Destination: Redwood City
Visit The San Mateo County History Museum, Explore The Lathrop House, And Hike Bair Island
This is part of a series of family-oriented day trip outings around the San Francisco Bay Area I look forward to enjoying with my kids once social distancing and shelter in place isn’t the norm any longer.
Social Isolation — Day 17
Today was filled with homemaking tasks. I’ve been trying to sprout some kitchen scraps in cups of water over the last week, they seem to be coming along. On my last shopping trip, I managed to pick up some seeds for arugula, radishes, beets, oregano, thyme, and basil. We planted some of those today, so hopefully, we will have some garden treats in a few weeks.
I also managed to bake my first loaf of bread, as so many of my fellow shelter in place colleagues have done. It was just a quick loaf, baked in my cast iron enameled pot, but I think it should go nicely with our meatless Monday dinner (cauliflower and red lentil soup) once I slice it up and toast some chevre on top of it.
Trying to make the best out of our current situation.
Destination: Redwood City
Climate Best By Government Test
Visit the San Mateo County History Museum
Explore the Lathrop House
Hike Bair Island
Redwood City has grown tremendously over the last decade. The San Mateo County history museum is a delightful spot to spend part of your day. This beautiful building was hidden behind another government building (where courthouse square is now) for years until the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake made it unsafe. When the building was torn down revealing once again the classic courthouse, plans were made to create a more public venue. Throughout the year, events are held here, and you never know what fun you might stumble into.
Lathrop House has recently been moved to behind the courthouse in order to make way for a new county government building at its old location. Efforts are still being made to make the house visitable again, and adjacent to it will be a historic garage to house the history museum’s collection of classic carriages and cars.
Bair Island doesn’t get many visitors as it’s a bit remote. Still, it’s a lovely visit. You’ve probably driven by it along the 101 at one time or another.
Visit the San Mateo County History Museum
San Mateo County History Museum in the former courthouse by Cody Tolmasoff
The San Mateo County History Museum is a nice place to spend a couple of hours. Mrs. Doubtfire filmed the courthouse scene upstairs in the courtroom here. The admission fee to visit isn’t too expensive ($6/$4 adult/child), but I will keep my eye open for a free time to visit (usually related to one of the events they hold). Free entry is also available on the first Friday of the month.
They have some hands-on exhibits along with some entertaining videos about the history of San Mateo County. Don't forget to look at the largest stained-glass dome on the west coast as you walk in. Sit in a mud wagon, belly up to an antique bar, drive the streetcar, use the classic telephone booth, and ride the waves at Mavericks.
Explore the Lathrop House
By Eugene Zelenko — Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10489381
I’ve read that in its new location behind the history museum, Lathrop House may have extended hours and be attached directly to the museum. It was hard to find the opportunity to visit, as it had limited hours a couple of times a month.
The house has been moved a couple of times, originally located where the Fox Theater is now. Benjamin Lathrop was the first Assessor of San Mateo County and made his money investing in the San Francisco-San Jose Railroad, allowing him to purchase many plots of land in Redwood City. I’m looking forward to visiting this Steamboat Gothic style house once it reopens.
Hike Bair Island
Bair Island by Cody Tolmasoff
Driving up or down the 101 Freeway through Redwood City, you may have noticed a marshy area next to the bay between the San Carlos Airport and Whipple Avenue. This area has been largely restored to tidal wetlands for the birds to rest on their migratory paths. Walking here gives you the feel for what the bay looked like before European settlers came.
The hike itself is mostly flat, and it is a nice hike to take if it’s not too windy. Primary parking and restroom facilities are near the entrance on Bair Island Road (take Whipple east of 101, then drive on E. Bayshore Road till the roundabout, then drive down Bair Island Road). Last time I was there, there also seemed to be an entrance at the end of Whipple as well.
Keep your eyes open for birds and other wildlife. You might see some rabbits or salt marsh harvest mice. Birds to look for are peregrine falcons, stilts, pelicans, and egrets. You might even see some stingrays in the water, or a leopard shark.
Cody Tolmasoff is an author and publisher for Adventuring.in. He is a recovering programmer and a San Francisco native, raising two daughters, and regularly finding new adventures around the SF Bay Area. This article is an excerpt from an upcoming book, 52 San Francisco Bay Area Weekend Adventures, Day Trips With Your Kids!
Find him on Twitter @codyo, and read his most recent title Adventures in Getting Out on Amazon, filled with advice on successfully getting your family out for day trip adventures.
Originally published on Medium on 30 March 2020