Sunday, March 7, 2010

Never Too Old for a Field Trip

Last week was one tornado of a week and this weekend has followed in its tracks!  I must be getting old, but time seems to be traveling so quickly- not a bad thing when it's the bad stuff, but I wish it would slow down for weekends and weeks that I have work and school deadlines breathing down my back!  Enough of that- let's get to what we did on Saturday.

One of the great things about living in the San Francisco Bay Area are the cultural amenities.  We live about 30 minutes away from the city and we really love mixing things up and coming to play tourist for the day.  Yesterday we went to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.  We have both gone there for field trips back in the day and this was a great time to explore the newly pimped out museum.

The website describes it as "the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and a 4-story rainforest all under one roof" and hubby and I spent 5 hours exploring.  It seems like we were the only adults there without rugrats, but hey- it's still only 6 months into our marriage and I made sure to make all the requisite bathroom stops, so I perfectly replicated the child-like experience for my date that day.

We started with a beautiful drive into San Francisco.  The weather was gorgeous.
We explored the rainforest
 Stopped to see an albino gator (he's in the back)
Learned about the carbon footprint of a fruit plate:
(Thumbs up to fruit plates, as long as they are local!)
I stopped for about 15 minutes to watch the Penguins in the Africa exhibit.  I wanted to take a couple home with me.  Who doesn't love penguins?
We also went up to look at the roof- this building has a living roof, making it one of the most sustainable buildings ever.  It is stunning from the inside too!
We were starving by about 3:30 and stopped for a late lunch while waiting for the planetarium show.  All the food here is local and organic and it was no PB&J sandwich!  We shared both dishes.

First up, shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce:
Next up- curry chicken salad with almonds and mandarin slices:
Both were ridiculously good and restaurant quality!
I would love to go back and visit when they update their new prehistoric mammal exhibit or to spend the day exploring.  It was so nice to get away and pretend to be a kid!

Now I'm back to adult-land with homework, gym, housework, and other shtuff to do!

What are your favorite kid-like activities?  Mine include field trips, random playground equipment explorations, any type of museum, and trampolines or jump houses!


15 comments:

Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg said...

That sounds like a great activity...for kids AND adults!

Anonymous said...

aww how fun!! i love going roller skating :) haha thats such a kid activity! OH and i went to the circus a couple weeks ago.. LOVED IT

Mari said...

I love doing things like that! Last summer I went to the museum of natural history and the science museum...hmmm what will I do this summer???

It looks like you two had a fabulous time =)

Katie ♥ said...

Looks like you had a great weekend as well with your lover!!!

Glad you liked the lover and little lover, lol, those are my nicknames for those wonderful boys in my life!!!

I LOVE penguins, everytime we go to the zoo, I adore the penguins, I could watch them forever, so cute!!!!

Loving the yummy food, spring rolls are so good, that peanut dipping sauce is amazing!!

When I was little I loved going to McDonalds and playing in the playplace there, going to Chuck E Cheese, roller skating, and I loved the Science Center, still do!!

Love you girl!! Have a great Monday!!! xoxo

Gabriela said...

What an awesome looking lunch! I love that it was all local. The penguins are too cute, too :)

When I was a kid, I LOVED Leaps 'n' Bounds. I think they've closed them all by now, but that was seriously my dream place!

Mom on the Run said...

My favorite kid like activity is going to a water park or beach and playing sand. If we ever visit San Fransisco I would definitely go to that place. It looks like so much fun. I am glad you got out to enjoy the day.

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

I love:
- Watersides
- Trampolines
- Roller Coasters
- Hide and Seek
- Jump Rope
- Etc.

I am really 7 at heart :-)

Bridget said...

That place looks awesome! I love scienc-y activities like that :) I love going to the Science Museum in Boston...went to many-a-field trip there in my day and still love it :)

lizzy said...

hey gorgeous girlie!! FUN fun weekend u had!! I LOVE going to 'kiddy' museums and zoo's!! mmm those spring rolls look delicious! I hope you have a great monday! xoxo!

Anonymous said...

ah this looks so fun! i'm jealous of your littel trip :) and that meall- yumm

Anonymous said...

Field trips rock! I love swinging on swings. It makes me feel so young.

Ana said...

What a great field trip!!

Since, I live in Florida and go to school in Orlando I get the chance to visit Mickey and Minnie quite often ;) When I am in Disney I feel like such a kid, I love it!

Mo Diva said...

mine are picnics in parks...cuz im a dork like that!

Looks like you had a great time with the hubs!

Naomi(Onefitfoodie) said...

YUM! those look SO good! I love trampolines! those are so fun! I used to go to this trampoline park in cape cod :) also ice skating!!

Katie said...

Cool photos! I love penguins- they are so cute! My fave kid activity is a relaxing bath- although I guess you can't call it a kid activity when there is a glass of red involved :)