Trips coming up
Dated trips you can book now, soonest first. Booking several trips together? See the bundles for discounted pricing.
Rushing winter waterfalls, a fungi hunt, leopard-spotted banana slugs and the Ladybug Christmas Tree, on an easy, stroller-friendly trail.
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026, 10:30 a.m. — 12:45 p.m. • South Bay
Join us for a winter wonderland adventure where we'll explore rushing waterfalls, hunt for colorful mushrooms and leopard-spotted banana slugs, and search for clusters of ladybugs — we call this spot the Ladybug Christmas Tree! 🎄🐞
🥳 PART OF OUR WINTER WONDERS BUNDLE (for DROP-IN only, see info below) 🥳
Your whole winter season, planned for you and your family — with our signature outings! ❄️
We have so much FUN on these adventures — they sell out every year — so this season we're capping numbers and prioritizing families who choose the bundle option first. Grab all 3 day adventures in one go, and your family saves $30 compared to booking each one separately at today's rates.
While you can still do drop-ins per day trip, bundle families get priority booking and guaranteed spots across all 3 dates. Drop-in spots will be limited.
🌰 10/25 — Chestnut Collecting, Chestnut Honey Tasting, Golden Fall Leaves, Lake Hike + Optional Pizza Dinner (La Honda Area)
💦 12/13 — Winter Waterfall Wonderland, Ladybug Love, Leopard-Spotted Banana Slugs + Fungi Hunt (South Bay)
🐌 1/18 — MLK Day: Banana Slug Bonanza, 1,700-Year-Old Redwood + Ancient Ocean Rocks (Peninsula)
SIGN UP FOR THE BUNDLE HERE: https://www.familyadventuresquad.org/bundles/p/winter-wonders-family-adventure-bundle
FOR THE WINTER WATERFALL, HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT:
Winter waterfalls in full force 💦: This is a seriously special hike since there are so many gorgeous waterfalls! Beautiful backdrops for family photos and so fun to splash in (if you dare brave the cold!).
Funghi hunt 🍄: Try to find the turkey tail funghi growing along the logs! Winter is actually one of the best times for funghi spotting, and with all the rain we've had, they're popping up everywhere. There are quite a few other varieties as well, and we can have some fun learning the names of all of them!
Leopard spotted banana slugs 🟢: Perhaps you've seen a yellow banana slug, but have you seen a leopard-spotted GREEN banana slug?! The color of the slugs can vary depending on their diet and the amount of moisture in their environment, and the slugs in this area are rather strikingly different than their yellow cousins!
Ladybug Christmas Tree 🐞🎄: Can you find the ladybugs? When ladybugs gather here for the winter, they cluster on the branches like tiny red ornaments, which is why I call it the Ladybug Christmas Tree! Did you know that a group of ladybugs is called a "loveliness"? Just a heads-up: whether they show up depends on their migration, so we can't guarantee ladybugs this year, but this is an area where we've seen a lot of them in the past.
Rock climbing fun 🧗♀️: Got some adventurous climbers? There are some fun rock scrambling opportunities along the trail where the kiddos can test their climbing skills!
🔍 Scavenger Hunt: Your kids will embark on a fun scavenger hunt and get a non-edible treat!
👨👩👧👦 Meet Other Families: Connect with other adventurous families and enjoy the great outdoors together!
We look forward to welcoming you + your family on the trail!
A vintage train strung with lights, running through the canyon after dark. Open-air general seating, or a first-class dome or parlor car.
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 4:15 — 6:30 p.m.
Roll into the holiday season with this beloved Bay Area holiday event: the Niles Canyon Railway Holiday Train of Lights! These tickets are EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO BOOK, so for a third year in a row, we have CHARTERED THE ENTIRE TRAIN!
This year, we’ll welcome 10 adults and children for free under our EVERY 10th program. We will also have a roaming photographer on the train to capture your special holiday adventure into unforgettable memories!
About the outing, from the railway's website:
Enjoy a 1.5-hour-long round trip through Niles Canyon filled with refreshments, music, and cheer aboard our antique coaches and open cars that feature holiday lights and decorations inside and out.
Our antique coaches and our open cars are decorated for the season, inside and out, and we enjoy holiday music on our 90-minute trip. We have some open cars with roofs where you can enjoy some of the best views of the canyon as our train makes the 90-minute round trip to Sunol and back.
The train leaves from Niles/Fremont Station at 37029 Mission Boulevard, Fremont.
*If you have any questions about the charter, you can contact Donna Alexander at Niles Canyon Railway: 510-996-8420 or station-agent@ncry.org
NOTE: First class cars: Red seats in photos are the Parlor Car, Blue seats in photos are for the Dome Car (upper and lower level)
INCLUDED in your ticket:
— Special treats for each child
— A fun family scavenger hunt
— Art activity to take home
— Our digital guide to make your experience seamless and magical
— Guaranteed seats
— All logistics of getting a seat handled by us!
A front-row spot for the Blue Angels beside the Golden Gate, with tunnels and old cannons to explore and beach play after.
📅 SUNDAY, OCT. 11 • ⏰ 1:30 PM — 4:30 PM • 📍 San Francisco
✈️✈️✈️ 🌉🌉🌉🏖️🏖️🏖️ An INCREDIBLE AFTERNOON watching the Blue Angels while discovering a little-known tunnel, cannons, cannonballs, an old jail and more near the beach and the Golden Gate Bridge. I spoke to a park ranger who told me this is a SECRET GEM for watching the Blue Angels and for exploring in general!
If your kid loves bridges, tunnels, cannons and cannonballs, jet planes, beaches and exploring, there is no better outing for them!!! Adults will love it, too! I couldn't believe the awesomeness of this place when I visited!
🥳 ALSO PART OF OUR FALL BUNDLE (see info below) 🥳
Your whole fall, planned for you and your family — with our signature outings! 🍂
We have so much FUN on these adventures — they sell out every year — so this fall we're capping numbers and prioritizing families who choose the bundle option first. Book both remaining fall day trips in one go, Blue Angels and Black Friday Monarchs, and your family saves $20 compared to booking each one separately at the early-bird rate.
You can still book this outing on its own, but bundle families get priority booking and guaranteed spots on both dates. Drop-in spots will be limited.
BOOK THE BUNDLE HERE: Fall Bundle: Blue Angels + Monarch Butterflies
✈️ 10/11 — Blue Angels Front-Row View, Tunnels, Cannons, Beach Play & Optional DoorDash Dinner (San Francisco)
🦋 11/27 — Black Friday: Monarch Butterflies, Tidepools, Beach & Optional Pizza + Ice Cream
FOR THE BLUE ANGELS, HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT:
✈️🌉✈️🌉 BLUE ANGELS: We will watch the angels from a terrific and UNIQUE vantage point. They "arrive" around 3:30 PM. We most likely will catch some of the other planes zooming overhead, too!
🌉🌉🌉 GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE: You've likely never seen it from the view that we're going to get! Up close!!!
🪩🪩🪩 CANNONS, CANNONBALLS, TUNNEL, OLD JAIL + MORE: Your kids will have THE BEST TIME EVER exploring some old military equipment
🩴☀️🏖️ BEACH PLAY + PLAYGROUND: After watching the Angels and checking out the cannons and cannonballs, we'll head to a nearby beach that has stunning views and sometimes you can spot harbor seals frolicking in the water! So much fun for the kids and relaxation for the parents! Option to check out a very cool playground, too!!
🍕 OPTIONAL DINNER: Feeling hungry after? We can arrange a DoorDash order for the group — details closer to the date but note your interest in the sign-up form.
🦭🦭🦭WILDLIFE/EDIBLE WILD FRUITS + FLOWERS 🌸🫐: I’ve watched harbor seals frolicking in the water nearby! We'll use our scavenger hunt cards to look for some cool critters and edible fruits and flowers!
🔍 SCAVENGER HUNT: Embark on a fun scavenger hunt around this cool nook of San Francisco 🌉
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!
Haunted tent houses, trick-or-treating between tents and a costume parade, at a campground in the Presidio’s forested hills a short walk from the coast.
Friday, Oct. 16 — Sunday, Oct. 18
A Halloween camping weekend for the books!!!
WHAT WE'LL ENJOY 🥳🥳🥳
SOME SPOOK-TACULAR ACTIVITIES:
👻🏠⛺ Haunted tent house: Transform campsites into spooky adventures for brave little explorers
🍮🪱🎃 Dirt 'n worms pudding: Classic Halloween treats that make kids squeal with delight
📦🕳️🚇 DIY cardboard tunnel: Kids help build mysterious crawling adventures through camp
🏆⛺🎨 Best decorated tent contest: Show off your spookiest, most creative campsite setup
🍬👻🚪 Trick-or-treat between tents: Door-to-door Halloween fun, camping style
👘🎭🕺 Halloween costume party: Parade those amazing costumes with games and activities
🔥🍫👻 Spooky campfire treats - S'mores and Halloween goodies around the fire
... PLUS, we've got some fun campsite surprises up our sleeve too — we'll reveal those as we get closer to the trip!! 🎃✨
ALSO:
Tucked in the Presidio's forested hills, this campground offers families an idyllic escape right in the city, just a short walk from the coast:
Golden Gate Bridge iconic views: A short walk down the trail from the campsite takes you to a spot with beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands
🏖️ Beachcombing+ beach play: Look for seashells, sea stars and hermit crabs, or build the most creative sandcastle decorated with shells and driftwood, with the Golden Gate Bridge as your backdrop
🕵️ Exploring old military bunkers with stairs and nooks
🌼 Looking for late-season wildflowers
🚢 Watching tanker ships and planes sail or fly by the busy Golden Gate as fog horns echo in the distance
🌅 Taking in a breathtaking sunset over the Golden Gate
🔥🍫 Classic camping fun: campfire, stories, s'mores, gazing up at a blanket of stars while roasting marshmallows, and quality time away from screens (yes, we can have a fire!)
🔍🗺️ Scavenger hunt and educational activities for families
🎨🖍️ Toy and arts-and-craft station for the kids when we're not out adventuring
🫶🏿🫶🏾🫶🏽 Community, friendship and support: Instant 'playdate' for your kiddos! We usually have kids from toddlers up to tweens join, with all of the kids playing together! You might see old MMH friends + hopefully make some new ones, too! MMH offers all kinds of support: Need help setting up your tent? Solo parenting on the adventure and need some extra support? We got you!
This is our idea of CAMP for kids, but it's for families and we get to explore different campgrounds and parks! You will make wonderful memories with your family and friends 🏕️❤️🫂🤲🏽!!
Overwintering monarch butterflies by the thousand, then tiny tidepools full of crabs and anemones. The anti-shopping Black Friday.
Friday, Nov. 27, 2 — 4:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, 2-4:30 p.m.
You and your family are in for such a treat! We'll use this Black Friday to #OptOutside and to delight in monarch 🦋🦋🦋 butterflies wrapping up their annual migration and hunkering down for the winter. We'll do a short hike to see the monarchs, followed by beach play and some tidepooling! We'll meet in the afternoon since that's when the butterflies wake up! If you have trouble making 2 p.m. and want to join later, you can! It will be easy to find us.
🥳 ALSO PART OF OUR FALL BUNDLE (see info below) 🥳
Your whole fall, planned for you and your family — with our signature outings! 🍂
We have so much FUN on these adventures — they sell out every year — so this fall we're capping numbers and prioritizing families who choose the bundle option first. Book both remaining fall day trips in one go, Blue Angels and Black Friday Monarchs, and your family saves $20 compared to booking each one separately at the early-bird rate.
You can still book this outing on its own, but bundle families get priority booking and guaranteed spots on both dates. Drop-in spots will be limited.
BOOK THE BUNDLE HERE: Fall Bundle: Blue Angels + Monarch Butterflies
✈️ 10/11 — Blue Angels Front-Row View, Tunnels, Cannons, Beach Play & Optional DoorDash Dinner (San Francisco)
🦋 11/27 — Black Friday: Monarch Butterflies, Tidepools, Beach & Optional Pizza + Ice Cream
WHAT TO EXPECT for 11/27, BLACK FRIDAY ADVENTURE
🦋🦋🦋 MONARCH BUTTERFLIES: We'll visit a grove where migrating monarch butterflies have nestled up for the winter! Miranda will bring her kid-friendly telescope 🔭 so all of the littles can get a peek! We'll also scan the trees for some resident owls 🦉🦉🦉
🦀🌟🦭🐚🏵️🦪🪸TIDEPOOLING MAGIC + BEACH PLAY: We'll scout for hermit crabs, sea urchins, sea anemones, blue mussels and as many seastars as we can count!! Families can also hang out on the beach 🏖️ while kids build sandcastles 🏰🏰🏰 and dams!
🍕🍦🍕🍦🍕 DINNER: Since we're meeting in the afternoon, we'll try to organize a simple meal for the group. We’ll order cheese pizza; participants need to sign up and pay for pizza in advance. Whoever is interested can join us for ice cream after beach play!!
🖼️🌇🌊 STUNNING VIEWS + SUNSET: We'll take in some stunning views and a wonderful sunset so definitely bring your nice camera 📸📸📸
🔍 SCAVENGER HUNT: Embark on a fun scavenger hunt around these very special tidepools + forest!!!
DIFFICULTY: About 1-mile EASY hike. There are some stairs so it's best to bring a front- or backpack car-rier
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU + YOUR FAMILY ON THE TRAIL!
Exclusive discounts, first
New dates and subscriber-only discounts go out by email before anything is listed publicly. Roughly twice a month, never more.
Programs that run all season
Not single dates — these run for a season, for infants up to early elementary.
Welcome to our Toddle Dawdle + Forest Explorers program, a magical nature-based learning adventure designed for curious young minds, with a focus on tots to early elementary youths.
Saturdays, 9:30–11:30 AM · Aug. 29 — Dec. 5
Making childhood magical, one trail at a time
Two groups, one program. Choose the day, area and guide that suit your family:
Silly Slugs (this page): Saturdays, 9:30–11:30 AM · Peninsula + South Bay · with Miranda
Happy Hawks: Wednesdays, 3–5 PM · Peninsula · with Sarah
In our outdoor sessions, we will bring new discoveries with circle time, songs, stories, hikes and sensory play. Your little explorer will climb, create, splash and wonder their way through hands-on experiences that nurture both body and soul.
From building stick forts to dancing with the trees, from foraging for seasonal berries and flowers to spotting new plants, from making mud masterpieces to discovering amazing critters that live among us (or us among them!) — we're growing confident, creative, and connected kids who see the world as their playground.
For our parents, we have a Parent Circle where we dive into enriching conversations and activities designed just for adults, for your own growth and discovery.
Fall 2026, Saturdays 9:30–11:30 AM: Aug. 29, Sep. 19 & 26, Oct. 10 & 24, Nov. 14 & 21, Dec. 5. Make-up session: Dec. 12.
Spring 2027, Saturdays 9:30–11:30 AM: Feb. 27, Mar. 6 & 20, Apr. 3 & 17, May 1 & 15, June 5. Make-up session: May 22.
Added bonus: Discover new places and many hidden gems around the Bay, with each session!
What an incredible launch year for our Toddle Dawdle and Forest Explorers classes! From the Peninsula to the South Bay and Tri-Valley, our young explorers have been discovering the magic of nature in ways that have exceeded all our expectations.
The curiosity and wonder we've witnessed has been extraordinary:
• Our explorers have examined incredible species of mushrooms, lichens, and intricate spiderwebs with magnifying glasses in hand
• They've felt the texture of sandstone boulders and rosehips from California roses, and created their own "crater soup" through sensory play
• We've climbed massive rocks that became natural slides filled with laughter and giggles
• Foraged for chestnuts!
We're thrilled to see the community that's forming among our families and the genuine love for nature blooming in these young hearts. Now we're gearing up for winter and spring adventures with even more exploration ahead!
You can sign up for this wonderful program by clicking the “ADD THIS PROGRAM” button on the right and below, you can learn about our incredible guides leading it.
Grab your spot before they're gone — we have a limited number of spots in each group!
Each group has 30 spots.
Welcome to our Toddle Dawdle + Forest Explorers program, a magical nature-based learning adventure designed for curious young minds, with a focus on tots to early elementary youths.
Wednesdays, 3–5 PM · Sep. 9 — Dec. 16
Making childhood magical, one trail at a time
Two groups, one program. Choose the day, area and guide that suit your family:
Happy Hawks (this page): Wednesdays, 3–5 PM · Peninsula · with Sarah
Silly Slugs: Saturdays, 9:30–11:30 AM · Peninsula + South Bay · with Miranda
In our outdoor sessions, we will bring new discoveries with circle time, songs, stories, hikes and sensory play. Your little explorer will climb, create, splash and wonder their way through hands-on experiences that nurture both body and soul.
From building stick forts to dancing with the trees, from foraging for seasonal berries and flowers to spotting new plants, from making mud masterpieces to discovering amazing critters that live among us (or us among them!) — we're growing confident, creative, and connected kids who see the world as their playground.
For our parents, we have a Parent Circle where we dive into enriching conversations and activities designed just for adults, for your own growth and discovery.
Fall 2026, Wednesdays 3–5 PM: Sep. 9 & 23, Oct. 7 & 21, Nov. 4 & 18, Dec. 2 & 16. Make-up session: to be set with the group.
Spring 2027, Wednesdays 3–5 PM: Feb. 24, Mar. 10 & 24, Apr. 7 & 21, May 5 & 19, June 2. Make-up session: to be set with the group.
Added bonus: Discover new places and many hidden gems around the Bay, with each session!
What an incredible launch year for our Toddle Dawdle and Forest Explorers classes! From the Peninsula to the South Bay and Tri-Valley, our young explorers have been discovering the magic of nature in ways that have exceeded all our expectations.
The curiosity and wonder we've witnessed has been extraordinary:
• Our explorers have examined incredible species of mushrooms, lichens, and intricate spiderwebs with magnifying glasses in hand
• They've felt the texture of sandstone boulders and rosehips from California roses, and created their own "crater soup" through sensory play
• We've climbed massive rocks that became natural slides filled with laughter and giggles
• Foraged for chestnuts!
We're thrilled to see the community that's forming among our families and the genuine love for nature blooming in these young hearts. Now we're gearing up for winter and spring adventures with even more exploration ahead!
You can sign up for this wonderful program by clicking the “ADD THIS PROGRAM” button on the right and below, you can learn about our incredible guides leading it.
Grab your spot before they're gone — we have a limited number of spots in each group!
Each group has 30 spots.
More from the squad
The whole website — every adventure, program and bundle
Past adventures — the last twelve months, with photos
Stories & guides — ticks, heat, winter camping, what to pack
Every 10th family joins free — no income questions, no proof
Already booked? — what to do before adventure day
A 1,700-year-old redwood, banana slugs by the dozen and ancient ocean rocks on an easy MLK Day hike, then lunch at Alice’s Restaurant.
Monday, January 18, 2027, 10:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. • Peninsula
Kids home for MLK Day? Join us for a magical winter forest adventure! We'll visit a 1,700-year-old Redwood giant where bears once scratched their backs, explore mystical fog drifting through bright green moss-covered trees, and count banana slugs by the dozens (we found 50+ last time!). After our hike, we'll refuel at the legendary Alice's Restaurant — a Bay Area icon and perfect way to complete our holiday outing.
🥳 PART OF OUR WINTER WONDERS BUNDLE (for DROP-IN only, see info below) 🥳
Your whole winter season, planned for you and your family — with our signature outings! ❄️
We have so much FUN on these adventures — they sell out every year — so this season we're capping numbers and prioritizing families who choose the bundle option first. Grab all 3 day adventures in one go, and your family saves $30 compared to booking each one separately at today's rates.
While you can still do drop-ins per day trip, bundle families get priority booking and guaranteed spots across all 3 dates. Drop-in spots will be limited.
🌰 10/25 — Chestnut Collecting, Chestnut Honey Tasting, Golden Fall Leaves, Lake Hike + Optional Pizza Dinner (La Honda Area)
💦 12/13 — Winter Waterfall Wonderland, Ladybug Love, Leopard-Spotted Banana Slugs + Fungi Hunt (South Bay)
🐌 1/18 — MLK Day: Banana Slug Bonanza, 1,700-Year-Old Redwood + Ancient Ocean Rocks (Peninsula)
SIGN UP FOR THE BUNDLE HERE: https://www.familyadventuresquad.org/bundles/p/winter-wonders-family-adventure-bundle
FOR MLK DAY, HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT:
🐌🍄🌿 BANANA SLUG BONANZA + WINTER WONDERS! On our last visit, we counted 50+ banana slugs! Plus, discover colorful fungi decorating the trees, vibrant green moss carpeting everything, and misty fog creating that magical winter forest vibe.
🌲🌳🪵 ANCIENT REDWOOD GIANT: We'll visit a 1,700-year-old original-growth Redwood! While most trees were logged in the late 1800s, a few incredible giants remain. Kids can marvel at these towering survivors while parents appreciate the history beneath the canopy.
🪨🌊⛰️ TAFONI TREASURES — ANCIENT OCEAN ROCKS! Explore giant sandstone boulders formed when this area was underwater! These unique Tafoni formations are a geological wonder that will spark kids' curiosity and imagination.
🎨🔍📝 Educational Fun for Families: Nature scavenger hunt with checklist to keep! Plus arts-and-craft activities for the kids with a special treat to take home. Perfect for engaging little learners!
🍔🥧🏪 ICONIC ALICE'S RESTAURANT: After our hike, we'll head to this legendary Bay Area landmark for lunch! A must-visit spot with great food and classic atmosphere.
🚼👶🛴 SUPER FAMILY-FRIENDLY: Just 2.6 miles with gradual decline, then uphill. Suitable for jogging strollers, wagons and bikes! Perfect for families with little ones.
🏕️❤️🫂 Community, Friendship + Support: Instant playdate for your kiddos! Kids from toddlers to tweens all play together. Reconnect with MMH friends and make new ones! Solo parenting? Forgot snacks? Need wipes? We've got your back!
📖🗺️🌲 Explore the Peninsula! We'll include tips on what to see in this area to make it a full day trip adventure if you'd like!
Difficulty: Easy. 2.6 miles with gradual decline then uphill. Suitable for jogging strollers, wagons and bikes. Great for all ages!
We look forward to welcoming you + your family on the trail!