Who can resist feeding a tropical bird right from your hand? Not I, nor my kids, nor the other screaming kids on field trip to the zoo that day for that matter. We made a wonderful find at the Micke Grove Park in Lodi, CA. The Lorikeets, visiting from May – Sept., were a big highlight.  The zoo, though small, was just about right for my pre-schooler and toddler. Half the fun is going from exhibit to...

Bowling Green Drive, SF Fantastic playground for all ages.  In addition to that various aged climbing structures you may typically see at playgrounds, there are nice additional features. One includes a water feature where by stomping on a button on the ground, you can get a very mild stream of water that runs down a ramp area and into a sandpit. It was difficult to pull either boy from their moat creation,...

199 Museum way  San Francisco, CA Perched on a hill in central San Francisco, this museum is made for the younger crowd, and its FREE!  A puppet theatre welcomes you as you enter. A large room full of interesting animals, some you can pet if they aren’t hiding, is on the right side as you enter. There is an area to build leggo structures, then see if they can withstand a mini earthquake. Downstairs...

As much of Vallejo tourism is based around Six Flags Marine World, here you can find lots of hotels that offer packages for overnight and park tickets. You can find more about these at the visitor’s website. Also, the park offers season passes for not much more than a regular ticket. The deals are worth checking out at Marine World’s website. Share / Save / Send

This is a wonderful find particularly if you have young toddlers and are looking to get away from the crowds. It is surprisingly close to Sacramento, and a green oasis from the summer heat. To enter the 258-acre park will cost $3.00 on weekdays. Parking is pretty close, though, to the center of the kid activities. The physical address is: 11793 N. Micke Grove Rd., Lodi, CA First you’ll see the zoo. The...