Hello Mommies and Daddies!

I'm on a wee vacation in Sonoma this weekend, and while I enjoy being
away from the bustle of home and the busy-ness of family (husband and
Max stayed behind), it's been interesting to reacquaint myself with
the things I value greatly. With dad watching Max this weekend, I
find my eyes lingering when I see little people, crayons, toys, and
strollers. I spend great amounts of time walking and running,
seeking natural features in this unique place. It's been fun
catching up with my dear friend of 25 years (my vacation companion),
but I greatly look forward to seeing family again and welcome my busy
life when I return on Sunday. We hope you're able to find little
vacations, and they find you eager to resume your life again, as
testament to the good choices you have made for yourself.

Come out for one or more event this week, to spend quality time with
your friends and family, as well as the natural world.

Here are this week's events:

Monday, February 23rd at 10 am join Amy L. and Adelina for a hike at
Stevens Creek Trail in Mountain View. Come hike down the wide, paved
path to Shoreline Park. Any baby transport will work, and dogs are
welcome as far as Shoreline Park. Meet at Creekside Park off of Easy
Street in Mountain View. For directions or more information about the
trail, see The Stevens Creek Trail Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/StevensCreekTrail/StevensCreekTrail.html).
We'll linger and play at the park afterwards. If you're
running late, call Amy at 650-207-6556.

Tuesday, February 24th 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 24th at 1:30 pm Amy B. and her wee ones will lead a
hike at Alviso Marina and Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge in Alviso. 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. Meet at the Marina Parking lot. Bring a carrier or a
jogging stroller for wee ones. Sorry, no dogs allowed. For directions
or more information about the area, see The Alviso / Don Edwards Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Alviso/Alviso.html). Call Amy at
408-368-7161 if you're running late. This is a Santa Clara County
Healthy Trails (http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/) outing.

Wednesday, February 25th 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 26th at 11 am join Jennifer and her wee one for a
hike and picnic lunch at Sunol. We'll walk along the well maintained
Camp Ohlone Road to the Little Yosemite area for a picnic lunch
seeing the early-season emergence of wildflowers. There are great
rocks and waterfalls in this area. Any stroller should work. Bring
your own lunches. Dogs welcome. Meet at the gate for the Camp Ohlone
Road, at the end of the park road. Directions and information about
Sunol can be found at Bay Area Hiker's Website
(http://www.bahiker.com/eastbayhikes/sunol.html) and East Bay Parks'
Website (http://www.ebparks.org/parks%20/sunol). Once you enter the
park continue straight and park near Leyden Flats or Alameda Grove;
the hike begins at the end of the road. If you're running late, call
Jennifer at 408-470-0463.

Thursday, February 26th at 4:30 pm come out for a Toddler Trek at
Arastradero Park in Palo Alto/Los Altos Hills. Meet in the main
parking lot off of Arastradero Rd. Baby joggers or backpacks/carriers
will work for this hike, but it will be designed so toddlers can
walk, run, and explore. We'll hike to the pond, then see if we can
find frogs, see ducks, and find some zooplankton. For more
information, see Bay Area Hiker's Description of Arastradero
(http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/arastradero.html). Debbie and
little Max will lead this hike - call 650-776-1082 if you're running
late.

Friday, February 27th at 10:30 am join Becky and her wee one for a
brisk hike at the Stanford Dish in Stanford/Palo Alto. Meet just
inside the gate at the Stanford Avenue/Junipero Serra Intersection.
All baby transport works. For more information about the trail or
directions, see The Stanford Dish Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/StanfordDish/StanfordDish.html).
If you're running late, call Becky at 408-693-1842.

Love the ones you're with (and the life you've made with them)!

- Debbie and little Max