kristined's Passport
 | Been to 159 Attractions |
 | 114 Reviews |
 | 82 First to Review |
 | 276 Photos |
 | 35 Helpful Votes |
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Send a ComplimentAbout Me & My Family
I'm the mother of a two high energy kids who were born ready for adventure. My oldest is a gifted athlete and my youngest is a charmer with special needs.
Our Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, curious, rowdy, disorganized, independent, energetic, spontaneous, easy_going, social_butterfly
We Just Got Back From
Gold Country
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
The Big Island, HI
A Place We'd Love To Visit
The Cook Islands, Australia, Jordan, Alaska, Israel ---oh, did you say PLACE as in singular? HA!!!
Favorite Vacation Memory
Riding a water bike on a Hawaiian lagoon with one of my kids on each pontoon!
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
Flying with my three month old baby just weeks after September 11 -- what a nerve wracking and tense experience that was!!
Websites I Like:
Kid-Friendly July 4 Fun in the SF Bay Area
Red, white and blue celebrations to enjoy as a family
1 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, California
Comment:
Celebrate Independence Day 2012 with at the 26th annual “4th of July Fireworks Spectacular,” presented by Live Nation and starring the San Francisco Symphony at the Shoreline Ampitheatre in Mountain View.
At 8pm, the main show begins starring the San Francisco Symphony‘s performance of “Gold Medal Music,” featuring song selections from Harry Potter, Rocky and Ben-Hur, in addition to more traditional Fourth of July music.
The night ends with a full fireworks show accompanied by patriotic music from the San Francisco Symphony.
600 East Meadow Avenue
Palo Alto, California
Comment:
31st Annual Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off
Wednesday, July 4
Mitchell Park – 600 East Meadow Dr.
12 – 5pm (Chili tasting starts at 1:30pm)
The tradition continues as we celebrate Independence Day at the Palo Alto Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off. Attracting thousands of sun and chili lovers, the festival embraces everything wonderful about summer. Taste an array of red-hot chili delicacies prepared by over 20 teams of chefs battling for the chili championship. Live music by the band the Hitmen, line dancing by Hedy McAdams, DJ Joe Sheldon, children’s activities including jumpy houses, balloon artist, face painting, 4-6 food vendors, and more will take place from 12 – 5pm. Chili tasting starts at 1:30pm. Admission is free. Tasting kits will be sold for a nominal fee.
This event is sponsored by the Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Online, and the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation.
201 University Ave.
Berkeley, California
Comment:
Jul 4, 2012: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm Play in the Marina all day with live music, kite flying, dragon boat rides, stilt walkers, pony rides, and more. And with tons of food vendors around, you can eat your way from event to event. The fireworks start at 9:30 pm but you'll be so busy, you might not even notic
5355 Graham Hill Road
Felton, California
Comment:
Jul 4, 2012: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm- $25 for train ticket. Roaring Camp channels the 1950s with a Sock Hop, a hula hoop contest, games, live music and all American BBQ. Everything is free except food and tickets to the train.
reviewed on: August 19 2010
"Railroad Adventures at Roaring Camp"
If you've only ever frequented Roaring Camp during the organized chaos that is "Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine", you really need to get yourself to this place during a different time of year! It is so different without throngs of toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers! It was wonderful and peaceful to not have to deal with the Thomas soundtrack and the accompanying merchandise spilling out of every corner of the place. We simply enjoyed the beautiful and charming venue we have only vaguely noticed on previous visits.
We hopped aboard the Dixiana, a narrow gauge steam train, and enjoyed a scenic 1-hour and 15-minute journey to Bear Mountain. During the ride, our conductor brought us up to speed on train trivia and pointed out amazing wonders in the natural habitat we were coursing through including the exposed root of a Redwood tree, a grandma tree who had fallen over and wound up supported by daughter trees (these younger trees are a couple hundred years old) and the remnants of a labyrinth of train trestle destroyed by fire many years ago.
The train stops for about 15-minutes at Bear Mountain where our crew made a suggestion we may try in the future --- bring a picnic lunch, hang out up at Bear Mountain and catch the later train back a few hours later. It's gorgeous and secluded. If that doesn't fit your family style though and you simply want to ride, I suggest you bring plenty of water and snacks. We didn't and wound up quite thirsty before we made it back to the depot.
It is amazing how the crew navigates this workhorse of a train up and down the thin corkscrew of tracks on this trip! The whistling and steam of the train was a pretty cool soundtrack too!
Another thing to note about Roaring Camp, the place is dog-friendly. Your four-legged friends must be on a leash though! Leashed dogs are also allowed on the train! We were happy that our golden retriever enjoyed a day on the rails with us!
Peninsula Celebration Association
463 Brewster Street, Suite 4 Redwood City, California
Comment:
Jul 4, 2012: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm - Huge parade at 10AM, followed by a street festival with an amazing kid zone!
Embarcadero and Grant Street
Pier 39 San Francisco, California
Comment:
Witness the skies burst with red, white and blue as PIER 39 celebrates Independence Day! Spend the day rocking out at PIER 39 to the beats of a patriotic entertainment lineup:
2:00pm: Mobility, The Air Force Band, takes the stage
6:00pm: Dance to your favorite 80s band, Tainted Love
9:30pm: Look to the sky as The City of San Francisco presents a spectacular fireworks display over San Francisco Bay, followed by a mix of the hottest tracks by DJ Scotty Fox
10:00pm: Enjoy post-fireworks savings at participating merchants until 11:00pm
700 Alma St
Menlo Park, California
Comment:
Decorate you bike, trike, wagon, golf cart, or float and parade with us down Santa Cruz Avenue from the parking lot off Santa Cruz and Chestnut Street to Burgess Park. The Parade starts promptly at 11:45 am on July 4th. Once at Burgess Park, you and your family will enjoy music, games, and food. Menlo Park is your small town oasis in the Bay Area!
707 W Hornet Ave
Pier 3 Alameda, California
Comment:
Watch the fireworks over the bay from this floating venue, the USS Hornet. This ship is one of the most decorated in naval history, and now your family has the chance to explore it this Independence Day. Family activities run all day so your kids will stay occupied with carnival games, a flight simulator, a jumpy house and interactive games. Then explore the ship's three decks: Captain's Bridge, Sick Bay, Torpedo Room, Officers’ Quarters. Grab a bite to eat and catch the fireworks show around 9:15 pm.
TICKETS
Adults $20 (at the door, $25), Kids (5-17) $10
Children under 5 Free with Paying Adult
