A Petrified Forest, Old Faithful, and french fries...

Chris had a Friday off, so we decided to check out some of the natural wonders in our neck of the woods and headed north, past Napa, to the Petrified Forest in Calistoga.

Driving through the vineyards...

We paid to get in and then walked a half mile trail through a little forest filled with petrified trees. After wondering why Chloe was so enamored with the dirt, rocks, and pine cones on the path, we realized that it was her first time out in nature! She actually walked most of the trail by herself, which turned what would have been a quick 15 minute walk into a 45 minute adventure examining bugs, dirt clods, rocks, trees, and autumn leaves! So much more fun! :)

Chloe checking out a petrified tree...

Mommy and Chloe!

Chloe and Daddy enjoying the nature path...

Afterwards, we headed another 15 minutes away to the Old Faithful Geyser which consisted of a goat pen, a dry wishing well, and a pond with the geyser hole in the middle and benches around it. Not exactly what we expected to see after paying $10 each to get in and seeing all the hyped up signs for miles around. After standing around for 15 minutes, a fountain-like stream of water started coming out of the hole and a minute later it was over. A bit disappointing. By this time we were all hungry and Chloe was ready for a nap, so we got back in the car and headed towards home.

While driving through the little town of, St. Helena, we saw a burger place on the side of the road, with a totally packed parking lot and a huge line out front, and decided to see what all the fuss was about. You ordered at a row of windows and picked up your food there when it was done, but behind the place was a big green grassy field with umbrella covered picnic tables spaced nice and far apart! The food was gourmet, the setting was perfect, and the weather was balmy 75 degrees! This was the highlight of our day... like having a picnic in your own back yard with delicious food being served to you and no mess to clean up!

Feeding daddy a french fry...

Petrified Forest admission: $26, Old Faithful Geyser admission: $20, burgers, fries, grilled cheese, and a pumpkin milkshake: $30, driving for hours, laughing at rocks and fountains, and having a burger picnic as a family: PRICELESS!!