We are moving ahead full steam on our plan to focus on spending time exploring this school year.
Once again if you have any ideas to share like great places to go in your area, I would love to read about it.
Wondering where we went last week? Oh, I cannot wait to tell you about it.
Last Wednesday the kids and I piled in the car after everyone finished their lessons for the day. I wanted to get out of town before the end-of-the-day traffic hit so we scooted away as soon as my husband returned home.
We were headed for a state highway. Not a big one by any means. In fact in some spots the road condenses down to just one wide, windy lane without room for a divide down the middle.
I love Highway 35. It is a road above Palo Alto that you can use to get over the mountains to the ocean if you want to avoid the big, high-traffic freeways. You start by traveling up a small road by a city college and the winding commences.
All we did that afternoon was drive up the road to Skyline Road, drive along the ridge of the mountain for a while, and drop back down to the valley floor on a different windy road.
The amazing thing, beyond the gorgeous Live Oak trees and golden hills and hiking trails we passed, was the conversation going on inside the car. My kids love going for a drive. They love it more than a good movie or going to a play. They look out and comment. The chatter is constant, “Oooh look at that Hawk!” “I wonder if there are rattlers out there.” “California has better fall colors than the East Coast. Look at how pretty and red the poison oak is!”
We were gone for 3 hours wandering in the hills and exploring that afternoon. My kids discussed everything from what they were reading to story structure and calculus.
We arrived back home relaxed and refreshed.
So the next time you think your kids need to get out and try something new, why not take them for a drive?
Tune in next Wednesday for another wandering adventure tale. In the meantime I would love to hear about great places you visit with your children.
