The Staycation

We didn't make our semi-annual pilgrimage to Hawaii this summer. Instead, we decided to become tourists in our own town--which the journalists have termed the "Staycation." So, it turns out, we are very hip. Who knew?
We started by taking the kids to their first baseball game--Giants vs. A's at the Coliseum--pre-season exhibition game. The BART ride there was exciting. Our seats were in right field near the foul pole. The kids weren't too thrilled about the game. I was trying to explain that the pitcher was throwing the ball, and the batter was trying to hit it. See? Pitch . . . and swing! Oh, he missed. Try again! Pitch . . . and swing! He hit it! He hit it! Then Kira claps her hands, Yay! But, it was a pop fly into center field, easily caught. The crowd said, "Awwwww." Kira was confused--"What's wrong, Mama?" You try explaining that to a 4 year old! So, we left after the bottom of the third inning, but we ate hot dogs first.
Next to Old Sacramento. This area has been turned into a tourist attraction, complete with old steam engine train rides, and tourist-y shops. We went, of course, for the trains. But, we ran into a Jazz festival with various high school jazz bands performing. The kids liked watching other kids play instruments, and liked clapping when the tunes were done. We did ride the train, of course. But, we never made it to the train museum--so that will be for another day.