January Outings

A couple of weekends ago we set off on BART into San Francisco to visit the Asian Art Museum. There was an exhibition on Afghanistan's art/artifacts. It was very crowded once inside and expensive ($12/adult!) We had a very similar experience as Jon Carroll, a writer from the SF Chronicle, who, unbeknown to us, was there the same day. Read what he had to say.
Ansel liked BART. It wasn't his first time. Actually I think he liked the escalators the best. Here he is on BART taking everything in.





Ansel loves trucks. Every Friday morning our incredibly nice garbage collector waves to Ansel. Here is Ansel waiting for the truck with the morning sun pouring through the window.



I found this truck fabric and couldn't resist. I put the truck fabric on one side and soft fuzzy fabric on the other. I think he likes it.


We've had some very nice weather recently. I try to take Ansel outside as much as possible for exercise and fresh air. He's content to play in the driveway, watching toys roll down, or on the back deck in his sand table. But we have also explored local toddler parks. I find that a good toddler park has a fenced in area with a latching gate, swings, easy parking and a toddler friendly climbing structure. Sand is a bonus. Redondo park in Rockridge is good as far as structures and sand but has wood chips for ground cover which is splintery, no swings and no gate. It is within walking distance of our house.
Then there is a little nameless park in Piedmont on Linda which has swings, sand, a gate and a structure. I think it is my new favorite.
Jordon park off Redwood is nice, contains all the aspects I need except a gate. It has a gate to the street but not separating it from the rest of the park.
Totland takes the cake but it is a schlep into Berkeley.
Dracena Park in Piedmont has an awful layout, no gates or fences, and a giant scary cement slide.
Montclair park in closed for construction. Well, the big kid area is open but too many middle school kids were hanging out last time I was there.
So, if anyone is looking for toddler parks. Those are my picks.