Straight from the Bottle : summer activities

Ten Days of Summer: Part Three

GirlsGoneChild — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:03:00 GMT

(continued from Ten Days of Summer Part One and Part Two)

Okay so obviously I need a second vacation from my first vacation because a week later, here I am, wrapping up my Ten Days of Summer post(s) and I'm scratching my head trying to remember what we even did. (Lucky for me, there's flickr which I'm religious about updating, to remind me so my brain doesn't have to do as much work.)

Before I bust out the rest of my San Diego fun tips, I would like to make clear that the only way to enjoy a vacation is to HAVE a vacation. Planning activities to do every second isn't necessarily the way to go, as evidenced by my panic attack during the second half of last week when I became Queen of the Walking Dead. Not joking. So just keep that in mind, maybe. Learn from that which has tripped me. Remember to relax. Ahem.

Day Six: Wednesday - The Train

Today doesn't count because it was Hal's 35th Birthday so I took the train home to L.A. to surprise him on the set of his show and spend the night with him Sans kids. (Hubba.) So although I did spend the day childless, I do recommend taking day trips with the kiddies via Metrolink or Amtrak Surfliner (Metrolink is 1/3 of the price so you might want to check them first, although they run far less trains on the weekend.)

passing through San Clemente on the Amtrak Surfrider (missed the Metrolink!) which rides along the southern California coast.

We were planning on taking the train (Metrolink, obvy) from Encinitas to the new Children's Museum downtown on Sunday (which I have heard nothing but amazing things about but have yet to experience firsthand, btw) but never got around to it because of the whole exhaustion-omg-we-need-to-rest-now-methinks situation.

I'm a huge proponent of train travel. It's relatively cheap, environmentally friendly and so much fun for both children and adults! Plus, day trips can feel like full-on vacations when you're packing backpacks instead of the family car.

Day Seven: Thursday - Swim Lessons/ Pool-time

Today Hal and I got to sleep in until 7:30 (we dream BIG, y'all) before driving back down to Encinitas to be with the kids. We spent the rest of the day in the pool, where Archer experienced his first formal swimming lesson. (Many swim teachers are happy to come to your house or hotel and teach private day lessons FYI) Archer kicks a mean streak now, which is pretty awesome. And of course, there's nothing cuter than watching a nine-month old giggle as you drag her through the pool water. (Note for the Babybook: This week was Fable's first time in a bathingsuit AND in the pool. Aw.)

Day Eight: Friday - ~~Del Mar~~ San Diego County Fair followed by a Jazz at the Park

Today was exhausting. Fun and fabulous but exhausting. The Del Mar Fair (now called The San Diego County Fair) is somewhere I've spent every summer at since I was three-years-old. It was where I won my first award (first place for my 6th grade eraser collection WUDUP!???). It was also the place my first REAL boyfriend took me on my first REAL date (and made out with me in the back of my parent's mini-van the entire trip home. My poor parents who were driving omg.) It was where I first decided to quit meat in 7th grade as well as the first place I got thrown-up on. Super! But I digress... countless memories were made in upside down rides.

I've returned to the fair every summer with Archer since his birth and got to bring Fable for the first time this year...

Archer's favorite part? The Ferris Wheel and the giant slide. My favorite part? Watching Archer on the Ferris Wheel and the giant slide. Being a parent is awesome that way.

Next, because for whatever reason SIX HOURS at the fair wasn't enough, we took Fable down to the local park for a big band jazzy picnic. (Archer was passed out cold from the day's events so it was just the three of us.)

Fable danced into the dusk and we sipped wine and hung with old friends. Twas a wondrous delight. Highly recommended for those in North County on a Friday night. More information on that, here.

Day Nine: Saturday - Movies with Archer followed by dinner at Nana's and Fireworks at Del Mar Beach

Saturday morning we went to see Up which is a whole story unto itself. Let's just say I'm steering clear of Pixar until they decide to make CARS II, The Hybrid. Or something that isn't scary and/or about death or the Apocalypse. Can't SOME cartoons be for kids? I mean, I love me a good death film, don't get me wrong but I want to take my kid to something that will inspire his little mind, you know? Sigh.

So after Archer and I were scarred for life permanently we went home, frolicked in my mother's vegetable garden and headed down to Del Mar to my Nana's house who lives a couple blocks from the beach and had ourselves a delightful picnic, stroll, and sit under the stars at 15th Street. (They light the fireworks at The Del Mar Fair so it's fun to watch from the beach. Less crowded. More beautiful and free of charge.)

Day Ten: Sunday - The long drive home

I almost didn't make it home I was so tired. Extra large latte to go tired. Happy to be home. A little sad for it to be over.

Until next time, as they say. Until next time.

(Hope you're all enjoying your families and having a lovely summer!)

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Ten Days of Summer: Part Two

GirlsGoneChild — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:57:00 GMT

(continued from Ten Days of Summer: Part One)

Day Three: Sunday: Sunset Picnic on Moonlight Beach

We spent most of the day Sunday splashing around my parent's pool which isn't exactly a public destination (although I do recommend it!) and then later that afternoon picked up some fish/mushroom tacos and headed down to our favorite beach, Moonlight to dine on blankets as the sun set. Tres, tres belle.

Beaches are their most beautiful at dusk, much like people are. And Moonlight is the perfect beach for a picnic because the parking is plentiful and there are no steps. (There also happens to be a fantastic playground in the sand, just beyond the beach volleyball courts.) Of course, I'm slightly biased as I spent every summer of my youth frolicking along its sands but still. It's an amazing place.

Day Four: Monday: Hamilton Children's Garden at Quail Gardens

Fable with my Nana (who happens to be a rockstar gardener, herself!) at Quail Gardens

Told you we'd be here every day! Was not kidding.

Now that we have a membership, why wouldn't we spend every day there? Also, I forgot to mention that my late uncle Peter has a memorial bench on it's grounds with a view of the musical garden. Sit on it and think happy thoughts.

Day Five: Tuesday: Playwerx, Carlsbad

Okay so this place? AMAZING. It was our first time there and whoa. Kind of made me wish we didn't live so far away. An amazing place for children to play and parents to grab coffee, pull up their laptops and get some work done.

Located in a warehouse, the space is huge, airy and immaculate. Also, they have free wifi, desks for working within eyeshot of the entire space. I didn't bring my laptop, today, because I had Fable and was there with my mom and grandma, but next time? Totally going to bring my work. (Archer played for three hours and would have played longer if we didn't have to get home for dinner!)

I mean, LOOK at this play structure! It's better than the one at SeaWorld! I also love that it's family owned and operated.

For more information go here.

(to be continued! stay tuned for more!)

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Ten Days of Summer: Part One

GirlsGoneChild — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:09:00 GMT

We arrived in San Diego Thursday for our home-away-from-home summer vacation, sadly minus Hal who is still working as I type this on a Saturday night because that's how he rolls and we all cry because we miss him like mad.

We traveled south to my parent's house because it's summer and we don't quite have the funds to hop a plane to Hawaii or Amalfi or anywhere that isn't free. Archer has ten days off between the last day of "junior preschool" and the first day of summer school which meant ~~HOW THE HELL AM I GOING TO ENTERTAIN TWO KIDS FOR TEN DAYS ALL BY MYSELF?~~ VACATION TO GOOEY AND PAPA'S HOUSE!

So here we are. And it is lovely. I thought it might be kind of fun to blog our to-do every couple days here on SFTB as kind of an impromptu what-do-do-in-San-Diego list I decided to put together in the last two minutes of writing this sentence.

As you may or may not know, I grew up in north county San Diego and regularly spend time down here with my family and old friends. I've written lists of my favorite things to do in Los Angeles, my home of ten years, but never written a cohesive list or reference guide to my favorite San Diego activities. So here is a calendar of awesome summer to-dos in real time.

Day One: Friday: SeaWorld

SeaWorld was kind enough to comp a trip for the kids, my parents and me, and it was awesome. It was also the first time I'd been to SeaWorld since I was fourteen. We went all the time as kids but it was especially fun returning as a parent. And a trip to watch Archer scurry down the rabbit holes of my childhood.

Whereas, I always loved Seaworld for its sea creatures (specifically petting sea cucumbers in the tidepools so fun) Archer was more interested in rolling down grassy knolls with my dad:

... Dancing around picnic tables for an hour:

...and of course, riding the "boxes in the sky" over the bay:

He also enjoyed dining with shamu...

...and OF COURSE the kid's play area formerly known as Captain Kid's World:

So much fun and yet... the "boxes" were BY FAR the high point of Archer's afternoon:

(In fact I'm pretty sure shamu was the only animal Archer cared about and he cared for all of three minutes. Needless to say he's not the animal person his mother is...)

All in all, SeaWorld was pretty badass but the crowds were kind of annoying. Also can we please talk about how many bad tattoos exist in theme parks? Seriously, people. The Calvin and Hobbs pissing on a Chevrolet sign on your shoulder? Might want to wear a shirt sleeve on that arm no offense.

Day Two: Saturday: Quail Botanical Gardens and its NEW TREEHOUSE HOLY AMAZINGNESS!

Located in my hometown of Encinitas, this is by far the coolest place I've ever seen, maybe in my whole life. I grew up going to Quail Gardens and have probably been there a total of 6787329273891 times. At least. But the Hamilton Children's Garden is BRAND new. Just opened and might just be the greatest outdoor kid's space in the entire world. I'm not kidding. It's completely unbelievable. A fairy land in paradise complete with Swiss Family Robinsonesque treehouse, maze, stream, musical garden, butterfly garden, art gallery, area for building so your kids can engineer their own forts and playhouses and a thousand little game areas (Archer loved the giant tic tac toe game) and gardens (including one boasting veggies.)

We spent four hours there today and will likely be there every day for the rest of our stay. It's THAT amazing. Why go anywhere else amazing. No lie. The only thing that sucks? Very little shade so bring lots of hats and perhaps even a parasol? Also highly recommend purchasing the year-long family membership pass. Most bang for your buckage.

(this list to be continued. In the meantime, what are YOU doing with your summer?)

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