Fall is here and whether your kids are in the classroom or learning from home, one thing is for sure, families are looking for activities they can do together that are safe and socially distant, yet still bring some level of normalcy to the season. Not all of the annual favorites are open this year due to COVID, but we picked some of our favorites that plan to welcome guests. Grab your boots and scarves, or maybe your pumpkin tank top with the blazing temps, and usher in the fall fun.
APPLE PICKING IN JULIAN
Apple picking has always been on our list of Fall Activities but for whatever reason, our family had never been — between a calendar, unpredictable apple quantities and more, we just always seemed to miss our opportunity. But thanks to quarantine, this year we made it a priority and too a day trip to one of the U-Pick farms in Julian, California.
We decided to go to family-owned Volcan Valley Apple Farm. They have 8,000 trees in seven apple varieties. The apples seemed mini to us, but we were assure this is what apples look like grown on trees and say, the supermarket apples we mentally compared them too. We were unfamiliar with Empire and Jonathan apples, but the staff encouraged us to try as we picked. Of course that meant my kids were so excited to be “taste-testers” and decided what went into the bags and what didn’t make the cut. We also picked Golden Delicious apples too. All of them were so good!
Since the orchid is so vast, social distancing wasn’t a problem (even though it was quite crowded with families) and when we got closer to people we put on our masks. It’s $15 a bag, and an additional $5 per person to pick (kids 5 and under are free). The kids ran up and down the rows, that are clearly marked with the apple variety) and to reach some of the higher apples, mom and dad were there to give them a lift. The weather was warm so it was a perfect day for our Wildflowers Clothing dress paired with a favorite Milleduex bow.
After all your apple picking, be sure to take a stroll down Main St. in Julian. The have little shops, and of course everything apple to indulge. We grabbed slices of our favorite pies at the Julian Pie Company but there are so many options from Moms to Julian Cafe & Bakery and it’s not just about pie, they have donuts, popovers, bread, cider, and so many other delicious ways you can cook and eat apples!
BIRCH AQUARIUM & VIRTUAL AFTER SCHOOL SERIES
One of the ways that we are breaking up our homeschool experience is doing “field” trips. And while our class looks a lot different this year, the kids enjoyed visiting the Birch Aquarium. Birch Aquarium has done a great job for helping visitors stay socially distanced. From reserving a time with your ticket and wearing masks to having creative signage throughout, our pod was able to enjoy the exhibits while staying distant from other pods. There are hand sanitizing stations throughout and the staff were sanitizing after guess left stations. They also have traffic flowing in one direction through the exhibits. If you need to leave for the bathroom or go back and view something again, you can enter again, you just let the attendant know. It is important to add that it is ultimately up to the parents/guardians attending with the children to do their part.
The tide pools are our favorite part. The view of the ocean is perfect for taking a break on the bench and regrouping. Guests must sanitize their hands prior to touching the tide pool animals. But I enjoyed watching the kids get excited about the things they had been learning about in class “come to life.” The kids love seeing the animals up close and touching them if they choose. One of our other favorite exhibits is the Seahorses. It is very calming to watch them drift around.
Birch Aquarium is also launching a Virtual After School Series. The 6-week multi series will be offered in the fall, winter, and spring for kindergarten through grade 8 students. The series aims to provide those caring for kids at home with fun and educational experiences to fill some of the hours between school and the early evening. Topics and themes will switch seasonally and build upon kids’ curiosity, allowing them to join others in their age group to explore ocean science in novel ways.
HALLOWEEN NOT CANCELLED
Trick-or-Treating may be cancelled (or at least door-to-door contact) but Halloween most certainly is not! In accordance with the county’s public health order, recommendations include Halloween movie nights, socially-distanced events and visiting pumpkin patches.
Adam Sandler assembled quite a list of all his comedian friends for you to spend the spooky season with. His latest film, Hubie Halloween debuts on Netflix on October 7. We talked with Sandler about all the laughs, the great messages and including his family — his wife and both daughters are all in the film. You can see our full interview HERE.
And if you want to watch a movie but feel like venturing out, Cinepolis has handpicked Halloween favorites for just $5 all month long. There is something for every age too ranging from Coco and The Nightmare Before Christimas, to The Shining and The Exorcist.
Cinepolis is going above and beyond to keep their cinemas clean. Every high contact surface will be cleaned and sanitized at least every 30 minutes and even more frequently during high volume times. They have a new online booking feature to ensure parties are grouped at least 6ft apart and they are staggering show times and opening doors earlier to assure limited guest interaction before, during, and after all films.
If your kids are focused on wearing their costumes and collecting candy, Legoland California has you covered. While the theme park is still awaiting approval to open, they have created a special outdoor experience, Halloween in Miniland! It’s every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during October and features character meet and greets, virtual costume contests, a Miniland scavenger hunt, LEGO building activities, and, of course, a goody bag filled with candy and a LEGO surprise!
Safety is top priority so guests are required to purchase tickets ($12.99) online in advance to reserve access to Miniland for their desired dates and time to visit. This allows for reduced capacity, social distancing practices and enhanced cleaning regimes. Face coverings (PPE) will be required for all guests three years old and up as well as for staff members. It’s sure to be a not-so-spooky ghoul of a time!
KIDS FREE SAN DIEGO (OCTOBER)
Whether it is visiting a museum, eating out or doing a staycation, it can all add up with a family. But we love Kids Free San Diego, where there are 100+ deals on museums, activities, tours, hotels and dining options. From a free meal to free admission, Kids Free October is a great way to explore San Diego. Some of our favorites include the Air & Space Museum, San Diego Zoo and Zoo Safari Park, whale watching, and San Diego Railway Museum. We also love sharing this with our friends and family that live close by as a fun reason to do a mini-vacation. It is important to note, that each site has different guidelines, so make sure that your family is comfortable with what they are requiring of guests prior to purchasing tickets.
EXPLORE TIDE POOLS
According to park rangers, Cabrillo National Monument is one of the best places to explore tide pools starting in the fall and continuing through the winter. This is primarily due to the fact that low tide occurs during daylight hours so your family has a better chance of spotting sea creatures. We ventured to the Point Loma peninsula to take in the incredible views while climbing the cliffs in hopes of seeing sea urchins, hermit crabs, star fish and more.
A few things to keep in mind… find out when low tide is for the day (check chart here) and arrive early. We planned to get to site two hours prior to the start of low tide. It took us about 20 minutes to pass through the check in point where it costs $20 per car (or $35 for an annual pass if you live locally and think you’ll return.) You can drive very close to the cliff where the tidepools are but there aren’t very many parking spots. You can always drop of part of your family and then park at the alternative areas, but those areas require quite a bit more hiking and can take anywhere from another 10-20 minute walk to get back to the tidepool site (there is a trail to follow). There are bathrooms onsite and a few information signs to provide context to where you are, and what you potentially could see.
It’s just a short climb down to the tidepools and then exploring can begin! We did not expect for our feet to be fully submerged in water, fortunately the kids were wearing their pediped water shoes so they could easily transition from gripping rocks, to walking in water… but we wore closed toed shoes as suggested, but in hindsight we would’ve brought rubber flip-flops to slip on once at the sand so we could easily navigate the water. Plus we brought a change of clothes for the kids because while they were wearing their sun protective Coolibar, we knew they’d end up fully wet and want to be dry for the car ride home.
NAT CANYONEERS TRAIL RECOMMENDATIONS
Studies show that being in nature provides physical and mental health benefits. And with people wanting to get outside during the pandemic, the Canyoneers from the San Diego Natural History Museum take the guesswork out of finding a local trail. For 47 years, the Canyoneers have offered free, guided hikes throughout the county. While current restrictions on group gatherings preclude these volunteer naturalists from leading in-person hikes this fall, the Canyoneers share a list of 10 great fall hikes for families: https://www.sdnat.org/blog/blog_details/ten-great-hikes-for-fall/155/
Prior to the pandemic, our family enjoyed hiking but only did it once in a while. When the pandemic hit, it became one of our go-to outlets to get out of the house, get exercise as a family and get fresh air. We have been going hiking at least two to three times a month. We love exploring new spots and going back to some of our favorite trails. I love watching us tackle a new obstacle, enjoy a sunset vista together or discover a new animal. There are also plenty of opportunities for teamwork and problem solving. Whatever your family’s ability, there are so many great paths from beginner to challenging.
BE PREPARED WITH JUJUBE
From sanitizers to supplies, there is so much more to pack in this quarantine climate. So we depend on smart bags! From the very beginning when we were selecting diaper bags, jujube was always our first choice for their design and functionality. As our families have grown and we no longer need diaper bags, jujube has grown with us too. We love their backpacks and bags and take them most everywhere we go! They have pockets for your phone and keys, sunglasses, water bottles and clothes, snacks and even a laptop if needed. Plus they are machine washable and come in a variety of patterns.
There are also a variety of styles for whatever your preference might be. From backpack to over-the-shoulder and even duffel, the quality is consistent you will find the same great pockets on all of them. We tend to lean towards the backpack style so that our hands are free to hold our little ones hands or grab hand sanitizer. We also use the organizer bags like Be Set and Be Organized within the bags to separate everything from masks to toys to keep the kids occupied in the car. Our kids adore wearing their Mini-be styles too whether they are going on an adventure of their own or just going to school.
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Please note these are only suggestions for activities. Only do what is comfortable and safe for your family. Prior to any visit, we recommend checking their safety and health precautions as each location has different standards. And remember, if you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable, it is always okay to leave.
