Fun Ways to Usher in Spring

By the time the first day of spring rolls around (March 20), San Diegans are usually ready for a “change in weather.” Let’s face it, a low of 50 degrees is downright freezing in these parts. (Let the rest of the country laugh.) With spring upon us, we get to welcome wildflowers and spend even more time outside than we do in the winter. Hooray for fresh air! Here are great ideas to usher in spring in San Diego.

Make a flower crown or daisy chain.

Watch cloud formations. Take a family bike ride. Blow bubbles. Feed ducks. Have a picnic. Decorate the driveway with sidewalk chalk.

Attend the Cherry Blossom Festival at Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park (March 10, 11, 12).

Launch a spring cleaning “party.”

Buy fresh flowers at a local farmers market. One bunch for your family; one bunch for a neighbor or friend.

Pitch a tent outside to read books or play games that celebrate nature.

Go strawberry picking in Carlsbad.

Find this season’s superbloom.

Walk through the Sweet Pea Maze at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad. Don’t miss Kids Day on March 25!

Don’t forget: Spring forward on Sunday, March 12.

Visit farm animals. Find a list of local farms at www.sandiegofamily.com/ things-to-do/out-about/ find-farm-animals-sandiego-with-kids.

Get ready for baseball season! The Padres host the Rockies March 30–April 2, with the home opener on 3/30 at 1:10 pm.

Go on a Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt with our free, printable game: www.sandiegofamily.com/ images/documents/Nature_Walk_ scavenger_hunt.pdf

Craft a bird feeder and hang it in a nearby tree.

Register the kids for spring break camp. Get started with our camp guide in this issue.

Jump in a rain puddle; then create a Raindrop Drip Painting: www.sandiegofamily.com/for-the-kids/ crafts-for-kids/rainy-day-painting

Discover a local park with a hidden trail: www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/out-about/ kids-parks-san-diego-hidden-hiking

Try your hand at Nature Weaving, a new project from our very own “Art with Alyssa” contributor. Find instructions at www.sandiegofamily.com/forthe-kids/crafts-for-kids.

Take a spring break trip (or plan a summer vacation).

Oxnard is one of Southern California’s best kept secrets, offering miles of pristine beaches, sand dunes, flat walking and biking paths and a huge harbor to explore by kayak, paddleboard or electric Duffy boat. So, why would a San Diego family travel four hours north to vacation in Oxnard? Simple. To enjoy SoCal’s beautiful coastline, breathtaking ocean views and a peaceful reprieve from the crowds of people who flock to our hometown.

Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, an all-suite, oceanfront property that offers two full bathrooms in every room, is a perfect getaway for families. Read more in our article “Family Fun in Oxnard” at www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/ travel/road-trip-to-oxnard.

Go hiking.

It’s the 50 th anniversary of the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers, trained naturalists who offer free, guided hikes throughout the county. Check the schedule and RSVP for a hike at www.sdnat.org/education/ canyoneer-hikes. Find fabulous tips for hiking with kids at www.sandiegofamily.com/ things-to-do/out-about/ tips-for-hiking-with-kids.

Plant a garden. Early spring is an excellent time to start planting. No yard? No problem. Read “Benefits of Gardening with Kids” at www.sandiegofamily.com/forthe-kids/family-science/gardening-withkids for a quick-start guide to container gardening and lots of great tips.

Make (and eat) Edible Bird’s Nests: www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/ dining-and-recipes/edible-birds-nests v