It’s June 1st.  Here in SF the foghorns are sounding every few minutes so you know summer has officially arrived!

This summer Playplanit will be mapping out local outdoor spots where you can take the kids to enjoy the weather.

Are you interested in swimming & picnicking without freezing?  Head across the bay to Lake Temescal in Oakland.  The weather is warmer, the park & bathrooms are clean and a family of four can swim for under $15.  Bring your own food to lay out on the picnic tables & grill on the BBQ.  The kids will love the swimming and the playgrounds.  Your friends from out town will love the trails & the redwoods.  You’ll love that you found such a hidden gem.

Spend the day slip-sliding away!  Find & play on the hidden slides in San Francisco.  Sandwiched in between two houses on Seward & Douglass St near the Castro are the concrete Seward Street Slides.  Be prepared that they’re not easy to find (hence the “hidden” piece) & bring some cardboard or waxed paper to make the slide down a little easier.  Next, drive up Bernal Hill to the corner of Winfield and Esmerelda to the Winfield Stairs Slide.  A metal slide goes steeply down a city block through this narrow shady pathway. Feel free to pick up speed – there’s a sand pit at the bottom of the slide to save you.

Watch the surfers & take an easy hike at Pillar Point.  Pillar Point is home to the annual gnarly Mavericks surf competition.  Throughout the rest of the year you can see surfers taking on these challenging waves while you enjoy a nice coastal trail (about 1.6 miles).  As you walk, capture the sweeping views of the Santa Cruz mountains & Half Moon Bay.  Nearby, the kids will marvel at the wildlife as birds, ducks & seals cruise beside you.  Bring your binoculars & your windbreaker!

Venture out to the Lafayette & spend the day at the Reservoir.  Just a few exits beyond the Caldecott Tunnel, off the Acalanes Rd. exit.  For a $6 parking fee you can nab a spot right in front of the water and begin your day.  Explore the paved 2.7 mile loop – great for strollers!  Or for a real adventure take the hilly, unpaved 4.7 mile loop.  For $15 you can rent a boat and head out on the water.  The average temperature in June in Lafayette is in the 80′s.  Experience true summer weather!

Have other places you’d like to tell our readers about?  Add it to comments below or email us!