tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64288391258272066862024-03-13T07:54:33.814-07:00Silicon Valley FamilyFamily fun in the Bay Area and beyond!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6428839125827206686.post-60250951291355145102021-07-27T15:19:00.002-07:002023-09-07T16:58:20.566-07:00Homeridge Park (Santa Clara)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDBA-YYENBadKAtEADrlLJLa2k8lmgZ8iRHR4-NQpUgDyU6bK5z7VvAcu0Y080oMgbQchBdr-5ZwVk8KOHP8m-Aiy258z6KL_-oIVhNzUcoLXr-e0yvdtQvlyNUAswWyRjNM817QJpKg/s4032/IMG_1287.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDBA-YYENBadKAtEADrlLJLa2k8lmgZ8iRHR4-NQpUgDyU6bK5z7VvAcu0Y080oMgbQchBdr-5ZwVk8KOHP8m-Aiy258z6KL_-oIVhNzUcoLXr-e0yvdtQvlyNUAswWyRjNM817QJpKg/s320/IMG_1287.HEIC" /></a></div><p>WOW!! The Playground Renovation of the Year award đ 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 â the kids had a blast, and if it werenât for the blazing sun, we might have stayed another hour! Huge thanks to the reader (sadly, I canât remember who it was!) who let me know about this renovation.</p><p>You can find my video of the park on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CRr5fGDDdRE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://fb.watch/v/1RtuczU8G/">Facebook</a>. </p>Here are the details:<br /><br />âď¸Homeridge Park is tucked in a quiet neighborhood near the intersection of Homestead/Kiely, bordered by Saratoga Creek (currently dry) -- here's <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/Ck1VpXxnMhuzanKW8">a map to get you there</a>.<br /><br />âď¸The park has an adorable forest theme for the main (big kid) structure and peripherals â lots of âwoodâ and ârockâ 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.<div><br /></div><div>âď¸The big structure also features a roller slide, rope bridge, and spinning âmonkey barsâ -- all three were hits with my kids.<br /><br /><div>âď¸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.<br /><br />âď¸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 â even a ping pong table (bring your own paddles/ball)!<br /><br />âď¸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.<br /><br />âď¸There is a small parking lot, plus plenty of street parking.<br /><br />âď¸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).<br />.<br />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 couldnât even sit on the big spinning thing, which was a bummer. I highly recommend morning/evening visits in the summer.<br /><br />Overall, it was AWESOME! Highly recommend checking this one out.<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6428839125827206686.post-70698721370270343342021-07-10T17:37:00.004-07:002022-11-17T15:02:56.931-08:00Rafting the Truckee River (Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQRaWEnE9Xp-AzEIMtQy_cR76-zp3KiAK55QjaOT0_nDTyRcJjSk8rqZur_ZdYFy_UYnAx69m4BkZUTLMvzIeEvdVd7WukCdDM9A0wNzA6jg_QdeUcX0wKmvlPTerJfy8iFsgP-8HybQ/s4032/IMG_9276.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQRaWEnE9Xp-AzEIMtQy_cR76-zp3KiAK55QjaOT0_nDTyRcJjSk8rqZur_ZdYFy_UYnAx69m4BkZUTLMvzIeEvdVd7WukCdDM9A0wNzA6jg_QdeUcX0wKmvlPTerJfy8iFsgP-8HybQ/s320/IMG_9276.HEIC" /></a></div><br />Rafting the Truckee River was one of the mainstays of my childhood summers, and Iâm so excited that my kids will have the same wonderful memories as they grow up! Hereâs what you need to know to enjoy this adventure:<span><a name='more'></a></span><span></span><div><br />đŚYou can hit the Truckee with one of the rafting companies, or head out on your own with tubes. With little kids, I recommend the former because they handle EVERYTHING â the gear, getting you into the raft, pulling you out at the end, and transporting you back to the start via bus. We use <a href="https://www.instagram.com/truckeeriverrafting/">@truckeeriverrafting</a> and love it!<br />đŚTruckee River Rafting has boats for 2-8 people; if your group is larger, you get 2 boats. You pay per person: adults are $60, kids 6-12 are $35, and kids 2-5 are FREE!! They provide life jackets (kids MUST wear) or you can bring your own.<br />đŚYou can bring food/drinks (lol, everyone takes advantage of that! đđť) in soft coolers/bags (no hard coolers/styrofoam). Donât bring glass; do bring a garbage bag. (They have trash cans at a few beaches along the route.) There are several âbeachesâ/islands/shallows where you can pull over to eat.<br />đŚThere are bathrooms at the start/occasional portables on the route.<br />đŚPack waterproof bags (the floor of the raft may get wet) â if you forget, they have garbage bags/ziplocs at the shop where you take off. Definitely ziploc your phone!<br />đŚ70% of the ride is like a lazy river â just cruising with the flow. Maybe 25% requires light paddling to navigate away from bushes/rocks. And about 5% requires active paddling/steering â the brief rapids as you approach the end definitely require hanging on to the kids!<br />đŚRafts depart right at the Y in Tahoe City (the outlet from Tahoe into the Truckee) and get pulled out at River Ranch. The trip takes 2-3 hours depending on stops. Thereâs no time limit â go at your own pace.<br />đŚIt gets HOT out there â no shade! Lots of opportunities to swim/wade, but full sun. Rash guards/hats/sunblock are musts. The seats get hot, so consider shorts instead of just suit bottoms for girls. Bring spray bottles or water blasters for added fun!<br />đŚMake reservations online!<br />.<br />đŚLet me know if you have questions â and ENJOY!!đŚ</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6428839125827206686.post-83765689787883340062021-07-10T17:13:00.008-07:002022-11-17T15:03:20.829-08:00Eagle Lake Hike (West Shore, Lake Tahoe)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamdj5OzBAw7xjvpqx-0FFp3x32z_3-2i08eC-bkXyjDz5cZouc500Xir0Q6ar8ff0TdFK2DMqwKJMGpTqy176r-_ivgG8Dy64qs1Wxn9Y6ib8FsI7kvo3zKqLEkxeZyn1-uHvKse4q1o/s4032/IMG_8635.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamdj5OzBAw7xjvpqx-0FFp3x32z_3-2i08eC-bkXyjDz5cZouc500Xir0Q6ar8ff0TdFK2DMqwKJMGpTqy176r-_ivgG8Dy64qs1Wxn9Y6ib8FsI7kvo3zKqLEkxeZyn1-uHvKse4q1o/s320/IMG_8635.HEIC" /></a></div><br />Eagle Lake hike ~ one of my top picks for family adventures at Tahoe!<span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Eagle Lake is a pristine body of water located just above the southwest âcornerâ of Lake Tahoe, almost due west of Emerald Bay. The hike up to the lake is only about a mile, but the operative word is âup.â Nearly every inch of the trek features an elevation gain, generally moderate but sometimes steep (in places, steep enough that they have steps cut into the granite). There are some spots where youâre scrambling over rocks, and others where youâre walking on sandy granite â no real âclimbingâ required, but some agility and good shoes are definitely called for.<br /><br />My almost 5 year-old, who is a seasoned hiker, did fine, but I didnât see any kids younger than her making it all the way to the lake.<br /><br />I remember doing this hike with my parents as a child, so I was excited to bring my kids last week. They LOVED it! While I think we wouldâve heard complaints on another trail with this much elevation gain, the terrain kept them interested and the promise of a snack at the lake gave them motivation.<br /><br />The trail is very popular, and parking can be a nightmare (the trailhead shares parking with the uber popular Emerald Bay). If you want to visit, plan to arrive EARLY and anticipate a potential walk along Highway 89 from whatever spot you can grab.<br /><br />If youâre not up for the full lake trek, Eagle Falls is a short walk from the trailhead, and there are pools above it where people splash in the water. (I personally wouldnât feel comfortable with the proximity to the falls, but đ¤ˇââď¸.)<br /><br />If you DO decide to go all the way to the lake, plan to stay a while. Some people swim, others just wet their feet, but all take a break to soak in the pristine mountain scene. If youâre willing to adventure off around the shore, you can find quiet little coves for a picnic. Itâs heavenly.<br /><br />There are restrooms/picnic tables at the trailhead. Dogs on leash are welcome. Right now thereâs no fee for day hikers, but usually itâs $5/car.<br /><br />If you have an outdoorsy family and kids 4+ who like to hike, definitely check out this gem!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6428839125827206686.post-51970040236738594392021-04-12T10:00:00.005-07:002022-11-17T15:04:06.189-08:00Disneyland: Ride Height Requirements<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C3hmLdouRchq4QOH_YREqHQ-ljxIQog6hnCAqVEOZlY2AyICtG2QZCAslBUY4xbk46YM8GwbK0MdoIB_611Y8zpNVavimmh6kEEuluQWxh4ZTaBEqHo2gK7KzmXXtmYynUONUXrwpdw/s2048/IMG_3513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C3hmLdouRchq4QOH_YREqHQ-ljxIQog6hnCAqVEOZlY2AyICtG2QZCAslBUY4xbk46YM8GwbK0MdoIB_611Y8zpNVavimmh6kEEuluQWxh4ZTaBEqHo2gK7KzmXXtmYynUONUXrwpdw/s320/IMG_3513.jpg" /></a></div><br />Everything you need to know about Disney ride height requirements!<span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Did anyone elseâs kids hit 40â during the Disneyland shutdown? My little one is SO excited to finally be able to join us on the âbig kid ridesâ and plans to start with Guardians. đ I was thinking something a bit tamer â Soarinâ, perhaps â but she wants multi-story drops and rock ân rollđ¤, so Guardians it is!<br /><br />As excited as she is to hit Disneyâs âmagic numberâ (40â gets you onto all but a few rides), we have LOVED the six Disney trips we took with her before she reached this height, as well as the ones we took with our son when he was little.<br /><br />Why? Because in addition to the *many* other diversions at the parks, people with littles can enjoy the following rides, which have NO height restriction:<br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>At Disneyland...</b></span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Astro Orbitor</li><li>Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters</li><li>Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage</li><li>Itâs a Small World</li><li>Mad Tea Party</li><li>Storybook Land Canal Boats</li><li>Alice in Wonderland</li><li>Mr. Toadâs Wild Ride</li><li>Peter Panâs Flight</li><li>King Arthurâs Carousel</li><li>Snow Whiteâs Adventure</li><li>Pinnochioâs Daring Journey</li><li>Dumbo</li><li>Casey Jrâs Steam Train</li><li>Roger Rabbitâs Car Toon Spin (but Iâd skip this one â itâs scary!)</li><li>The Jungle Cruise</li><li>Pirates of the Caribbean</li><li>The Haunted Mansion</li><li>Mark Twain Riverboat</li><li>Davy Crockettâs Explorer Canoes</li><li>Winnie the Pooh</li></ul><b><span style="font-size: medium;">And at Disney California Adventure (DCA)...</span></b><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Monsters Inc</li><li>Little Mermaid</li><li>Golden Zephyr (the child does have to be able to sit securely on his/her own, so not for infants)</li><li>Emotional Whirlwind</li><li>Ferris Wheel đ¤˘</li><li>Toy Story Midway Mania</li><li>Jessieâs Critter Carousel</li></ul>Once kids hit 32â, you add Materâs Junkyard Jamboree and Luigiâs Rollickinâ Roadsters (at DCA) and Autopia (at Disneyland) to the list, and at 35â, kids can ride Gadgetâs Go Coaster (Disneyland) â my daughterâs favorite. </div><div><br /></div><div>At 38â, they can hop aboard the Millennium Falcon for Smugglers Run, and at 40â, *almost* the whole park opens up to them, with the only exceptions being the Matterhorn, Goofyâs Sky School, and Grizzly River Run (42â), Indiana Jones (46â), and Incredicoaster (48â).<br /><br />There is something for everyone at Disney, regardless of height! Enjoy!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com