Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in sacramento, CA

Pumpkin Patch kinda weekend...

October 16, 2009

If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend with the kiddos, it's the perfect time to hit a local pumpkin patch and have some fun.  You'll miss the crazy rush that happens later in the month and it's a great way to kick off this holiday season, which is usually a favorite with the little ones.  I found a great list of local pumpkin patches which include hay rides, train rides, corn mazes, haunted houses, jump houses and more.  So check out one of these.   I highly recommend the Pumpkin Farm in Citrus Heights and Fog Willow Pumpkin Farm in Wilton.  My boys and I have gone to the Pumpkin Farm every year since they were toddlers and Fog Willow for many field trips.  They are both really wonderful, so check one out and enjoy this amazing season!

Fair Oaks Boulevard Nursery
Address: 4681 Fair Oaks Blvd., Sac.
Phone: (916) 483-1830
Days of operation: Mid-September through Thanksgiving
Hours of operation: Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Goblin Gardens Pumpkin Patch
Address: 3845 El Centro Road, Sac.
Phone: (916) 416-1133
Days of operation: September 27 to October 31
Hours of operation: Daily, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or dusk
Goblin Gardens, operated by Bastio Farms, is popular with mommies toting babies and toddlers. The little ones can conquer the 1,000 bale straw pyramid or venture into the largest corn maze in Sacramento County (according to Bastio owner Dennis Bastio). There are also hay rides, antique tractors, slide, blow-up inflateables, produce and the ever-so-popular kiddie cars (powered by the kids’ feet). Goblin Gardens also hosts many field trips and may open earlier to accommodate these groups.

CITRUS HEIGHTS

The Pumpkin Farm
Address: 7736 Old Auburn Road, Citrus Heights
Phone: (916) 726-1137
Days of operation: October 1 to 31
Hours of operation: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Free.
The Pumpkin Farm has been serving up pumpkins to the Sacramento area since 1974. Visitors can enjoy the hayrides, pony rides, haunted barn, petting zoo, jumping castle, tower slides and of course the scarecrows. The Pumpkin Farm will again hold its annual Scarecrow Contest, where a creative entry could win a $1,500 prize. The Pumpkin Farm will be featuring giant pumpkins this year, a new attraction. Already, they have one that is more than 800 pounds.

ROSEVILLE

Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Patch
Address: 210 S. Harding Blvd., Roseville
Phone: (916) 786-7979
Days of operation: October 1 to 31
Hours of operation: Monday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free.
Visitors can find more than 60 varieties of pumpkins and gourds at the Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Patch, which has been a Roseville mainstay since 1988. The Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Patch is a one-shop-stop for your fall harvest. Kids can enjoy the train that passes through the haunted mine shaft or get lost in the corn maze or pet animals in the petting zoo. They also ride a ferris wheel, carousel, slide and win prizes. Jim Dandee’s Country Kitchen will satisfy your appetite serving up barbecue sandwiches, corn dogs, cotton candy, candied apples and fresh kettle corn.

WHEATLAND

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm
Address: 1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland
Phone: (530) 633-2568 (for info and school field trip reservations)
Days of operation: September 20 to October 31
Hours of operation: Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free. Parking is free opening weekend and on weekdays and $10 on weekends. Corn maze is $3.50. Coyote Mountain admission is $3.50. BPF Railroad tickets is $2.50. Coupons are available online. Field trips is $6 per person from Sept. 24 to 30 and $7 per person from Oct. 1 to 31.
Plan to spend a big chunk of your day at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm. Start by taking a free hayride to the pumpkin fields and pick your ideal gourd right off the vine. After that, why not take a not-so-leisurely stroll in the three-acre corn maze. If getting lost among the corn isn’t your thing, then take a ride on the BPF Railroad where the tracks meander through the jumbo pumpkin patch, through the apple and walnut orchards and by the horse pasture. Before leaving, tackle Coyote Mountains’ 50-foot slide and don’t forget to pan for marbles at the stream below the slide.

WILTON

Fog Willow Pumpkin Farm
Address: 11011 Cecatra Drive, Wilton
Phone: (916) 687-4547
Days of operation: October 1 to 31
Hours of operation: Daily, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: $3 per person, free for kids 2 and younger
Fog Willow Pumpkin Farm is the brainchild of Elk Grove school teacher Stacey Cates. With her family history rooted in farming, Cates felt that students weren’t learning much about agriculture and wanted to do something about it. Hence, Fog Willow was born in 2003. The farm is tucked along the banks of the Consumnes River and is immensely popular with school-aged kids as evidenced by the many school busses making their way to the farm. This is a great location to bring your family as there are lots to do, with a barrel train, hay rides, petting zoo, crafts, picnic area, haystack and barbecue during the weekends. Kids can join the Lil’ Pickers Punkin’ Club ($20) to receive goodies.

Baking crazy!

October 13, 2009

Dog Gone Fun

June 07, 2009

If your family is anything like ours, it is full of furry and feathered friends that help make life a little more complete.  In addition to our fish and kitties, we have two dogs named Bo and Bella who my boys adore.  Dogs are a great way to teach kids about compassion, respect and responsibility.

  While admittedly I pick up most of the poop and pay for the vet appointments, my boys help feed, train and generally care for both of our pooches.  The dog park is a great way to reward your furry friend with some much needed social time and it can be a fun opportunity to spend time with your kids, teach them about different dog breeds and spend a little time outdoors to boot.  Luckily the Sacramento area is full of many different dog parks for pooches of all sizes, maybe this week is the one that your family spends a little time outdoors with man’s best friend in tow. 

If you go to www.dogparkusa.com there is a comprehensive list of all the local dog parks in our area.  Don’t forget to wear playclothes, bring water bottles and hand sanitizer – it’s hot out and those pups can be dirty!

Whole Lotta Good Stuff

May 05, 2009

 I have always been a huge fan of Whole Foods, but I am a renewed fan this week after discovering the Roseville location’s Kid’s Club!  So you can take your kiddos into Whole Foods and stop by customer service – kid’s 2 through 12 get a Kid’s Club I.D. Card and they can use it to get a free treat every time they come into the store.  While free treats are a great incentive for the kids, moms will love the fact that this store is filled with wonderful, healthy and enticing snacks for little ones.  You certainly don’t need to be told that encouraging healthy eating habits early on will promote a lifetime of nutritious eating with your kids.  On a personal note, please don’t be one of those moms who completely deprives the kids of sugar – I had one of those and there are not enough Hershey’s bars that can fill me up to this day!  But seriously, the relatively new Roseville Whole Foods is gorgeous, packed with good stuff and at this location they are also hosting Kid’s Club activities every Sunday this May at noon.  Here is the schedule – check it out and have some healthy fun with your babies!

5-10-09  - Happy Mother's Day! FREE 365 Chocolate Bars for Moms!

5-17-09 - Build your Own Sunday

5-24-09 - Goodie Bag Give-Away! While Supplies Last

5-31-09 - Scavenger Hunt!

Whole Foods Market, 1001 Galleria Blvd, Roseville 916-781-5300

Fun for Parents and Kids Alike

by Kim Mordecai

February 04, 2009

Listening to the radio last night I heard a commercial for what seems to be a new local family venue called Kids Quest.  Located at Red Hawk Casino in Placerville, Kids Quest is an hourly child care service.  Kids Quest is supervised by licensed professionals trained in first aid and CPR techniques for children 6 weeks to 12 years old.

At one with nature

by Kim Mordecai

January 19, 2009

I went back to my roots this weekend and took my kids on a day trip to Tilden Park in Berkeley. Both my parents grew up a couple of miles from this amazing park, and my grandparents took me there all the time when I was a kid. Just as I remembered, it was simply wonderful. There is a 'little farm' that has cows, chickens, ducks, sheep, goats and more that kids can feed and learn about.  Read more...

Mark your calendar!

by Kim Mordecai

January 13, 2009

Museums are a great way to get out in the world with your kiddos, big and small, get some walking in, see some sights and learn a little about the world too! So mark your calendars because Saturday, February 7th is the 11th annual Sacramento Museum day when twenty-six greater Sacramento area museums offer FREE (yes totally FREE) admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They also offer free shuttle  Read more...

Cool Mags and Health Foods

by Kim Mordecai

January 12, 2009

As much as I'm an out and about mom in Sacramento, sometimes I realize just how out of the loop I am! For instance, yesterday I revisited www.kidaroundmag.com - my very favorite local publication for moms. They have all kinds of great stuff on there web site - contests, articles, a calendar - you can even read the entire magazine on-line! Anyway, I was cruising their calendar and found a bunch  Read more...

Local Holiday Traditions

by Kim Mordecai

December 08, 2008

We finally got our tree tonight! I know, many people are way ahead of us but we've been doing some redecorating and wanted to get everything settled before we picked the perfect tree. Tomorrow we will decorate and decide on Christmas cookies to bake this year. I have a pile of my grandmother's recipes and this will be my first year baking them with my boys. There are a few other holiday  Read more...

Children & Charity

by Kim Mordecai

December 04, 2008

Let's face it, most of our kids are spoiled. Most of them have enough toys for ten kids to play with and all they want is more, more, more. I try to remind my children regularly throughout the year how fortunate they are and squash any bratty entitled behavior. Of course at this time of year it's especially important to remind little ones that charity is the greatest gift, and I just found  Read more...

Turkey Day Craftiness

by Kim Mordecai

November 17, 2008

In keeping with our quest to have a festive and kid-friendly Thanksgiving, today the kids and I created an adorable Thanksgiving centerpiece for our holiday table. It's a simple project that doesn't involve very many complicated supplies and will help us remember that Thanksgiving is about contemplating all that we are thankful for and celebrating those things. The centerpiece  Read more...

Pumpkin Pie with your pumpkins

by Kim Mordecai

November 13, 2008

To continue with my quest to involve my kids in Thanksgiving festivities (also known as pawning off cooking labor on innocent under-age workers) I have a second great recipe to make with your kids to share today. Ok, it's really original and mysterious - that's a lie - I'll just come clean and admit, it's pumpkin pie. But wait! It's not as silly as it sounds. I have a  Read more...

Battery-free, screen-free, beep-free play!

by Kim Mordecai

November 10, 2008

One of the big challenges of parenting today is to find ways to keep our children occupied without letting them rot in front of the television or Nintendo all day long. Video games are one of those things that seem to permeate every child's life these days. And while many of the games are kid-friendly, it can be difficult to tell what games are appropriate for your child. There is also the  Read more...

Nurturing little bookworms

by Kim Mordecai

November 04, 2008

with children helps them develop language skills, listening skills and interacting with others. Whether you read at home with your little ones or take them to local storytimes, you are helping them to develop a love of reading and books that will serve them for a lifetime. As a small child I was an avid reader of Nancy Drew books. Today, there are a thousand times as many wonderful  Read more...

Holiday Traditions and Books!

by Kim Mordecai

October 28, 2008

I had the pleasure of appearing on Fox 40 news this morning and talking about Savvy Source! It was great fun; I spoke with Deborah Orozco about how families can save money generally and this holiday season in addition to making some suggestions about great holiday books. One of my very favorite books for the holidays and preschoolers is called Christmas around the World, a  Read more...

Halloween Treats & Eats

by Kim Mordecai

October 27, 2008

If I haven't mentioned it yet, I love Halloween. It gives me a reason to bid a happy goodbye to the sweetness of summertime and an excuse to dress up in ridiculous costumes with my children. We have many traditions around this holiday, but one of my boys' favorite is Halloween cooking. We make everything from mummy hotdogs to popcorn balls. The three of us have so much fun measuring and  Read more...

Spooky Fun - one week early!

by Kim Mordecai

October 24, 2008

In my opinion, Halloween comes and goes too quickly. A month's worth of build-up and excitement which culminates in a single night is not enough to satisfy those of us with a passion for candy and dress-up clothes! So take the time this weekend to really celebrate this spooky month. There are a whole list of great activities for kids so they can put on their outfits and have a ball.  Read more...

5 ways to curb your family's spending

by Kim Mordecai

October 22, 2008

These days it seems everyone is working hard to save a buck. In our household we've cut way back on unnecessary spending and I look for deals wherever I can. There are some great ways for families to still maintain their quality of life while also saving money. 1. Shop smarter for food Groceries are a huge part of our family budget, but there are a lot of ways to  Read more...

Frankenswine!

by Kim Mordecai

October 20, 2008

There are few things that take me back to my childhood like a puppet show does. When I was a kid we saw them at school, at the library and we performed endless puppet shows (mainly with homemade sock puppets!) at home. One of my very favorite local performance groups is called Puppet Art Theater ??? they take puppetry to a whole new level. On Wednesday they will perform Funny  Read more...

Part 3: 99 Fun Things To Do

by Kim Mordecai

October 17, 2008

Ta-Da! #'s 61 -99 of 99 things to do with your kids in Sacramento ! Read them over, pick one out and have a great weekend! 61. Go garage sale-ing on a Saturday in Midtown 62. Feed baby salmon at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery 63. Take a kid's art class with Monart Roseville or Folsom 64. See 4 th of July fireworks show at Cal Expo 65. Enjoy homemade cake at the Old Time Fiddle  Read more...

99 Things to do with your kids in Sac Part Two

by Kim Mordecai

October 16, 2008

Here are today's next 30 entries all kinds of great things to do in Sacramento with your kids. Plan one for this weekend, put one on the calendar, or just daydream about what a good mom you would be if you could actually fit any of these things into your schedule! 31. Buy fresh raisins, honey and pears at a farmer's market 32. Take a cooking class for families at  Read more...

99 Things to do in Sac with your kiddos

by Kim Mordecai

October 15, 2008

Ive been pondering the idea of doing a list of 99 fun things to do in Sacramento with your kids. While I havent hit 99 yet, Ive worked my way to 33 and come up with some darn fun ideas, if I do say so myself. Ride a pony in Land Park Pick thornless blackberries at Amber Oaks Farm Pan for gold at the Folsom History Museum Go to the Train Museum Eat a  Read more...

Top 5 things to do in Sacramento on a rainy day

by Kim Mordecai

October 14, 2008

I hate to admit it, but the rain - it's coming. In my house when we wake up and the sky is full of clouds I wish I could sneak away and hide out until the sun peeks through again. My children seem to instantly develop cabin fever and alternately raise their voices as if they are at a rock concert, or choose to play games that only an orangutan would think was appropriate for the indoors.  Read more...

Toys that equal fun, not junk

by Kim Mordecai

October 08, 2008

Toys come and go. In my house they are delivered by the truckload at Christmas and on birthdays and removed by the station wagon-full nearly monthly and donated to the Goodwill. I have a real love-hate relationship with toys. While I love to give my children fun and enriching activities and entertainment, the crappy things litter my house and the clutter ultimately clogs up my overloaded  Read more...

Hard Times for Kids too

by Kim Mordecai

October 07, 2008

It seems that most people these days are strapped financially. It can be difficult to help your preschooler adjust when he or she is used to new goodies and expensive outings on a regular basis. I know some people tred more lightly on these subjects but I tend to be frank with my kids, i.e. "No. Mom is broke." End of discussion. I wonder if I am permanently damaging them when they say  Read more...

October To-Do's...

by Kim Mordecai

October 03, 2008

We are already three days into October and I have decided that a to-do list for the month is in order so that we are sure to schedule in all the fun Halloween activities we love in Sacramento . We are all so fortunate to live in this beautiful valley that affords us lovely warm fall weather to enjoy the outdoors. Here is my current list of must-do fun for the month of October. Apple  Read more...

Fairy Festivities

by Kim Mordecai

September 24, 2008

FREE ADMISSION to Fairytale Town all weekend! FREE ADMISSION to the biggest literacy event in the region! FREE ADMISSION to the biggest Children's Book Party of the year! Let BOOKS TAKE YOU OVER THE RAINBOW to the Target Children's Book Celebration at Fairytale Town September 27 & 28, 2008 Featuring an All-Star line-up of Authors, Illustrators & Celebrity  Read more...

Sac Playdates for Best Buds

by Kim Mordecai

September 23, 2008

If your little one has a special friend he or she has formed a bond with at preschool or grammar school, there are a lot of ways to help the budding friendship along so your little one has a great long-term buddy to play with. Helping kids to engage in activities together allows them to have fun, make memories and further develop friendships. Activities can be as simple as choosing a  Read more...

Icky, slimy, scaley stuff

by Kim Mordecai

September 11, 2008

Creepy, crawly, slimy, biting snakes, lizards, reptiles! What is the allure to our little ones? Just the other day I was remembering playing with snails and crickets as a little girl. I can recall fearlessly plucking bullfrogs from streams and scooping up tadpoles into soda bottles to eagerly deliver to my mother. She never reacted with the delight I expected, and I guess that's just it.  Read more...

Chalk It Up!

by Kim Mordecai

August 28, 2008

Art and children just seem to go together. Kids are born these amazing, imaginative, creative little beings that take to crayons and storytelling and dance and make believe like fish to water. As you may know, our little family fully embraces our creative sides but recently I've been wondering about not just enjoying the many opportunities for artistic pleasure in Sacramento, but also giving  Read more...

Fun Support for Mama

by Kim Mordecai

August 22, 2008

While becoming a new mom is a blissful, enriching and powerful experience, it can also be very lonely. If you are not surrounded by girlfriends with their own little ones it can be difficult to figure out how to meet other moms. I found myself in this predicament when my first son was born and went the 'mom's group' route. And while I met many nice ladies, none that I had a lot in common with.  Read more...

Back to School Bargains

by Kim Mordecai

August 21, 2008

I love a bargain. I'm a sale shopper and if someone gives me a compliment on a piece of clothing I am one of those people who says, "Thanks! Macy's clearance - five bucks!" With back-to-school shopping upon us I've been dreading the hunt for bargains when I know I have to buy my boys new shoes, rain boots, snow boots, jackets, pants, shirts, socks, sweatshirts, etc. etc. I was contemplating  Read more...

Frolicking with the Fishes

by Kim Mordecai

August 19, 2008

If your little one is obsessed with Finding Nemo or The Little Mermaid than I have the outing for you. The Nimbus Fish Hatchery located in Gold River - right off the Hazel exit of highway 50 - is a great place to take kiddos to learn about fish and explore the natural world. The hatchery has a wide variety of salmon and trout in various stages of development in large concrete pens for viewing.  Read more...

Chess for kids!

by Kim Mordecai

August 15, 2008

Chess is one of those things that has seemed above and beyond what my brain could handle for the better part of my life. The people I have known that played chess were incredibly patient, generally intelligent and able to focus on one thing for a long period of time. While I believe I am fairly intelligent, patience and focus are not my strong suits so I managed to avoid the age-old game until,  Read more...

Fair Fun & Free!

by Kim Mordecai

August 13, 2008

Ok, I'm just going to come straight out and admit this: my kids have never been to the California State Fair. I know I know we live in the state's capitol and it's an event that people drive hours to attend - but the truth is it's just too darn expensive! And that's not just because money is tight everywhere these days. The last time I went to the fair I ate six pounds of deep fried food,  Read more...

Farm-fresh kids

by Kim Mordecai

August 08, 2008

Oddly enough, my kids love vegetables and won't touch fruit. Ok, that's not entirely true. One will eat grapes and the other will eat strawberries, but other than that they won't touch the stuff. I try to coax them by calling it 'nature's candy' which they simply don't buy. So the other day we were driving through Old Town Folsom and I noticed there was a farmer's market going on. The kids had  Read more...

Yo Ho Ho and a box of juice

by Kim Mordecai

August 07, 2008

There is something about being a bad guy. The allure of the evil-doer is something that seems to make its way into many little boys hearts - and pirates are a timeless favorite. The fiendish laugh, the buried treasure, the eye-patch hiding the gruesome battle wounds - who wouldn't want a pirate's life? Ok, maybe not you or I, but if you are a young kid - often a boy - you would whole-heartedly  Read more...

Yo Ho Ho and a Box of Juice!

by Kim Mordecai

August 07, 2008

There is something about being a bad guy. The allure of the evil-doer is something that seems to make its way into many little boys hearts - and pirates are a timeless favorite. The fiendish laugh, the buried treasure, the eye-patch hiding the gruesome battle wounds - who wouldn't want a pirate's life? Ok, maybe not you or I, but if you are a young kid - often a boy - you would whole-heartedly  Read more...

Free Movies!

by Kim Mordecai

July 30, 2008

I took my kids to summer preschool in my pj's this morning. I did, and it gets worse. They were old funky pj bottoms, orange with pink stripes and there is a tear in the butt and then there was the sweatshirt covered in cat hair and... well you get the picture. I'll just say that it wasn't pretty and that I am a bit burned out on the flexibility of summer and I'm looking for a little structure  Read more...