The Bay Area in winter is a magnet for migrating birds, whales, seals, and ladybugs. Winter foliage & colder temperatures make it easier to spot year round residents. CA State Parks, East Bay Regional Parks, City of Palo Alto Parks, POST,…
Ladybugs & Redwoods in Redwood Regional Park – World Class Family Hike
Thousands of ladybugs descend upon Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland Hills in winter. The ladybugs spend their November to February in the warmest, moistest areas. In late December along with a few other families, we hiked ~3 miles roundtrip…
Cub Scout Car Camping – Logistics & Gear List
My outdoor adventure planning has evolved from solo backpacking, thru-hiking, mountaineering, family camping & backpacking, and now to Cub Scout Pack planning. I am Cubmaster and Den Leader for our local Cub Scout Pack 58 in Hillsborough, CA. Here’s a…
Backpacking with Kids to Camp Lake in Emigrant Wilderness
Granite peaks, cool mountain lakes, and a relatively easy permit system make the Emigrant Wilderness an excellent destination. The 113,000 acre Emigrant Wilderness borders Yosemite National Park to the north shares many of Yosemite’s features. In July I went backpacking…
Angel Island Backpacking with Kids
San Francisco Bay’s Angel Island served as a Native American hunting area, an Army Base, the West Coast Ellis Island, and a Nike Missile Base. Today, Angel Island is a California State Park. I recently backpacked ~2 miles with four…
Ano Nuevo Elephant Seal Tour: Hiking with Kids
Few things compare to watching ~1000 elephant seals cavort on a beach. Ano Nuevo State Preserves protects a large elephant seal rookery on the San Mateo County Coast. Docents host elephant seal walks from Dec 15 until March that can…
We Love the Parks: San Mateo County Parks Foundation
Here’s my favorite hiking partner sharing his thoughts on the San Mateo County Parks. This Coyote Point Recreation Area video will be part of an upcoming campaign for the SMCP and the SMCP Foundation. In the meantime, enjoy the video…
Family Winter Backcountry Adventure: Loon Lake Chalet, a USFS Cabin
How can families safely explore the backcountry in winter when poor weather can transform an adventure into a survival situation? Visiting warm spots like the CA coast is one solution. Another approach is reserving a backcountry National Park or Forest…
Best Bay Area Parks for Kids
Where can families explore redwood forests, coastal mountains, Pacific Ocean tidepools, & coastal marshes all within a short drive from home? Where can families spot seals, whales, banana slugs, herds of deer, and thousands of migrating birds? Why the Bay…