Swimming at Shelter Creek - San Bruno, CA

Swimming outside at the main pool

Pacifica Pier - Pacifica, CA

Silverado Resort & Spa - Napa, CA

Another work related weekend put us up in this resort for the weekend. We had absolutely beautiful weather.

Apple Valley, CA

We took another 4th of July trip to see Auntie Lesa and Uncle Scott.

San Andreas Lake - San Bruno, CA

San Andreas Lake is a reservoir adjacent to the San Francisco Peninsula cities of Millbrae and San Bruno. It is situated directly on the San Andreas Fault, which is named after the lake.

Since the lake is a public water source, it is closed to the public. However, hikers and bicyclists may travel along the eastern shores of the lake on a paved trail that runs just west of Skyline Boulevard from San Bruno Avenue to Millbrae Avenue. A connecting trail, called the Sawyer Camp Trail, crosses the rift valley on the San Andreas Dam. This 6 mile trail eventually reaches the eastern shores of the Lower Crystal Springs reservoir and the Crystal Springs Dam.

Coyote Point Recreation Area - San Mateo, CA

Check out my older post for more information on this awesome park:  http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2013/01/coyote-point-park-san-mateo-ca.html

Parca Day at the Fair (San Mateo County Fair) - San Mateo, CA

Shakespeare Garden (Golden Gate Park) - San Francisco, CA

We attempted to go to California Academy of Sciences for their free admission day but the line to get in wrapped around the block and didn't seem to be moving. So we decided to just wander through Golden Gate Park. We stumbled on this very quaint garden named for Shakespeare and supposedly themed after his work.

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!

Leo J. Ryan Memorial Park - Foster City, CA

Check out my older post for more information: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2012/06/foster-city-lagoon-foster-city-ca.html

Portland, OR

We took a family vacation to see Auntie Angelique! Poor Katherine was sick during most of the trip so we didn't get out much.

Juniperro Serra County Park - San Bruno, CA

After school fun!

Check out my older post for more information on this park: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2013/12/junipero-serra-county-park-san-bruno-ca.html

Seal Point Park - San Mateo, CA

Check out my older post for more information on Seal Point: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2012/02/seal-point-park-san-mateo-ca.html

Gull Park - Foster City, CA

Check out my older post for more information: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2013/05/gull-park-foster-city-ca.html

Diddalidoo - San Bruno, CA

We decided to spend some time here during the week since there was no school today.

Check out my older post for more information on this place: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2013/01/birthday-party-at-diddalidoo-san-bruno.html

Junipero Serra County Park - San Bruno, CA

We have been scouring the area for parks we haven't yet discovered when all of a sudden we start seeing signs pointing us to Junipero Serra County Park. So we go...

Nestled behind the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno on 108-acre site, Junipero Serra Park affords a spectacular panorama of the Bay Area with unequaled views to San Bruno Mountain, San Francisco Airport, San Francisco Bay and Mount Diablo. Visitors are drawn to the Oak Foothill plant community, spring wildflowers, El Zanjon Creek, and the peaceful retreat the area affords from surrounding urban development.

A small visitor center is located at the Park Headquarters. It has exhibits which show the various habitats contained within the Park. An overlook near the Park Headquarters provides and unequaled view of South San Francisco and San Bruno Mountain.

Newly renovated Meadow View Playground provides kids spectacular 54-foot-long double slides and several climbing structures: a large cable net play structure, a smaller climbing apparatus, and climbing boulders. Positioned near the top of the park, adjacent Buckeye and Meadow View picnic areas and the Bay View Shelter, this area offers a unique view of the bay with a birds eye view of landings and take-offs at San Francisco International Airport. There is also an old fashion wooden playground closer to the entrance to the park.

Frontierland Park - Pacifica, CA

Frontierland Park is nestled up against the hills of Pacifica with lots of open space and picnic, BBQ, horseshoes and playground amenities. There is one large-group picnic area that can be reserved. There are also have several individual picnic tables which are first come, first serve.

Friendship Playground was dreamt up by a group of Pacifica parents in 1999. They wanted a playground that would capture the wonder and excitement of childhood. In June of 2001, over 1200 volunteers came together for four days to build a wonderful playground.

The tot lot area is perfect for little ones. It provides lots of chances for imaginary play. The whole playground is tanbark, so it is really hard on wheelchairs and strollers.

San Francisco Zoo - San Francisco, CA

We just had to take a trip to the San Francisco Zoo now that the remodeled 36,000 square foot playground is open! Check out my older post for more information about the zoo: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2011/05/san-francisco-zoo-san-francisco-ca.html

Our new van is here! (MobilityWorks) - Burlingame, CA

We bought a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan Crew with a brand new VMI Northstar conversion! Can't wait to put some miles on it. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryder Park - San Mateo, CA

More easy family time at this wonderful park.
Check out my older post for more information: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2011/09/ryder-park-san-mateo-ca.html

Pumpkin Patch - Redwood City, CA

Disneyland - Anaheim, CA

This is our second family trip to the happiest place on Earth. We stayed at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel with a view overlooking California Adventure Park. With the many many wheelchair accessible rides, we kept busy the whole time. But by far, the highlight had to be KISSES FROM BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!

Swimming at Lantern Cove - Foster City, CA

No description needed. Just look at the smiles on those faces!

UCSF Pediatric Transplant Picnic (McNears Beach) - San Rafael, CA

We were invited by BFF Gia and her family to attend the annual UCSF Pediatric Transplant Picnic. Several hundred people gathered for a picnic at McNears Beach in San Rafael to celebrate something much bigger than just the end of summer. Each family there was celebrating the life of a loved one who has undergone an organ transplant surgery at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.

There were so many activities, including live music and kayaking on the San Francisco Bay! We spent several hours at McNears Beach.

Set in a beautiful sheltered cove with mature landscaping, this 55 acre regional park is located along the shores of San Pablo Bay in San Rafael. The fishing pier is extremely popular. Facilities include a swimming pool, snack bar, sand volleyball courts, several group picnic areas of varying size, expansive turf areas, and newly renovated tennis courts. The pool and the snack bar operate during the summer season only. The narrow, bayside beach offers a fun, safe place for general beach recreation and easy carry-in boat access for kayaks and canoes. McNears is a designated "trailhead" on the San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail, an ongoing effort to create a network of launch and landing sites to inspire people in human-powered boats and beachable sail craft to explore the San Francisco Bay. The pier and parking are accessible. McNears has something for everyone.

San Francisco Zoo - San Francisco, CA

When it's minutes away and you have easy access to membership passes, it is really difficult to pass up on opportunities to go to San Francisco Zoo!

Check out my older post for information on San Francisco Zoo:  http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2011/05/san-francisco-zoo-san-francisco-ca.html

Gull Park - Foster City, CA

We had some time to kill so we headed back to Gull Park. Check out my older post for more information: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2013/05/gull-park-foster-city-ca.html

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Palo Alto, CA

It has been almost two years since our last visit to Junior Museum & Zoo, so it was definitely time to go back!

Check out my older post for more information on Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2011/12/palo-alto-junior-museum-zoo-palo-alto-ca.html

Gull Park - Foster City, CA

We had a call from some friends that were close by. We met up at Gull Park in Foster City. Check out my older post for more information: http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2013/05/gull-park-foster-city-ca.html

Coyote Point County Park - San Mateo, CA

We went to Coyote Point today but it was a little too hot. We ended up taking a nap under the shade of the umbrella while Kate exhausted herself on the castle and dragon playground.

Check out my older post for more information on this awesome park:  http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2013/01/coyote-point-park-san-mateo-ca.html

Ryder Park - San Mateo, CA

We had some time to kill today so we went to Ryder Park. Check out my older post for more information:  http://jillianmichelestevens.blogspot.com/2011/09/ryder-park-san-mateo-ca.html

Chabot Space & Science Center - Oakland, CA

Founded as an observatory in 1883, today Chabot (set amid beautiful redwood parklands in the Oakland hills) offers visitors the very latest in hands-on, interactive exhibits, displays, and Planetarium shows that explore the mysteries of the universe and of life here on earth. Combined with a full program of activity-filled classes, workshops, Space & Science Camp, outreach programs and special events, Chabot Space & Science Center has become the Bay Area's go to destination for visitors of all ages who want to discover and learn about space and earth sciences.

Chabot Space & Science Center is one of Northern California’s leading centers for informal science education. Each year thousands of students from throughout the Bay Area visit Chabot on field trips.

This was originally a trip mainly for big sister, Kate. But it ended up being lots of fun for all of us! We especially liked the Mayan movie projected on the ceiling.

Independence Day Celebration - Foster City, CA

Hiller Aviation Museum - San Carlos, CA

We heard it was Open Cockpit Day at The Hiller Aviation Museum, located at the San Carlos Airport. The museum is an aircraft history museum. It was founded by Stanley Hiller, Jr., in June 1998 and is endowed by members of the Hiller Family (owners of the Hiller Aircraft Corporation, an early helicopter pioneer). It specializes in Northern California aircraft history and helicopter history. The museum is also an affiliate within the Smithsonian Affiliations program.

This museum has more than 45 aerospace vehicles along with companion descriptive displays concerning the history of flight. It is a great way to spend a few hours or maybe more during their special events.

Gilroy Gardens - Gilroy, CA

We spent Fathers' Day at Gilroy Gardens with all the dads in the family. It was also cousin Rory's birthday.