Every week we have a Mama n' Eli Day; our only standing plan is to have an adventure together. Sometimes we host tot play days or go on outings with other families, and we enjoy those very much. Yet I try to make sure the two of us regularly get out on our own. We both thrive on it.
This week we had plans to head to the coast. There are few things Eli likes better than poking at beach finds and digging holes in the sand. But when we woke up the fog was thick all across the bay area. Hmmm. Plan B.
Knowing we have less than a year left here in California, I made a "bucket list" of things we want to do and see. The little town of Benicia, an old port in the Carquinez Straight between San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay, was on the list. It is a former capital of California (1853-1854) and the inspiration for a couple of Jack London's stories -- "John Barleycorn" and "Tales of the Fish Patrol." Off we went...
Benicia has a lovely downtown area with plenty of restaurants, shops, and art galleries. The main avenue is First Street, and it curves around at the far end to form a jetty and fishing pier. (Somebody wrote the word "We" in stones on the small beach...not sure why, but it sounded nice for a mama/tot togetherness day.)
We spent a good portion of the morning keeping track of boats (as well as the occasional huge container ship), exploring the little beach full of mossy stones, and watching the fog slowly lift. ("We's in a frog, Mama!")
As lunchtime approached, we went off in search of a picnic spot that would be good for playing. We're always on the lookout for playgrounds with that are a little different from the same ol', same ol'. Benicia has two!
Near the beginning of the historic downtown area is Jensen Park, also known as City Park. On the corner of West K Street and West Second Street you'll find an unusual play spot for kids. According to a pamphlet I found, "The children of Benicia drew pictures of what they wanted in a playground and a group of volunteers built the Playground of Dreams."
We loved the Playground of Dreams, but we heard there was another great playground up in the hills and there was a little time left before nap. Off we went in search of Benicia Community Park. We found it on Community Park Drive (just off Rose Drive and Kearney Street). It offers two oversized play structures as well as a sweeping view.
But the best thing is how you can enter the park. From the parking lot on the hill above, you can drop in using a wide cement slide. I tried it out first. Then I gave Eli a ride on my lap. Soon he was zooming down on his own.
"Whee!"
After a while I figured Eli was going to wear out the back side of his overalls if we didn't head homeward. But we did swing back by the fishing pier so we could get a good view of the Carquinez Bridge after the fog lifted. We got to see one more huge ship go by too.
Goodbye, Benicia! We had fun! And I think we'll definitely be back.
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