Park Day: Augustus F. Hawkins Park

Jackson checking out the nature center.

A kid let Jackson sit on his bike.

"Where ducks go?"

A view of the wetlands area.

Butterfly takes a break.

Sign outside the front gate.

This is the second "natural park" we've visited in the Los Angeles Parks & Rec system, and it's the second one that was a total home run. Just a lovely space. Closes at 4:30 daily, but worth a visit while it's open because it's so nicely planted and kept.

Rocks & Minerals

Culver City has a very active rock and mineral club (so quaint!) and they have an annual show called the Fiesta of Gems. Lots to see and learn here, including a table just for kids to touch, and many interesting specialty items including scrimshaw and fossils. Kiddo was too small to see most of the table displays and too touchy to allow me to relax, but this was a neat way to spend a couple of hours, and considering it's down the street, too close to pass up. We'll hit this again in the future.

Jackson's showing off his new geology cards and his FREE "mountain rock." In addition to the educational table, the club gave a free (pretty) rock to everyone under the age of 16.