ML Interest Tag: bring-layers

Wheels Up! 7 All-Access Bay Area Hikes with Views

by Christine Lai

Do your hikes involve a stroller or wheelchair? Do you enjoy sweeping scenic views but are less than enthused about pushing a stroller or wheelchair uphill for miles to achieve said views? Check out the following hikes that boast grand views with minimal exertion—let the gorgeous views (and not the climb) take your breath away! 

San Mateo Parks

Chickadee Nature Trail, Huddart County Park

All ecosystems of the park can be viewed on this ADA-compliant trail and the shroud of redwood trees gives way to sweeping views of the peninsula on a clear day. Stop by Robert’s Market on the way in for sandwiches to enjoy at the park’s picnic tables and also check out nearby historic Woodside Store Park which offers a time warp to life 150 years ago. 

Length: 0.75 miles
Surface: packed dirt
Elevation gain: 75 feet 
Exposure: mostly shaded

Christine Lai

Jean Lauer Trail, Pillar Point Bluff
Get your fill of ocean views and salty seabreeze on this ADA accessible hike on top of the windy bluffs (bring layers!). Park here then stay north on the trail and be on the lookout for wildlife, surfers and more! A wheelchair accessible pit toilet is available at the trailhead. We love stopping by The Press to warm up with breakfast that is served all day.

Length: 1.4 miles
Surface: packed dirt
Elevation gain: 236 feet, 5% grade 
Exposure: full 

Mary Bowerman Trail, Mount Diablo State Park
This short and sweet trail is located near the summit of Mount Diablo and depending on the season, one might spot wildflowers or tarantulas! A crystal clear day yields fabulous views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Lassen Peak and the Sierra Nevadas and the more adventurous can continue down the trail past the paved portion to explore cool geological rock formations. 

Length: 0.7 miles
Surface: paved
Elevation gain: 45 feet
Exposure: Limited shade, mostly exposed

Christine Lai

Sawyer Camp Trail, Crystal Springs Regional Trails 
This highly popular, ADA accessible trail attracts plenty of runners and bikers with its exceptional views of the Phleger Estate along with glittering water views of the reservoir. Several picnic areas and benches can be found along the trail as well as a 600+ year old Jepson Laurel tree, the oldest and largest in California. Check out this map for wheelchair accessible vault restrooms (no sinks) along the trail.  

Length: 11.3 miles, shorter options available 
Surface: paved
Elevation: <5%
Exposure: some shade

Christine Lai

Bald Mountain Trail, Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve 
While the majority of trails at Sierra Azul are known to be rugged and challenging, this segment has limited elevation change and offers unobstructed views of Mount Umunhum (and even Mount Tamalpais on a clear day) with the entire Santa Clara valley at your feet. Park at the trailhead, then make your way to the viewpoint where a bench awaits. Pack a lunch on sunny days and layers for windy ones. 

Length: 1.3 miles
Surface: dirt
Elevation: 111 feet, <5% grade
Exposure: Full

Gina K. via Yelp

Alpine Pond Loop, Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve 
The view on this short loop is of a small pond, nearby Borel Hill and a nature center that is open on summer weekends. A wheelchair accessible viewing platform gives an elevated view for spotting animals and a wheelchair accessible pit toilet can also be found on the edge of the pond.

Length: 0.6 miles
Surface: packed dirt and gravel
Elevation gain: 39 feet, <4% grade 
Exposure: limited shade, mostly exposed

Napa River Trail, John F. Kennedy Memorial Park
Nearby hills, the Napa river and local marshlands will be your viewpoint for this hike which means the area is also teaming with wildlife. Keep an eye and ear out for wrens, herons and the sweet song of the red-winged blackbirds. Wheelchair accessible restrooms can be found in the middle of the park as well as accessible picnic tables and grills. 

Length: 2-4 miles
Surface: paved and dirt
Elevation: 22 feet, <3% grade
Exposure: full 

—Christine Lai

featured photo by iStock

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The Music Festival Families Are Flocking To

by Erin Lem

 

Just because you have kids doesn’t mean your concerts have to be limited to “Old MacDonald” sing-alongs. Exhibit A: WinterWonderGrass Tahoe at Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows, happening this year March 29-31. Read on to find out what makes this festival totally kid-friendly and tips for attending.

1. For kids ages 12 and under, admission to WinterWonderGrass Tahoe is totally FREE. As of publication, single-day adult tickets were still available starting at $79. Click here for all ticketing options. Good to know: traveling with grandparents? Attendees 75 years old and older are also free!

2. Unlike Outside Lands or larger music festivals this venue is intimate. The festival is set up in the Squaw Valley parking lot behind PlumpJack. We think the most kid-friendly times to visit (and least crowded) is during the day right when the doors open and the music starts. Head in early before bedtime to easily hop between the stages. Expect one main stage with tents scattered throughout the festival, each housing smaller stages (3 heated stages in total). It’s a highly approachable and doable music festival with kids, which you’ll notice right off the bat given how many littles are running around with their music-loving parents.

3. Need a breather? Head to the festival’s designated Kid Zone, which is located a short distance from the main stage in a heated area next to VIP. Bonus: the kids tent has some of the best views of the stage! The Kid Zone is a creative and safe space where you’ll find, crafts like beading, coloring and LEGO building, hula hoops, face painting, a coffee bar with hot cocoa and food vendors with lots of kid-approved eats.

4. Unlike some music festivals this one has a flex in-and-out policy so if you need to skidaddle for a little bit or need a breather, feel free to go and come as you please.

5. The bathroom situation isn’t ideal for those potty-training because the facility only has port-a-pottys and you might have to wait during peak hours. We suggest bringing your own hand sanitizer. The good news is that you’ll find 50+ handicap accessible stations so you likely won’t have to squeeze your clan into the normal sized ones.

6. Strollers are welcome but the folks welcoming concertgoers will check your backpack for security. Feel free to bring in snacks and water/juice, but full picnic-style meals are not recommended. If you have a little one, we suggest bringing a carrier. We’ve also seen families bring in wagons, which make transport of blankets, backpacks, kiddo, etc. easy.

7. Let’s talk music! The three-day fest will showcase a variety of bluegrass and acoustic roots performances from around 2-10:30 p.m. Head there when the sets begin to catch music before bedtime. Expect For a full line-up click here but really, you can’t go wrong with any set time.

8. For the parents into brews, the Festival will feature samples from over craft breweries and a few local cider houses scattered throughout three heated beer halls. Sampling happens between 2-5 p.m. every day.

9. There will be free water so bring an empty water bottle to stay hydrated or use your Klean Kanteen festival mug, which comes with every ticket. The festival will not have plastic water bottles on site.

10. The majority of the Festival is outdoors so bring layers! Hats, gloves and a winter coat are all necessary, as are ear protection for your littles.

Ticket info.: Ticket prices begin at $79 for a single day ticket and $199 for a three day pass. Kids 12 and under get in free to this family-friendly event.

Squaw Valley
1960 Squaw Valley Road
Olympic Valley, CA
800-403-0206
Online: squawalpine.com

—Erin Lem

photos: WinterWonderGrass Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows

 

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A Parent’s Guide to Outside Lands With Kids

by Erin Lem

Your kids have rocked out (on mind numbing repeat) to Yo Gabba Gabba!, Recess Monkey and the Frozen soundtrack. On August 10-12 at San Francisco’s Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park introduce your kids to the excitement of live music. If you were lucky enough to snag tickets and want to make a family day or weekend out of it, here’s what you need to know to navigate Golden Gate Park and get the most out of your experience.

photo credit: TJ DeGroat via Flickr

Set Up Your Base Camp
You’re way past your single, no kids festival going days of darting from stage to stage. Arrive early and claim a spot with a blanket that you can use as your base camp throughout the day. Before the big crowds roll in for the evening and night shows the less crowded spots to set up are the picnic tables just past the windmill at the Lands End Stage (aka the Polo Grounds), on the far south side stage right of Lands End, or up on the hill adjacent to the Sutro Stage (aka Lindley Meadow).

Let’s Talk Music
Each day is brimming with awesome bands from bluegrass to country to pop to electronic, all of which will be a great introduction to the live music experience for your kids. The daytime shows are much less crowded so your kids can dance, sing and rock out freely. For a the full schedule and set times click here.

Bonus: Want to check out the bands ahead of time? Or, are you not going but still want to get in on the music? Check out this playlist on Spotify that showcases some of this year’s best songs.

photo credit: Adam Rugel via Flickr

Music to Every Foodie’s Ears
Since this is a San Francisco festival, you can expect culinary eats, wine and brews from the Bay’s best purveyors and restaurants. With over 80 restaurant and food trucks, you could actually spend the entire festival wandering around sampling the goods. Nosh on eats from the Johnny Doughnuts (new this year) or Chairman food trucks (at the former get anything—you really can’t go wrong—and at the latter go for the pork shoulder on the baked bao). Or, grab some pizza from Little Star Pizza, cheeseburgers from 4505 Meats, or chili verde tacos from Tacolicious.

Don’t forget dessert. For that you’ll want to beeline it to Choco Lands (yes there really is a land dedicated to chocolate) to pick up cupcakes, liquid chocolate bars or Red Tricycle’s Editor’s favorite sweet treat, an amazing s’more that’ll have you singing your own tune of happy.

Beyond the expansive food offerings, you’ll also fine Wine Lands and Beer Lands for the over 21.

Insider tip: the food and drink offerings can be overwhelming. We’ve pared down the vendors and outlined our favorite picks. Check them out here. 

Good to Know: You can bring in two factory sealed water bottles up to one liter each. Or, bring an empty Nalgene or reusable container and head to a refillable water station located at either Eco Lands or Polo Fields. There aren’t any water fountains available.

Bathrooms, Clothes & All That Jazz
Two words: porta potties. Expect to use them. Expect to wait in line. In past years, the least crowded during daytime hours were the toilets on either side of the Polo Fields–one where the VIP entrance is and the others elevated on the track behind the Heineken Dome. While there are hand washing stations we suggest bringing your own sanitizer.

And, since this is San Francisco in the summer AND in Golden Gate Park expect Karl the Fog to make a big time appearance. While you may have fleeting fantasies of dressing your kids in cute festival duds (especially if you’re coming from 90+ degree East Bay weather) don’t. Bring layers (think jackets, sweaters and even hats if you plan to stay the evening) and be happy that you did.

Another must-bring besides layers is hearing protection. Over the ear muffs seem to be the most popular but use whatever you child will wear. Your kid might be comfortable with swimming ear plugs or the foam plugs that come in lots of different colors.

photo credit: DavityDave via Flickr

Veteran Tips:
• Put a wrist band on your kiddo with your phone number in case they get lost or separated from you. Due to the crowds, expect bad cell service so consider writing ‘please text me’ on the band as well. Writing in marker on your kiddo’s arm works as well.

• Before going read this list of things you can and cannot bring into the festival. Most notably you cannot bring strollers or large framed backpacks so leave those at home (regular sized or unframed are fine).

• Since this is a music festival in the city you’ll likely encounter a fair amount of drinkers and smokers. Just be prepared to answer any questions your kids might have.

• If you’re with a big group we suggest bringing an inflatable animal like these from Amazon that you can hold up and wave around when your party needs to either spot you from a distance or follow you through a crowd. It may sound silly now, but it’s a life saver when you’ve gone to grab a slice of spicy pie with a toddler in-tow and you need to find your fam. Some festival goers resort to balloons but these just get lost and blown around in the windy Park atmosphere.

Outside Lands 411:

Where: Golden Gate Park, Polo Field with two entrances: one on the South and one on the North. Click here for a map.

When: August 10-12, 2018

Time: Gates open at 11:00 am, Music starts at 12:00 pm.

Friday: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Saturday: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 9:40 pm.

Get there: The first thing you have to plan for is the crowds. There is public transportation to and from the event but it tends to get overwhelmed. Parking is so limited so we suggest dropping off your passengers before you look for a spot so your little ones don’t have to walk too far. If you are driving, expect delays, which is why we suggest either taking public transport or riding your bike. Bike parking however is free and if you start from the South side of the park, downhill. There will be valet bike parking on site.

Online: sfoutsidelands.com

Have you gone to OSL with kids? Tell us about your experience below!

— Timothy Wang & Erin Lem

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What to See, Do and Eat at the Palace of Fine Arts With Kids

by laure latham

Back when international exhibitions meant building a town within a town, the Palace of Fine Arts became one of 10 palaces at the 1915 Panama-Pacific World Exposition on the northern side of San Francisco. Built by the famous Californian architect Bernard Maybeck following ancient Greek and Roman designs, the palace offers a romantic outdoors promenade flanked by tall ionic columns of another time and a serene rotunda overlooking a lagoon that swans and ducks call home. Add to that a theater, and manicured paths, and you’ll understand why the Palace of Fine Arts is a beloved city escape for parents.

When to go: The Palace of Fine Arts is a fantastic place to hang out for an hour or more throughout the year, from sunrise to sunset.

How to get there: The Palace of Fine Arts Theater is located at3301 Lyon Street in San Francisco. For directions from different parts of the Bay Area, click here.

Where to park: Free parking is available along Palace Drive, Yacht Drive, and on Bay and Lyon streets but expect weekends to be crowded.

Public transportation: The Palace of Fine Arts is easily accessible by San Francisco Muni buses #30, #43, #28, and #29. Muni bus lines #22, #41, and #45 also stop in the vicinity. From Fisherman’s Wharf take the #30 Stockton bus. For more information, call Muni at 415-673-6864 or check the SFMTA trip planner.

What to bring and wear: A picnic is a nice addition to this artsy day. Pack up some food and drink and enjoy a day in the park with the kids. Because you’ll be going inside and out, you’ll want to bring layers to be prepared for all weather conditions. Snacks and a camera are also recommended.

What to do:

Run around: with its renovated paved paths and landscaped gardens, the Palace of Fine Arts offers an incredible setting for kids to shake their sillies out away from car and bike traffic. Expect would-be climbers to take the Greek revival columns for jungle gyms – though really, their beauty should inspire poetry more than physical prowess.

Picnic: the grassy lawns surrounding the lagoon are perfect picnic spots with a blow-your-mind view – and tumbling heaven.

Family photos: with its ancient ruin picturesque décor that still screams “only in San Francisco,” the Palace of Fine Arts is often chosen for formal or important photo shoots. Head there for your holiday cards this year. Your relatives across the country won’t believe it.

Theater: home to many ethnic dance festivals, the Palace of Fine Arts Theater showcases several child-friendly programs such as the Nutcracker ballet. Check their upcoming events for more details.

Lunch spots: restaurants are in short supply directly around the Palace of Fine Arts but there’s plenty to eat if you’re willing to walk a few blocks down. If the kids are dying for a treat (or say, you need some quiet time), head to Chestnut Street for smacking ice cream sandwich from Over the Moon.

Cost: Cost is completely dependent on the activities you do and day you wish to come. For a more economical day, stick to picnics, parks, and free-entry days.

Little Known Fact: as the rest of the Panama Pacific Exposition, the Palace of Fine Arts was built on 635 acres reclaimed from the San Francisco Bay. Yes you are walking on water and it doesn’t even show.

Whether for an hour or for a day, you’ll be surprised at how peaceful the Palace of Fine Arts can be despite its proximity from the bustling Marina and Crissy Field scene. Enjoy!

— Laure Latham

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