Fly Fishing

My brother loved to fly fish, and he passed away before I ever had a chance to go with him.  Therefore, this is one thing I want to teach my son.  Yet, how do I teach fly fishing when I never learned?  I am currently researching some fly fishing spots in the United States that are family owned.

Colorado-

Scot's Sporting Goods
Estes Park, Colorado
(970) 586-2877
www.ScotsSportingGoods.com

-Guided Fishing Trips
-Fly Fishing Lessons
-Fishing Pro Shop
-Hiking Pro Shop
-Rentals
-Free Map and Information

This is a family owned business.  They want to share the fun and joy of trout fishing!

Where to do Stargazing in the summer in National Parks in the United States?

A friend told me there is a star festival going on today in the Rocky Mountain National Park.  During the day, check out the visitor center for stargazing activities such as making your own moon bracelet (glow in the dark) and a sun clock.  There are also experts from universities.  In the evening, there are telescopes to check out planets such as Saturn, and to point out the international space station flying by!

National Parks Service celebrating 100 years birthday!

Summer Reading- Astronomy Book List

These are some family astronomy books I found at national parks this summer!

Wishing On A Star
by Fran Lee
(constellation stories and stargazing activities for kids.)

Zodiac
Celestial Circle of the Sun
by Jacqueline Mitton and Christina Balit

Once Upon A Starry Night
by Jacqueline Mitton and Christina Balit
A Companion to Zoo in the Sky

Zoo in the Sky
by Jacqueline Mitton and Christina Balit

They Dance in the Sky
Native American Star Myths
by Jean Guard Monroe and Ray A. Williamson

Stars of the First People
Native American Star Myths and Constellations
by Dorcas S. Miller

The New Patterns in the Sky
Myths and Legends of the Stars
by Julius D. W. Staal

The Stars
A New Way to See Them
2nd Edition
by H.A. Rey
(Beginner's guide to the stars)

Chinatown mystery walk in San Francisco, CA

 1.  Start the Chinatown Cultural tour inside the San Francisco Hilton across from Portsmouth Square. Inside the Hilton Lobby on the main level, there is a Terracotta Army exhibit.  Also, my son loves the giant aquarium.  From there, take the escalator downstairs to the Chinese Cultural Center.  Be prepared, as hours vary.   There is a restaurant inside the hotel lobby for breakfast or snacks.

 Hilton San Francisco
Financial District
750 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA  94108

Chinese Cultural Center
Hours:  Tuesday-Saturday
              10AM-4PM
               Closed on Sunday and Monday

2.  Walk across street to Portsmouth Square, there is a park and playground.

3.  See Chinatown mural at the corner of Grant and Clay, at the edge of park.  Visit playground for a break.

4.  Take a right on Grant Street, There will be a sign for the Chinese Trade Center, this is where the well known Empress of China restaurant was located, it is now closed.  Inside this building there is  arts and crafts shopping.

5.  For a snack and/or sweet, check out Maggie's Cafe.  We really enjoyed the Jian Dui, topped with sesame seeds.  They also have other pastries and cafe drinks.
Next door to Maggie's cafe, is the Bow Hon Restaurant, at 850 Grant Street for some lunch, if desired.

6.   Turn right on Washington Street, On Walter E. Lum Place, across from the Chinatown Restaurant, there is a Dragon & Phoenix statue.  My son loves statues!

7.  Across the street, there is a "Remember Robert Louis Stevenson" statue with boat on top.

8.  Spot American flag, first one raised here in San Francisco.

9.  Take elevator to lower park, there is another playground.  There is also a parking lot, called Portsmouth garage.  

Chinatown mystery walk in San Francisco, CA

 1.  Start the Chinatown Cultural tour inside the San Francisco Hilton across from Portsmouth Square. Inside the Hilton Lobby on the main level, there is a Terracotta Army exhibit.  Also, my son loves the giant aquarium.  From there, take the escalator downstairs to the Chinese Cultural Center.  Be prepared, as hours vary.   There is a restaurant inside the hotel lobby for breakfast or snacks.

San Francisco Hilton

Chinese Cultural Center
Hours:  Tuesday-Saturday
              10AM-4PM
               Closed on Sunday and Monday

2.  Walk across street to Portsmouth Square, there is a park and playground.

3.  See Chinatown mural at the corner of Grant and Clay, at the edge of park.

4.  Take a right on Grant Street, There will be a sign for the Chinese Trade Center, this is where the well known Empress of China restaurant was located, it is now closed.  Inside this building there is  arts and crafts shopping.

5.  For a snack and/or sweet, check out Maggie's Cafe.  We really enjoyed the Jian Dui, topped with sesame seeds.  They also have other pastries and cafe drinks.
Next door to Maggie's cafe, is the Bow Hon Restaurant, at 850 Grant Street for some lunch, if desired.

6.   Turn right on Washington Street, On Walter E. Lum Place, across from the Chinatown Restaurant, there is a Dragon & Phoenix statue.  My son loves statues!

7.  Across the street, there is a "Remember Robert Louis Stevenson" statue with boat on top.

8.  Spot American flag, first one raised here in San Francisco.

9.  Continue to upper playground, or lower playground in Portsmouth Square.

Half-Price Books in Concord

Summer Building Activities At Adventure Playground in Berkeley

9 X 12 Traditional Manuscript Magnetic Dry- Erase Board, for use with dry erase markers, both upper and lower case

It is hard to believe it is July already.  I have found that doing some practice of upper and lower case letters in the summer can be fun if the right supplies and timing are used.  The Lauri manuscript board fits in a child's lap so can be used at a restaurant, car, or plane!  The perfect size for small laps.  The board can also be used as a magnetic board!

I also use other supples for practicing handwriting such as writing in pudding, shaving cream, yogurt, or using a stick, finger, or foot  to write in the sand or the dirt.

One other idea is to try writing words on your child's back, and see if they can figure out the word you wrote!  Or, have children try this on a friend's back for a game.



Resources:

Lauri 9" X 12" Traditional Manuscript Magnetic Dry- Erase Board
patchproducts.com
1-800-524-4263
Patch products, LLC
1400 E. Inman Pkwy.
Beloit,WI  53511

Tips:

Most dry erase markets are fine with this product.

Practice tracing uppercase letters on one side, and lower case on the other.

Add magnets to use as a bulletin board, too"

Book Recommendation: The Great Ships by Patrick O'Brien

My son loves ships!  We picked this book up at the library and now I am going to buy it since my son loves it so much!  

Here's a sample:

"Ever since primitive peoples first launched their simple boats and crude rafts into the oceans, the sea has been a source of adventure, travel, exploration, and glory.  Upon the waves have traveled countless vessels- ships of all shapes and sizes- carrying hopes and dreams, conquerors and pilgrims, traders and explorers.

Ships are also seen as having humanlike aspects- good luck or bad luck, sour dispositions, or funny habits.  And like certain people, some have also won fame and glory.  Their stories, passed down through history, have made them as alive, and sometimes as colorful, as the people who sailed them.

Here are the great ships of the sea that have made their mark through triumph, through tragedy, or sometimes through merely doing their job and being in the right place at the right time.  Come sail through time with them."

Resource:

The Great Ships

Author:  Patrick O' Brien

Ages 6 to 10

Walker & Company

435 Hudson Street

New York, New York

 10014

Magic Tree House CED Collection, Books 1-16 or 17-24, by Mary Pope Osborne

We loved listening to the Magic Tree House Collection, Book 17-24 in our car on a summer road trip.  I want to get the 1-16 collection for our next road trip.  Then, we visited the Discovery Museum and saw the Mary Pope Osborne Magic Tree House exhibit, and that was a blast for my son and his friends!  My son's friend even brought one of his favorite Mary Pope Osborne books in his book bag!

Resources:

Magic Tree House Collection
Books 17-24
Read by the author
An unabridged collection
5 hours and 4 minutes

Mary Pope Osborne is the award-winning author of over forty books for young people.  Magic Tree House Books 1-16 are also available on audio from Imagination studio.

Discovery Museum in Sausalito, CA is open all summer! Featuring Magic Tree House Exhibit!

We just rejoined the Discovery Museum in Sausalito, CA.  They are currently featuring a Magic Tree House Series exhibit with a focus on the Thanksgiving, Twister on Tuesday, and Civil War on Wednesday stories.  We spent at least an hour at the exhibit as they had fun role playing areas and real tables and dress up clothes for the activities!  We love the Magic Tree House stories so this exhibit was a special treat!

Resources:

Discovery Museum
Sausalito, CA


Magic Tree House stories,
 by Mary Pope Osborne

Bubble Bath in travel size packets- smells wonderful too!

I've been using the packets of Aura Cacia pure essential oils foam bath packets for years during traveling!  The following three packets are available:  Clearing Eucalyptus Foam Bath, Calming Lavender Foam Bath, and Cheering Tangerine Foam Bath.  All of these also smell wonderful!

I love the eucalyptus bath for when my son is stuffy with allergies or a cold.  The Cheering Tangerine is perfect for an afternoon bath or before dinner.  My favorite before bedtime bath is the the Lavender Foam Bath.

Resources:

Aura Cacia
pure essential oils
Foam Baths
by Frontier Natural Products
www.auracacia.com

Hana Japan Steak House at the Berkeley Marina , Berkeley, CA

My son loves the Hana Japan Steak House at the Berkeley Marina in Berkeley, CA.  The chef does such tricks such as lighting an onion on fire and juggling with his cooking equipment.  We especially like the fried rice!  The Hana Japan Steak house is also walking distance from the Adventure Playground.  There are some deals on Groupon.  Birthday dinners on the exact birthday are free!

Hana Japan Steak House
www.HanaJapan.com
235 University Avenue
Berkeley Marina, CA  94710
(510) 848-8515

Adventure Playground in Berkeley, CA is open all summer, and has free programs!

Adventure Playground in Berkeley, CA at the Berkeley Marina is open all summer.  Admission is free and they have free programs.  Yesterday, I took my son there and they had a free robot making class at 2:00PM.  The students design and pick out there own supplies and then there are assistants to help. Of course, the robots are made with supplies such as wood, rope, paint, wood wheels, nails, etc.  My son loved it!

Adventure Playground

Berkeley Marina, Berkeley, CA

4th of July Brunch at Spinster Sisters in Santa Rosa, CA

Summerfield School in Santa Rosa, CA