Hello all!

With the weather warming up, some of you may be looking for cool things to do.
We visited Mount Madonna on Thursday for a Stroller Hikes Toddler Trek, and were
blown away with how cool it was. Cool for the playground of Miller House ruins
that we could climb, peer through, and pose in, along with a pen of white deer,
and thermally cool for the 15 degrees cooler it was, just a few miles beyond
Gilroy Gardens Amusement Park. We will certainly visit more this summer! Some
of you may be interested in cooling off with water as the temperature rises.
Keep Stroller Hikes in mind for that – we've evaluated the pros and cons of
water play and provided some recommendations for pools and other water play
areas. Just click "Splash" at the top of StrollerHikes.com to read more. Some
other really cool developments – Stroller Hikes is now a partner of the Children
in Nature Collaborative (CINC), which promotes free play in natural spaces.
We'll add CINC Events to the calendar of events at StrollerHikes.com; most are
free, but those that require a fee are noted. If you're interested in the
theory behind free-play and outdoor experiences with children, CINC is having a
two-day workshop, discussion, and play experience at Hidden Villa on May 1st and
2nd, which does cost money. A CINC recurring free event is Family Play Day at
the Wild Zone at Ulistac Natural Area, and one is scheduled for Saturday. See
below!

Here are this week's events:

Monday, April 20th at 10 am Amy B. and her wee ones will lead a hike at Bol Park
in Palo Alto. Meet at Bol Park near the corner of Matadero Avenue and Laguna
Avenue (on Laguna Avenue). This trail is entirely paved, so any baby transport
will work. The trail is a widely used multi-use path that was converted from an
old railroad line - a little history here! Come visit the donkeys and chickens
and see a piece of "old" Palo Alto. Meet at the playground in the middle of the
park. For more information, see The Bol Park Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/BolPark/BolPark.html). Call Amy at
408-368-7161 if you're running late.

Tuesday, April 21st at 1:30 pm join Amy and her wee ones for a visit to
Ardenwood Farm in Fremont, just over the Dumbarton Bridge. The farm has historic
displays, live animals, and a horse-drawn railroad! Bring some money for
admission (two dollars for adults, 1 dollar for children over the age of four).
This will not be a strenuous hike, but will be suitable for toddlers or older
children. We'll visit all the park has to offer, following the roads and trails
in the park to the three fields, orchard, gardens, barn and farmyard, and of
course the train! We'll try to watch a blacksmith work, feed the animals, and
get an ear of corn to pop in the microwave. For more information and directions,
see the Ardenwood Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Ardenwood/Ardenwood.html). If you're running
late, call Amy at 408-368-7161.

Wednesday, April 22nd 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, April 23rd at 10 am come out to Sunnyvale Baylands for some Wetland
Ecology Education and Bird Watching. Stroll with Jennifer to explore the
different flora and fauna of this area, and try to spot several bay birds. The
trails are paved or smooth packed sand, so any stroller will work! Meet next to
the recycled water test garden (take a left after entering the park). For more
information or directions, see the Baylands Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/BaylandsPark/BaylandsPark.html). Parking is
free this time of year. If you're running late, call Jennifer at 408-470-0463.

Thursday, April 23rd at 4:30 pm let's meet for a Toddler Trek at Sunnyvale
Baylands Park. We'll encourage toddlers to walk, run, and explore. We'll talk
about burrowing animals, including the ground squirrels and the owls that live
at this park, then see how many we can count! For non-walking children, any
stroller will work. Meet next to the recycled water test garden (take a left
after entering the park). For more information or directions, see the Baylands
Page (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/BaylandsPark/BaylandsPark.html).
Parking costs money at the park, but if you'd like free parking, park at the
ball field next door (there's a dirt path leading from the sidewalk coming from
the ball field to the recycled water garden). If you're running late, call
Debbie at 650-776-1082.

Saturday, April 25th from 1 to 4 pm, come out for a Family Play Day at the Wild
Zone at Ulistac Natural Area in Santa Clara. Free play and creativity will be
encouraged by Wild Zones Rangers at this free event sponsored by Children In
Nature Collaborative and Wild Zones. Bring a change of clothes, snacks, and
water. For more information or directions to Ulistac, see the Ulistac Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Ulistac/Ulistac.html). For more information
about Wild Zones, see Wild Zone's Webpage at
http://www.wild-zone.net/index.html.

Late April (usually this week) brings about "Earth Day" festivities, where you
can learn more about and experience Earth-friendly practices. Visiting outdoors
regularly with your family is a step in that direction – utilize free open
spaces so governing bodies see the value of keeping them open, become aware of
the condition of the outdoors beyond our backyards, and build an intrinsic
understanding of the ecology of our world. Celebrate that with every Stroller
Hikes outing, you may be instilling in your children a value for all of Earth's
inhabitants and the habitats they live in. If you're looking for Earth Day
Celebrations in your community, National Hispanic University in San Jose is
hosting an event from 1-6 pm on Monday that is free and open to the public.
Belmont is having a Community Festival in celebration on Earth Day on the 25th
(Saturday) from 10-3 at the Barrett Community Center.

Make every day "Earth Day"!

-Debbie and little Max