This June marks the hundredth anniversary of our nation’s Father’s Day. The story goes that a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd proposed the idea in 1909 after listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. Raised by her widowed father, Sonora, wanted to honor him and all fathers by dedicating a special day. Because her father was born in June, she chose that month, and the first official Father’s Day celebration occurred in her hometown of Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

In honor of fathers throughout the centuries, the East Bay Regional Park District has several dedicated events for dads. Starting with a Stone Age celebration at Coyote Hills Regional Park, the crew invites families to travel back in time exploring the lives of hunters and gatherers as part of a Paleolithic tribe. Participants will learn to use Stone Age tools, create fire and feast on meat (hotdogs) and grain (buns). This program is Sunday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is a $10 fee for this program and kids need to be at least 7 years old. Coyote Hills is located at 8000 Patterson Ranch Road in Fremont. Register by calling 1-888-327-2757 or Click Here.

For those dads with younger kids, a visit to Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont makes for a perfect day. This century old working farm is complete with farm animals, a train ride, blacksmithing demonstrations, old-fashioned games, and a special Father’s Day ice cream making activity from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on June 20. No registration required. To visit the farm, there is a $5 admission fee for adults, $4 for seniors and children ages 4-17, and children 3 and under are free. Ardenwood Farm is located at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., in Fremont and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At Black Diamond Mines Regional Park in Antioch, the park is hosting a Father’s Day Mine Open House from noon until 4:30 p.m. on June 20. Celebrate the fathers of the mining days as you explore nearly 1,000 feet of underground mine. There are self guided tours for those 7 or older at a reduced rate of $1 per mine visit. For younger kids, there is an underground room to explore. Black Diamond Mines is located at 5175 Somersville Road in Antioch.

For parks close to home, consider a picnic and short hike at Las Trampas Regional Park off of Bollinger Canyon in San Ramon. The Bollinger Creek Loop Trail is a short 1.5 mile loop from the staging area, which has picnic tables in a nice shady grove. Briones Regional Park has picnic tables at both the Bear Creek and Alhambra Creek staging areas with several short hiking options along the creeks. Diablo Foothills Regional Park in Walnut Creek offers lots of picnic tables, barbeque pits, grassy ball fields, and a swimming pool at adjacent Castle Rock Recreation Area. Stage Road Trail beginning at the southern end of Castle Rock is a nice entry level trail for hiking or mountain bike riding that takes you to Mt. Diablo State Park.

Other Father Day ideas include heading to Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills to ride the Little Train, antique carousel, or spend a day on the beach at Lake Anza. Or, consider renting a boat at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley, Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton, or Del Valle in Livermore. Find out more information including directions to the parks at Click Here. Have a wonderful Father’s Day.

Beverly Lane is vice-president of the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors. Her ward includes Central Contra Costa County from San Ramon through Concord.