When I think of California State Parks, Santa Monica State Beach certainly doesn’t strike me as a typical example. Where most of the state parks we’ve visited are quiet, serene spots to enjoy nature, Santa Monica State Beach is a park of another kind altogether. Stretching some three miles and covering 245 acres of sand along the Santa Monica Bay, this iconic beach features … [Read more...]
10 Ideas for Water Play in the Backyard
We’ve been talking about water play a lot this month, what with it being summer and all. And while spending a morning or afternoon at the beach or river is wonderful, sometimes schedules just don’t permit it. No worries! There are plenty of ways to enjoy water play right in your own backyard. Know how to stay cool outside on hot days and always keep an eye on all kids … [Read more...]
Saturday Snapshot: Beach
Welcome to “Saturday Snapshot,” a weekly feature that highlights photos we take as part of our seasonal nature photo scavenger hunts. The List: The 2013 Summer nature photo scavenger hunt (You can see our complete collection of #summernaturehunt photos on Instagram and Pinterest.) The Find: Beach The Backstory: Nothing says beach to me like gulls, at least here in … [Read more...]
Fun Friday: Build a Dam
Since we’ve been talking a lot about water play around here this month, I thought I’d share one of The Big Explorers’ favorite summertime activities. During our recent adventures on the river, he had one goal: To build a dam. All that’s required to build a dam is moving water and something to block that water – like sticks or rocks. In our case, The Big Explorer used river … [Read more...]
Exit the Highway: Share Nature Near You & Win!
The National Audubon Society and Toyota invite you to exit the highway and spend time in nature this summer. In fact, if you make a pledge to head outdoors, you could win a 2013 Toyota Prius v. The idea behind the Exit the Highway campaign is to make people aware of the many “off the beaten path” hidden gems in nature that you might not know about – many of which lie just … [Read more...]