Hello all!

The hot wings are cooking in the oven, and both boys are napping
before the big game. The weather is fantastic, so hopefully we'll
all make it outside for a nice walk after the Superbowl! For those
of you not committing to this American tradition of eating, drinking,
and watching football, perhaps you're out exploring the great
outdoors.

We're very excited to be starting Toddler Treks this Thursday
afternoon! Toddler Treks will be relatively short hikes where
toddlers are encouraged to do the hiking, triking, or running. I've
picked some interesting locations so we'll have a chance to explore
nature and learn something about this amazing world we live in.
School-age kids are welcome, as well as pregnant moms! Toddler Treks
will occur almost every Thursdays at 4:30 pm.

And for those of you looking for weekend fun, Jennifer is leading a
Tide Pool Visit to Pillar Point on Sunday! As usual, we have a
fantastic mix of other events this week. Be sure to reply to the
poll to indicate if you plan on joining us, so leaders can look out
for you at each event.

Here are this week's events:

Monday, February 2nd at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian
Greenbelt. Amy and little Adelina will lead a hike along the lovely
wide, paved greenbelt in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed.
We'll take a break around the halfway point for the trip, to play at
the large playground for toddlers, along the greenbelt. Meet at the
pedestrian bridge on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the
bridge is just NW of San Junipero Dr.). Here is a Mapquest Map of the
Starting Location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Ahwanee+Ave+and+San+Junipero+Dr+Sunnyvale+CA/. For
more information about the trail, see the John W Christian
Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).

Tuesday, February 3rd at 9 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a
mellow stroller jog around Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail.
Meet at the water dragon by the big playground near the bathrooms and
swimming beach in the main parking lot near the intersection of
Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed! Jogging
strollers are best, but this is an entirely paved trail, so smaller-
wheeled strollers are also OK. Walkers always welcome! For more
information about the area or directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek
Trail Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If
you're running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Tuesday, February 3rd at 1:30 pm Amy and her wee ones will lead a
hike at Byxbee Park. Meet at the Byxbee parking area. We'll hike up
and down the lovely crushed oyster shell paths around the artistic
installments to Byxbee Park, then hike over to the Palo Alto Baylands
Park, stopping to check out the birds around the duck pond as well as
windsurfers and artists taking advantage of the good weather and
interesting landscape. The trail works fine for all types of
strollers. Dogs allowed! For more information about the parks and
directions to Byxbee's main parking lot, see Byxbee Page
((http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Byxbee/Byxbee.html)) and Palo
Alto Baylands Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/PABaylands/PABaylands.html). If
you're running late, call Amy at 408-368-7161.

Every Wednesday at 9:30 am we'll hike at Rancho San Antonio in
Cupertino/Los Altos Hills. We'll do an almost entirely paved, flat
path going to the farm, and possibly go past it. The road is perfect
for trikes or bikes, if toddlers or young children want to ride. Any
baby transport will work. Meet at the main lower parking lot at the
water fountain in front of the bathrooms(just past the entrance, turn
right, then follow the road until it ends). For more information or
directions, see the Rancho San Antonio Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/RanchoSanAntonio/ranchoSanAntonio.html).
Sorry, dogs not allowed. This hike is at least half shaded.
Lisa and little Samuel will lead this hike. If you're running late,
call Lisa at 650-892-8678.

Thursday, February 5th at 10 am come for a hike with Jennifer and her
wee one at Sanborn Park just beyond Saratoga. We'll look for newts,
slugs, and mushrooms, as well as emerging wildflowers! Meet outside
the YSI building, marked very clearly as you enter the park from
Sanborn Road (the main park entrance). Baby carriers or backpacks are
best, if children are not good walkers. After you pass the parking
payment area, make your first right and park in that parking lot. For
directions or more information about the area, see The Sanborn-
Skyline Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/SanbornSkyline/SkylineSanborn.html
). If you're running late, call Jennifer at 408-470-0463.

Thursday, February 5th at 4:30 pm come for a Toddler Trek at Alviso
Marina. Come enjoy the range of birds, the Bay breezes (which kick up
in the afternoon), and see the train! The boardwalks here are great
for toddlers, who will be encouraged to walk, run, and explore. We'll
talk about why this town was a bustling hub for commerce and how
boats, trains, and more had a role in this. We'll also look for
evidence of frogs and see if we can hear any as the sun prepares to
set. Meet at the Marina Parking lot. For directions or more
information about the area, see The Alviso / Don Edwards Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Alviso/Alviso.html). Call Debbie
at 650-776-8835 if you're running late. This is a Santa Clara County
Healthy Trails Outing (http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/).

Sunday, February 8th at 3 pm come check out the tide pools at Pillar
Point in Half Moon Bay. Jennifer and her wee one will discuss the
ecology, flora, and fauna of the area, at this beautiful natural
preserve. A carrier or backpack work best for this outing, and
walking toddlers or older children are welcome. Meet at the parking
lot at the end of West Point Drive. Low tide is scheduled to be at 10
am, so this should be a great time to view some beautiful fauna and
flora and see some great examples of a intertidal ecosystem. For
directions, use Mapquest or Google for West Point Avenue; the road is
just beyond the local airport, and ends at the tidepools (drive to
the very end of the road from Mapquest of the 200 block of West Point
Avenue:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Half+Moon+Bay&state=CA&address=%5B170-199%5D+W\
+Point+Ave&zipcode=94019&country=US&latitude=37.50305&longitude=-122.49405&geoco\
de=STREET). If you're running late, call Jennifer at
408-470-0463.

You'll notice that I've added a donation button to StrollerHikes.com.
Stroller Hikes is officially nonprofit and grant and donation
funded! Donations can be submitted at any time for any amount
through the famously secure PayPal - just click the button, and the
rest should be easy. Thanks in advance for your support!

Depending on your activity of the day: "Go --- !" (Insert one:
Steelers, Cardinals, mama, daddy, baby, Stroller Hikes)

-Debbie and little Max