BajaNomad

Baja - Kids Activities/Fun stuff?

newtobaja - 12-7-2009 at 01:12 AM

Hi,

Can anyone recommend places/activities that kids may enjoy. I got a 6 and a 10 year old girl and we will be driving baja way during december holidays.

- snorkelling & kayaking - any specific area that might be kid friendly.
- yurts @ san igancio - I've added that as I think the kids will love staying there
- whale watching @ GN (only place that will have whales when we are down there)
- any other things, places, hotels that they may enjoy

We won't be staying at any resort in Los Cabos so those don't count

thanks

wessongroup - 12-7-2009 at 05:43 AM

Hard for me to give any specific's.. but there are three "Northamericano's kids" that live near me.. two brothers and a sister the oldest is mostly 10 or 11 the youngest, the girl is around 6-8..

I just eat my hart out... they just play and play and have such a good time down here.. they go to school with "locals".

Mornings are spent on a three wheeler going up to the OXXO to get coffee for their Dad.. He lives here with the kids, and then after school.. they are like any other kids.. Dad's trying to get them to help out around the place.. and for them.. they are trying to either ride the three wheelers or, in a wet suit in the water playing around doing something..

In any event they appear to be always having a good time, our dogs go over to their house to say HI all the time.. and their dogs come over now and say HI..

Everyone is just fine.. but you still have to watch your kids, even down here..

Was just asked to be on the look out for a kidnapped girl of 13... yes, sadly even here there are twisted f***s .... I do hear, they don't last too long once in Mexican prisons... it really doesn't go HERE and the natural selection process, YOUR DEAD!! if caught doing something along these lines when you get to prison.. no phsy evaluation, no med's, you just did a big "no, no"... that's it!!.. makes sense to me...

Paulina - 12-7-2009 at 08:31 AM

Just a few ideas for you off the top of my head, then I have to run to work;

Tide pools- My kids had tide pool books. They would take a bucket down to the shore, collect a few specimens, bring them back to the trailer, look them up in their book, then let them go. Teach them tide pool ediquette, turn rocks over gently and replace them how they found them. Hint-octopus won't make it.

Birds - We had baja bird books also. When the kids spotted a new bird they would look it up and put a check by it. It was fun for them to see how many they could check off each trip.

Cactus - We did the same with cactus, checking off the different types they saw.

Stringing seashells. Take elastic string along for making bracelets with the small shells they'll find in the sand.

We also stocked up on coloring books and crayon packs to share with the local children we'd meet along the way.

Not available when my kids were young, but inexpensive digital cameras for kids will keep them busy snapping away. They could capture the different birds, cactus and tide pool animals, burros, bugs, rock paintings if you visit any.

Have fun!

P<*)))>{

[Edited on 7-12-2009 by Paulina]

wilderone - 12-7-2009 at 09:48 AM

Excellent suggestions, Paulina. Snorkling at La Gringa, BOLA. Depending on your time and how willing you are to go off road, a side trip to El Marmol is fascinating. Plan to walk around the quarry, visit the cemetary, have a picnic, see the remnants of the town. Seeing the oxyx quarry is quite a lesson in geophysics. Stop at the little places for a rest and to absorb more of the real Baja, like Rcho. Santa Ynez. Stop there for a coke, a meal, visiting; then take a short walk in the arroyo. There is a small stream that crosses the road in the dip near where the Catavina pictographs are - you'll see it. Spend a little time there, put your feet in the water, climb to the pictographs. Defintely check out some of the missions. San Vicente is convenient. In short, break up your drive with all the very interesting things that Baja can show you. Also, give your children some pesos and let them purchase things in small stores themselves. Teach them some words like please, thank you and Buenas Dias, and encourage them to use them.

BajaNuts - 12-7-2009 at 09:53 PM

an excellent kids beach near La Paz ( if you're going that far south) is Balandra. Head east out of La Paz, easy to find, well marked, has the classic Mushroom Rock around the point.

If you do go there, walk out around the point to the next beach area, away from the parking area. It's an awesome shallow bay that drains at low tide. It has some good snorkeling in calm waters around the perimeter.

If you're up for spending a little money for an excursion, maybe consider taking a panga trip out of La Paz to Isla Espiritu Santo and go snorkeling with the sea lion colony that lives on the island. Definitely Memorable! Once in a lifetime opportunity for the kids! We did it with our 8 year old son. It was AWESOME!

Have Fun!

Skipjack Joe - 12-7-2009 at 11:20 PM

It's really a lot less complicated than it seems.

You just camp two weeks on some safe beach like Requeson and things will work out by themselves.

They'll be in the water from morning until night every day. All you need to do is be there when they come out for lunch and dinner. And provide them with a warm bed at night.

Don't overcomplicate the trip by creating the sort of trip that interests you.

They're not interested in all the sights of baja.
They don't want to drive up and see the Mission of San Javier.
They don't want to go shopping in Loreto.
They don't want to eat lobster at some fancy restaurant.

They want to go to a single good place and stay there.
Kids know how to play. It's we that have forgotten and require entertainment.

Just my opinion.

BajaNuts - 12-7-2009 at 11:50 PM

Si, Skipjack..

kids do know how to play together!

I forget that sometimes.... since when we travel we have one child who does very well by himself for quite a while but does eventually need entertaining/interaction with others.........

Skipjack Joe - 12-8-2009 at 12:37 AM

I think I exaggerated a bit to make a point.

I didn't follow my own advice.

Adults have a right to have fun as well ...

:biggrin:

BajaNuts - 12-8-2009 at 01:06 AM

skipjack-

it's not that exaggerated! When 'Nuts0.5 has a buddy over, they play, giggle, eat, play, laugh, Wii, game, soccer........and next thing we know....it's midnight!


That's what I think you are talking about.

It's just different traveling with ONE child and adults who want to relax...have a cerveza.......watch the sunset..........

and a kid who wants to DO SOMETHING!

Awww well....it all works out~~~

Diver - 12-8-2009 at 08:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
It's really a lot less complicated than it seems.

You just camp two weeks on some safe beach like Requeson and things will work out by themselves.

They'll be in the water from morning until night every day. All you need to do is be there when they come out for lunch and dinner. And provide them with a warm bed at night.

Don't overcomplicate the trip by creating the sort of trip that interests you.

They're not interested in all the sights of baja.
They don't want to drive up and see the Mission of San Javier.
They don't want to go shopping in Loreto.
They don't want to eat lobster at some fancy restaurant.

They want to go to a single good place and stay there.
Kids know how to play. It's we that have forgotten and require entertainment.

Just my opinion.


You hit all the nails on the heads !!
El Requeson is/was our kids favorite place to hang.
There are always kids to play with and the protected bay is less than 2' deep for 100 yards to the south.
Note that my then 6 year old kayaker is really in less than 18" of water.
.

IMG_0266.jpg - 40kB

Bugman - 12-8-2009 at 11:54 AM

I will second Skipjack's comments. I just got back from two weeks down there with my 5 yr old and 1 yr old. We camped on the beach at Agua Verde for 5 days and spent 3 days at Asuncion in the San Roque area with stops at the yurts in San Ignacio and beach hotel at LA Bay. As long as they had water and sand or rocks they were in 7th heaven.
:cool:

newtobaja - 12-9-2009 at 10:21 AM

Thanks for the responses.

This is our first trip to baja so both the kids and adults want to have fun.
If things go well this trip (knock on wood), I plan to have a followup trip to BdeLA in summer next year. That trip will be what you guys describe - just relax on a beach for a week.

(I've been in CA for 12 years not sure why I didn't think of going to baja earlier)

thanks for the rancho santa ynez & balandra recommendations.. Wil be sure to stop by there.

is the snorkeling trip to isla espiritu santo safe for kids? I looked at it earlier and crossed it off thinking it may not be suitable for kids.

Ken Bondy - 12-9-2009 at 11:30 AM

My four kids kinda grew up in Baja on more than 100 flying trips we did when they were young. One of their favorite things was hermit crab racing on the beaches. It was a win/win - didn't cost anything, was fun for the kids, and no crabs were ever injured.

oxxo - 12-9-2009 at 11:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaNuts
an excellent kids beach near La Paz ( if you're going that far south) is Balandra.


I don't recommend that one for kids. lots of sting rays!

805gregg - 12-9-2009 at 07:56 PM

I know you are planning to be in the water alot, but when I spent X-mas in Baja Sur it was very cold (down jacket cold)and we did not go in the water at all. If you want to be warm you have to go to the mainland in the winter.

newtobaja - 12-10-2009 at 01:38 AM

thanks for weather update. Can someone confirm that? I was hoping to spend time in the water at Bahia Concepcion, LP and cabos area. Is the water cold even on the Cortez side in LP, Cabos areas?

cabo daytime temp currently is 77-80F which is nice. Night time is 57-59F.
So it doesn't look that bad. Hopefully it stays like this till the end of Dec

thanks

Jellyfish stings

landrover65 - 12-11-2009 at 11:16 PM

For playing in the water you may encounter broken jellyfish tentacles in the water after a couple of days of wind blowing. Apparently nothing is totally effective; but this reference suggest using vinegar for some help and as a placebo until the pain fades on its own.
http://www.susanscott.net/OceanWatch2001/apr06-01.html

Also, you should expect to encounter 2 to 5 day periods of strong north winds during your trip which will make the waterfront unpleasant. The water will be a little murky for a couple of days afterwards. Obtain weather reports as you begin and continue on your trip and be flexible in rescheduling your activities.

Don't expect a usable beach at Santa Rosalia, Mulege (until you get a couple of miles south of town and the Bahia Conception beaches), Loreto, or La Paz (until you drive out 12 miles to L.P. beaches). In general it get's harder to find shallow beaches as you go south of La Paz and the wave action and potential for undertow is too much for kids of this age.

The towns of San Ignacio, Santa Rosalia, Mulege, and Loreto offer the best opportunity to just walk around with the kids and experience the "way things were." Go to the cave painting museum in San Ignacio. The old penitentiary in Mulege will impress them. There's an Museum of Anthropology and History in La Paz that would be interesting if you fly through at kid speed (skeletons with gold jewelry).

BajaDiane - 12-12-2009 at 05:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by newtobaja
Hi,

Can anyone recommend places/activities that kids may enjoy. I got a 6 and a 10 year old girl and we will be driving baja way during december holidays.

- snorkelling & kayaking - any specific area that might be kid friendly.
- yurts @ san igancio - I've added that as I think the kids will love staying there
- whale watching @ GN (only place that will have whales when we are down there)
- any other things, places, hotels that they may enjoy

We won't be staying at any resort in Los Cabos so those don't count

thanks

BajaDiane - 12-12-2009 at 05:13 PM

Hello!

We are a family with 2 girls ages 8 and 12 and we will be on Playa Coyote Dec. 22nd through Jan. 5 Bring your kids down to Coyote and camp awhile! My kids are hoping for other kids to hang around with. We have been there 5 times over the Christmas break, and there is a lot to do just hanging on the beach. We have kayaks, games etc, but the kids can amuse themselves for hours with hunting for shells and playing in the sand. I agree that it's fun to just find a place and relax....dont tour around too much. Have a great time, it is an awesome place to bring your kids. ''

BajaNuts - 12-12-2009 at 05:25 PM

new2baja- hope you're still watching this thread-

"is the snorkeling trip to isla espiritu santo safe for kids? I looked at it earlier and crossed it off thinking it may not be suitable for kids."

We did it with an 8 year-old who isn't THAT strong of a swimmer. This time of year, you'll want to rent wetsuits, which have some boyancy and if you have any doubts about their swimming capabilities, put them in a live vest also.

'Nuts0.5 just had the wetsuit on. He would try to dive but would pop back up. The sea lion pups would swim around us. One of us adults was near him at all times as you have to keep a safe distance from the adult sea lions. But the pups would swim around us, one bumped into the boy's leg with it's snout and he reached out and touched another one that was playing around him. 'Nuts2 (hubby) also had a pup brush up against him.

There was one time, I felt we were a little too close when some big'uns slid into the water, so I swam us a little farther out.


When we were at the island, there were probably 15-20 other boats of various sizes as well as a National Geographic vessel. There were snorkelers and divers all over the place.


This is just our experience, I wouldn't hesitate to take him again.

Have Fun, whatever you do! And I hope you take lots of pics and post a trip report when you're back home.

newtobaja - 12-15-2009 at 01:30 AM

thanks - I will certainly post a trip report when I'm back.