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| Lake Anza |
"You can get lost in Tilden Park," I sometimes tell folks, and their eyebrows always get crazy, one up, one down. I was last in Tilden Park in my early college days, and I was lost all night long. Go ahead, laugh. I was with a group of friends, packing j's and beer, probably. We left the trail to climb a hill and stargaze. Of course we went wandering. We ended up walking for hours. We had no sense of direction. Where the hell was Berkeley? Then there was an enormous explosion, lighting up the sky, but *that* is another story. Suffice to say, Tilden Park is long and deep, and mysterious.
Back to Hill Babies. My momma friends, their toddlers, my toddler, and I planned to visit Lake Anza for a swim and picnic first, perhaps a walkabout. Then Little Farm, a kid-lovin' wonderland where you're encouraged to feel celery and lettuce to the animals (think big brown cows, curly-horned sheep, baby pigs, ducks, bunnies, chickens, goats).
Lo and behold, the East Bay had sunshine, cloudless skies, and a brisk wind. Babies don't mind. They made a bee-line to the water's edge, those tiny aquatic monkeys, those baby humans. Itchy-snail larvae be-damned! (Yes. *Sigh* There was a sign we noticed later about "swimmer's itch" caused by tiny snails in Lake Anza--but no worries, nobody got it.)
One of my friends thought to bring celery, which certainly heightened the positive experience of Little Farm. It's interesting to note that toddlers who had pet dogs were much more at ease with the cows, for instance, compared to my daughter who loves a cow in a book, but tried to burrow into my neck at Little Farm when faced with the real deal.
Happy travels, and know that if you get lost, don't worry--eventually you'll end up in Berzerkley.
From Tilden Park's Official Website
Address: Entrances off Wildcat Canyon Road and Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley, CA
LAKE ANZA 1 (888) 327-2757 option 3, ext. 4563 | Note: Facility is closed from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. for maintenance and training purposes. Patrons who enter earlier than 9 a.m. must leave during this period and re-enter after 11 a.m. Lifeguards and entry fees weekends only through Sept 25 11a.m. – 6 p.m. (also open weekdays with no lifeguards or fees) Sept. 26 – Oct. 31 open daily, no lifeguards or fees WHEN LIFEGUARDS ARE NOT ON DUTY, SWIMMING AT YOUR OWN RISK PERMITTED IN ROPED-OFF AREA ONLY. Swim area closes for winter November 1st. | Free: 1 yr. under $2.50 1-15 yrs. $3.50 16-61yrs. |
LITTLE FARM (510) 544-2233 | Open Daily 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | No charge |
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