It's a new year, and ambitious resolutions abound. Do your goals for 2015 include trying out some new activities and adventures with your toddler? If so, check out this list of the X Family's very favorite Bay Area outings -- fun activities that should be on every toddler's to-do list. See something that you haven't tried yet? Next time you have a free weekend, give it a go!
As for Toddler X and me, though we've spent the last two years exploring the South Bay and its environs, there is still plenty left for us to see. Keep an eye out for our bucket list -- local attractions and activities that we've heard great things about, but haven't had a chance to visit. No doubt some of those will migrate to our list of favorites by the time 2015 is through!
Wishing you a year of wonderful adventures with your family!
Toddler X's Recommendations:
Fifteen Toddler Adventures for 2015
Fifteen Toddler Adventures for 2015
If you haven't tried any of the following...well, this is the year to check them all out!
1. Visit Ardenwood Farm in Fremont, a delightful journey back to the days when our area was mostly farmland. If possible, time your visit to coincide with one of their fun Toddler Tuesday sessions with Ranger Ira. While Ardenwood is a joy year-round, visits in the spring (when baby animals are in abundance) or in the fall (when Ardenwood hosts its fantastic Harvest Festival, and Perry Organic Farms stages a wonderful pumpkin patch right outside the gates) are especially rewarding. For more details, check out my blog post about Ardenwood and my post about farm experiences in the South Bay.
2. Spend a day in and around Downtown Los Altos. Downtown Los Altos has been one of the most delightful finds of motherhood for me. From the actual downtown shops and restaurants -- Bumble, with its tasty food, fantastic toddler playroom, pleasant patio and sandbox; Play!, with its bright, toy and activity-filled play room; Linden Tree Books, with its wonderful selection of children's literature, comfy reading spots, and adorably toddler-friendly bathroom; Adventure Toys, with its wide array of high quality toys and helpful service; and Area 151 arcade, which may appeal to older toddlers who love lights and games -- to Shoup Park and the Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, just a short walk down the street, this lovely town has a lot to offer toddlers and their parents. Downtown Los Altos also hosts lots of family-friendly events, including their awesome "pop up parks" each summer and seasonal festivals throughout the year. Definitely worth a visit! (Here's a blog post about State Street Green from 2013, and a post about a pleasant Los Altos day last June.)
3. Play the day away at Seven Seas Park in Sunnyvale. Ah, Seven Seas...where to begin? This is a playground to put all other playgrounds to shame. Like a small amusement park -- a free one! -- located right in our midst, Seven Seas has a huge array of attractions to entertain any toddler. While parking hassles may keep you from visiting frequently, it's definitely worth checking out at least once. Take a look at my blog post from its opening week last summer to learn more about it.
4. Visit the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. This one may seem self-evident -- we have an amazing children's museum in our midst, why wouldn't you visit? -- but you'd be surprised how many people I talk to who haven't brought their toddlers to the CDM yet. The CDM is SUCH an asset for local families -- over the past two years, we've visited at least 25 times, and it never gets old. I love watching Toddler X engage with the same exhibits every visit -- he still loves the things he loved when he was 18 months old! -- and discover new interests as well. I can honestly say that no two visits are alike, and heck -- we've gone twice in the past week! If you haven't visited yet, definitely plan to do so.
5. Visit Gilroy Gardens. At this time last year, I had never been to Gilroy Gardens. Though I'd heard good things, Gilroy just seemed so far away, and I wasn't convinced that the outing would be worth the drive. Well, I was wrong. It is worth the drive and then some. Between my first visit in May and the last Sunday in December, we visited Gilroy Gardens nine or ten times -- yep, more than once a month! Toddler X loves it, and his parents do too. When it opens again in late spring, definitely plan a visit -- but be sure to read my blog post about Gilroy Gardens first, as I have some useful tips.
6. Stroll, explore and play at Shoreline Lake Park in Mountain View. If you haven't visited Shoreline Lake Park yet, you now have your plans for next weekend. This is SUCH a great outing for an active family -- trails and paths for running, strolling, tricycling and scooting (note that some of the paths, including the one along the lake, don't allow bikes, making them safe for toddlers to run), tons of wildlife (including awesome jackrabbits!), beautiful views of the bay's southern reaches, a fun ship-shaped playground next to the lake, free parking, boat rentals, and a yummy cafe that, while slightly overpriced, serves a mean cafe mocha and some pretty amazing croissants. I've come with friends, with family, with my Moms in Training teammates, and alone with Toddler X, and each visit has been fantastic. Shoreline is one of my top workout and play picks, and if your family likes to get moving, this is the place to do it. For more info on the playground, check out my review.
7. Meet the animals at Hidden Villa Farm in Los Altos. There are several places in the South Bay where toddlers can interact with farm animals, but Hidden Villa ranks up there as one of my two favorites (along with Ardenwood). The setting is lovely, and the farm is a delight. While you can't go into the pens of the sheep and goats unless you're on a tour (which happen nearly every weekend -- you can sign up on the website), the animals are friendly and happy to come to the gate, and the bars are wide enough that you (and your toddler) can easily pet them. There is a huge enclosure where dozens of chickens roam, and your toddler can roam with them -- Toddler X always leaves here exhausted. The pigs, which are in the rear of the chicken area, are super cool -- last year we met some when they were tiny (relatively) piglets, and watched them grow throughout the year. The children's garden has lots of great toddler-sized features, and if you bring a good stroller, there are plenty of trails for hiking. Admission is free, though there's a small charge for parking. Check out my farm post for some more info on Hidden Villa.
8. Plan a day in Monterey. Just an hour south of the Bay Area, Monterey has all the makings of a wonderful toddler adventure, and it's one we enjoy often. Obviously the biggest draw is the Monterey Bay Aquarium (the toddler splash area, touch pools and upstairs exhibit on large marine mammals, with buttons to push and games to play, are Toddler X favorites), but if you explore a bit, you'll find there's much more to Monterey. We like bringing a stroller and walking along the coast to the park at Lovers' Point (facing the aquarium, you'll take the coastal path to the left) -- between the aquarium and the park, you'll be able to see sea lions reclining on the rocks, and you'll pass a small beach where you can watch scuba divers entering and exiting the water. The views, of course, are phenomenal. We also enjoy heading the other direction on the wonderful paved path to the small beach by Coast Guard Pier, and then heading down to the end of the pier for some of the best close-up sea lion viewing around (you are seriously just feet away from hundreds of these huge mammals). If you look carefully as you walk along the breakwater, you'll also sea otters playing, scuba divers surfacing, and lots of jellyfish bobbing along, which may make you think twice about swimming from the little beach nearby. :) Finally, be sure to stop by Dennis the Menace Playground at El Estero Park, truly one of the most awesome feats of free childhood fun I've ever seen. With play structures for all age groups (the one for the youngest toddlers is fenced and set up against the building), an awesome swinging bridge, and slides built into the hill, this is a great place to let your toddler burn off any energy that might prevent a nice nap on the drive home. (Note that the playground is closed on Tuesdays during the off season.) You can also rent pedal boats in the lake at El Estero Park -- we haven't done that yet, but it looks like fun!
9. Enjoy the path along Stevens Creek between Blackberry Farm and McClellan Ranch. This is a fun, easy, close-to-home adventure for nature lovers and active families. Located in Cupertino, McClellan Ranch Preserve and Blackberry Farm are located about 1/2 mile apart down the Stevens Creek Trail, a nice, paved path that is great for toddlers in strollers, on bikes, or on scooters. At the Blackberry Farm end, behind the public pool, you'll find a fun (though not particularly toddler-friendly) playground. A short distance beyond that, heading toward McClellan Ranch, you'll find one of many nice creek-entry points. When you reach McClellan Ranch, there is a 4H farm with lots of animals to visit (you can't get particularly close, but they're still fun to see) and a nature museum, which is open on Fridays from 3-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. We've discovered an amazing little creek entry point on the McClellan Ranch side, with a rock beach and a deep pool for stone throwing, but it's impossible to describe the entrance precisely, so it's up to you to explore on your own. :) Be aware that ticks, spiders and all other manner of outdoorsy creatures inhabit these parts (as they may any natural area around here), so keep your kids close and be sure to check everyone afterwards.
...
"Wait," you say, "what's this? Didn't she promise fifteen ideas? I only see nine!"
Yes, I promised fifteen, and fifteen (in fact, more -- I'm at seventeen right now) will come, but if I waited to finish all of them, I might not publish this post until 2016. So for right now, nine -- certainly enough to get you started -- and the rest to come soon. I'll update as naps and peaceful bedtimes permit.
Happy toddling!
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