Cow Poke Jared, Camp Pendleton Stables in Oceanside
If you are active duty military or related to someone who is you might want to consider a visit to at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. They offer horse boarding, day camps, trail rides and other great activities. Through my kid’s preschool we had the opportunity to attend a fieldtrip there. Bring plenty of carrots. The horses love the snack, almost as much as the kids love feeding it to them.
The following pictures are a testament to the resiliency of my sweet daughter and the magical dedication of her preschool teacher. Destiny insists on living life on her own terms at all times. As you can see from the first picture, she didn’t want to join Jared on the trail ride because she was worried about riding the horse. She stayed behind with her teacher, and by the time I returned with Jared she had vanished.
Destiny's Drama
A few minutes later I was greeted by this beautiful sight:
Destiny's Triumph
Ever heard of Take Your Daughter to Work Day? Well, if you live in California this should be take your dad to a California State Park Weekend. Learn more about at the California State Parks Foundation website.
Check out Delicious Baby for more great to get your travel juices flowing. Debbie’s post on “Babies First Road Trip” is pretty adorable.
Nana and Baba Among the Wild Flowers at Anza-Borrego
My kids are very lucky in that most of their Grandmas and Grandpas live near by. My parents, affectionately referred to by the grand kids as Nana and Baba recently joined us in Carlsbad. Even though my mom had been a Northern California girl all her live she has become acclimated some what to Southern California life. Since they are retired they have the chance to take a break from watching grandkids and enjoy their own grown up adventures. They fill me in on the beautiful places that I can not necessarily visit with small children, like the gardens at the Self-Realization Temple in Encinitas. (My brood is apparently too loud for such a quiet, meditative locale.) I’m keeping a list though. As soon has these wild ones are tamed, we will be heading off on some of these great adventures.
Last week, Nana and Baba’s friend Karen took them to Anza-Borrego State Park. Every March visitors are rewarded with a brief season of blooming wild flowers. The rains were plentiful this winter and wildflowers continue to bloom in this area of the desert. The location of the flowers is ever changing, however. Check the Anza Borrego website for an up to date wildflower report . The visitor center which is staffed by local volunteers is also supposed to be very helpful, but also very busy during wild flower season.
I Loved the Colors on this Big Fat Caterpillar
Nana and Baba had a few set backs along the way. At first the flowers were no where to be seen. They were ready to head home when my Dad noted a few cars turning up a road. They followed the road to the end and were rewarded by a burst of color. Karen’s favorite restaurant was booked solid, but they consulted with a local realtor and had an elegant lunch at a restaurant next to a golf course. Just goes to show that a good adventure requires patience and creativity.
Flower season is almost over, so we may need to wait another year to try this adventure. If you are free this weekend, the website reports that there are still some beautiful flowers tucked in the valleys. If you have big kids who don’t mind the drive, it might still be worth the drive. Don’t delay, the flowers will be gone before you know it.
BREAKING NEWS! Now we all have one more reason to take a family adventure to Anza-Borrego. Dennis Avery, of the Avery label family has erected gigantic Ricardo Breceda sculptures of dinosaurs and other early inhabitants of the desert on his property. Now that is art even my nine year old, Justin can appreciate! Thanks to San Diego Travel Tips for alerting me to this fun family adventure opportunity. If you are ready to explore the quirky side of San Diego…these ladies have some excellent suggestions. Sign up today!
The flowers in these pictures were so beautiful I just had to share them with you. If you want to enjoy a multitude of beautiful travel photos, head over to my friend Delicious Baby’s website today at . She is highlighting a fun Paris tradition and also features links to a number of beautiful travel photos from all over the world.
The Smith Kids Clean Up Carlsbad at a Ponto Beach Cleanup
I want to take a minute to pay homage to my new home town Carlsbad, California. I have lived here for less than three years, but already I can’t imagine raising my family anywhere else. It is at once a wonderful, kid friendly community and a premier family travel destination.
Most of my friends who are newly relocated to Carlsbad, came here as tourists and decided to stay. My friends who relocated from Orange County said that they came because here people say hi to you in the grocery store. It’s a medium sized city with a small town feel. All the elementary schools get out early so they can participate in the Carlsbad High Homecoming Parade. Where ever you go: the library, down town, the hiking path by your house you are bound to run into someone you know. The seasons are marked by city events: Artsplash and Oktoberfest in the fall, The Carlsbad Marathon in the winter, The Carlsbad Village Street Faire and the Pointsettia Park Eggstravaganza in the spring, and Jazz in the Park all summer long.
The ocean provides a back drop to living in Carlsbad. My neighbors jog down to the beach. I drive along the water as I head to my son’s baseball game. Carlsbad High offers surf P.E. My kids love to walk the dog and watch the water birds at a local lagoon.
Visiting on vacation? Legoland is Carlsbad’s main tourist attraction. Kids love to see the elaborate Mini-land filled with models of most major US cities. There is interactive fun for all ages throughout the park. Don’t come to Legoland expecting to be passively entertained. Plan to pump hard to win a fire truck race, build race cars out of Lego bricks and race them down a track, and even participate on stage during a musical production about an Indiana Jones type adventure. The new Sea Life Aquarium is pretty small in scale, but if you have little ones, they will enjoy the specially designed tanks that let them pop up in the middle of the fish! Check out my Unauthorized Legoland Guidebook for more information about this outstanding theme park.
If you come in the spring make sure you also take some time to visit the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. They are stunning to behold, and also offer a Santa’s Village for the kids to explore as well as an extensive collection of rare poinsettias.
So go ahead, pay Carlsbad a visit. Perhaps it will become your new home town.
If you are planning to visit the Legoland theme park in Carlsbad, California, this book contains all the information you need to make the most of your family adventure. The book also includes information about other area attractions, local restaurants and hotels.
Bridget Smith, mom of three, loves to blog about everyday adventures. Her mission is to change the world; one kid, one destination, one effortless trip, one overworked mom, one frazzled dad... one day at a time! Come and join her.
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