Get Outside

PARK DAYS

 

"Run, Jump, & Play"... familiar words that we tell our kids when out. As parents we tend to think it allows them to burn off the excess energy so we can simply catch the wind as they run by. There are many more aspects that go into "play". First and foremost, I appreciate that physical activities actually translate into brain cells, and create smarter kids! Than there are the social aspects of the playground to take into consideration. That isn't taking into account the memories made, pictures taken, imaginations used, or even bonding between siblings or with other children.

 

I recently found out that a neighbor will be moving. They are an older couple that will be moving closer to grandchildren (and great grand children). They are downsizing what they own, getting rid of things still in storage, and I'll miss the candid conversations. My children have been given toys, many of which bring back nostalgic memories, like the original G.I. Joes. We were also given a picnic basket, which I plan to put to good use! I see a trip to the park behind the state capitol in our near future.

 

Back To Nature... WITH KIDS

 

UC Davis Aboretum

http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu

FREE admission, $7 parking

 

Sacramento State Biological Sciences

6000 J Street

http://www.csus.edu/bios/Bioinventory.html

FREE admission, $3 parking (2 hours only)

 

Charles C. Jensen Botanical Garden

8520 Fair Oaks blvd

http://www.carmichaelpark.com/jensen.htm

FREE admission, FREE parking

(We love going here and getting amazing pictures of the kids, small but various times of the year it is remarkable (like March/April when bulbs start to bloom))

 

Capitol Park

CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL  (use parking garage for Downtown Plaza and walk over like us or use metered parking)

One of our favorite things to do is pack a picnic, seed for birds, and peanuts to feed the squirrels (without salt from Costco). You can also walk around inside of the State Capitol and find history as well as entertainment.

 

Effie Yeaw Nature Center

2850 San Lorenzo Way (inside Ancil Hoffman Park)

P.O. Box 579, Carmichael, CA 95609-0579

FREE admission, $5 parking (and be careful, I paid and still ended up with an $85 parking ticket, so one visit cost me $95, I paid $10 to over compensate since no one was at the booth)

They have a small museum, and if you watch their calendar of events they have educational aspects for the kids... best part were the deer up close, nature trails, and my kids had a blast doing "bug hunting". We'll never go again after the experience with being scammed with parking, but we know others that absolutely love it.

 

Haagane-Dazs Honey Bee Haven

One Shields Avenue

Davis, CA 95616

(530) 754-9390

http://beebiology.ucdavis.edu/HAVEN/index.html

http://beebiology.ucdavis.edu/HAVEN/honeybeehaven.html

(Personally I am allergic to bees, but understand they have a much bigger purpose. I love how Burt's Bees is raising awareness. Bees are more than just honey; they pollinate the plants, which make seeds and future foods we eat.)

 

Numbus Fish Hatchery

2001 Nimbus Road, Suite F
Gold River, CA 95670
(916) 358-2820

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Hatcheries/Nimbus/index.asp

FREE admission, FREE parking (and wonderful place to go and hit the bike trails)... downside is that people bring their dogs and don't clean up after them on walking trails

 

 

15th Annual Sacramento Museum Day

 

This annual event isn't actually new to us but it is the first one we've attended. We first went to Discovery Museum off Auburn, and the only positive that came from that trip was the Child I.D. We weren't going to stand in a line that staff was reporting would be an hour and half wait. If you buy a six-month membership you could go right in, but without first seeing what they offer it wasn't worth taking the risk. I remember it from my childhood, and it wasn't worth that cost back than. We quickly left...

 

We than went to the Aerospace Museum, which is next to the park, we often hit in the summer months. We planned to go at some point for the benefit of our eldest (who is going into the military when he finishes high school). The line for the flight simulator wasn't worth waiting for. We'll eventually return when it isn't quite so crowded.