I woke up this morning, poured myself some coffee, and got to work Making Up today’s adventure.
In the Bay Area, this is no easy task for the blurry eyed, indecisive among us. We’re lucky to have a lot going on around here, in every direction. But as the coffee worked its magic, the adventure unfolded.
Today’s Adventure:
– Rock City @ Mt. Diablo State Park
– Hap Magee Ranch Park
– Sideboard Cafe
– Street Sweets
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517
According to Jack this place gets “1,000 times all the thumbs up that exist in the world” it was so good. Full of huge rock formations with cutouts, caves, and amazing views, we all had fun scampering all over Rock City. It was super easy to get to, appropriate terrain for all ages, and just enough challenge here and there to keep the rock scaling interesting. We will return!
Hap Magee Ranch Park
Down the mountain we went, heading straight for Hap Magee Ranch Park. During my early morning planning, I had searched for other kid-friendly spots and found Hap Magee Ranch Park on Red Tricycle. A sparkling, movie-set-of-a-park in Danville, it boasted a water play area, cool wooden play structures and, to Jack’s delight, three different types of monkey bars. Overall, the park was not so cool that I would travel to Danville just to go, but definitely cool enough that I would make a pit stop whenever nearby. The kids both gave it double thumbs up.
Sideboard Cafe
http://sideboarddanville.com
Adventuring makes you hungry, so we hit up nearby Downtown Danville. This was an unplanned leg of the adventure so I hit up Yelp… Ike’s! That’s where I was headed for a gooey, delicious, mashed up pile of stuff in bread. Yet the mom voice in me said the kids wouldn’t be into it. UGH, the tension between selfishness and selflessness. But I was not going to Mountain Mike’s Pizza. Foot down. Instead we found a cool little cafe with good food and a patio called Sideboard where we sat on the patio and ate fried brussel sprouts (Yum!), Pulled Pork Sandwich (just ok), Hamburger (Jack: thumbs up), and Mac & Cheese (SOO good, like maybe all-time favorite kinda good).
Sweet Street
https://www.sweetstreet.com/
Seriously, I can’t believe I even got them to stand still long enough for this photo. Every inch of this place is filled with candy. I thought their heads were going to explode trying to pick. just. one. thing. They finally worked it out and landed on a couple of lollipops and we were headed home.
Thumbs up all around for today’s East Bay adventure.
fumbleweeds 
Got to love the hometown! My sister lives on Danville Blvd right by Hap Magee so we go there all the time with my niece. The little school house looking buildings can be rented out for parties and such. I’ve also seen weddings in the gazebo. Also, good call on Sideboard. It’s one of my favorites! On a nice night sitting outside is the best.