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7.27.2021

Homeridge Park (Santa Clara)

WOW!! The Playground Renovation of the Year award 🏆 for sure goes to the planners who came up with the design for this formerly run-down park turned absolute gem! We were enthralled from the first moment — the kids had a blast, and if it weren’t for the blazing sun, we might have stayed another hour! Huge thanks to the reader (sadly, I can’t remember who it was!) who let me know about this renovation.

You can find my video of the park on Instagram or Facebook

Here are the details:

☀️Homeridge Park is tucked in a quiet neighborhood near the intersection of Homestead/Kiely, bordered by Saratoga Creek (currently dry) -- here's a map to get you there.

☀️The park has an adorable forest theme for the main (big kid) structure and peripherals — lots of “wood” and “rock” features (the hollow tree that you climb up to access the high slide is awesome!), woodland creature carvings, and even a cool feature on the underside of the play structure that makes animal noises and shares facts.

☀️The big structure also features a roller slide, rope bridge, and spinning “monkey bars” -- all three were hits with my kids.

☀️There are suuuuuper cool hills for kids to explore in the middle of the playground -- I haven't seen any other playground with this exact feature.

☀️Aside from the two play structures (rated for ages 2-5 and 5-12), there are merry go-rounds (two types!), swings (including parent/baby swings), sandbox with sand table — even a ping pong table (bring your own paddles/ball)!

☀️Restrooms, a water fountain (with water bottle filler), shady benches, a hand sanitizer dispenser, and a few picnic tables/grills are located close to playground.

☀️There is a small parking lot, plus plenty of street parking.

☀️The lawn and flowers around the playground are beautifully maintained, and the large park area beyond the playground -- huge lawn, picnic tables, walking paths -- appears to be equally nice (we didn't explore outside of the playground itself).
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The only negative I can come up with for this awesome park: almost NO shade on the playground midday, and things got HOT. The kids couldn’t even sit on the big spinning thing, which was a bummer. I highly recommend morning/evening visits in the summer.

Overall, it was AWESOME! Highly recommend checking this one out.

7.10.2021

Rafting the Truckee River (Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe)


Rafting the Truckee River was one of the mainstays of my childhood summers, and I’m so excited that my kids will have the same wonderful memories as they grow up! Here’s what you need to know to enjoy this adventure:

Eagle Lake Hike (West Shore, Lake Tahoe)


Eagle Lake hike ~ one of my top picks for family adventures at Tahoe!

4.12.2021

Disneyland: Ride Height Requirements


Everything you need to know about Disney ride height requirements!