California State Parks Passes Year 2015: Reduced admission to State Parks and Beaches...

Raising a family in the Bay Area provides many opportunities for day visits to California State Parks. With regular parking at $10.00+ per day, it was a better value to purchase a California State Parks Annual Pass in advance. Six weekends, and it pays for itself. (You can even share this with a friend or family member.)

Or, if you only visit a State Park or State Beach a few times a year, you can save a bit on admission fees by becoming a "Parks Sampler" member of the California State Parks Foundation. For only $25.00 basic membership fee, first-time members receive 4 - Single Day Use Passes for FREE and a subscription to Sunset Magazine. Not bad! Seniors 62+ can pay less than that. These prices simply can't be matched any other way. It's like getting a free day+ and a free magazine subscription for joining.

If you live locally and have never visited Mt. Diablo State Park's Rock City, you're missing out! Most Santa Cruz, San Mateo County and Half Moon Bay beaches charge a $10.00 fee. I hear Southern California beaches even charge $15.00 per day. $25.00 for four days of parking and exploring is worth every penny.

For an index by Region of State Parks, CLICK HERE.

A few of the California State Parks our family has visited:

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Seacliff State Beach

Natural Bridges State Beach

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Mt. Diablo State Park

Half Moon Bay State Beach

Pescadero State Beach

Carmel River State Beach

BECOME A MEMBER

Join the California State Parks Foundation to help protect, enhance and support California’s 280 state parks. Plus, you'll receive exclusive member benefits to help you visit and enjoy state parks. All membership levels include a one-year subscription (12 issues) to Sunset magazine. View a complete list of membership benefits and park passes. Benefits subject to change.

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden - FREE Admission, First Wednesday of the Month: February 4, 2015 . . .

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

WEDNESDAY, February 4, 2015 - 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 in 2015.

Oakland Zoomobile (FREE EVENT) at the Lafayette, CA Public Library, Monday, January 26, 2015 at 12:00pm . . .

FREE EVENT: MONDAY, January 26, 2015 at 12:00pm. Oakland Zoomobile at the LAFAYETTE Branch of the Contra Costa County Library. Visit: www.ccclib.org and search EVENTS. Program Presenter: http://www.oaklandzoo.org/ZooMobile.php

Event Type: Education

Age Group(s): Young Children (0-5), Kids (5-11)

Date: 1/26/2015

Start Time: 12:00 PM

End Time: 1:00 PM

Description:

An Oakland Zoo Education Specialist will bring small live animals to the Lafayette Library! Join us for a wild afternoon!

Library: Lafayette Library and Learning Center

Location: Community Hall

Presenter: Oakland Zoo

Insect Discovery Lab (FREE EVENT) at the Martinez, CA Public Library on Monday, January 26, 2015 . . .

FREE EVENT: MONDAY, January 26, 2014 at 6pm. Insect Discovery Lab Presentation at the MARTINEZ Branch of the Contra Costa County Library. Visit: www.ccclib.org and search EVENTS. Program Presenter: http://www.savenature.org/content/IDL

Event Type: Special Events

Age Group(s): Kids (5-11), Teens (12-17)

Date: 1/26/2015

Start Time: 6:00 PM

End Time: 7:00 PM

Description:

Join us for a special presentation from the Insect Discovery Lab! Discover the diversity and wonders of one-of-a-kind arthropods from around the globe. See, touch and hold millipedes, beetles, and more while becoming immersed in the lives of these incredible creatures! Registration is required. 

Library: Martinez Library

Registration Ends: 1/26/2015 at 8:00 PM

Contact: Amy Pipkin

Contact Number: 925-646-9900

Status: Openings

Aquarium of the Bay Tickets - Discount Admission, Free Parking, and other Pier 39 coupons January 2015...

Family Memberships at Aquarium of the Bay are on sale until January 31, 2015. With this special offer, 50% off an entire year of membership, for a family of four, less than a single visit to the Aquarium. You must visit the museum before January 31st and purchase membership in person.

CLICK HERE: for information about the Discounted Membership offer and FREE Parking Coupons.

CLICK HERE: for Aquarium of the Bay website.

The best part of actually becoming a member are the reciprocal privileges through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums available at Museums and Zoos nationwide. Most are at least 50% off to members. Some favorite destinations are Oakland Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Happy Hollow Zoo in San Jose.

CLICK HERE:  to see the reciprocal list of Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Free Boat Rental at Los Vaqueros Reservoir, Byron, CA - A Little Incentive For a Little Adventure...

Photo credit: http://www.ccwater.com/losvaqueros/club.asp

Have you ever considered an afternoon boat ride at Los Vaqueros Reservoir or a day trip fishing to bring adventure to your routine? We have! To my surprise, I found Contra Costa Water District is sponsoring a FREE boat rental to their district rate paying customers. 

I telephoned the reservoir to check on program guidelines. Turns out, they are more flexible than I expected. The Ranger was very helpful, offering all sorts of excellent tips and suggestions about visiting the Reservoir. Even town home and multi-unit water bill customers can bring proof of address, join the Ratepayer club, and the LV Reservoir will honor the free boat rental. Sometimes town home residents don't have an individual water bill to "bring." When in doubt, phone the Reservoir and discuss the details before heading out there.

There are many other things to do at the LV Reservoir, such as hiking trails, tarantula run, fantastic opportunities for children to learn about the local environment and wildlife that depend on the watershed for survival.

Call ahead (925) 371-2628 to reserve one free boat rental (not sure of promotion end date.)

CLICK HERE: To learn about Los Vaqueros Reservoir.

CLICK HERE: For Free Boat Rental Information.

CLICK HERE: For Directions to Los Vaqueros Reservoir.

From the CCWD website:

How do I join the Ratepayer Club?

1. You must be a Contra Costa Water District customer. You pay your water bill to one of the following:

CCWD

City of Pittsburg

City of Martinez

City of Antioch

Diablo Water District

Golden State Water

City of Brentwood

2. Bring your water bill & your photo ID to the LV Marina, and get a Ratepayer Club card.

3. Use the card immediately for $10 off a half-day boat rental or $15 off a full-day boat rental. (This discount is not available for rentals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays when boats are already half-price). 

4. Call ahead (925) 371-2628 to reserve one free boat rental and confirm promotion end date.

The Best Lemon Tart Recipe...

Click image to view scanned pages in larger format.

Cooks Illustrated January & February 2000, The Best Lemon Tart Recipe.


I've always enjoyed Cooks Illustrated Magazines and cookbooks. Just dusted off a joyful surprise old box from a life once lived. Found a ten year old gem in mint condition.

Baking sweet lemon treats to share with a friend gives a little more incentive to urban fruit foraging. Here's a great idea: make friends with a neighbor with a lemon tree and share a lemon tart for two. Happy Harvesting! Happy Baking!