“Free kids Workshops at The Home Depot on the first Saturday of each month offer fun and useful projects like building toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, birdhouses, Mother’s Day gifts, or any number of other cool projects.” – The Home Depot Website

“The free kids Workshops at The Home Depot are great for 5- to 12-year-olds, and they teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety and at the same time they help to instill a sense of accomplishment.” – The Home Depot Website Free kids Workshops at The Home Depot are a great opportunity to help your child explore the use of tools like hammers and nails as well as paint their creation using their own imagination and style.

On this particular Saturday, we built a desk calendar, the kind that are made of wood that you would manyally turn the numbered block to the correct number to match the date. The kids, all month, have been turning the numbers each day to keep track of the date themselves. They really enjoy knowing what day of the month it is.

Now, my daughter is 5 years-old and my son is 3 years-old and the free kids Workshops at The Home Depot are designed for kids between the ages of 5-12 years-old. However, with my help, my son had a wonderful time. I did all the hammering and he did all of the painting. He really likes red, so he painted his desk calendar pieces to his heart’s content. However, he missed a few spots, so I helped him fill them in. My daughter chose pink and purple. Together, their craft/workshop creations turned out better than we could have hoped.

Note: The Home Depot staff provide snacks and drinks to the little ones who attend and quantities are limited in both the craft itself and the snacks/drinks, so it is best to arrive near the start time if you hope to participate in that month’s workshop or you can sign up online. Please be sure to take a look at this blog post to learn more.

Overall, our kids have never had a bad experience at one of these free kids Workshops at The Home Depot and you are sure to have a amazing experience when you attend.

We also want to mention that Lowe’s Home Improvement store also hosts a similar event that is free for kids to attend, but they are intermittent in their choice of dates. We will follow up with a post about their free kids workshops in the future, so don’t forget to check back later for a post about the Lowe’s workshops.

» Check out these Kids Workshop videos on YouTube «

Where: The Home Depot.

What: Free kids Workshops at The Home Depot.

When: The first Saturday of the month.Need to know: Kids Workshops are designed for 5-12 year-old children with adult supervision. The Home Depot can be dangerous for unsupervised kids, so please look out for them at all times while you are in the store with them.

Extra Extra: These Kids Workshops at The Home Depot are free to the public and you can often come without preregistering. You can get free snacks and drinks while attending free kids Workshops at The Home Depot and supplies like aprons for your kids to wear, kid-sized hammers, etc. are available throughout the project, so if there is paint, the aprons can protect your kids’ clothes; mostly. However, unlike the Lowe’s workshops, The Home Depot does not supply safety goggles, so if you have some at home, please bring them with you or purchase some inside the store.

Also, check The Home Depot blog for more ideas on arts and crafts to do with your kids.

Website/Contact Information: HomeDepot.com/workshops.

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Apples, pumpkins, crafts, train rides, food and fun… All a part of the experience at Apple Hill.

This year, my family and I once again returned to Apple Hill. Our experience this year on October 12, 2013, was exceptional as always. During this visit, we visited Cardanini’s Pumpkin Patch (#42), Rainbow Orchards (#10) and El Dorado Orchards (#19). During this trip in particular, my children were finally at a great age to go out in the field and pick out a pumpkin on their own and boy, did they enjoy it.

Cardanini’s Pumpkin Patch (#42)

Cardanini’s Pumpkin Patch is a very quaint pumpkin patch conveniently located near one of Apple Hill’s busiest and well visited stops, High Hill Ranch (#1). It is actually right next door to it and their hay ride passes right through this location. While we were there, as it was our first stop, but also nearly lunch time, we grabbed a quick bite to eat. I had a delicious Tri-Tip sandwich and my wife and kids enjoyed a hot dog each.

When we finished our quick and relatively inexpensive meal, we ventured out into the pumpkin patch. This pumpkin patch still had every pumpkin on the vine and they were all ready to pick off the vine. When you first enter, you can ask for a pair of pruners to cut the pumpkin off of the vine. With our tool to cut the pumpkin off of the vine we found five very ample sized pumpkins to bring home.

While I paid for the pumpkins (a total of $20; I was blown away by the price by the way), the kids ventured through the corn maze (that was free for visitors to navigate through). They had a great time.

If you’re looking for something you haven’t tried yet at Apple Hill or if you’re looking for great people, pumpkins and inexpensive food for Apple Hill, this is the place to stop.

Rainbow Orchards (#10)

Next, we decided to take a drive to Rainbow Orchards. Now that we had our pumpkins in our car and mission the rest of the day was to relax, enjoy the sites and just experience the day. Rainbow Orchards is very well known for their “HOT apple cider DONUTS”. The line for getting some donuts wrapped around their barn/store area. They are very high in demand and well worth the wait. I would highly recommend a stop here just for the donuts.

While we were there, my daughter sat down to get her face painted. She chose a rainbow with a star. It looked very cute on her. She refused to wash her face for the rest of the day and she even made a deal to sleep overnight before she would wash her face paint off. We obliged, being the parents we are, we didn’t want to take away any of her happiness made during that day.

Being in the mid-high 70’s that day, temperature-wise, before we left, we grabbed some mini apple cider cartons. They were the perfect size to quickly quench your thirst as well as the size perfect for a kid to enjoy. It was very tasty.

El Dorado Orchards (#19)

Our final stop of the day was El Dorado Orchards. We stopped because they have a kid-size train to ride and our kids absolutely love train rides. In fact, we took them on The Polar Express last year; that’s how much they love train rides. Once we took a ride on the train, we again grabbed another snack. We had some nachos, a soda and chips to keep the kids’ hunger at bay for the ride home. While we were at this location I spotted something out of the corner of my eye.

It was a Nevada Wolf Pack sign. Richard Hight of Battle Born Metal Works, a Reno, NV resident, was selling some sports signs made out of metal. Each colored to represent the team. He had signs for the Wolf Pack, the Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco 49ers and many more. He practically had every major sports team including the Nevada Wolf Pack. I just had to pick up the vintage Wolfie Nevada Wolf Pack logo sign. From what I hear from my contacts at Silver and Blue Outfitters, Richard is working on getting licensed by the NCAA and University of Nevada to sell them professionally, but for now, they are just a craft item that you can pick up just like many other craft items for sale at just about every location in Apple Hill. I must say that Battle Born Metal Works make quality merchandise and I would gladly buy another one should I run into him again in the future at a local craft show in the area.

Before we left, we were going to make an obligatory stop at Boa Vista Orchards (#3), but as luck would have it, El Dorado Orchards was selling Boa Vista Orchards Apple Cider right there on the premises. That just made my day. That Apple Hill growers were working together to make it convenient for the consumer, is just one example of the high quality, friendliness and experience you can expect during a trip at Apple Hill.

Even though we could only make one trip this year to Apple Hill, it was, like always a trip to remember. Our kids really enjoyed the day away from Reno and my eyes, sprit and demeanor always perk up when I get to visit one of my favorite places on Earth.

If you haven’t been to Apple Hill yet, you should definitely make the trip anytime from September through December. It is an experience to remember.

Let us know what you think

What’s your favorite stop at Apple Hill and why? We would love to hear your thoughts.

“Only you can prevent forest fires wildfires.”

Right now, the Reno and Sparks area in Northern Nevada is besieged by an influx of smoke and hazy skies. It’s enough to make a grown man cough and wheeze. The American, Rim, and the fire out in Red Rock are converging to make both our outdoor air quality and indoor air quality less than ideal. These conditions got me thinking about PSAs from yesteryear and what we did to pitch in to help prevent wildfires and forest fires.

The first image that popped into mind was good old Smokey the Bear. Did you know that Smokey the Bear has his own app on the iTunes App Store and Android Marketplace? Smokey Bear mobile has a lot to offer; from campfire safety tips to Smokey the Bear wallpapers for your mobile phone.

“Get Your Smokey On. With Smokey Bear’s official iPhone app you’ll see step by step how to properly build and put out a campfire. Smokey Bear’s campfire safety guide will help keep you, and others, safe when cooking and camping outdoors. You’ll also have access to exclusive Smokey content and get easy access to all Smokey’s social media networks including his YouTube channel, Twitter account and Facebook page.” – iTunes App Store page

“Since his ‘birth’ on August 9, 1944, Smokey Bear [is] a recognized symbol of conservation and protection of America’s forests. His message about wildfire prevention [helps] to reduce the number of acres burned annually by wildfires, from about 22 million (1944) to an average of 6.5 million today. Although progress has been made, wildfire prevention remains one of the most critical environmental issues affecting our country. Many Americans believe that lightning starts most wildfires. In fact, on average, 9 out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by people. The principal causes are campfires left unattended, trash burning on windy days, arson, careless discarding of smoking materials or BBQ coals, and operating equipment without spark arrestors.” – PR Newswire

This app has more! Not only can you learn something by downloading this app, but you can also download classic Smokey the Bear posters to use as wallpapers on your phone and you can connect to Smokey the Bear’s various social media links and watch his world renown and often celebrated PSAs.

So, please remember, “only you can prevent wildfires.”

Where: The App Store and Android Marketplace.

What: Smokey Bear Mobile.

Need to know: This app has campfire safety tips, downloadable wallpapers and links to Smokey the Bear’s social media profiles.

Extra Extra: Get up-to-the-minute information about current wildfires throughout the country by viewing the “Current Wildfires” tab in the app.

Website/Contact Information: www.smokeybearmobile.com

Developed by Animax Entertainment in partnership with The Ad Council along with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

Here’s a trailer for the app:

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The Nut Tree Plaza is a nice pit stop off I-80 in Vacaville, CA for parents and kids alike to play and have fun.

Traveling to Northern California, my entire life, to visit family was a pretty regular thing. As a child, I remember stopping in Vacaville, CA to visit The Nut Tree and ride the train. At the time, Vacaville was truly a cow town until the Vacaville Premium Outlets were built. Sadly, in the late 1990’s, The Nut Tree closed until it was recently rebuilt as a shopping area. Located right off Interstate 80, The Nut Tree started as a roadside fruit stand and has since grown into a massive complex that includes a small airport.

Recently, my Nana (my grandmother on my mom’s side) and Mom mentioned to me that The Nut Tree had reopened and I knew, on our next trip to the Bay Area, we would need to make a stop; probably more so because of the memories I had as a child myself.

I was excited to find the kids area to be so well thought out. I think it’s a brilliant move on the architects of The Nut Tree’s part to mix shopping, a kids fun area, and eating; all in one place.

It’s the new and improved Nut Tree! Keeping some of the classic Nut Tree items, such as the rocking horses, life size giraffe statue, classic train and carousel and adding some new favorites such as a life-sized Checkerboard and Chess set all made for an amazing adventure with the kids. The Nut Tree Kiddie Area also includes mechanical rides that cost a quarter, all just steps away from Fenton’s Famous Ice Cream Parlor and a retail store of the Jelly Belly Factory (view our article about the Jelly Belly factory).

The kids were beyond excited and we even wound up stopping there a second time on our trip. The prices for the rides are affordable and the staff was incredibly friendly, even when the almost two year-old had a two year-old tantrum. We had lunch and ice cream at Fenton’s, which was incredibly yummy.

I highly recommend a stop on your way to the bay next time you find yourself in Nor Cal.

Have you been to The Nut Tree since it was rebuilt? What was your experience? Please share your thoughts. We’d love to hear how your visit was.

Where: Head west on I-80 towards San Francisco. Take the Nut Tree Exit in Vacaville, CA about 3-3.5 hours from Reno

What: Shopping, Food and Fun!

Need to know: The Carousel and Train are $2 per child. Kids under two get the first ride on each for free. For children under 42″ a parent is required to ride with them. Check out their website for more details about price and rules.

Extra Extra: Check out the Vacaville Premium Outlets while you are there, there is a playground for kids just outside the Restoration Hardware Kids Outlet.

Website/Contact Information: www.nuttreeusa.com/#/Play/

Slip yourself a Gar Woods Wet Woody and forget the worries of the day while relaxing and peering out onto Lake Tahoe.

Take a drive up to Lake Tahoe for a lovely lunch on the patio at this wonderful restaurant bar and grill. Have the beautiful blue waters of Lake Tahoe shimmering behind you as you sip on a “Wet Woody“. This restaurant is a favorite of Northern Nevadans and Northern Californians alike.

This restaurant is one of the few restaurants with seating on the water in Lake Tahoe and one of the only to have a boat dock for boaters dock their boat. It’s a nice luxury if you happen to have a boat to cruise Lake Tahoe.

Gar Woods is known for the Wet Woody, which is a rum cocktail. There is a traditional Wet Woody, but they offer an extensive menu of signature cocktails, including about 20 different kinds of “Wet Woodies”.

Gar Woods is an excellent lunch option with the girls, a nice Summer date night with your hubby, a banquet or event a wedding reception. With picturesque views and great food and drink, you can’t go wrong at Gar Woods.

Where: Carnelian Bay (North Lake Tahoe)

What: Yummy drinks and food, great for date night or lunch with the girls.

Need to know: You can book a table using a website called “Open Table” (also available as an app on iPhone and Android)

Extra Extra: check out the live webcam on their website to see Tahoe anytime you want to http://www.garwoods.com/webcam.html

Website/Contact Information: www.GarWoods.com Gar Woods Grill & Pier, 5000 North Lake Boulevard, Carnelian Bay, California 96140, tel. 530.546.3366