MyGym --- Santa Rosa

We just started attending MyGym last week with our friends, and so far its been a great success. We attend a Wednesday morning class called Waddlers (Ages 14-22months). Its a fun stimulating one hour program that introduces tumbling, hanging and agility skills. It is also a great way for toddlers to socialize with others and work on taking their turns and sharing. G loves the activities and the music. She is usually wiped out after one hour. Every week the room is rearranged and the activities change so each visit is a new experience. You can sign up for a weekly class or come in just for "free play." Each MyGym has its own schedule, and the classes range in ages 6 weeks to 3 years old.

Check one out in your area!!!

Bay Area Discovery Museum - Sausalito

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is set in a beautiful location (Fort Baker) and boasts a wonderful environment for children. We met up with a friend and her daughter there on Friday and loved our experience. We spent the majority of our time in the Tot Spot, which was ideal for our 18 month olds. The Tot Spot offers a safe area for toddlers under 42" to explore and play. They have two great rooms (the wetlands and woodlands) for indoor fun and a very cool water stream outside for them to play in. They even provide aprons for them to wear so their clothes don't get too wet!! Then we explored the, Art Studios. Art Studio 5, is perfect for Toddlers. There, they can paint, make sand art, do rubber stamps, or play with soft blocks. And the best part is that YOU don't have to clean it up!! :) So they can make a mess without worry. Lastly we checked out Lookout Cove, which is a 2.5 acre playground area. They have a Golden Gate Bridge under construction for them to work on, and a shipwreck to explore among many other things. It was the perfect end to our adventure. We loved our time at the Discovery Museum and plan to make many more return visits!! We stayed for about 2.5 hours which was perfect for G's age. She was exhausted after that. They do have food there that you can purchase with lots of outdoor seating next to Lookout Cove. We brought our lunches and that worked perfectly. Remember to dress warmly with layers; the museum is located right on the water under the GG Bridge so it can be windy and cold outside. Also, make sure that you (parent and child) dress comfortably, there is lots climbing and crawling around which requires comfortable clothing. This adventure is a MUST. It was our favorite one yet!!!

Mrs Grossman's Sticker Factory- Petaluma CA

Last week, we went with my niece to visit to Mrs Grossman's Sticker Factory in Petaluma. They do a nice job of making the tour very kid friendly, but I would only recommend this tour for children 5yrs and older. The tour begins with a very long video about the company today and its history which can be tough for young children to sit still through. There are no strollers allowed on the tour either so children must be able to walk or be carried. After they walk you through the factory floor and show how the stickers are made they take the kids into a craft room where they get to do a little "sticker art". They give away LOTS of stickers which is really nice and there is a great sticker store where you can purchase more to take home!! There is a place (cafeteria) to sit and eat a sack lunch downstairs after the tour but no place to purchase food. So come prepared with a packed lunch if you need to. Pictures weren't allowed inside the factory but we captured a few in the sticker store and in the craft room.

Overall, this experience was great, and I would recommend it to preschool age and older!!

Next week...

Mrs Grossman's Sticker Factory Tour

Petaluma, CA

Bay Area Discovery Museum

Sausalito, CA

Oxbow Public Market, Napa

Today, G and I met friends at Oxbow Public Market in Napa. It was a great place to go with a young child. G really just mastered walking this month, so now she is running. Therefore, locations that are spacious, loud and most importantly contained, are what we look for nowadays when we go out, the Market was perfect. She was able to babble and visit with all of the purveyors and guests, and she loved all the activity. She freely walked around the spacious indoor eating area, weaving between the tables and chairs. Heavy, large glass doors surround this area preventing any sudden escapes, which is quite nice. I would definitely only recommend visiting here during the week though if you have small toddlers and want an experience like this. I have a feeling that the weekends are a bit more busy and chaotic and a little one could get lost in the crowd. But today we pretty much had the place to ourselves and it was wonderful.

We had lunch at Pica Pica and enjoyed the traditional Venezuelan fare. I would recommend:

• Maize'Wich, a grilled cheese sandwich on sweet cornbread that combines the size and shape of the arepa and the sweetness of the cachapa
• Tostones (fried plantain), Yucca fries (yucca root), Chupe (cream based broth with chicken, potatoes, corn and cheese)

We followed up lunch with a mini cupcake from Kara's - carrot cake is my favorite!!!