Author Archive
How to inspire a natural curiosity in the natural sciences in our children
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the reasons I am so active with daytrips with my children is because I would love to instill a genuine curiosity within them for the natural world around them. Sound wordy and fancy, but in reality it isn’t. I am a firm believer the more we expose ourselves and our children to, the more we learn and the more we grow.
Below are 3 really great starts to sparking your kids natural curiosity in the natural sciences.
1. Take your children to parks and open spaces as often as possible
Sounds easy enough right? By getting the kids out you can discover birds and bugs and all sorts of fun things.
A curious butterfly at the Butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum
2. Take your children to museums
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is the perfect museum to take children too. It is open, bright and cheery and the new dinosaur exhibit is exceptional. The seasonal Butterfly exhibit is also going on now until September 3rd. It’s a cool place where kids can see over 50 different types exotic butterflies in a natural environment.
3. Do at home science experiments with your kids.
Check out this super cool website that is full of ideas.
4. Cook meals with your children.
The act of measuring and mixing to create food is quite fascinating for young children! You can even “cook” up something fun to play with.
Here is a super easy recipe to make home made playdough!
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar
food coloring (or koolaid!)
scented oils (I’ve made some with an orange oil and it was so yummy smelling!)
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients (except food coloring) in a medium saucepan under medium heat. Stir constantly until a ball forms.
Remove from heat
Knead in food coloring
Allow to cool and have fun!
I hope this helps get you up and out and exploring all that Southern California has to offer with your children! Email me some pictures too: Desiree@DayTrippingMom.com
Desiree Eaglin is a daytrippingmomma of two. You can find her personal blog at Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest. You can find her on Twitter too.
Amy’s Farm Tour in Ontario
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Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
Amy’s Farm is a real working poly cultural farm (where plants and animals live in a symbiotic life) located in Ontario California. This farm has been giving farm tours to school aged groups for over 12 years. The farm tour is hands on, super fun and very educational and always tailored for the age group of the tour. The playgroup and I have gone on the farm tour at Amy’s Farm for 2 years in a row now. It is always one of my favorite tours of the spring season. I love that the farm tour is a genuine experience for me and for my kids. We always leave happier, healthier and dirtier than when we arrived!
During the 1 to 1 ½ hour tour you get to:
Tour the large garden and see and learn how different fruit and vegetables grow. Smell a lavender bush, harvest a bok choy!
Pet a goat or a sheep inside the petting zoo
Feed a pig!
See the beautiful geese, ducks, chickens and turkey
Pet horses and brush the mini horses
See a huge milking cow up close and personal
and my favorite…
Milk a cow!
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
Farm tours are available year round. The minimum tour size is 10 paying guests. Price is $7.00 per person over 2 years old. Saturday tours are also available, see website for details.
DayTrippingMom tip: Don’t forget to wear old clothing, bring lots of hand wipes and don’t forget to stop by the produce stand. Their produce is amazing!
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
For more information about Amy’s Farm, please log on here.
Desiree Eaglin loves doing and going and seeing all that Southern California has to offer. You can find her at her personal blog Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest. You can find her on Twitter too.
Tradition surrounds Strawberry Picking at Tanaka Farms
Posted by: | CommentsIt goes without saying that I am a pretty active DayTrippingMomma with my two kids, but what you may not know is that I appreciate doing DayTrips the most with our playgroup here in South Corona. They are such a wonderful and supportive group of women and their children are the very bestest. We have been very fortunate to create wonderful memories of experiences together with our friends. My family and I have lived in South Corona for a little over 3 years and during that time; we have gone and done all sorts of fun things with our playgroup.
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
My all-time favorite activities with our playgroup are the ones that we do annually surrounded by tradition. For example, every spring we go Strawberry picking at Tanaka Farms. It’s such a wholesome, family fun experience that the kids look forward to every year. The weather is always beautiful, the berries are always the sweetest and the whole day is just extra special.
Before we go on our annual strawberry picking tour, we get together a few weeks beforehand and let the kids create a special hand painted strawberry shirt. This way all of the kids in our group (there’s usually about 15-20 kids in total) are identified easily. The tour guides at Tanaka Farms always get a kick out of our shirts.
Foam brushes are easier than cotton balls. Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
Making the shirts is quite easy. The supplies you need to create your very own strawberry shirt are: a brand new and pre washed white shirt, red, green, black and sparkle fabric paint, a few foam brushes, cardboard and paper towels for cleanup. That is it!
Steps:
Place a small piece of cardboard inside the shirt to prevent the paint from bleeding through to the back side.
Create a heart shape red outline with red fabric paint. Let the kids fill in the heart shape with the red fabric paint and a foam brush.
Make a few leaves and a stem out of the green fabric paint
Create “seeds” with the black fabric paint
Allow the kids to go nuts decorating the berry with sparkly paint
I usually write the child’s name and year on the sleeve too!
I hope you all have fun creating your very own special strawberry shirt to go along with your very own special tradition of spring Strawberry Tours at Tanaka Farms!
For more information on Strawberry Tours at Tanaka Farms, please click here.
My daughter couldn't keep her eyes off the berries! Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
Desiree Eaglin is serious about strawberries; she makes sure to get her belly full of the delicious berries during the tour. She blogs at Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest. You can find her on Twitter too.
The Flower Fields in Carlsbad
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Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
We have now officially entered one of the loveliest seasons of the year: spring! I love spring, the vivid colors, cooler weather and jolliness of the spring holidays always lift my spirits. Earlier this week, the kids and I went to the Carlsbad Flower Fields to really enjoy Southern California on a stunning spring day.
The Flower Fields are a gorgeous display of over 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers and over 5 acres of other specialty flowers on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It truly is a sight to behold. The fields are in bloom from about March 1st until May 13th. The “peak season” to see the flowers is mid-March through mid-April.
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
What to do:
Antique Tractor Rides: For $5 per adult and $3 per child you can enjoy a tractor ride around the perimeter of the Flower Fields. We got off at the top to take pictures and got back on another tractor to take us back down.
Sweet Pea Maze: My kids loved this maze.
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
The Artist Garden: It was really gorgeous! And my kids couldn’t get enough of the birds.
Passport stamps: Located all throughout are stamp stations which encourage kids to be involved. You can easily find the stations by the flags.
Santa’s Playground: This was one of the cutest playgrounds I have ever seen. The buildings are built at a slight quirky angle and the kids had an absolute blast.
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
Other really cool attractions included a giant American Flag of Flowers on the hillside (best seen from across the street), historic poinsettia house, Orchid greenhouse and Carlsbad Mining Company.
Hours: The Flower Fields are open 7 days a week from 9:00am to 6:00pm.
Prices: $11.00 for Adults, $10.00 for Seniors 60 and over, $6.00 for Children 3 – 10 years old, Children 2 years old and under are free. Season passes are available too.
The Flower Fields offer several events throughout the season. Check them out here.
For more information about the Carlsbad Flower Fields please log on here.
My one year anniversary!
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Hi guys, this is a different kind of post from me, but one that I wanted to share with you all anyway. Saturday March 24th 2012 marked my one year anniversary for blogging for DayTrippingMom.com. I have had so much fun sharing my daytripping ideas and experiences with all of you. If you would indulge me now, I’d like to go over a few of my favorite posts (even though they are all of my favorite!):
A Visit to Toms Farms: Originally posted on March 24th 2011. This was my very first post for DayTrippingMom!
Tanaka Farms Strawberry Tours: Originally posted on May 17th 2011. I absolutely adore this annual tradition that our playgroup and my kids and I do. We’re gearing up to go again with our playgroup again this Tuesday!
Temecula Berry Co-the berries that are blue: Originally Posted June 10th 2011. I love getting out doors and experiencing good wholesome fun with the kids. The Temecula Berry Co is the perfect location for this!
Suzuki Mom Fest: Originally posted on October 10th 2011. This was my first blogging trip away from home alone. I had such a fun time on the trip thanks to Suzuki and I loved being able to give away all that cool baby stuff.
A Birthday Party at the Irvine Park Railroad: Originally posted on March 11th 2012. My most recent post and one of my absolute favorites!
Aracely and I at BlogHer 2011
This last year has marked an immense amount of personal and professional growth for me. I have enjoyed working with Aracely Worley so much. She has become such a good mentor and friend to me. We get together at least once a month for a night out to gab and talk “shop”. We have so many ideas in store for what DayTrippingMom.com will become in the not too distant future and I am so happy and so excited to be on this journey of DayTrippingMom.com world take over!
Don’t forget you can always find more of me at my personal blog: Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest. And Twitter too!
Guasti Regional Park in Ontario
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Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
I am so excited that summer is just right around the corner. Summer time is the best time to play outside and it also the perfect time for water play and water parks in the Inland Empire. Last summer, my kids, our playgroup and I went Guasti Regional Park in the city of Ontario for a day full of sunshiny fun.
Guasti Regional Park is conveniently located directly off of Interstate 10 freeway and Archibald Avenue. The park is pretty big and is full of super fun activities to do such as:
Year round fishing at two lakes (catfish and trout)
Pedal boat rental during the summer
Sandy beaches
Picnic area’s perfect for barbecues
Swimming in the one half acre swim lagoon
220-foot double-flume water slide
Playground
Zero-depth water play park
The lake and water activites are open from Memorial day (May 28th) through mid-june. There is an entrance fee to get inside of the park and there is an additional small fee for most of the activities. See their website for more details.
Zero-depth Water Play Park
My son loves the water and he loved playing in the water play park. The water play park is a zero-water depth park that is full of sprinklers and hoses and good old-fashioned kid water fun. With a zero-water depth, it’s safe too! We moms sat in the shaded grass near the lake in between the playground and the water play park to keep an eye on the kids. The kids ran back and forth between the two playgrounds and had a blast.
We’re planning another trip to this park very soon and we’ll most definitely go back this summer to try out those water slides!
For more information about Guasti Regional Park, please log on here.
Black Holes exhibit at Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Posted by: | CommentsMaribel Reyes, DayTrippingMom’s San Diego contributor recently went to the new Black Holes exhibit at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and tells us all about it:
Have you been to the Science museum lately? They have a new exhibit on Black Holes. It is amazing! Everything you thought you knew about black holes is explained in detail and through interactive kiosks.
This exhibit opened on February 4th and will close on Sunday April 29th; it is located in the second floor of the museum. At the entrance of the exhibit is a booth where you make your explorer badge which is an identification that keeps track of each kiosk you participate in and what you have learned. You can also access your participation online. This ID will have a nickname or username that you choose with a list of outer space related words. The explorer badge will also have your picture. this was fun for my family because it made them feel like they were astronauts. My ID name was Astro Zoom.
Our favorite booths were the explanation of gravity, this kiosk has baskets that you move around to catch flying Styrofoam that is being blown up in the air. Proving that even the lightest of the objects will fall due to gravity.
There is also an example of gravity using metal marbles where you roll them on a special table trying to pass over a magnet that is strategically placed.
You and your family will learn about how black holes are formed when a star dies and what a black hole really looks and feels like. With movement so fast that it sucks anything remotely near. At the end of the exhibit there’s a challenge where you apply all you’ve learned through the different kiosks where you have to pilot your aircraft to an alien spacecraft. It is fascinating.
The newly remodeled IMAX theater was renamed Heikoff Dome Theater and it is showing a special movie about Black Holes, this movie completes the exhibit showing you with animation how Black Holes move and form. It also shows images of them in action in outer space to see a preview of the movie click here
To learn more about the Black Holes exhibit at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park click here
Maribel Reyes is a stay at home mom who is always ready to take adventures with her family. You can follow her on Twitter and on her Facebook page to learn more about her.
A Birthday Party at The Irvine Park Railroad!
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Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
There is something really special and quite magical about birthday parties to me. I love planning them, preparing for them and better yet-throwing them. For example, for my son’s 3rd birthday, we went all out with a circus theme-I decorated the garage to look just like a circus tent and hired the best clown in the Inland Empire to entertain the kids. This year, since he was turning the big “whole hand” (5) I wanted to top his previous birthday parties and go to one of our favorite places on Earth: The Irvine Park Railroad.
We love and adore the Irvine Park Railroad and it really is one of my son’s favorite places to go on Earth. He was so happy and SO excited when I told him that he would be having his birthday party at the park!
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
The Irvine Park Railroad is the perfect place to throw any kind of birthday party. The party staff is super friendly and helpful and I love that the park offers several party package options. I opted for the option that included not only a train jumper, train and pony rides for the kids but lunch for the kids as well. I love when party locations have inclusive offers that make party planning easier. Since the kids were well taken care of, all I had to do was plan adult food.
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
Since we were having his big “whole hand” birthday bash at the Irvine Park Railroad, he and I agreed on a Thomas the Train Engine party theme. I scoured the internet (and Pinterest) for interesting train party theme ideas and came upon these cute snack train centerpieces:
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
My son and his party friends loved eating (and let’s be honest-sword fighting) with the sticks of veggies.
I also made “traveling train sacks” out of red bandanas with a train whistle inside. It was cute decorative wear for the kids and their party favor!
Copyright: Desiree Eaglin
Everyone that attended the party had a really great time and I loved this party and I love that we were able to make our son’s “whole hand” birthday party so special for him. The Irvine Park Railroad was the perfect venue for such a special occasion and they for sure helped make memories for our family.
For more information on how to have your own Train-Tastic Birthday party at the Irvine Park Railroad, log on HERE.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden
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Credit: Desiree Eaglin
This past weekend the kids and I headed out to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden for a day full of outdoor, botanical fun. If you’ve never been to the LA Arboretum you must put this 127 acre park on your “to-do” list because it is a fantastic place to spend a day.
Located in Arcadia, the Arboretum has been open to the public since January 9th 1955. The Arboretum is sectioned off into areas such as the Australia, Africa, Prehistoric Forest and much, much more. The Arboretum is an ideal place to wander and roam and leisurely soak in the day’s sun. Also located on the Arboretum grounds are many historical buildings. Such as the Victorian Queen Anne’s Cottage which was constructed in 1885.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden hosts several events and classes for adults and children. Such as, every Saturday from 10am to 12pm, The Arboretum hosts a free program (with paid admission) called “Arboretum Adventures” for up to 25 children. Each week focuses on a different theme relating to children.
Every Thursday, The Arboretum hosts “Yoga in the Garden” for adults. Fees are $30 for members and $35 for non-members per month. In these classes you can improve your flexibility, balance and strength while soaking in the natural beauty of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
For more information about all of the events and classes offered for adults and children at the Arboretum, please log on here.
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
My children’s favorite thing about The Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Garden was hands down: The Peacocks! They were fascinated by their bright colors and large feathers. The Peacocks were hanging out near the Peacock café the day we went, so my children couldn’t wait to leave just to see the Peacocks again.
My favorite part of The Arboretum was the Mayberg Waterfall. It was truly a spectacular sight to behold. I suggest hiking it up the stone steps to see the view from above the waterfall as well. It was gorgeous!
Credit: Desiree Eaglin
DayTrippingMom Tips:
-I highly suggest you pick up a map at the information desk before heading out for you adventure as you can easily get lost and end up going in circles (like we did).
-Wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of water, especially if it’s going to be a warm day.
-Pack a picnic lunch! The Arboretum offers up plenty of lush green lawns to picnic upon (just watch out for those geese!).
-Don’t forget your camera and take lots of pictures! Share them with me too: Desiree@DayTrippingMom.com
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden is open daily from 9am to 5pm. For more information, please log on here.
Desiree Eaglin loves exploring all that Southern California has to offer with her two children. You can find her personal blog at Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest. You can find her on Twitter too.
Washed Ashore exhibit at Chula Vista Nature Center
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Credit: Maribel Reyes
A couple of weeks ago we visited the Chula Vista Nature Center for a special exhibit called “The Washed Ashore: Plastics, Sea Life & Art”. It is art that used 3.5 tons of ocean trash. It began on December 8th and will be ongoing through July 31. The goal of this exhibit is to raise awareness on how much damage we have caused our beaches, sea life and water with our trash.
Angela Haseltine Pozzi is the lead artist and director of the Washed Ashore project – based in Oregon. The idea was inspired by a walk at the beach where she realized the Ocean was hurting with all the trash she found, she researched on the impact of plastic in the Ocean and found the effects it has on animals too.
As you arrive at the Nature Center you can already see art pieces such as “Tula” the Turtle and “Henry” the Fish which are there to welcome you! Get a little closer and you will notice that they have something unique: they are entirely made out of trash!
That’s right trash that was found on the beach; plastic bags, bottle caps, nets, plastic water bottles, aluminum cans, buoys, toys, lighters, garbage can lids, and even chair frames! Incredible isn’t it?
Credit: Maribel Reyes
There are also two large jellyfish one in the main exhibit area and another in the Shark exhibit and in the middle of the main gallery you will also find a large bone structure made from plastic bottles.
To put this into perspective just think what a plastic bag looks like floating in the water it resembles to a jelly fish now think of the animals that eat the jelly fish and could easily mistake one for the other. Plastic bags are a big danger to these animals, these plastic bags can block their digestive system and they would die. Let’s remember to forgo them and use reusable bags.
We already have reusable bags at our home, but now more than ever will remember to take them with us when shopping. We hope you do too. To learn more on how to get involved head here.
DayTrippingMom tip: Make sure you ask for a treasure hunt map at the front desk, to look for specific items at the exhibit.
Maribel Reyes and her family live in Chula Vista and enjoy visiting the Nature Center. Follow her on twitter and on her personal blog Stroller Adventures.
