The Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has been a place where young families and grandparents have made memories for 46 years. Moms and Dads who themselves were once tots tearing through this whimsical land of fairytales, furry animal friends, and of course the beloved Danny the Dragon, have the happiest memories of Happy Hollow. It’s no wonder that when the Happy Hollow magic started to fade after years of service, the residents of San Jose came to it’s rescue by passing a bond measure to fund the renovation of their special place.
Now 20 months and $72 million later, Happy Hollow is reopening its gates following an extensive overhaul and expansion. The grand opening of Happy Hollow is this Saturday, March 20, 2010. Trekaroo got a special sneak peak last week and my oh my, are we excited to tell you that your younger children will be in heaven. Grab your calendars, call some friends, and make a play date right now to visit the new Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.
From the moment I set eyes on the new entry way with it’s delightful display of whimsical animal sculptures created by artist Tom Otterness, I knew we were in for a treat. If you have a kid between the ages of 2 and 10, you’ve got to come check it out for yourself. Here’s what we loved about the new Happy Hollow:
Delightful playgrounds – At Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, you aren’t going to find any pre-fabricated playground structures. Instead, you’ll find custom-designed playgrounds that resemble works of art. The Redwood Lookout playground was absolutely stunning. I just couldn’t help myself and climbed atop this two-story tree house structure and slid down one of those magnificent slides. Despite its size, there’s a smaller redwood structure on the other side for the little ones to enjoy. Parents can feel part of the fun by resting on the big boulders in the middle of Redwood Lookout and keep an eye on their “little monkeys.”
In addition to Redwood Lookout, there were several bump-out areas for kid’s needing a smaller playspace. Integrated into the new petting zoo is another fantastic playground called Lemur Woods geared towards a younger crowd. At first glance, you might think it’s another pretty fabulous playground, but it’s strategic placement next to the goat pen and lemur exhibit was purposeful to encourage children to parallel play with their furry friends. Don’t be surprised to find your 4-year old prancing little a billy goat or swaying around the play structure like a lemur.
Read what other parents are saying about Happy Hollow Park and Zoo>>
Plentiful Learning Opportunities – Teaching about animal and environmental conservation is at the very heart of Happy Hollow. No dreary alarmist documentary here to get the point across. Instead, children learn about conservation through having fun observing, discovering, and exploring. In fact, Happy Hollow is working on getting it’s LEED silver certification. The Learning L.O.D.G.E. which is the center for educational activity is constructed of hay bales and kids can see proof of it for themselves. Right outside the learning center is an on-site rain water catchment system that filters and cleans rainwater and keeps it in the park for the health of the abundant vegetation. Throughout the park, kids have multiple opportunities to learn about environmental conservation whether it’s through the abundance of recycling bins (and the lack of trash cans), the radiant floor cooling/heating in place of traditional energy sucking A/C, or the use of recycled materials throughout the park.
“Double H” Ranch is the wonderful new animal contact area where kids can get up close and personal with goats, sheep, lemurs and more. As they learn to care for their animal friends, children are also learning about the species conservation projects that Happy Hollow participates in. Down in the lower zoo, most things are the same except for two new areas: Dinosaur Dig for your budding paleontologists and a fantastic bee hive area that teaches kids about the important role that these hardworking friends play in our eco-system. Not only can children see the bees hard at work but all their senses are engaged in the world of the bees, learning how we can all be thoughtful in helping them thrive.
If you would like to visit with a school group, the education department can make classroom visits, or host students. Happy Hollow also offers classes for kids as young as 12 months and summer camps for kids 3 to 13.
Old Favorites are Still Here - Danny the Dragon hasn’t left although, he might have stepped out briefly to get a make-over. Newly minted with shiny new tires and a bright coat of paint, Danny’s ready to take kids on a tour of the new Happy Hollow. The maze and puppet theater have been updated, but still offer the same charm as before. The beloved crooked house has been spruced up herself and ready to welcome children back. The lower zoo’s been freshened up and many of the same animals are still here. One new friend is the Foosa, a rare member of the mongoose family and a top predator native to Madagascar. The lemurs aren’t so sure about him, but Happy Hollow is excited to be one of just 22 facilities in the US to provide a home to this endangered little guy. Oh yes, the Mini Putt-Putt cars and Granny Bug rides are also still around.
Wonderful place for birthday parties – Once word gets out, this might be the hottest place for a birthday party this year. Get in the front of the line because bookings are starting to fill up already for the summer. There are 9 different party spots that you can rent out at Happy Hollow depending on the size of the group. Here’s a tip – Danny’s Place, Whistling Woods and Chimes and Bells are all located close to Redwood Lookout – the big playground. Party packages range from $235 to $455 with add-ons you can choose from. No outside food is allowed except cake. But all entertainment is taken care of, so mom and dad can just kick back and celebrate with the kids.
Fully ADA Accessible – During the renovations of Happy Hollow, a lot of thought was given towards making the park fully ADA accessible. That means that the placement of sculptures give consideration to whether a wheel chair can weave it’s way easily between them. But beyond having ramps throughout the park which make it wonderfully stroller friendly (although it is small enough that you probably won’t need one), even the playground areas are ADA accessible. The maze has extra wide paths and is accessed via a ramp, some of the slides at Redwood Lookout can even be accessed with a wheel chair. All doorways are perfectly flushed with the ground.
Congrats to Happy Hollow and the residents of San Jose for preserving this wonderful place for families. We are looking forward to hearing about all the new memories Trekaroo families are making at Happy Hollow. (Write a review of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo) Admission to Happy Hollow is $12 for kids and adults 2 and up (under 2 is free). Once you’re in, there are no extras to pay for, so your kids can enjoy as many rides as they want unlike most zoos in the Bay Area. If you live within a 45 minute drive, seriously consider getting the Family Membership which is a steal at $95 for the whole year. The Family Membership will get two parents and up to 4 kids in for free all year in addition to lots of discounts on classes and food.
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
1300 Senter Road, San Jose, CA
Grand reopening on March 20, 2010
For more information, call 408.794.6420 or visit www.hhpz.org.
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LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Trekaroo families have the inside scoop, and the word on the ‘roo is that the Orlando area has a slew of magical adventures for the little ones. Cities within the city were even specifically built for youngsters (and their wallet-toting parents, of course). Orlando boasts Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, gigantic water parks as well as thematic journeys through Medieval Times and the Holy Land. Yet, Orlando is not all leg-achingly gigantic parks, it’s a city growing fast in may directions with unique venues for locals and tourists alike. It is also in the midst of vibrant natural areas with diverse wildlife. Trekaroo parents have given us an inside look to the best of the best in the Orlando area.
#1 Activity and Best Amusement Park for Kids: Disney’s Magic Kingdom
“You can’t skip Disney. You MUST visit Disney at least once in your life.” There’s not much room for disagreement with this imperative from Lilkidthings. With 73 Trekaroo families giving unanimously positive reviews, it’s clear as the crystal that Disney is an amazing destination. “You don’t go to Dinsey unless you plan to have a fun filled day,” says bukosker. Even a skeptic will believe in magic by trip’s end. Take bejolly65′s comment: “I was so hesitant and cynical when we decided to go to Disney World. [...] But I guess there is a reason that Disney World is so popular. They really know what they are doing.” The kids need no such convincing. Many a trekaroo family speaks of how enchanted their child was seeing Cinderella or taking a magic carpet ride. “The girls loved Magic Kingdom, because as we all know Cinderella’s Castle is there,” says Trekaroo family metro927. While kids will be excited just being in the Kingdom, Trekaroo parents all agree that a day at Disney needs to be planned for maximum magic to occur and they have left a goldmine of suggestions. Keebz, an iPhone equipped mom, downloaded the Disney app and scoped out wait times. Don’t be alarmed if the plan falls apart, it’s only natural as parents and kids alike get lost in the atmosphere. As Travelingmom says, “This place can make an infant out of a grown man!”
Photo Credit: flickr/ninjapoodles
Best Museum for Kids to Explore: Orlando Science Center
From hurricanes to space shuttles, the Central Florida area is one of the most interesting places for science and the Orlando Science Center works hard to capture the creative energy of the area. Trekaroo family apalanza says that the Science Center is great for all ages, but suggests packing your own lunch to save some cash. For locals, WE3REEDS suggests the annual membership that allows unlimited access throughout the year. “Imax is included as well as all their special events.” For denizens of more distant lands, the Orlando Science Center is a great excuse to get away from the parks and explore the town.
Photo Credit: OSC
Best Place to See Animals in Action: Sea World
While Disney may have your kids singing “Under the Sea”, Sea World journeys under and over while riding on the back of an orca whale. Trekaroo parents concur that Sea World magnifies the wonders of ocean life with spectacular shows. ”All the shows were great and VERY entertaining,” said akotash. But it’s not all just high-flying whales, mischievous sea lions and acrobatic dolphins. ”The last time I was at SeaWorld, we were able to get up close and touch the dolphins as we fed them,” commented Kat569. Sea World offers many opportunities to get close to the animals and for some extra greenbacks, you can take behind the scenes tours. Younger kids will certainly be amazed by the high-energy shows and every child will love the massive playground area in Shamu’s Happy Harbor. What parents love most, though is seeing the look of amazement on their child’s face as the animals show their power.
Photo Credit: flickr/Big C Harvey
Best Natural Experience for Kids: Kelly Park
With an amusement park on nearly every corner, it’s easy to forget that Orlando is set among natural wonders of its own. Kelly Park is a great place to get away and experience Florida’s abundant flora and fauna without having to drive too far from the city. Shauna, a Trekaroo mom, commented that Kelly Park is “a great family outing for next to nothing!” With a cost of ONE dollar, it will be by far the cheapest activity of any Orlando vacation. Shauna also suggests renting a tube and floating down the river as a great way to eco-tour Central Florida. Even without the aquatic journey, there are plenty of reasons to pay the park a visit. Volleyball courts, picnic tables, nature trails and even camping make the park a relaxing destination that is close enough to escape to on a whim.
Photo Credit: flickr/systemslibrarian
Wonder what Trekaroo Families voted as the Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando?
Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando, Florida - voted by parents
More Resources for Orlando
- All 71 Activities for Kids in and around Orlando, Florida
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around Orlando, Florida
- More Disney, Less Waiting – A review of RideMax
- 5 Tot-friendly Restaurants Favorites in at Disney
- Disney Hotels for Tween and Teens
- Top 5 “Must Do” Walt Disney World Attractions with Teens
- Free and Low-Cost Activities in Orlando for Preschoolers
- Water Parks in Florida
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Stephen Wanta is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA
The last time our family visited San Diego, we discovered a wonderful cave at a beach with our 2 year old. It was a discovery too good to keep to ourselves and that’s where the idea for Trekaroo took birth. I love San Diego because it has that Southern California vibe without the insanity of LA and there are a ton of fun things to do with kids. So, this is what Trekaroo families voted to the top for 2009.
#1 Place to take Kids and #1 Animal Attraction: San Diego Zoo
With a total of 27 votes, this world famous zoo is not only the most popular attraction in San Diego with families. It also receives a remarkable 5 star rating on Trekaroo. Rockinmama says it’s the “Best Zoo for Children”. Kidsgowest says it’s “Zoo Heaven”. Knoxvilledoula declares it’s “worth every penny.” The most popular exhibit is the large number of adorable pandas. However, expect some waiting time to see these cuddly bears.
Photo credit: Flickr/thenickster
Best Kid-friendly Museum - Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre and Science Museum
Flying high with families is the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre and Science Museum. Some families like to cool off in this indoor space. TheQFamily says “don’t let the smarty name fool you. This musuem is a great hands-on interactive museum that even a toddler can enjoy.” Kids’ City is an entire child-size town popular with toddlers. A another big favorite with Trekaroo families is the Blockbuster room with tons of blocks that kids can build just about anything with. Wanna be astronauts get a kick out of pretending to sit at NASA command central.
Photo credit: www.rhfleet.org
Most Interesting Neighborhood – Old Town Historic San Diego
Old Town San Diego is a “Step back in time” (kidsgowest) that take us back to the Mexican and early American periods in the history of San Diego. Enjoy the architecture and ambiance of mariachi music and colorful papel picado. There is eye candy at every turn. Familyadventureguidebooks recommends taking hte Coaster train to Old Town. Grandma Dot loves how it sparks a kids imaginations of “Mexican cowboys with sombreros riding their horses through town”.
Photo credit: mattanddolly
Top Amusement Park – Legoland
It was a tight race between Legoland and SeaWorld, both getting 5 stars on Trekaroo. But Legoland wins by popularity. Located about 30 minutes north of San Diego, Legoland is often the reason why families choose to visit San Diego. Jeff Legato raves that its a “really fun park – especially the water section”. Yangtheman believes it’s the “best amusement park for grade schoolers”. jrussobergman goes so far as to say you can “forget about Disneyland”. Their family loves that there were “so many rides for toddlers.”
- Photo credit: anniepants
Most Kid-friendly Beach - Mission Bay Park
Emdolly tells us that Mission Bay Park is “great for small children” because of the calm clean waters and lifeguard. It is also a “great place to bike” says chich. Lots of other outdoor recreation to be had here – boating, fishing, sailing, volleyball, softball, horseshoes, rollerskating, kite-flying…the list goes on and on.
Photo Credit: Emdolly
Best Place to Experience Nature with Kids - La Jolla Tidepools
La Jolla Tidepools are home to a nice colony of seals and a playground for many a kayaker. This is a great place for kids to experience nature in nature. Besides seals, Anniepants reported seeing squid and fish swimming close to the beach. It has a great international vibe and lots of happy friendly people.
Photo credit: flickr/hermmermferm
Which Hotels came up at the top?
Top Activities for Kids in San Diego, CA – voted by parents
Other Resources for San Diego, CA
- All 104 Activities for kids in the San Diego County
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around San Diego County
- Top Tips for a Legoland Adventure with Toddler and Preschoolers – familyadventuremom
- Fun Things to Do After Visiting Legoland, California - familyadventuremom
- Must See Attractions with Kids in San Diego – theqfamily
- Kid-friendly Dining in Balboa Park – kidsgowest
- San Diego: Favorite Family Hotels – ciaobambino
- Fun Activities for Toddlers in San Diego – Toddler’s Travel
- 5 Best Family-friendly Restaurants in San Diego County – Travelmamas
- Things to Do in La Jolla With Kids – LaJollaMom
LiLing Pang is a contributing writer for Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA
Trekaroo’s KidsMobile is starting to chalk up those miles. We’ve traveled from New York, to Los Angeles, to Chicago and now we’re pulling into
Seattle, Washington
Don’t be fooled by Seattle’s rainy and gloomy reputation, because it is Seattle’s abundant rainfall that make spring, summer and fall lush and green. Set in Puget sound, this city offers fantastic outdoor recreation. In the rainy months, Seattle has some world class attractions that families absolutely love. Congrats to the families who helped launch Trekaroo in Seattle today.
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Trekaroo’s growing community of families have pitched in with their votes for 2009. Here’s the verdict!
Best Kid-friendly Hotels in Seattle – voted by parents
Best Activities for Kids in Seattle – voted by parents
Seattle is also the hometown for some exceptional moms who are smart, savvy and in the know about what real moms love about Seattle.
Michelle Duffy, better known as Wandermom starts us off with a list of her favorite Seattle Parks and Playgrounds. Wandermom is truly a travel guru! Her active family of 4 manages to travel on a budget, spending much time hiking, diving and skiing around the world. She is also the co-author of “Wanderlust and Lipstick: Traveling with Kids“. Her wealth of helpful tips can be found on her blog: Wandermom!
Carrie, a super energetic mom who lives in the heart of downtown Seattle knows the best Places to Visit with Young Kids in Seattle. She is the voice behind – Growing a baby in Seattle. Carrie reviews products and services that urban moms are interested in. Her reviews are insightful and personable at the same time. Get her take on some really cool stuff, afterall, Christmas is just around the corner.
Jill Dickinson brings us a list of Stores Moms and Kids love in Seattle who are owned by Momprenuers. Jill knows a good idea when she sees it because she’s the author of a book in the writing called “How to Become a Mompreneur”. She has interviewed a multitude of successful mompreneurs, so if you’re toying with a great business idea yourself, head on over to her blog – mombite - for some inspiration.
Hungry tummies = melt downs. Mona knows Where to eat in Seattle with Kids In Tow. Mona is the witty mom of a 3 year old and writes humorously about life as a full-time working mom on her blog – kirida. Need a good laugh about your predicament as a mom, you could spend hours on her blog (I just did myself – you sucked me in, Mona!)
So where are the locals hanging out? Amy tips us off with 5 Lesser Known Pit Stops in and around the Seattle Area. Her blog – Pit Stop for Kids – is filled with lots of helpful reviews about places to stop along various road trip routes around the country. Her mantra: Getting there should be half the fun! We couldn’t agree more.
Other Resources for Seattle:
- All 140 Activities for kids in the Seattle-Puget Sound Area
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around Seattle-Puget Sound
- Destination Playgrounds in Greater Seattle and Puget Sound – Travelmom
- Pumpkin Patches in the Seattle Area - Lydie Thomas
Next stop, the town where the Trekaroo founders first met - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Go Phillies!
The Trekaroo KidsMobile is a blog carnival with a twist. It’s designed to provide a unique opportunity for mom and dad bloggers to be featured on Trekaroo while
1) expressing their unique point of view
2) getting a web of link exchanges.
Join us for one of our next stopovers.
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LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA
