rain unseen for many moons, here are some ideas of where to go when the cabin fever gets too much to bear. Hiking in the rain can be a supremely pleasant…
I’ll be honest. This campground is pretty much the REASON I became convinced this blog was necessary. Because apparently very few people know about the existence of Fremont Peak State Park. And boy howdy, you should. Let me tell you why it’s a park absolutely worth checking out with the kiddos, especially for a weekend…
In a word, Pleasanton Ridge was pleasant. (Sorry, but it’s true.) I’m not sure it’s my most favorite hiking spot EVER, but it had some good qualities, as well as some considerations for hiking with the smaller set. First, Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park is the land of Big Oaks and Big Sycamores (and many buckeyes,…
I cannot say how many times I have driven by Olompali State Park and wondered what it was like and thought, “we should go hiking there,” and then neglected to go. Last Saturday finally changed all that, and I am thrilled to say that it is a worthy destination and I am looking forward to…
Mount Diablo is one of the most prominent and visually stunning features of the Bay Area landscape. At 3,849 ft it is the San Francisco Bay Area’s tallest mountain and an ecological treasure. There is an extensive trail network with hikes for every level from toddlers just beginning to get their hiking legs to seasoned…
Bay Area Families Outside 