Cameron Park Lake Swimming Lagoon

I was really excited when I first heard about this place: a lifeguarded lake in our area! Sort of. Cameron Park is actually a bit of a hike--figure on about 1 hour 15 minutes up to 1 hour 30 depending on where you live and which way you go.

Now the reason I like lifeguarded swimming areas is because I have four small children, and though I am very diligent about watching them in the water I also know that human error is something that can't always be avoided. I don't like to take even small risks with my kids' lives, so I like to have those lifeguards as backups just in case human error happens to me.

Specs Type: Swimming, Distance: Short Drive Area: Cameron Park Ages: All Ages Cost: $ Address: 2989 Cambridge Road, Cameron Park Information: www.cameronpark.org

As far as I know we don't have any lifeguarded beaches up here in our area (but someone please tell me if I'm wrong!) So I thought it would be worth the drive to let the kids swim in a lake with those extra safety measures in place.

Unfortunately I wasn't impressed enough with the Cameron Park Lake Swimming Lagoon that I feel like I can recommend it to Grass Valley residents. It's a long drive, and the shortest route is on that windy part of Highway 49 (the one that goes through Cool and towards Placerville). And the lagoon was disappointingly small, murky and had some litter floating in it--not a lot, but enough to be gross. Also there were some aggressive geese stalking the picnic area, which kind of freaked my kids out.

The lifeguards were nice to have, though, and the lagoon itself is very shallow up to and a little beyond the buoy line. Past the buoy line, though, the lagoon is about 9 1/2 feet deep and you can't see the bottom--even with the lifeguards there that's a little scary, especially when you've got kids who aren't great swimmers but are lured by the temptation to cross that forbidden buoy line (which the lifeguards do allow, though I wasn't much in favor of the idea).

You'd have to be in the Cameron Park area for some other reason before I'd recommend you going here, though it was nice, pretty quiet and had lots of shade. It's mainly the distance that put me off, and just a few of the details. But personally, I think I'd rather go to Long Ravine and just keep the kids in their life jackets.

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Roseville Aquatics Complex

There are a few of these water complexes in our area, which can be categorized somewhere between a public swimming pool (like Memorial Park Pool) and an expensive water park (Sunsplash comes to mind).

All of these places are great if you're looking for something a little more interesting than a basic pool but not as pricey as a water park. The Roseville Aquatics Complex is definitely a good option, but there are a couple of reasons why I don't recommend it for Grass Valley residents over Gauche Aquatics Center, which is in Yuba City.

Specs Type: Swimming, Distance: Short Drive Area: Roseville Ages: All Ages Cost: $ Address: 3051 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd, Roseville Information: www.roseville.ca.us

First, it's a longer drive. But that may not bother you, especially if you're going to be in the Roseville area anyway. Second, the spray pool isn't very good. Now if you have older kids you may not care about the spray pool, so that's something to keep in mind. But little ones like the spray features and the smaller water slides since the large ones are generally closed to anyone less than 48 inches tall. RAC's spray pool is small, has limited spray features and only one slide--and there isn't even any water going down it.

RAC does have a couple of things going for it though: they have a big water slide (though Gauche does, too) and they have a very large, shallow pool with a beach entrance. This is really nice for sort of medium-sized kids, who may not be terrific swimmers but aren't really interested in the spray pool. RAC also has free life-vest usage when those little ones get tired or for kids who aren't strong swimmers.

Don't misunderstand me, this is a great, inexpensive aquatics complex and if you're in the Roseville area it's probably the one to pick. But if you're going to be a little further out, choose the Folsom Aquatic Center instead, which has a superior spray pool. Or if you're taking a trip from Grass Valley just to visit an aquatics center, choose Gauche, which is closer and has plenty on site to satisfy every kid in your family--and you, too.

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Turtle Bay Exploration Park

We've done Turtle Bay as a day trip, but to get the most out of your visit you might want to plan a weekend away and combine Turtle Bay with a visit to Shasta Caverns, also in the Redding area. Or make it three or four days and spend some time on Lake Shasta, too.

Turtle Bay is a pretty good sized complex that features permanent and traveling exhibitions. This was a home for the "Art of the Brick" Lego exhibit as well as "Grossology," both of which were worth the drive.

Specs Type: Museums Distance: Day trip Area: Redding Ages: All Ages Cost: $ Address: 844 Sundial Bridge Dr, Redding Information: www.turtlebay.org

Animal exhibits, intricate bonsai displays and a butterfly garden have also been on display here. Permanent exhibits include the Paul Bunyan Forest Camp, which is an educational center modeled after an old-time forest camp. There's also a botanical gardens and a small collection of resident animals, which includes a porcupine, a vulture and a desert tortoise. And of course there's the 700 foot Sundial Bridge, which crosses the Sacramento River and links Turtle Bay's north and south campuses.

You could easily spend a whole day here, depending on what exhibits are on display at the time of your visit. Make sure you check their website for the details before you go, and plan your visit accordingly.

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The East Bay Vivarium

Like the more semi-local Serpentarium, the East Bay Vivarium is a shop for reptile enthusiasts. They have a lot of really amazing animals here, and unlike the Serpentarium, there is no entrance fee. This shop bills itself for what it is: a pet store, where you can buy anything from a Colombian Giant Tarantula to an Angolan Python. They don't have the feeding "experiences" like they do at the Serpentarium, but you may be able to hold or pet a snake or other reptile even if you aren't looking to buy.

We got our ball python at EBV, even though you can buy that type of snake locally. We were originally looking for a particular species of boa but changed our minds while speaking to an EBV employee, who was very calmly holding one of the boas we thought we wanted as it repeatedly and savagely bit him all over his hand. So for entertainment value, well, points.

Specs Type: Animals Distance: Road Trip Area: Berkeley Ages: All Ages Cost: Free Address: 1827-C 5th St, Berkeley Information: www.eastbayvivarium.com

The East Bay Vivarium is one of the largest reptile shops in the US, so if you're in the Berkeley area and you have kids who are like snakes, spiders and other creepy-crawlies it is worth stopping by. Don't plan your whole day around this one shop, though, unless you are looking to purchase a pet for your family. In that case, you won't find a better selection than (or even one that is remotely equal to) the selection you'll find at EBV. Combined with another attraction in Berkeley or on the road between here and there, the East Bay Vivarium is definitely worth a stop.

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King's Beach

Do you think you can't make it to the beach on a day trip? You can! Sort of. It's not the ocean, but King's Beach at North Lake Tahoe is about as close as you'll come in a single day.

Lake Tahoe is a cold lake so wait until late in the summer to visit King's Beach if you plan to swim. Bring your floaties, sand toys and a big umbrella since the sun can be pretty fierce. This is a great place for a lakeside picnic and a day in the sun.

Specs Type: Swimming, Water Sports, Recreation Distance: Short Drive Area: Lake Tahoe Ages: All Ages Cost: Free to $$ Address: North Lake Boulevard, Kings Beach Information: www.gotahoenorth.com

Your trip to King's Beach can be as cheap or as expensive as you like--besides basking in the sun for free, you can also rent watercraft. Kayaks, jet skis and water bike paddle boats are available by the hour right on the beach. Or just watch the parasaliers and save yourself some cash. There's a play structure, too, in case your kids get tired of all that sand and water.

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Old Faithful Geyser of Californa

(Unreviewed) Hey did you know you don't have to go all the way to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful? California has an Old Faithful of its very own!

Now I can't personally say anything about this place but I gather from some of the reviews I've read elsewhere that at $14 a person it's pretty expensive for what it is. The geyser itself is located in a shallow pool of water, and it erupts once every 30 minutes or so. On site there is also a picnic area and a petting zoo, which features llamas, sheep and Tennessee Fainting Goats. And of course there's a snack bar and a gift shop, too. But is that enough to justify spending almost $60 for a family of four? You'll have to decide that for yourself.

Specs Type: Natural Landmarks Distance: Day Trip Area: Calistoga Ages: All Ages Cost: $$ Address: 1299 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga Information: www.oldfaithful geyser.com

Photo Credit: mattk1979

Old Faithful is in Calistoga, so if you enjoy wineries you can certainly combine a visit to the geyser with a trip to Castello di Amorosa, or to the Petrified Forest provided you don't want to take your poor, long-suffering children to a winery. Now it's probably not fair for me to say so since I haven't seen this geyser myself, but I don't think I'd plan a whole trip to Calistoga on this geyser alone. But I've been to Yellowstone's Old Faithful, too, and I think I'd just be afraid of being underwhelmed and overcharged.

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Top 10 places to take your grandparents in Grass Valley

Dylan's first grade teacher sent me this link, it's probably the custest thing I've seen all day! :)

The kindergarten class at Grass Valley Charter made this video of 10 places in Grass Valley to take your grandparents. It's about five minutes long, so cute and very informative, too! Hope you check it out:

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=aN6ushQiM7A&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DaN6ushQiM7A

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