Old Faithful in Calistoga, Through a Kid's Eyes

There's a geyser in Calistoga that just... goes off. On its own schedule, every few minutes, a column of hot water and steam shoots up out of the ground like the earth clearing its throat. It's called the Old Faithful Geyser of California, and this weekend I took my kid there for the first time.

If you've never been, it's a wonderfully low-key operation — a little farm and picnic area built around one very reliable hole in the ground. You buy a ticket, you wander in, and then you wait. And the waiting turned out to be half the fun.

My kid did not care about the geology. What my kid cared about was: when is it going to blow? We staked out a bench, watched the little pool start to bubble and hiss, and then — WHOOSH — up it went. The look on that little face was the whole trip right there. We stayed for three eruptions because one was clearly not enough.

Between blasts there are goats. Fainting goats, Jacob sheep with their four horns, a few very relaxed llamas. My kid fed the goats and immediately declared them the best part, which, fair.

It's not a big, polished destination. It's steam and animals and a snack in the sun. But watching your kid see the ground shoot water into the sky for the first time? Turns out that's exactly the right amount of amazing.

Bring quarters for the goat feed. Bring a hat. And don't rush off after the first eruption — the good stuff is in the wait.