Family Fun Day at Big Trees State Park

We live only a few miles from Big Trees State Park, home of some of the largest trees in the world, the Sequoias or Giant Redwoods.

Each year they have a Family Day full of activities for everyone.  As long as I have lived here I have never gone.  There was always something else going on. This year I was determined to go and I took the nephews. 

First off we went on a wagon ride, this wagon frame is from the 1800s, found in an old barn buried behind stuff.  The lady hanging on the end of the wagon that is only partially shown and her husband built the box we sat in to be as authentic as possible to match the frame.

The view of the horses patiently pulling another wagon load.

Yep, it is family day at the park.  The boys are ready to go!

First off they had to pose by the bear quilt.  I don’t know why but it is a pretty quilt.

Then we looked at the lizards and snakes on display, they even let the boys hold them.  Jackson was game but Cayden would only pet him with one finger.  That is brave for him.

Then we met Smokey the Bear and heard his tale.  The kids all learned not to play with matches, lighters or fire.

Next, on to the ice cream.  We tend to wear as much as we eat. 

See the spots…that is rain drops, we got rained on a bit, not enough to be a bother.  Under the trees stayed relatively dry, only the open sky areas got very wet.

There was a lovely orchestra that played, people gathered round and sat to listen.  It was near the Discovery Tree.

The Discovery Tree that was first found by a gold miner hunting a grizzly bear.

Mom had showed up by now and escorted the boys up on the stump of the tree, that way no one plunges to the ground. 

We colored leaves…

then painted on them

Jackson had his face painted. 

He wanted a Dragon but settled for a Dragonfly.

There was a booth the boys could decorate visors to wear.  Benjamin was not so sure about the one Auntie Pam made him.

Really, this is just the face he gave me when I told him I was going to smooch on his face. 

Time to practice our lumberjack skills.

pretending to drive the old forest service truck…

Bowling on an old wooden outdoor bowling alley.

Well, boys are getting tired, time to head home.  We had a fun day.  We missed the wild critter show but they were late.

You can see the wet spot on the pavement where the rain fell. 

My husband and I need to go back and walk the South Grove, it is a lovely hike thru some of the largest trees in the park and it has been awhile since we enjoyed them. 

We were surprised to see some of the leaves were already beginning to turn red on the Dogwood trees.  Can Fall really be so close??

Good night..