In 2025, we attended Fleet Week in San Francisco for the first time, and we decided to go with Family Adventure Squad.
A harbor seal for new energy
My almost 4-year-old walked all the way from the parking lot to the meeting point and enjoyed the introductions while playing with the plane that Miranda so thoughtfully gifted the kids.
Then we headed out on the hike, and my daughter merrily walked the whole distance through the tunnel to see the Golden Gate Bridge from among the cypress trees, then down a long flight of stairs, across the road and all the way to Fort Point! It was a warmer day and we had the stroller with us, in anticipation of her getting tired. But we spotted a harbor seal bobbing in the water close to the railing near Fort Point, and she found new energy to watch the tiny grey animal as she squealed in joy and laughter!
The Blue Angels did not fly in 2025, but we got to watch the Canadian Snowbirds. It being our first ever Fleet Week show, we squatted on our picnic mat and watched in awe as the planes made swirls in the air, which she identified as "shapes the planes made in the sky"!
Mermaid tails and sand food
Then she walked all the way back to the beach, took part in the Diwali activities and played in the sand. As the group slowly left, she continued to play with Miranda's daughter and one more kiddo whom she had met on a previous hike in June 2025.
The three girls made sand mermaid tails for themselves and decorated them with tidbits they found in the sand. Then, as the parents went to get the cars, I stayed back to watch the three girls. They made up a menu using a brochure they found somewhere and cooked me some pretend sand food, taking turns, in perfect sync! The play continued well into dusk, and then it was time to leave.
Finding trail friends
I looked at the tracker, and our little girl had walked close to 2.5 miles, her longest so far, skipped her nap and played all day long with buddies whom she now calls her hiking friends. As I watched the girls playing that day, I was amazed by their imagination and creativity and the perfect rhythm they had found to play together, even though they had met only once before.
Next time you join us on an outing, introduce yourselves and tell your kids about the other kids joining. You never know, they might find their trail friends out there!
— Pranali Lad, Family Adventure Squad member