Journeys›Photograph

A Bay Area Day of Hiking, Butterflies, and a Carousel

·San Francisco, California·#hiking#summer#bay area#family#butterflies
A person and a small child walk on a dirt path with lush green bushes in the background.

A Saturday in mid-June, 2008. We started the day with a short hike on a dirt trail somewhere in the Bay Area. The sun was bright, and the scrubby bushes lining the path were a deep green against the dry ground.

From there, we went to a butterfly exhibit. It was one of those enclosed gardens, warm and humid inside. We stood still for a long time, and eventually, a few butterflies came to check us out, landing on our hands. The kids were mesmerized, watching the delicate insects from inches away. It was a completely captivating experience for them, just quietly observing. Even the baby got in on the nature-watching, looking at some small pink flowers just outside the enclosure.

We capped off the afternoon with a ride on a carousel. She picked a shiny red horse and held on tight, smiling as we went around. It was a classic local weekend day—a bit of hiking, some time with nature, and a simple ride to end it all.

A woman and a child walk on a dirt path with green bushes and dry grass in the background.A child in a striped shirt looks down at a butterfly perched on an adult's finger, with a "fragile" sticker on their shirt.A child in a striped shirt looks at a black and red butterfly perched on an adult's finger.A person and a child observe a butterfly resting on a hand, with dense green foliage behind them.A person with an open mouth looks at a child who has a butterfly on their outstretched finger amidst green plants.A person in a Michigan shirt holds a child in a striped sweater with a butterfly button, surrounded by plants.A child with light hair reaches for yellow flowers, with another child in a red top visible in the background.A smiling child in a pink shirt holds a golden pole next to a red carousel horse.

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