They say that travel plays a huge role in children’s development—and for good reason. Bringing them to a new place opens up their imagination to a world of endless possibilities, so be sure to start them young.

If you’re staying at Wander Anchor Bay soon, you might want to consider these child-friendly activities to keep the kiddos engaged and entertained. But if you want to take a quiet night-out, we also have some recommendations on trusted babysitters around the area.

Disclaimer: Wander Anchor Bay is not suitable for young children due to extremely high cliffs in the area. Children and pets cannot be left unattended outdoors.

Child-Friendly Activities

Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of things you can do with your child while on vacation. Here are some fun activities to start with. 

Plan a Beach Outing at Anchor Bay Campground

Photo by Anchor Bay Campground

• Distance from Wander Home: 0.5 miles

• Address: 35800 CA-1, Gualala, CA 95445, USA

• Hours: Open daily all day

• Contact Number: 707-884-4222

• Website: http://www.abcamp.com/

This six-acre campground is just half a mile away from your Wander Anchor Bay home. As a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, it’s also a great place to enjoy beach activities with the kids, from swimming (with supervision, of course) to sand castle building.

There’s also a small lagoon in the area where the creek meets the beach—perfect for kids as young as four to splash around. Your fur babies are also welcome here; just make sure to keep them leashed at all times. 

Pro tip: if you happen to be in the area from late March to early May, you can even go whale watching. It’s the best time for sightings of the annual California Gray Whale migration!

Adults are charged $3 for day use while fees are waived for pets and children.

Go Horseback Riding with Ross Ranch

Photo from Unsplash

• Distance from Wander Home: 40.8 miles (Elk location)

• Address: 28300 Philo Greenwood Rd, Elk, CA 95432, USA

• Hours: Open daily with ride schedules starting at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM

• Contact Number: 707-489-8579

• Website: http://www.rossranch.biz/index.php

Now this one’s a bit of an off-the-beaten path. But if you’re planning a road trip up north to Mendocino, a side trip to Ross Ranch can be worth it for kids and kids-at-heart. 

Here, you have the option of choosing between a guided horseback ride along California’s Manchester Beach or the redwood forest in Elk, California.

No need to worry if you or your child don’t have any prior riding experience. Their herd of horses are trained to match your riding abilities, perfect for beginner and intermediate riders alike!

Note that the minimum age to go horseback riding with Ross Ranch is 6 years old. No walk-ins are allowed either, which means that you have to make a reservation in advance.

Rates are currently at $60 per person. From May 2022 onwards, note that rates will be at $70 per person. 

Feed Giraffes at B. Bryan Preserve

Photo by B. Bryan Preserve

• Distance from Wander Home: 14.3 miles

• Address: B Bryan Preserve, 130 Riverside Dr, Point Arena, CA 95468, USA

• Hours: Open daily from 10 AM to 10:45 AM, and 3:30 PM to 5 PM. 

• Contact Number: 707-882-2297

• Website: https://www.bbryanpreserve.com/ 

Various species of zebra, giraffe, and antelope roam free in this huge 110-acre private preserve. B. Bryan Preserve currently offers three types of tours: self-guided car safari (where you drive your own car), private VIP tour, or a guided tour. 

While petting animals isn’t allowed, each tour ends with a unique experience of feeding a giraffe. Here’s another pro tip: you can get up close and personal with a giraffe during a “Giraffe Painting Tour” that the preserve holds on the first Saturday of every month.

No, you won’t be painting a giraffe. Instead, you’ll be holding a canvas while a giraffe “paints” it. You can also feed them treats and take home the 8 x 10 masterpiece that the giraffe painted for you as a souvenir. 

Kids aged 6 years old and above can participate in this activity. Regardless, you can still bring your kids as young as a year old in the preserve.

Rates are at $25 per adult and $15 per child aged 10 years old and below for self-guided car tours. 

Babysitters

Photo by Lina Kivaka from Pexels

Want to go on a date night? No problem, you can leave your kids at your Wander home safely with the help of a competent babysitter, and here’s where to find them. 

Care.com

Think of Care.com as an online marketplace for babysitters. All you need to do is to specify your needs and create an account (which doesn’t take more than 3 minutes of your time) so the platform can find you the best options near Wander Anchor Bay.

After creating your job posting, you can review profiles and message potential babysitters right off the bat. 

Care.com conducts background checks on all caregivers in their platform, so you can rest assured that your child will be in safe hands. Apart from child care, the platform also allows you to find professionals qualified in senior care and pet care, just in case you need it. 

You can head over to Care.com to book a babysitter.  

Sittercity

Sittercity is another online platform that you can use to find last-minute babysitters. You have to sign up before you can post a job on their platform—no memberships required.

The platform allows you to connect and message potential babysitters based on location, experience, skills, rates, and other requirements you specified. For extra peace of mind, you can also request for a background check on your chosen sitter for an additional fee.

Visit Sittercity.com to book a babysitter.

Have a Great Visit! 

We hope you enjoy your stay at Wander Anchor Bay. Our concierge desk is available to chat 24/7 if you have questions about your trip!