Bay Model Visitor Center (US Army Corps of Engineers) - Sausalito, CA

While we were in Sausalito, we happened to see signs for The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model, a working hydraulic scale model of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta System. While the Bay Model is still operational, it is no longer used for scientific research but is instead open to the public alongside educational exhibits about Bay hydrology.

The model is approximately 320 feet long in the north-south direction and about 400 feet long in the east-west direction. It is constructed out of 286 five-ton concrete slabs joined together like a jigsaw puzzle. Features that affect the water flow of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are reproduced, including ship channels, rivers, creeks, sloughs, the canals in the Delta, fills, major wharfs, piers, slips, dikes, bridges, and breakwaters.

The limits of the model encompass the Pacific Ocean extending 17 miles beyond the Golden Gate, San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay and all of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to Verona, 17 miles north of Sacramento on the north, and to Vernalis, 32 miles south of Stockton on the San Joaquin River on the south.

Bay Area Discovery Museum - Sausalito, CA

We took a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge to The Bay Area Discovery Museum located in Sausalito, California inside the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It is right at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. The museum's mission is "to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children," so that children will gain skills to become the innovative problem solvers of tomorrow.

The museum is geared to children from 6 months to 8 years of age with different areas of the museum tailored to a specific age group. Children have the options of exploring the 6 different sections of the museum: Art Studios, Bay Hall, Discovery Hall, Lookout Cove, Tot Spot, and Wave Workshop. Each area is designed in a way to support and further the mission of the museum and provides hands-on, child-directed exploration that ignites creative thinking, flexible problem-solving, and exciting discoveries. All Museum exhibitions, both indoor and outdoor areas, are hands-on and play focused. In fact, Bay Area Discovery Museum is the only children's museum in the country to be located inside a National Park.

Shelter Creek Photo Shoot - San Bruno, CA

The very special, and extremely talented, Auntie Theresa came for a visit to take our annual spring photos. She was able to capture some amazing shots. We were also able to sneak cousin Hannah into a few of the photos. :)

Swimming at Shelter Creek - San Bruno, CA

John Lennon Art Exhibit - Walnut Creek, CA

The art of John Lennon was on display and limited edition reproductions were available for sale. They gave us free shirts while we were there. They wouldn't accept our payment! :)

Petting Zoo Birthday Party - Oakley, CA

A birthday party for a cousin turned out to be great fun for everyone. They brought the petting zoo to us!