Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan We are going (rather last minute) to Bodega Bay for 3 days next week. We'll likely spend some time at Doran Park flying kites (DH has a great collection of them). And we'll walk along the beach and check out tidepools. But do you have any other suggestions about stuff to do with a 4 and 7 year old? We'll likely head into Santa Rosa or Petaluma on one of the days (we might do Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Factory tour). Any Bodega Bay beach suggestions for good tidepools safe for little ones? Any other ideas for the area? Safari West is too expensive for this trip, unfortunately. Thanks.....
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains What are your dates?? Sebastopol is having their apple festival I think next weekend ( I just got home from up there - and saw the signs but now the dates are out of my memory) - 2 of my kids were camping in Bodega Bay this week with my sister and had a blast - but the weather was so awesome they couldn't even fly kites because there wasn't any wind... There were however tons of Jelly Fish... They went out in my BIL's boat and their were some Blue or Gray (kids are sleeping or I would ask) and some Humpback whale - they also saw some dolphins... My sister mentioned that there is alot of construction going on in Santa Rosa - GUY from food network has a couple restaurants in Santa Rosa too - if you are a fan of his that could be fun...
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan gottaluv - hmmmm....the Apple Blossom festival is listed as April 27 & 28, 2008 on the Chamber of Commerce's website. Maybe the signs were old? We are going Wed through Sat morning, so we wouldn't really be around for a weekend thing anyway. Thanks for the heads up about the kites...I guess the wind is hit or miss, so now we'll be prepared either way. I just hope the smoke stays away. We were suppossed to go to Lake Tahoe, but the smoke/ash is awful there. Jellyfish - How cool! I hope we see some. I can't imagine seeing whales and dolfins...your kids are so lucky! And FBR thanks for the tip about the Charles Schultz muesum. My son LOVES reading Charlie Brown comics...I'll have to look into this!!!
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains It was my error it's actuall in august - it's in sebastabol but it's the Gravenstien apple fair... Petaluma will be having an Art and Wine festival - I will ask my sister this weekend and see what she says is going on out there...
Originally Posted By Elderp My grandmother lives in Santa Rosa. There is the Schultz Ice Rink, they used to have a carriage ride downtown, Traintown is not too far, walking through the trails of Jack London's house is fun too.
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan I went to the Schultz Ice Rink webpage....it looks like so much fun! There is a big ice hockey tournament going on while we would visit, which is FREE to get into. We've never watched like ice hockey before - fun! Plus they have a cute bench outside (as seen on their webcam) where you can sit by Snoopy and Woodstock. My little Snoopy fan would get a huge kick out of that. Traintown looks really fun as well. I'll print out their map/info and add it to the folder, in case we decide to head that far from Bodega Bay. Thanks everyone for the info!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 <a href="http://www.farmtrails.org/" target="_blank">http://www.farmtrails.org/</a> We live in Petaluma, I'm trying to think back to what we did in the area when our kids were little. One thing they seemed to like for a day trip was to go to a farm and pick apples or berries. The above link should help you with things like that. The hwy past the Russian River to Santa Rosa will have places to stop if you'd like to picnic or swim. Armstrong Grove/Woods is nice and cool and smells good I think you have some nice ideas already for Santa Rosa. Rohnert Park has a Skandia that my kids spent hours at. Petaluma is nice, there are typical parks and such, outlets if you want to shop and the old downtown for restaurants and shoppy shops. We tend to take our grandson (4yrs) to a feed store called RiverTown where he can see the baby chicks/ducks/turkeys/etc. hay bales up close and we buy our dog a treat Our largest park is nice but has lots of geese and ducks and you know what they do to the lawn Wave to my sisters cows in Bloomfield Have fun!
Originally Posted By Stacers76 Wow look at all these people practically at my door! I live in Petaluma too...and everyone has given the best ideas/places to go already! I don't know if you want to delve way into Santa Rosa itself, but on the east side of town is Howarth Park and Spring Lake...there's a train, carousel, and pony rides (not sure of the cost) that might be fun for the kiddos. Across the street is Clo's Parkside Grill which is a tasty little burger joint that people around here love. I've only had their catering, but it's darn good too! Have fun!
Originally Posted By velo we were just at Doran Beach on Thursday and there was plenty of wind -never fear! But it felt really good after all this heat. I'll agree with everything mentioned thus far - it's all stuff we do with the kids (I live in Petaluma too). My kiddo's are a bit old for TrainTown at this point but it's a great place (it's over in Sonoma) Pizzaria Capri, next door to it is very good. We also like to visit Lucas Wharf in Bodega - if you're there when the fishing boats come back in for the day it's fun to watch them unload (and have some yummy chowder inside). At the kite shop up the street a ways there is some goood salt-water taffy too! Every Wednesday night there is a Farmer's Market here in Petaluma - it's held in Theater Square. There is also one on Saturdays in Walnut Park. Fresh, local cheese, bread etc.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs Ah, Clo Yes, the Clover brand of dairy products is made up there, so you will see lots of ads featuring Clo, the cute little bovine with perfect teeth. I have a flier/ad/info thing for the Charles Schulz museum...it's the kind that you find in hotel lobbies mixed with all the other attractions in that particular area or state. Here is some more info: <a href="http://www.SchulzMuseum.org" target="_blank">http://www.SchulzMuseum.org</a> HOURS M-F: 11-5 Sat-Sun: 10-5 Apparently the museum is closed on Tuesdays except during the summer. ADMISSION Members, Kids under 3: Free Youths, Seniors, Students w/valid ID (sorry Hedley!): $5 Adults: $8 The museum is next to Snoopy's Home Ice and the Snoopy Gallery and Gift Shop. Kind of like how there's an Alice district in Fantasyland.
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan You guys are so helpful.....I really appreciate all the information. I just found out that the house will have wireless internet, so I don't have to print anything out......I can just reference this thread while we are there!
Originally Posted By iamsally I second the Shultz Museum. We did it last year and loved it. There is lots to entertain both young and old and young at heart.
Originally Posted By kari12177 Finally someone else that knows about Duran beach. Ive been camping there since I was little. We usually go in Sept and it was foggy and really windy for 4 days straight. I'd take that weather over this smoke, anyday!
