Friday, August 29, 2014

FREE Museum, Garden, Zoo Admission September 2014. Play tourist in the Bay Area for Free...



First Full Weekend of the Month is coming soon! Mark your calendars.

The new school year presents a wonderful opportunity for a Museum playdate with new friends! Often, there is a FREE MUSEUM DAY in September 2014, located in a town near you. (Nationwide.) San Francisco, Oakland, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Portland, Boston and beyond.

First Weekend of the month has the most FREE Admission opportunities. Have fun. Be inspired.

CLICK HERE to find other FREE MUSEUM DAYS in a city near you.


San Francisco Bay Area Museums, Zoos & Gardens:

Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 1500+ museums on the list


California Academy of Sciences - FREE Admission Day to the general public.
Sunday, September 14, 2014

Saturday, September 6, 2014 and Sunday, September 7, 2014
Saturday, September 6, 2014 and Sunday, September 7, 2014

Saturday, September 6, 2014 and Sunday, September 7, 2014

Saturday, September 6, 2014 and Sunday, September 7, 2014

Saturday, September 6, 2014 and Sunday, September 7, 2014

Saturday, September 6, 2014 and Sunday, September 7, 2014

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

CuriOdyssey - "Community Day" Free Admission to the general public is
Saturday, September 6, 2014

Lawrence Hall of Science - FREE Printable Coupon for Child Admission with Adult Admission Purchase. Good thru 2014.

Napa Valley Museum - FREE Family Fun Days, 2nd Saturday of the Month.
Saturday, September 13, 2014 - To Infinity and Beyond: Star Gazing (Free Activity)


Saturdays Without Reservations.
Access to the site is by National Park Shuttle only.

The park is closed to visitors Monday through Thursday. Guided tours are only available on Fridays and Sundays at 10 AM & 2 PM. Reservations are required for guided tours of the site. Self-guided tours are offered on "Saturdays Without Reservations" at 10:15 AM, 12:15 PM and 2:15 PM.

As an added bonus, there are special FREE days or Admission Coupons at Botanic Gardens, Zoos, Regional Parks, Swimming Pools, Museums not normally advertised:

San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum (located at Golden Gate Park) - FREE Admission SECOND Tuesday of the month, general public
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

San Francisco Zoo Coupon - One FREE Child Admission, With One Paid Adult Admission. Expires 12/31/2014. CLICK HERE for printable coupon.
Friday, September 19, 2014

John Muir National Historic Site - FREE Admission 7 days a week! Tour the historic fruit orchards and former home of Naturalist, John Muir.
Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 7pm

Amazing Selection of DAILY FREE Passes through your local Library

CLICK HERE: DISCOVER and GO - Find your County. Entire list of Participating Counties.

CLICK HERE: Contra Costa County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

CLICK HERE: Alameda County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Jamba Juice Coupon, Buy One Get One Free. Offer Ends 9/1/14 ...



CLICK HERE for Jamba Juice Buy One Get One Free Offer


Sip summer to the last drop! Labor Day BOGO Promotion.

Expires September 1, 2014

We are regular customers of Jamba Juice, so a little perk now and again is a fun way to start the day! Veggie Harvest™Citrus Kick™Tropical Greens™? Yum. My favorite is the Tropical Greens, though I'd happily sip all three . . .

Delicious Idea: Recently, I learned Jamba Juice offers fresh squeezed juices, with real whole fruits and vegetables: including apples, kale, pineapple, spinach, beets, carrots, oranges. I'm hooked on the Veggie Harvest and Tropical Greens Fresh juice. I splurge and save one for later. Enjoy, or share with a friend!

Fine Print:
Purchase any smoothie or juice and receive another of equal or lesser value for free. Offer valid between 8/28/2014 – 9/1/2014 at participating Jamba Juice stores. Offer specifically not valid at Hawaii, Downtown Disney, Las Vegas Strip, Airport and select University Jamba Juice locations. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase to receive discount. Limit one offer per customer, per visit. This coupon cannot be used in combination with any other offer, coupon or discount, and may not be sold, reproduced or altered in any fashion. Only original coupons will be honored. No cash value. Jamba Juice reserves the right to refuse any unauthorized or adulterated coupon. Not valid for Jamba Juice employees. © Jamba Juice Company 2014. TEAM MEMBER: Scan code or use LABOR DAY BOGO Button on Current Promo Screen.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Concord Community Pool IS open this Thursday & Friday for Public Recreational Swimming...




Concord Community Pool IS open this week, Thursday, August 28th and Friday, August 29th for Recreational Public swim until 4pm, based on minimum attendance of 30 swimmers. I believe if this were better promoted, more people would be out swimming! Temps are in the 90s. 

Phone Concord Community Pool to confirm open times: (925) 671-3474 for Thursday and Friday. 

CLICK BELOW for Pool Hours and Fees: 


For most school children, Wednesdays are an early dismissal. I took three children to the pool today and supported our Concord, California Pool with our admission fees. This photo shows how empty the pool was. With a little notice, an after school trip IS possible. Such a beautiful pool. How many millions of gallons of sparkling water fill this underutilized Olympic Size pool?

Public Recreational Swim is still available on weekends thru September 2014.

3501 Cowell Road
Concord, CA 94518
(925) 671-3480

John Muir National Historic Site. FREE This Saturday, August 30, 2014, Camp Fire Programs For Families. Free Admission always...



CLICK HERE for 2014 Camp Fire Programs Flyer.

CLICK HERE for John Muir National Historic Site Home Page.

CLICK HERE for Things To Do at John Muir National Site.

We've always enjoyed a quick educational self-guided ranch tour whenever we feel like taking a step back in time...a stone's throw from the local Wal-Mart, yet many families rarely stop to meander through the tranquil grounds of the John Muir Historic House Property.

Families can explore the historic fruit and nut tree orchards year round. Ava reports the grapes are soooo good. John Muir House in Martinez, California is a fantastic place to have a picnic under beautiful shade trees, collect a few bay leaves, too. Free Admission every day! There are Family Days, Full Moon Walks, Kids Programs and Camps.

Saturday evenings in Summer and Fall 2014 bring Camp Fire Programs: July 26th, August 30th, September 27th, October 25th, 2014. We often forget the local gems in our own back yard. Seize the day! Roast marshmallows by moonlight. Have fun making memories.




4202 Alhambra Avenue
Martinez, CA  94553
(925) 228-8860

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

FREE Things To Do With Kids in Contra Costa & Bay Area. Staycation - Enjoy Summer Fun, Almost FREE Goodies and Entertainment...

Summer Fun in Contra Costa County and beyond.

Free Museum Days almost every day.
Dozens of local museums, gardens, zoos to choose from.


San Francisco Zoo Printable Coupon Expires 12/31/14
One Free Child Admission
With One Paid Adult General Admission
CLICK HERE for SF Zoo Printable Coupon


Cinemark (Nationwide) Summer Movie Clubhous.
Ten Fun Films for kids $5.00 or $1.00 per show
On the big screen Tuesday and Wednesday a.m. shows


Public Aquatic Centers, so many to choose from.
Brentwood Aquatic Center admission after 4pm weekdays, $2.00


Orinda Theatre Square has an AWESOME FREE Kid's Club and Family Events throughout the year.

Upcoming: Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 7pm: FREE Movie Screening of E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL at the Orinda Theatre.

Orinda Theatre Square past events have included Puppet shows, Horse Carriage Rides, Face painting, Pony rides, Rock Climbing Walls, Haunted Houses, and so much more. The line up for July and August 2014 is very impressive! 

What can I say? This is an AWESOME opportunity. 2 free games, per child, each day, all summer long. Splurge for some bowling fun!


Pier 39 Kids Eat & Play FREE Local Advantage resumes July 5, 2014



Aquarium of the Bay San Francisco
$2.00 off coupon Expires 12/31/14, CLICK HERE




Among other festivities, East Bay Regional Park District is celebrating its 80th birthday by offering Free 3rd Fridays in the parks.










CLICK HERE: FREE Movie Nights, Summer Movie Clubs, Moonlight Movies - Clayton, Walnut Creek, Danville, Alamo, Orinda, Martinez, California

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden - FREE Admission, First Wednesday of the Month: August 6th . . .

Photos by Anna Chan

CLICK HERE for mobile version of this blog.

This rare Botanical Garden is a paradise on earth. Easy location just by the Caldecott tunnel. If you've never been, you'll be in awe of the beautiful scenery, rare flowers, edibles, ornamental, carnivorous and more than 12,000 fascinating plants! Just GO. It is perfect for an afternoon walk in the forest, stroll along a babbling brook, meandering through a Japanese garden, seeing a real cacao tree or cinnamon bark in the tropical greenhouse...chasing butterflies and finding ladybugs. An amazing place - a true local gem, sure to be a delightful family day.

This is a field trip walking into another world...even some prehistoric plants are on display! Vanilla orchids, Cacao Trees, Coconut Palms. So beautiful and educational.

Garden closes at 5pm. With a little planning, a weekday after school trip is still possible.

Regular Adult Admission is only $10.00, Children Admission $2.00 (Ages 5-12.)

FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month is
FREE admission day at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. Enjoy.

From: The UC Berkeley Botanical Garden website:
http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/visit/plan_trip.shtml
**Please note - Beginning in AUGUST, our Free Day will change to the First Wednesday of Each month. 

WEDNESDAY, August 6th, 2014 - FREE Admission.

CLICK HERE for UC Botanical Garden website.

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden
200 Centennial Drive
Berkeley, CA 94720-5045
P: 510-643-2755

CLICK HERE for Yelp Reviews.

CLICK HERE for 228 more photos on Yelp.

Almost all 5 stars, not surprising at all for such a paradise!

Raising our child and introducing her to all things possible. Life is a field trip!
An August visit to UC Botanical Garden a few years ago.

Photos by Anna Chan
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. FREE Admission FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month: August 6th, 2014

Monday, August 4, 2014

The Ruth Bancroft Garden - FREE Admission Tuesday, August 5th and Children's Activity . . .



The Ruth Bancroft Garden Office is located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek, CA, (925) 944-9352. They garden is open for visitors 7 days a week, from 10am-4pm. Please use this entrance when visiting during regular operating hours.

How many of us drive by the Ruth Bancroft Garden daily, yet never stop to admire this beautiful garden? The garden's history dates back to the 1880s. Read about the HISTORY of the garden, here: http://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/rbgarden/pages/about-history.html

FREE admission is offered on the FIRST TUESDAY of each month. Mark your calendars for TUESDAY, August 5th, 2014. Stop in on your lunch hour, after work or school.

CLICK HERE for Activity Information.

An activity cart will be set-up for school-aged children from 10am to 12pm.  August's activity teaches children about the life cycle of plants: flowers, fruits, and seeds.

Another wonderful program, Contra Costa Library Discover and Go provides FREE admission to the Ruth Bancroft Garden. With my library card, the Ruth Bancroft Garden has complimentary tickets available several times a year! Check it out, here: http://ccclib.org/discovergo/

If you enjoy the garden, consider supporting their work through fundraisers, admission and plant sales.

Jamba Juice Free Juice Giveaway, Wednesday, August 6th. Delicious Morning it shall be . . .


CLICK HERE for Jamba Juice Free Juice Giveaway.

We are regular customers of Jamba Juice, so a little perk now and again is a fun way to start the day! Veggie Harvest™Citrus Kick™Tropical Greens™? Yum. My favorite is the Tropical Greens, though I'd happily sip all three . . .

FREE Juice Giveaway:
Wednesday, August 6, 2014, 9am - 11am.

Perhaps it is best to call your local store to verify participation.

Offer valid August 6, 2014 from 9am – 11am at participating stores only for one free freshly squeezed juice (12 oz. size) per person, while supplies last. Select juice options per store. No purchase necessary. Limit four (4) offers per party per visit; must be present. No substitutions or upsize options. Offer specifically not valid at Hawaii, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Downtown Disney, Las Vegas Strip, Airport or select University Jamba Juice locations. Not valid for Jamba Juice Employees. No cash value. For further details visit jamba.com/juiceoffer ©Jamba Juice Company 2014. TEAM MEMBER: Use Current promotions screen, then “Free Juice Giveaway” button.