Hi Everyone!
I have 3 children (7,4, and 3 years old) and a hubby. We want to have some low cost to no cost park adventures this summer to take beautiful walks, explore great creeks, water parks, bike ride/skate board ride, garden walks, etc. I am still unfamiliar with parks in the local peninsula (Burlingame to San Jose). We are looking to have an adventure 2-3 times a month? Any good parks? Please let me know the name of the park and what city/county its located in? Thanks for you help.
Hi Everyone!
I appreciate the farms, parks, etc. that everyone provided. It helps a lot with my planning. Blessings to everyone!
S.
Vasona Park in Los Gatos is a great place to go. I don't remeber if it cost anything to get in but they have paddle boast, a train, and lots of ducks. It might be to far for you but i would think it might take 45 min to get there but it somewhere you could spend the whole day.
A great weekend park is Oak Meadow in Los Gatos. It has a great playground as well as a carousel that costs approx. $1.50 to ride and a real steam train that costs about the same. Also good picnic tables, a creek to explore and a nature trail. It costs $5.00 to park there if you're not a LG resident, but there is street parking on University Ave. for free and then you can walk down to the park. We also love Jack Fischer Park which I think is in Campbell. They have a water feature the kids can run through. A friend told me about a park in Sunnyvale that has a water feature with pirate ship. Never been there but it's called Las Palmas Park and it's located at 850 RUSSET DR, SUNNYVALE. Good luck! There are tons of great parks in the South Bay and the best way to find them is just talking to Moms and families.
If you go to www.parkhere.com and register for the healthy trails guide they will send you a book of trails to hike on. The easy ones are great some have waterfalls, lakes, and lots of wildlife like turkeys, dear, birds, and stuff. It is totaly free and they will send you a small gift when you sign up. IF you complete 5 trails by October they will send you anothr gift. I recomend the Waterfall loop trail and the Chitactac-adams trail. they are both great and educational.
San Antonio Ranch Park off 280 (located in Los Altos area). Free parking, great hiking and there is a farm with animals (pigs, ducks....) It is really beautiful. You can see more wildlife while you hike (wild turkeys, deers....) I'm sure your family will enjoy it.
Hi S.
When my kids were younger they really liked Bonfante Gardens, now called Gilroy Gardens. I know it is not cheap but your kids are the perfect age to enjoy this amusement park because it is aimed at the under 8's. If you book the tickets online you can usually get a discount.
For walks and exploring creeks we enjoy Sanborne Park, Big Basin and Castlerock, all near Saratoga. My kids also liked local parks in Campbell because they still have sand and water fountains that kids can play in, such as John D Morgan Park and Jack Fischer Park.
Hope this helps.
M.
hello S.. The ladies beat me to all the local parks here but remember to check BayAreaParent.com. They'll have not only the parks but special monthly activities & such.
My favorite park has always been Portola State Park. It is at the end of Alpine Road to the west off of Skyline Blvd. It has a wonderful creek, beautiful redwoods, short nature trails, and a great mini-nature museum in the ranger station. Huddart Park (a San Mateo County park) on Old Mountain Road in Woodside is another good one. Sam MacDonald Park near La Honda is a park that also has a creek. The museum and playgrounds at Coyote Point in Burlingame is another fun and inexpensive place for children. - M. O.
Happy Hallow in San Jose is a great palce too. It is also known as Kelly Park.
I have 3 kids too (11, 5 and 2 - all boys)...the age difference can make it a tad challenging to find something that all of them will enjoy. We all had a great time at Emma Prusch Farm Park in San Jose. There were tractors and stuff for the boys to climb on, there is a farm area with animals, stables, a huge lawn area to run and play on, plenty of shade trees, clean bathrooms, a orchard and veggie garden you can walk through and a really nice and big play area, the play structure is covered with a type of mesh which is great on hot days and to keep down any sunburns. We really enjoyed it. Oh, and it's free! :)
Address: 647 South King Rd San Jose, CA 95116
Tel: 1 ###-###-####
Hi :)
Definitely make sure you go to Vasona Lake park in Los Gatos which is next to Oak Meadow Park - there is a great little train ride for the kids in the summers, as well as a carousel...full playground with structures for kids of all ages...then you can walk through Vasona along the lake and along Los Gatos Creek...it is a beautiful place, perfect for days out with the family...
Here's a link:
http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/
Hope this helps!
