Things to Do in Highland Village

Gondola Adventures sets quartets afloat on the Mandalay Canal and Lake Carolyn for a melodious aquatic outing spiced with Venetian charm. After boarding a sleek, electric craft or traditional single-oar gondola, wayfarers skim the water's surface to the tune of their gondolier's private serenade or the soothing softness of prerecorded romantic tunes. Gourmet chocolates and cider nourish tummy butterflies as the ship glides into sheltered inlets with views of cascading falls—a cue for sweethearts to lock lips and for wooden figureheads to shield their eyes and giggle. As the lake-top explorations wind down, the gondolas skate back to the docks along the unshared waterways, allowing guests to enjoy total solitude aside from the occasional patrol craft or stork addicted to peek-a-boo.

Though it’s tucked inside a karate studio, Sacred Earth Yoga doesn’t condone fighting. Instead, the yoga studio works to keep costs and profits low by channeling funds toward the education of students and instructors rather than toward superficial frills and a fancier studio. Students are responsible for providing their own mats and receive hands-on, direct instruction in a variety of yoga styles, including Ashtanga, Hatha, and rigorous Power Vinyasa. Instructors lead newcomers through gentle classes that introduce students to the foundational moves before they graduate up to more athletic and fluid classes. Each instructor hails from an established yoga background, with many having studied under gurus in India and in the U.S.

The jungle would be a safer place if the chin-high grass, towering trees, and wild animals were painted on the walls and everything three-dimensional was inflatable. This dream of a danger-free nature preserve comes to life at Jump N Jungle. Voted the Best Kids’ Party Place in the Bay Area Citizen Reader's Choice Awards, the jungle lets kids leap toward the rafters on inflatable jumpers, test the bounds of gravity on giant slides, and navigate an unending labyrinth of mazes and obstacle courses. Both locations play host to weekend birthday gatherings by supplying invitations, plates and plastic cutlery, as well as staff supervision in the party room and play areas. Additionally, its childcare services include an educational curriculum for toddlers and preschoolers, as well as before school and afterschool activities for older children.