Dixon Family Fun Day #1

Around the Dixon casa this summer, we are trying to take one day each week to get out and experience an adventure. We're calling these Family Fun Days. It's a work in progress, but today Amy and I realized that our three goals are: free (not counting a meal), local (within say 20 miles) and new.

So this morning, we loaded up the brood and drove them downtown to the Fresno Met. We had heard that the first 25 people get in free on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and when we got there 20 minutes before the doors opened, it became clear that we weren't the only ones who had heard about that deal! So...so sad, we drove on past. No Bob the Builder exhibit for us on this adventure! Next week?

Our back-up plan took us north of RiverPark up to the small town of Friant. Really, "town" is a bit strong. The only two stores you would recognize are the Subway and a Shell station. Other than that, we're talking local establishments such as "Friant Pizza," "Lake Millerton Boats," and, my favorite, "The Dam Diner." Friant, you see, exists only because there is an enormous dam that overlooks the town. Pictures and stuff here.

Sadly, the dam was closed. Dam. So we did what every adventurous family would do and took a right turn down a marginally paved road...into the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery (site here). From there, the wonders really never ceased. Fish as far as the eye could see. Big fish, small fish, newborns. The kids ate it all up. We probably could have spent the whole day there. It was a terrific way to spend our first Family Fun Day. Couple of pictures: