Today, we are sharing our Summer Bucket List for 2016! We are really excited about the summertime, and we can't wait to make it memorable.

So, with flip-flops, sand-between-your-toes, beach-weather, fruit-flavored-sorbets, fireworks and bbqs in mind: here is our summer bucket list.

1) Sunnyvale Parks Challenge. More info here: https://www.facebook.com/relomom/posts/622636477905037
We did visit all the parks in Sunnyvale, just didn't finish uploading pictures and writing reviews. Check out this post. We found new favorite parks, and we are very happy we got to complete it! 

2) Visit Gilroy Gardens - We ended up getting a membership and visited many times! We love having a membership, so we can go, even if just for a little while every few weeks. We cannot wait for the Illumination and fall events!

3) Fruit Picking - Completed! Webb Ranch Berry Picking 6/14/16
 
4) Mendocino getaway - Completed! We had a great time celebrating 4th of July in Mendocino County! http://relomomblog.blogspot.com/2016/07/mendocino.html

5) Watch fireworks - We watched the fireworks in Fort Bragg during our 4th of July getaway. It was Daniel’s first time watching fireworks and it was very exciting!

6) Send postcards and letters to our loved ones overseas.

7) Visit the farmers market.

8) Go hiking. A few hikes we want to do are Portola Redwood SP, Big Basin, Uvas Canyon, and at least one more visit to Wilder Ranch.
We had a great start at Henry Cowell State Park! 
We visited Wilder Ranch again, this time during the Life On The Ranch event, and we had a wonderful day.
We also hiked Muir Woods trails, found a new favorite spot for summer at the Dennis Martin Creek and many more during our 4th of July long weekend.

9) Make homemade popsicles.

10) Go to the zoo.

11) Fly a kite - It may seem childish, but it is something everyone should get to do at least once. We got a couple, but no doubt - the red octopus is our favorite! Great spots for kite flying: The Kite Lot at Shoreline Park in Mountain View, and Calabazas Park in Cupertino/San Jose.

12) Make a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk - Another thing we did a lot! Daniel's favorite was train tracks and roadways he could play with his cars on, so we did it often :)

13) Visit the aquarium.

14) Build a fort.

15) Blow bubbles - That's probably the easiest one, because we did it almost on a daily basis. small, big and giant bubbles, homemade or store bought. Bubbles are so much fun!

Daniel inside a giant bubble at the Santa Clara County Fair. August 2016.

16) Build a sand castle.

17) Visit the Children Discovery Museum.

18) Make tie die or paint shirts - This is a new favorite family activity! Painting and iron-ons, everything goes!

19) Go to Andy Z's concert - We went to so many! Thanks Mommy&Me Club at Santana Row and Westgate mall!

20) Visit the Santa Clara County Fair - We love the County Fair!! We had a great time!! Read about our visit here. 

Santa Clara County Fair - Hands on the Farm Exhibit

21) Go to the Cupertino Library on Thursday morning for crafts and a visit to the Children's Garden.

22) Visit the Hiller Aviation Museum.

23) Spend a day at the beach.

24) Visit Full Circle Farm - Well, I'm cheating on this one a little bit, because we wanted to go and visit the animals, but we realized we entered the wrong farm (right next to Full Circle) - and we loved it! We went back to Happy Farm a few times during the summer and it is kind of my new favorite local farm. It is small, but lots of animals and people with big hearts.
Read about our visit here. We visited Full Circle as well, and loved the Children's Garden. We even got Lavender and made homemade soap!

25) Homemade pizza party with friends - we had a great time, and enjoyed the yummy pizza, too!  
If you're looking for a fun afternoon activity for the kids - cooking and baking is always a good idea!
Prepare the dough, sauce, cheese and all toppings in advance, and let the kids build the pizza themselves. I know most kids love cheese pizza, but when they’re cooking for themselves, they are more likely to try something new. Use this opportunity to add a few new toppings like broccoli, pineapple, and bell peppers. We found out we don't like bell peppers, and we love pineapple and mushrooms.

26) Lunch with dad at work - Another thing we ended up doing a lot! We visited at least every other week, and Daniel even stayed with daddy at work for a fun filled afternoon when mommy crafted the day away with friends :)

27) Have a family photo shoot - We had a photo shoot with the amazing Lena Veller, and already scheduled for October for another one! We all need just one good family photo every few months... Lena did a great job getting wonderful photos in minimum time, with a kid who doesn't like to smile to the camera!

28) Attend a kids workshop at Home Depot, OSH or Lowe's - These are really great events! We made a truck at OSH and we plan to go and build the fire truck at Office Depot first weekend of October!

29) Bake cookies - We don't usually bake cookies, we're more of bread and cakes family, so I really wanted to make something different. We baked penut butter cookies, and we ate it as soon as they came out of the oven... It was so funny! You have to try this recipe:

30) Make a bird feeder.

31) Visit Great America - Yay for Samsung summer picnic! We had a fun day! Rides, gifts, food and more fun treats!
www.facebook.com/sarit.gabbay/posts/10154937577969119

Great America

Great America

32) Make recycled crayons.

33) Make treats for our neighbors.

34) Ride the cable cars in SF.

35) Go to the Seward slides.

36) Go to an indoor trampoline park - Completed! We visited Sky High for the first time, and enjoyed it very much! We plan to go back during the family nights when the weather gets colder and you have to stay indoors...

37) Go to the pool - Lots of pool parties with friends!

38) Have brunch at Bumble with friends.

39) Take a spin on a carousel - lots of fun carousels around. Our favorites are the ones at Great America and Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos.

40) Visit Angel Island.

41) Family event in Sunnyvale - It was hard to find a parking spot, but we made it! Daniel's favorite was the bubble guy. Giant bubbles, how can you go wrong with that?

42) Dry flowers.

43) Make a suncatcher.

44) Teach Daniel to ride bike - Well, this was easier than I expected it to be! We need to get "big kids bicycles" now :)

45) Library storytime.

46) Go to a waterpark.

47) Masking tape train tracks.

48) Visit a botanical garden.

49) Squirt gun fight.

50) Two words: Ice Cream - Too much ice-cream this summer! Our favorite is the gelato shop on Castro in Mountain View. Great flavors, but be prepare to stand in line...

Pace Art + Technology

Pace gallery is a contemporary art gallery which hosts exhibits from all over the world. In their Menlo Park location, they are now hosting the "Art + Technology" exhibit.

The "Art + Technology" exhibit is definitely not a typical exhibit. It's an amazing experience for all your senses. It combines high tech displays, music, art and light  to creates an inspiring, relaxing and beautiful spaces. It makes you think and feel. It is without a doubt a unique experience you don’t want to miss.  

The exhibit is in two buildings. In the main building, there are 3 hallways with different rooms. It is an experience which is very hard to explain, but our favorites were the Crystal Universe, a dazzling display of hanging lights who changes with the music, the Flower Room, in which they displayed flowers and butterflies all over the walls, ceiling and floors and made the visitors a part of the exhibit, and the Light Show, an amazing display with multiple vertical screens of birds and creation, where the whole room is dark and the animation is flying across all screens to make you feel like you’re in this journey of creation with the birds. Just sit on the floor (or lie down, like my son did) and enjoy.

Going outside and following the blue path will take you to the second building which houses the Kids Room. Here you’ll find interactive exhibits designed for kids.
The kids will choose a sea creature (fish, shark, sea turtle or sea horse) and then paint and scan their animal. It will then pop up on the giant display and will start swimming. How cool is that?! My toddler just wanted to do it again and again. Right across of the aquarium display there’s a similar experience, but in a city, with cars, buses, houses, trucks and airplanes. This is really nothing but amazing. Once you are done, you can scan your painting in another scanner, which will print a 3D version of your painting to cut, fold and glue, to take home, or leave it as a part of the exhibit. In the other room, there is the coolest train table in which you just need to move the wooden blocks around to create rivers, train tracks, bridges, roadways and more.
 

The creativity and the uniqueness of the gallery make it a great outing for both parents and kids. It is not big, so take the time, enjoy each display, become involved in it, and create it with the kiddos.

Pace Art + Technology: “Living Digital Space and Future Parks”

February 6^th – December 1^st, 2016

$20 for adult, $15 for students and seniors, $10 a child (3-13), 3 and under – free. 

Tickets can be purchased online at www.teamlabpace.eventbrite.com.

300 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA.

Tel: 650-462-1368

Fruit Picking – Spring 2016

FOR 2017 SPRING FRUIT PICKING - CLICK HERE

 

Pick your own natural and organic fruit, have fun with family and friends, and enjoy the amazing taste of fresh fruit.

The farms listed below are local farms, owned by local families that believe in providing healthier options to the community. Information about seasonal fruit picking gathered from their websites, so please check the calendar prior to your visit.

Don't forget your hats and sunscreen for protection from the sun, bring bottled water to stay hydrated and wear comfortable cloths and shoes!

If you visited one of the farms or orchards, and you would like to share your photos, please email us at ReloMomSV@gmail.com. If you know about an orchard which is not listed below, please send us the details and we will update the list.

Come back for more updates throughout the season, as many orchards will start fruit picking later in May and early June! 



🍒 Chavez U-Pick Cherries - 35 Acres of low trees for convenient cherry picking, Free entry, free parking, free buckets with no minimum purchase. Cash only. No food or animals allowed in the orchard. 2016 cherry season started May 5^th. Now closed for the season (updated June 2016)
23800 Marsh Creek Road  Brentwood, CA
Tel: 925-625-3994
http://www.chavezupickcherries.com/ 

🍒 Mike U-Pick - Low trees for convenient cherry picking, no children’s strollers or animals of any kind are allowed in the orchards. Cash only. 2016 cherry season started May 6^th.
Now closed for the season (updated June 2016)
611 Payne Ave, Brentwood, CA
Tel: 925-698-7459
http://mikesupick.com/ 

🍓 Swanton Berry Farm - U-Pick is open daily 8am-7pm. Check in the farm stand to get started, grab some boxes and pick some delicious organic fruit! The organic strawberries are $4/lb. The weather on the coast is quite variable so wear layers, sturdy shoes, and farm appropriate clothing. Cash and check only. Now closed for the season (updated June 2016)
25 Swanton Rd., Davenport, CA
http://www.swantonberryfarm.com/ 

🍓 Coastways Ranch U-Pick - Organic Strawberry U-pick is currently open Friday and Saturday (5/6-5/7) from 10am-5pm. The organic strawberries are $4/lb. The weather on the coast is quite variable so wear layers, sturdy shoes, and farm appropriate clothing. Cash and check only. Now closed for the season (updated June 2016)
640 Highway 1, Pescadero, CA 
http://www.swantonberryfarm.com/

🍓 Crystal Bay Farms - Organic Strawberry U-pick is currently open, Wednesdays & Weekends from 10-5pm. $4/lb. Now closed for the season (updated June 2016)
40 Zils Rd, Watsonville, CA
Tel: 831-724-4137  
http://www.crystalbayfarm.com/  

🍓 Gizdich Ranch - Organic Strawberry U-pick is currently open. Bring your own containers or purchase boxes for a small fee. Experience the most fun part of growing fruits at the Ranch! Combined with fresh air, sunshine and a little sweat, it's a whole lot of fun for the kids and the entire family. 
Update: On July 9th they will open the Blackberry picking field, and there's still lots of strawberries!
55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville, CA
Tel: 831-722-1056
http://www.gizdich-ranch.com

Meiri family visiting Gizdich Farm 5/7/2016

 

Gavish Family visiting Gizdich Farm

🍑 Bacchini's Fruit Tree - Currently offering apricots and sweet red cherries picking. White peaches, blackberries, plums, nectarines and more coming soon. Free parking. Pay for what you pick. Low trees, ladders not needed. No pets/animals allowed in orchard.
Now closed for the season (updated June 2016)
2010 Walnut Blvd. Brentwood, CA
http://www.brentwoodfruit.com/

🍑 Peter Wolfe Ranch - Currently offering apricots, cherries and white peaches picking.
Now closed for the season (updated June 2016)
700 Creek Road, Brentwood, CA
Tel: 925-634-1308
http://www.peterwolfe.com/

🍑 Canciamilla Ranch - Currently offering apricots, white peaches, yellow and white nectarines picking.
Now closed for the season (updated June 2016)
Tel: 925-263-6080
http://canciamillaranch.com/index.html

🍒 Pease Ranch - Low trees for convenient cherry picking is currently open Wednesday thru Saturday 8 am - 5pm and Sunday 8 am - 4pm. Cash only.
Now closed for the season (updated July 2016)

 25175 Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA
Tel: 925-634-4646
http://www.peaseranch.com/

🍓 Webb Ranch - Webb Ranch is located just a little north off the 280 at Alpine Road, there is signage and plenty of free parking. 
Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for organic blackberries and raspberries picking. 
Entry fee is $4, free for kids four and under. Baskets provided and berries are $5/lb. 
There is not a lot of shade, so try to get there earlier in the morning, and be prepared for some time in the sun. 
We had fun picking our berried, eating them and learning where the berries come from (No, not from Trader Joe's :) ). A ripe berry will come off the vine easily, so make sure you only get the good ones. Be careful, the bushes are thorny. It is not a bad idea to have tweezers in your bag, I saw one mama today who could really use it :( 
At the end of the lot there is a small bridge, and right after the bridge there is a fun big bounce house and shade for parents to chill. 
We ended up getting to the exit with no berries in our baskets, because we ate it all, so we bought some boysenberries from the stand at the entrance. 
Fun and healthy activity for all ages! We will come back next year!
http://www.webbranchinc.com/home.htm 

Raspberries at Webb Ranch

Boysenberries at Webb Ranch

 

Day Trip To Wilder Ranch State Park

We started our day at Emily's bakery in Santa Cruz and got some pastries to go. The poppy seed muffins and cheddar scones were really good!
http://www.emilysbakery.com/

We then headed to Wilder Ranch State Park.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549

There are many trails to explore at the park. We chose to take the Ohlone Bluff Trail and the Old Cove Landing Trail, which together create a 3.5 mile loop along the cliffs. The trail is suitable for strollers (not umbrella ones, though).
There's beach access at a few point along the trail, so take your picnic blanket and pastries with you.
In some points you can get really close to the cliff's edge, so make sure you and your toddler are very careful. 
We saw lots of sea lions, birds, friendly squirrels, lots of flowers, bugs and butterflies. In a good day, during the right season, you can even see whales.


The park was formerly a dairy ranch, and many of the ranch's buildings have been restored for use as a museum. Don't miss a visit to the farm animals, barn and gift shop!


1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA
Open daily, 8am - sunset. Entrance fee: $10 per car.

Quarry Park Saratoga

Located just two miles from downtown Saratoga, Quarry Park is a portal to the past and a great place to explore, play, and learn. 


The Saratoga Quarry was closed in  1967, and the county employees used the site for recreational activities with their families and friends. They installed and maintained picnic tables, barbecue pits, and sitting areas, and enjoyed the park till 1990.

The park reopened in October 2015, and today you too can enjoy its trails and history. 

 
Kids Activity: There are many different trees and plants in the park, encourage your child to collect different leaves, pine cones and more.

Don't forget to pack your breakfast or lunch, and enjoy your meal at one of the picnic tables, with a view to Santa Cruz mountains.

The park open daily, from sunrise to sunset.


http://www.saratoga.ca.us/whatsnew/quarry_park.asp