Let's Go!
4 super-fun summertime destinations (because family life's
a trip!)
By Amy
Crelly, Jason Adair and Brandy Tuzon Boyd
Rainbow
Falls is just
one of Mammoth's amazing natural wonders. (Photo:
Bob Meadows)
1.
BIG Fun for Nature Lovers
Situated on the rim of the Long Valley Caldera, about 5½ hours
from Sacramento, Mammoth is
like a giant playground, offering endless outdoor fun. With over 100 miles of
bike trails, for cyclists of every ability, the Mammoth
Mountain Bike Park is a must for families who love to ride. Mammoth
is also surrounded by some of the most scenic hiking in California. Jason Adair,
again, offers the scoop: "For those families with younger children, or those
who prefer a nice walk to a hike, the state park has a shuttle service that can
take you to several trailheads within the park. One of the easier trails takes
you on a short hike to a place called Devils
Postpile. This naturally-occurring 60-foot-high basalt formation looks like
nothing you’ve ever seen in nature. Like a geometric Play-Doh sculpture,
it's an absolute must-see." Mammoth's Adventure
Center also offers tons of fun for the kids, including a zip line ("100
feet of 'wheee!'”), wall climbing (35 vertical feet for beginner and intermediate
rock climbers of all ages, plus a climbing wall just for little kids), and ride
the gondola lift ("with panoramic views of the Eastern Sierra landscape,
including the Minarets, Mono Lake, and 400 miles of mountain peaks"). "As
for lodging," Jason reported, "the Village at Mammoth offers reduced
room rates in the off-season, plus hot tubs, a pool, shopping and restaurants," for
those not-so-into roughing it. "There are also camping facilities for those
happy to trade their hot shower and soft bed for the rare pleasures of a cool
stream and an alpine view."
Read
the whole story in our archive of Past Issues (June 2008),
or click on the links above to find out more.
2.
Indoor Adventures in The City
If
you're heading to the Bay this summer, be sure to visit The
California Academy of Sciences. The only place on the planet with
an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and a 4-story rainforest
all under one roof, it’s also home to nearly 40,000 live animals and boasts
hands-on tidepool exhibits, penguin feedings, swamp talks and more. Fewer than
two hours from Sacramento (and many, many degrees cooler in summer), it's located
in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and open daily until
5pm. Last summer, we asked our intrepid travel reporter, Jason Adair, to take
his intrepid family along and check it out. They were impressed. Almost overwhelmed,
in fact. "Walking around the Academy for five hours allowed us to see probably
half of what they had on display." So, he advises, "visit the Academy’s
Web site—full of helpful hints, floor plans, and exhibit descriptions—before
you go, to make the most of your time there."
Read
Jason's full review in our archive of Past Issues (July
2009), click on the link above, or call (415) 379-8000 to explore some
more.
Tunes
for Your Travels
In June's online issue: check out reviews of the latest kindie rock
releases,
then load up your iPod and hit the road—no earmuffs required,
no Wiggles allowed.
|
3.
Beach-Goers, Dive In!
There's nothing quite like the smell of ocean air, and those cool
breezes, not to mention the feel of sand between your toes and sun warming
you all over to refresh both body and soul. And Monterey is
one of the loveliest coasts a California kid could ever experience. This trip
pick comes from local
mom, writer and SacramentoParent.com blogger extraordinaire, Brandy (aka "SactoWriteMama"),
who recently went with her family:
One of our first stops
was at a small beach near Fisherman’s Wharf where our daughter concentrated on collecting shells and our son climbed
up and down the large, ocean-worn boulders. We reveled in the sheer joy they
got out of sand between their toes and being together in such a perfect place
The
next day was spent at the
Monterey Bay Aquarium. Hours and hours of animal feedings,
touch pools and movies about the ocean. Just like at the beach, our kids
were drawn to different things. My daughter was drawn to the otters, my son
to the sharks and octopi.
All they learned became
apparent on our long drive home when our son said, “I
didn’t know sharks were real.”
“Really?” I asked. “Even though you have a book about
sharks and you’ve seen movies?”
“No, no. I just thought they were pretend,” and he rattled off
the names of sharks he’d seen at the aquarium.
This was a teaching moment
for us as parents. Before actually seeing sharks inside those gigantic
tanks, our son thought these creatures were the thing
of myth and make believe. Full-color books on the species and several TV
documentaries didn’t matter. He needed first-hand experience to truly
understand.
Now,
he’s
fascinated with sharks, poring over his books every day...
Read
more of Brandy's blog (April 15) or click on the links
above for travel info.
4.
Downtime in the High Sierra
An
alpine escape, right in Sac's backyard? The
Village at Squaw
Valley is an all-in-one vacation town that offers
tons of fun, and far cooler temps, just two hours from Sactown. Once
again, Jason Adair did the reporting for us (it's a tough job, but
somebody's got to try the spa services): "Part of the magic of Squaw is
the unbelievable beauty of the high mountain valley,
so, for those of you looking to do some hiking and wildlife exploration,
Squaw offers plenty that will fit the family budget. On the other hand,
if you’re looking to splurge on some serious pampering and enjoy
one-of-a-kind recreation and relaxation, Squaw’s also got you covered,
as long as you bring your credit card. For once, I decided to go the pampered
route, and I’m glad I did."
Read
the rest in our archive of Past Issues (June 2007),
or click on the links above.
