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11/16: Collect Chestnuts 🌰 + Taste Chestnut Honey 🐝🍯! Golden 🍂 Fall Leaves, Stunning Lake Hike + Pizza Dinner 💦🥾 (La Honda Area)

from $0.00

📅 SUNDAY, NOV. 16 • ⏰ 1:30 PM — 4:30 PM • 📍 La Honda Area

We'll discover an historic chestnut orchard 🌰🌳, learning about its history and tasting chestnut honey 🐝🍯! Afterward, we will go on an easy 1-mile hike around a serene lake with a pretty flat path where we’ll likely encounter a gaggle of geese or a raft of ducks and kids can climb a more than century-old oak tree!

Finally, for those who are interested, we'll grab an early dinner at Alice's Restaurant. I'm reaching out to see if they can offer us a special, quick menu.

To get an idea of drive time, map to here (this is not the actual meeting point):https://maps.app.goo.gl/NckKQgSMagqABeu5A

WHAT TO EXPECT:

🌰🌳🐝 HISTORIC CHESTNUT ORCHARD: Discover a more than 100-year-old rare chestnut orchard! Rare because the American Chestnut was decimated by blight in the 1800s but this grove was protected due to its isolation! The fall leaves are a GORGEOUS GOLDEN so if you’re looking for fall leaves in the evergreen Bay Area, this is it!!! If the owner is available, he will give us a tour, but he will only know closer to the day if he can do this (he has in years past but every year is different).

🌰🍯🌰🍯🌰🍯 CHESTNUTS: Learn how to unearth chestnuts from their burrs and to sort them. You'll get to taste delicious chestnut honey and will likely get to sample a raw or roasted chestnut. Plus, you’ll leave with a recipe for roasting what are known as brown diamonds and maybe some chestnut honey or a roasting pan, if you opt to buy.

🍂🍃🍂🍃 FALL LEAVES FIX: Your kids (and you!) can run through piles of golden chestnut leaves! Get your fall "leaf" fix here!

💦🪿🌳 LAKE HIKE, DUCKS, GEESE + OLD OAKS: We will go on a 1.1-mile hike around a serene lake with a pretty flat path that is scooter- and bike-friendly for the kiddos. Along the way, we’ll likely run into a gaggle of geese or a raft of ducks (yes, that’s what a group of ducks is called!), plus the kids will get to run over wooden bridges and climb a more than 100-year-old oak tree!

🍕🍟🥗 PIZZA, PIZZA (SALAD + FRIES, TOO): We'll grab an early dinner at iconic Alice's Restaurant (I'm reaching out to see if they can offer us a special, quick menu)

🔍 SCAVENGER HUNT: Embark on a fun scavenger hunt around this historic area in the Santa Cruz Mountains

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!

Pricing Types:

📅 SUNDAY, NOV. 16 • ⏰ 1:30 PM — 4:30 PM • 📍 La Honda Area

We'll discover an historic chestnut orchard 🌰🌳, learning about its history and tasting chestnut honey 🐝🍯! Afterward, we will go on an easy 1-mile hike around a serene lake with a pretty flat path where we’ll likely encounter a gaggle of geese or a raft of ducks and kids can climb a more than century-old oak tree!

Finally, for those who are interested, we'll grab an early dinner at Alice's Restaurant. I'm reaching out to see if they can offer us a special, quick menu.

To get an idea of drive time, map to here (this is not the actual meeting point):https://maps.app.goo.gl/NckKQgSMagqABeu5A

WHAT TO EXPECT:

🌰🌳🐝 HISTORIC CHESTNUT ORCHARD: Discover a more than 100-year-old rare chestnut orchard! Rare because the American Chestnut was decimated by blight in the 1800s but this grove was protected due to its isolation! The fall leaves are a GORGEOUS GOLDEN so if you’re looking for fall leaves in the evergreen Bay Area, this is it!!! If the owner is available, he will give us a tour, but he will only know closer to the day if he can do this (he has in years past but every year is different).

🌰🍯🌰🍯🌰🍯 CHESTNUTS: Learn how to unearth chestnuts from their burrs and to sort them. You'll get to taste delicious chestnut honey and will likely get to sample a raw or roasted chestnut. Plus, you’ll leave with a recipe for roasting what are known as brown diamonds and maybe some chestnut honey or a roasting pan, if you opt to buy.

🍂🍃🍂🍃 FALL LEAVES FIX: Your kids (and you!) can run through piles of golden chestnut leaves! Get your fall "leaf" fix here!

💦🪿🌳 LAKE HIKE, DUCKS, GEESE + OLD OAKS: We will go on a 1.1-mile hike around a serene lake with a pretty flat path that is scooter- and bike-friendly for the kiddos. Along the way, we’ll likely run into a gaggle of geese or a raft of ducks (yes, that’s what a group of ducks is called!), plus the kids will get to run over wooden bridges and climb a more than 100-year-old oak tree!

🍕🍟🥗 PIZZA, PIZZA (SALAD + FRIES, TOO): We'll grab an early dinner at iconic Alice's Restaurant (I'm reaching out to see if they can offer us a special, quick menu)

🔍 SCAVENGER HUNT: Embark on a fun scavenger hunt around this historic area in the Santa Cruz Mountains

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!

  • CHESTNUT ORCHARD

    EASY, short walk from parking. Jogging strollers can be used. 

    HIKE
    EASY    , 1.5 miles hike. Kids can bring scooters/bikes. Part gravel path, part dirt. Jogging strollers are best. There is some small uphills plus the path narrows for a short distance making it a bit challenging, but not impossible, with jogging strollers.

  • Sunday, 1:30 PM: Meet at the parking lot and head over to the grove. Explore grove, collect chestnuts, taste honey, sort chestnuts + pay.

    2:30 PM: Drive a few minutes to short lake hike nearby. Have snack before embarking upon hike at

    2:55 PM: Leave on hike

    3:30 PM: Stop at giant oak tree for another snack and to play on trees

    4:15 PM: Back at parking lot, head over to Alice’s for pizza

  • To get an idea of drive time, map to here (this is not the actual meeting point): https://maps.app.goo.gl/NckKQgSMagqABeu5A

  • HOW TO BOOK:

    1. Add this adventure to your cart and check out

    2. Join the WhatsApp chat: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ihl8dg87pAqH2cM8rpeUmK

    3. Use a pass: https://bit.ly/useapass

    4. Complete loaner kit request form: https://bit.ly/loanerkit

  • *FAS fee: $54/drop-in pass for single-income family; $64/drop-in pass per family or $220 for a passbook** of four adventures: https://bit.ly/buypassbook

    *PASSBOOKS EXPIRE 6 MONTHS after purchase: https://bit.ly/buypassbook

    *One pass covers a family, meaning parents and children (you can bring an extra person on your pass, but 2 extra people will need to buy their own pass).

    *After 2 kids, $10 charge for each additional child to cover treats + educational materials.

    *LATE FEE: Please sign up by Sunday, Nov. 9, 10 p.m., or a $10 late fee will be charged.
    *Outings are not refundable. A one-time credit transfer to another outing — to be used within three months — is possible; the credit expires within three months, please DM Miranda

    *Full payment must be made to secure your spot (we don't take cash; only digital payment — see options in "how to book" section below).

    *Spots are LIMITED and the only way to hold your place is by adding this outing to your cart and checking out!

  • Last year, Alice's Restaurant, which is near the hike + orchard, allowed FAS to pre-order pizza and fries for the kids. We're checking to see if they will allow us to pre-order cheese pizzas and fries this year, and are collecting orders so we're ready to go if they give us the green light.

    https://forms.gle/cHsNtn7ugeSJBCDj9

  • WHAT'S INCLUDED

    • Guided adventure, scavenger hunt and educational activities

    • Digital guide that will make this event EASY for you and your family! (Natural + cultural history, plus lunch + coffee stops + more)

    • In-person guided outing

    • All logistics

    • Adventure checklist (what you need to bring)

    • Treat for the kids

    • Arts + crafts activity

    You’ll also get access to:

    • First-aid kit

    • Loaner kit of hiking gear (48-hour notice). Please inquire about what gear is available; I have items for kids and adults, like single/double jogging strollers, Baby Bjorn infant carrier, toddler backpack carrier, hiking poles, etc.

  • *Food (you pay for Alice’s beforehand via Zelle)

  • EVERY 10TH: For every 10th family who signs up for this outing, we can welcome a family for free. This is geared toward low income families. We don't check income; this is an honor system. If you want to join under the EVERY 10TH program, please write EVERY 10TH in the payment section. When deciding, we will give priority (among other factors) to those who have never joined an outing to ensure that everyone gets a chance to attend.