Nostalgia

For some reason I am feeling very nostalgic for things left behind in California. I have been asking people here "What do you DO around here?" I am starting to really miss all the fantastic things the Bay Area offered. All the MANY things to do there, whether it be a day trip, a weekend or just a couple of hours. There were just so many options. Sadly, I took them for granted. So for the new few days, I will blog about a few of my favorites.

I am going to start with TILDEN PARK
I absolutely LOVE this place! It is up in the Oakland Hills. I was first introduced to this beautiful park when I was a nanny. A bunch of us, nannies, would get together with all of our kids and go somewhere every week. We were from all over the East Bay, and a couple of the girls lived in the Oakland Hills (a place I ended up living during the fire of '91). The park is nestled in tons of Eucalyptus trees and there is a lake you can swim in, a train you can ride on, a petting zoo, lots of picnic areas, camping spots, a carousel, pony rides and hiking trails. The thing is, the park is so big, you have to drive to each of these places individually. It is so georgous, and I loved going. I knew we were moving soon, so while David and Michael were at Scout Camp, I took the rest of the kids and ran for the hills! We had such a great time. There are spots on the drive up to the park that you stop, look out, and could see all the way across the Bay into San Francisco and beyond. On a really clear day you could see the Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately, the day we went was a little overcast so you can kindof see the Bay behind the kids on one or two of the pictures. I truly miss Tilden Park and I know we will go again someday.