(5/2-4) Mount Diablo Car Camping: Kids 'Half Dome,' Wind Caves, Rock Climbing, Wildflowers, Snail Fossils
Friday, May 2 — Sunday, May 4 (DAY TRIP AVAILABLE)
Mount Diablo State Park stands as one of California's crown jewels, rising to nearly 3,900 feet in the East Bay — the second highest summit in the Bay Area!
This nature sanctuary offers visitors extraordinary experiences: spectacular wildflower displays in spring, panoramic vistas — visitors can see from the Sierra Nevada to the Golden Gate Bridge — year round, so much wildlife (!), and treasures like 50 million-year-old snail fossils and wind caves carved by powerful winds and raindrops that worked together, like nature's artists, to bore holes and tunnels through massive sandstone rocks.
As one of our young explorers put it, this place is "SO FUN!!!!" You and your family will have a terrific time exploring this corner of Mount Diablo and learning about how nature created this special place!
WHAT WE'LL ENJOY 🥳🥳🥳
Test your skills with a stair + cable climb to the kids 'Half Dome' of rock 🪨🪨🪨 climbing
Have a ball climbing over and through the wind caves + rocks 🪨🪨🪨 and listening for the unique sounds 🎶🎶 that the caves make
Slide down toddler-friendly SLIDES 🛝🛝🛝 carved into the boulders
Wildflowers: See a field full of POPPIES 🌼🌼🌼 Hopefully the field Miranda saw last year is bursting again this year with our state flower!
Discover an ancient snail fossil bed 🐌🐌🐌 millions of years old!!!
Explore relics left behind by the first inhabitants of this land
Participate in a fun and educational scavenger hunt
Community, friendship and support: Instant 'playdate' for your kiddos! We usually have kids from toddlers up to tweens join, with all of the kids playing together! You might see old MMH friends + hopefully make some new ones, too! MMH offers all kinds of support: Need help setting up your tent? Solo parenting on the adventure and need some extra support? We got you!
This is our idea of SUMMER CAMP for kids, but it's for families and we get to explore different campgrounds and parks! You will make wonderful memories with your family and friends 🏕️❤️🫂🤲🏽!!
Friday, May 2 — Sunday, May 4 (DAY TRIP AVAILABLE)
Mount Diablo State Park stands as one of California's crown jewels, rising to nearly 3,900 feet in the East Bay — the second highest summit in the Bay Area!
This nature sanctuary offers visitors extraordinary experiences: spectacular wildflower displays in spring, panoramic vistas — visitors can see from the Sierra Nevada to the Golden Gate Bridge — year round, so much wildlife (!), and treasures like 50 million-year-old snail fossils and wind caves carved by powerful winds and raindrops that worked together, like nature's artists, to bore holes and tunnels through massive sandstone rocks.
As one of our young explorers put it, this place is "SO FUN!!!!" You and your family will have a terrific time exploring this corner of Mount Diablo and learning about how nature created this special place!
WHAT WE'LL ENJOY 🥳🥳🥳
Test your skills with a stair + cable climb to the kids 'Half Dome' of rock 🪨🪨🪨 climbing
Have a ball climbing over and through the wind caves + rocks 🪨🪨🪨 and listening for the unique sounds 🎶🎶 that the caves make
Slide down toddler-friendly SLIDES 🛝🛝🛝 carved into the boulders
Wildflowers: See a field full of POPPIES 🌼🌼🌼 Hopefully the field Miranda saw last year is bursting again this year with our state flower!
Discover an ancient snail fossil bed 🐌🐌🐌 millions of years old!!!
Explore relics left behind by the first inhabitants of this land
Participate in a fun and educational scavenger hunt
Community, friendship and support: Instant 'playdate' for your kiddos! We usually have kids from toddlers up to tweens join, with all of the kids playing together! You might see old MMH friends + hopefully make some new ones, too! MMH offers all kinds of support: Need help setting up your tent? Solo parenting on the adventure and need some extra support? We got you!
This is our idea of SUMMER CAMP for kids, but it's for families and we get to explore different campgrounds and parks! You will make wonderful memories with your family and friends 🏕️❤️🫂🤲🏽!!
ITINERARY (subject to change due to weather/trail conditions, park closures, etc)
Friday: Check in from 4 p.m. on. Make camp, check out wildflower hill (hopefully,, it will be as good as last year!). Kids enjoy arts and crafts, plus glo-stick hunt for the kids. Later, make dinner, s'mores around the campfire.
Saturday: Breakfast then head out for our awesome hike among the rocks and caves to the kids’ ‘Half Dome.’ Later, we'll explore snail fossils! And if we haven’t made it over to wildflower hill yet, then we’ll do so. We’ll wrap up an awesome day with a gorgeous sunset from the summit of Mount Diablo (don’t worry, we’ll drive there!). Guide (Miranda) will bring a telescope for stargazing! If the weather is good, the skies will be star-studded!
Sunday: Breakfast at campsite, time for more arts, crafts and games, and enjoying the campsite. We’ll break camp at noon and say our goodbyes until the next adventure!
DAY TRIP: Saturday day trip is possible (choose that option in the form below). Day trippers can hang out at the campsite after the day trip to enjoy the evening's festivities, like campfire and S'mores.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY
*Hikes are easy BUT there are sharp drop offs in the rock climbing area, which is not stroller friendly. For parents of kids ages 0-3, recommend using a soft front-facing carrier or a backpack carrier. Part of this one hike does require walking over large boulders and some small-rock strewn trails. The first half of this hike is very suitable for toddlers, it’s just the second half that will be more challenging.
WHERE WE ARE STAYING: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EVXfTFNujJ51B98N6
CAMPGROUND AMENITIES
*Drinking water + pit toilets
*Picnic tables
*Fire ring for basic grilling, S’mores (NOTE: Our trip lands at the beginning of fire season and there may be restrictions on fires due to weather conditions)
*Stunning views of the Bay Area!
WHAT'S INCLUDED
*All logistics. We book the campsite, plan the itinerary
*Parking (1 car per family)
*Guided hikes, scavenger hunt and educational activities; toy and arts-and-craft station for the kids when we’re not out adventuring 🎨🪀
*An iron-on patch as a memento of the camping trip plus a small journal for parents to document the adventure! (campers only)
*A digital guide for our adventure that includes natural + cultural history
*A camping checklist
*Assistance with camping set-up
*S’mores kit for the group 🔥🪵🍫
*Firewood for the group
*Charcoal for the group
*First-aid kit
*Loaner kit of hiking gear (48-hour notice). Please inquire about what gear is available; we have items for kids and adults, like single/double jogging strollers, Baby Bjorn infant carrier, toddler backpack carrier, hiking poles, etc. Complete loaner kit request form
NOT INCLUDED
*Food (we can potluck the side dishes if people want)
*Camping gear
HOW TO BOOK
Add this adventure to your car and checkout!
Join the WhatsApp chat: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Lkaund1ikIM59H4ksbPaJO
Complete loaner kit request form: https://bit.ly/loanerkit
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICY
*FAMILY means you, your partner and kids. One tent + car per family.
*Full payment must be made to secure your spot (we don't take cash; only digital payment — see options in "how to book" section below).
*No refunds are provided 60 days before departure date
*Camping trip takes place rain or shine
*If weather forces cancellation of a camping trip, participants can apply half of their payment to another camping trip
WEATHER
The weather reaches the low to mid 70s during the day and around 50 overnight. Please ensure that you have a season-3 sleeping bag (which is the most common one; it's great for everything except snow). I'll be keeping an eye on the weather and will advise you as we get closer to the trip. Here are some tips for how to be as warm as possible while camping.
NOTE
*Dogs are allowed at the campsite but not on trails
*No entrance fee for campers; if we exceed our parking allotment, day trippers might need to go to overflow parking and pay a fee (unless you have a NorCal State Parks pass; you can also borrow one from your local library: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30806)
FLAT FEE FOR WEEKEND
CAMPERS
EARLY BIRD 🐦 SPECIAL DUAL-INCOME FAMILY: $250/per family* ($300 after April 2)
EARLY BIRD 🐦 SPECIAL SINGLE-INCOME FAMILY: $220 for single parent + 1 child ($255 after April 2)
*Family means you, your partner and kids. One tent + car per family.
**NOTE: After 2 kids, $10 charge for each additional child to cover treats + educational materials.
*No refunds are provided 30 days before departure date.
*Camping trip takes place rain or shine
DAY TRIPPERS
SATURDAY, MARCH 29 (must be at meeting point at 9:30 AM; includes S'mores at campsite in evening)
—EARLY BIRD 🐦 SPECIAL DUAL-INCOME FAMILY: $85/family ($95 after April 2)
—EARLY BIRD 🐦 SPECIAL for SINGLE-INCOME FAMILY: $65/family ($75 after April 2)
*Family means you, your partner and kids. One tent + car per family.
**NOTE: After 2 kids, $10 charge for each additional child to cover treats + educational materials.
*No refunds are provided 30 days before departure date.
*Camping trip takes place rain or shine