take the kids Archives - Page 26 of 27

Where the Giant Buddhas are, Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple

June 3, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Stockton might not be on everyone’s radar for a short day trip. (If you are from Stockton, I welcome comments below. )

We came from Davis and had time for a short sightseeing stop. This one was a bit hard to find but impressive nonetheless.

The Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple allows visitors to view their giant sculptures. I do not know the stories they depict but they made me surely curious. (Actually their website summarizes some of the stories.)

And they are truly giant!

One little girl said to a statue: “Bye. I won’t see you again.” I turned around and saw a slaughtered figure on the ground. I smiled to myself at such carefreeness.

Everyone here was smiling and waving. Truly an enchanted place.

My son even saw the soccer goddess. 🙂

Have you seen giant Buddha statues?

Big white birds

May 27, 2016January 17, 2022Silvia

The other day I saw a big white bird landing on a tree. “Is this a stork?” I asked amazed. Where I am from the big white birds are called storks. “No, an egret. “ someone from my group replied. “They are nesting right now where I work.”

Oh yeah, I knew exactly where she works! Google closes off Shorebird Way from April to October for the egrets to nest.

I went there to see and boy what a spectacle! Some are building a nest, some trying to find a mate, some appeared annoyed finding me looking at them! Their gobble is too cute. I think it is a mixture of what would come out of a chicken paired with turkey.

And then I DID see a stork!

Have you ever heard the gobble of egrets?

Do you know of any other breeding spots for egrets?

It’s all Digital History to you, Intel Museum

May 20, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

You probably heard about the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. A lot of memories, from punch cards to the old mac computer.

This is definitely the place to take your in-laws – they’ll remember all the times they used to program with the punch cards and every time they made a mistake they had to do all over again. This is impressive, but if you have a 11 year old with you, not too much.

Also, there is the Intel Museum, a free museum about what gave Silicon Valley it’s name. Here are the most enthusiastic people working I have ever met in a museum. I tagged along for a bit while the guide explained everything about semi conductors to a bunch of 5th graders. Believe me, everyone learned something cool.

You have to call to make sure they are not booked for some event, and yes the recording starts with the well known jingle: (408-765-5050).

If you and your 11 year old are lucky, the Digital Game Museum will have an exhibit somewhere near you. Right now they are only open Saturday’s from 10 to 4 in their Santa Clara location. Here, your parents might recall how they played pong and then moved up to more innovative and challenging games.

This weekend you can make your own forthcoming. Go to the Maker Faire May 20 – 22 in San Mateo to get some ideas. This is great fun for all ages.

Will you go to the Maker Faire? What is your favorite digital recollection?

Art in the Park, Lincoln Park in Los Altos

May 13, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

When you drive by Foothill Expressway in Los Altos I urge you to take a break and see the public art in Lincoln Park. This is a long strip of grass with multiple sculptures.

My favorite are the three doors. I am not sure what their official name is, I think it should be three doors. They open up, so I am sure if you have little kids this can entertain them for quite some time.

I also liked the Musical Gambol, a vibrant display that unfortunately does not make any noise.

This weekend, May 14 & 15 Lincoln Park will be the location for Fine Arts in the Park, from 10 to 5:30. The Rotary Club will present over 170 artists. Proceedings go to various socially significant projects.

Do you have a favorite public art piece?

For a list of all public art in Los Alto you can visit this web page: http://www.losaltosca.gov/publicartscommission/page/public-sculpture

Transport Yourself to Arizona, Stanford’s Arizona Garden

May 6, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Why Stanford’s Arizona Garden is also called Cactus Garden is quite obvious when you come closer. Here are more than 500 species of cacti and succulent. In fact, these species are from around the world, not just local to Arizona.

I was there when some of them were in bloom; what a spectacular site!

While lizards are native they tend to be rare to find, but here you have a great chance to see them. We saw at least three on our little excursion.

You can find this free garden between Campus Drive and Arboretum Road. It is a bit of a hidden treasure; when I asked about this in the visitor center, the students had to ask around to find out where it was.

Have you ever been to this garden? What did you think?

Do you have another favorite public garden?

History is Just a Walk in the Park, Alum Rock

April 15, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

So, California’s first municipal state park is right around our corner, Alum Rock in San José founded in 1872.

In the 1930’s this park was well known for its mineral springs. Having over 20 different springs with minerals like magnesium and sulfur and naturally carbonated soda springs, a few doctors at the time attested their health benefits. The park also once had a natatorium, a heated indoor pool, plus about 50 mineral baths that pumped in the sulfur water right from the springs. Build in 1912 this was the major attraction in the park. It was closed after 1970, and only a plate remains where it used to be.

While doing the short mineral springs trail you can see the grottos once built around the springs to identify and protect them. And look for the tiled tubs that were holding tanks to warm up the water that was piped to the bathhouses for the actual baths.

But Alum Rock is also San José’s largest park, with various hiking trails, a lot of different picnic areas, a playground, a beach volleyball court and the Youth Science Institute.

Parking within the park is $6.

What is your favorite historic site?

Go Bargain Hunting, De Anza College Flea Market

April 9, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Flea markets are great places to find bargains. It makes me feel great whenever I find something that I get a deal on. (Also, this is the only place I feel comfortable actually doing bargaining.)

The De Anza College (http://www.deanza.edu/fleamarket/) in Cupertino has a huge flea market every 1st Saturday of the month. Parking is $5 on campus. This is the real deal, you can shop for anything and you get the professional vendors mixed in with the regular folks. Great place for buying plants, I got a rare tomato for $2!

This is a community fundraiser for student activities and programs. Do you need any more reasons?

Which one is your favorite flea market?

foot prints of an animal, at the Junior Museum and Zoo, Palo Alto

Visit a Little People Museum and Zoo, Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo

April 2, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

The Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is probably something for the younger generation (toddler to about eight), my 11 year old felt for most of this like been there – done that. The suggested donation is $5 per person, which I think is very reasonable.

You first walk thru the touch and learn exhibit, where the little ones can turn and twist and move things. Next are the insects. I have to admit I am not usually a fan of creatures with more than four legs but here they are mostly in the height for your two year old to inspect.

Outside there are some local animals from snakes to bunnies (not in the same pen) to a giant turtle.

I think my 11 year old appreciated the climbing and balancing things best. But for younger kids this is a real cool place to hang and learn.

Do you have a favorite zoo?

Frisbee + Being in the Woods = Disc Golf

March 13, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

It is a simple equation, but needs a bit of prep work. Go to your favorite sport store and get yourself a starter kit for disc golf. They run at about $20. It will usually contain a driver, a midrange and a putter frisbee.

Then go to a disc golf course, there are a few courses in the Bay Area, and throw your frisbees around. To find one course near you go to http://www.dgcoursereview.com/browse.php.

We recently went to Hellyer Park again, a well maintained 9-hole course.

You can play for free the first times, but should consider dashing out the $25 yearly fee to the Silicon Valley Disc Golf Club: http://svdgc.org, which pays for a yearly membership that is tax deductible. Other courses might charge you a Green Fee, so this is a pretty good deal!

Disc golf basket — In this basket you shall throw.

You are still wondering what it is? Well, disc golf is similar to golf as an advancement through a course with different baskets to reach. It is much easier than golf and a lot of fun.

If you are looking for a casual sport that is not too strenuous but gets you out to have some fun with friends you might want to consider disc golf.

Have you ever played disc golf before?

Immerse Yourself in an Art Experience, teamLab

March 5, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Recently I went to see the teamLab exhibition Living Digital Space and Future Parks at the Pace Art + Technology pop-up gallery in Menlo Park.

20 installations by teamLab, a Japanese new media arts collective, let you truly interact with art. Some objects react to your touch; in one you can download a web site app to control multiple plant inspired lights and another one creates a room magically filled with flowers and butterflies that surround you. But my personal highlight was the kids’ section. There are five truly interactive installations. For example your fish drawings, once scanned in, swim away. Try to touch the screen aquarium, it’s interplay!

The exhibit will run thru July 1st 2016 and is open Tuesdays – Sundays 11-7.

A great new approach to art and very fitting for Silicon Valley.

Have you seen other examples of interactive art?