Saturday, September 22, 2012

Vasona Lake County Park


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What
  • Lake
  • Biking
  • Hiking
  • Boating
  • Fishing
  • Canadian Geese
  • Playground for kids

More Info
  • $6/car parking fee
  • Several parking lots in the park and ample parking space
  • Restrooms at several places in the park
  • Boat rentals are $10 for 30 minutes and $15 for 60 minutes; Credit cards accepted
  • No swimming permitted in the lake
  • Several BBQ pits and picnic benches in the park

On a warm Saturday afternoon, a bunch of us went to the Vasona Lake County Park. As we were driving on CA 17 freeway, we saw glimpses of the beautiful lake to the right, glittering in the sunlight. After paying at the park entrance, we drove past the playground area for kids and parked the car in the parking lot next to the lake. There are multiple parking lots inside the Vasona Lake County Park.

Vasona Lake, with the iconic bridge

There is a kayak rental place just next to the parking lot and the undisturbed lake was just so beautiful that we couldn’t resist the temptation to kayak on the lake. A small island in one corner of the lake is home to several birds.

There are several picnic benches and BBQ pits in the park and the meadows are ideal to relax while enjoying the peaceful lake. The popular Los Gatos Creek Trail runs along the Vasona Lake and one can also walk on the iconic red bridge that runs across the lake.

Creek with Canadian Geese

We walked from the kayak rental place to the Oak Meadow Park, which took us about 15minutes. On the way, we stopped at the Creek Lot, where the water is so shallow that one can jump into the water to get his/her feet wet. Several kids were playing around in the creek and all of us jumped into the creek, which was occupied by a gaggle of Canadian geese. It was so much fun!

Billy Jones Train

After playing in the creek for a few minutes, we continued walking to the Billy Jones Train Station of the Oak Meadow Park and took the 10min train ride around the park. There is also a carousel right next to the train ticket booth. We snacked on one of the picnic benches nearby, relaxed on the green meadows and called it a day.

Tips
  • Park the car in one of the parks, either Vasona or Oak Meadow and you can walk to the other one. Separate parking fee for both the parks
  • Christmas lights are put up in Vasona from the end of November to the end of December. Click here for more information

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Stanford Dish


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What
  • Hiking
  • View of the Bay Area, Dumbarton Bridge
  • Wildlife - Squirrels, Lizards

More Info
  • Free admission
  • No restrooms
  • No biking
  • No dedicated parking space

I had been planning to hike the Stanford Dish for a very long time and jumped up and down merrily when a meeting invite that read “Annual Company Hike – Stanford Dish” came to my calendar. Believe it or not, I was on the fence until 30minutes before everyone stepped out to carpool to the Dish. I knew that the trail is not shaded and I did not really want to hike in the hot sun and get burnt. But, as I know “me”, I came prepared with my sunscreen lotion, cap and comfortable clothing and on the whim decided to join the group.

Stanford Dish Trail

Length: 3.5 miles; Elevation: 515 feet; Time: 1.5 hours; Difficulty: Easy

There are a few entrances to the park; we parked at the intersection of Junipero Serra Blvd and Stanford Ave. There is no dedicated parking lot, so one needs to find parking on the streets. Several streets have permit parking, so unless you want to get your car towed you do not want to park there. Parking is really a devil of a job.

Stanford Dish trailhead

The trail started with a fairly steep and continuous ascend for a while and in a few minutes we were at an elevation, looking at the beautiful Bay Area. It so happened this was the day that the Endeavor Space Shuttle was flying over the Bay Area to Los Angeles. At exactly 10.30am, we saw the space shuttle flying all the way from Redwood City to the south.

Hazy View of Endeavor Space Shuttle

After watching the space shuttle fly by, all of us in the group started together and eventually everyone got split up into smaller groups. The trail soon split into two and we took the one to the left. After the first steep ascend, the trail was so gradually ascending that I hardly noticed. I was so keen on looking around and trying to identify landmarks that I knew and taking pictures. The Dumbarton Bridge was clearly visible from the trail. I even captured a hazy view of the iconic Oracle buildings in Redwood City.

Stanford Dish

The trail is mostly barren and not rich in wildlife. However, there were lots of squirrels running around everywhere. The Dish could also be seen from several points in the trail.

After crossing the Dish, the trail gradually descended. I thought I almost reached the parking lot and thought that the hike was a cake walk. Oh boy, I was wrong. The last leg of the trail was exactly when the fun began. The trail alternately ascended and descended and made me palpitating. At the end of the hike, I thought it was a decent workout.

Last leg of the trail

Tips
  • Not a summer hike because the trail is not shaded at all 

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Saturday, September 15, 2012

San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival


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What
  • Annual Dragon Boat Racing in Clipper Cove of Treasure Island
  • Lots of fun activities for families and kids 

More Info
  • Free parking in Treasure Island
  • Free shuttles from a few places in San Francisco. Click here for more information
  • Free admission
  • Click here to see the schedule of events  

On a bright Saturday morning in September, we started on our way to San Francisco to watch the annual international dragon boat festival in the Treasure Island. This was also the day we learned our lesson to not drive to the city during such occasions. It took us 3 hours to drive to the Treasure Island and by the time we reached the place and found parking, we were worn out.

Luckily, the bright day with the beautiful view of the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco downtown brought us back to life. This was our first time visiting the Treasure Island and we were captivated by the view of the downtown that one could capture from this artificial man-made island. It is certainly an apt place to come during twilight to see the beautiful city lights.

View of San Francisco downtown and Bay Bridge from Treasure Island

We found parking a few blocks away from the Clipper Cove, where the festival was held. The place was thronged with folks, primarily college kids waiting for their turn to participate in the boat race. There are plenty of rocks by the shore, where one can sit and watch as the teams race. It was reminiscent of my school and college days when you are cheering the participants.

Boat Race in Clipper Cove

We then walked around to see all the festival booths and food vendors lined up. There are other fun activities planned for the two-day festival and you can check out the schedule here.

We spent a few hours here and returned home. We felt it was more of a onetime thing, the festival would not draw us to attend it the following year. 

Tips
  • Take the public transportation to the festival

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Monday, September 3, 2012

Point Arena Lighthouse


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What
  • Point Arena lighthouse (115 feet)
  • View of Punchbowl, Manchester State Beach and Mendocino coastline from the top of the lighthouse
  • Coastal trails on Lighthouse Road (a little away from the lighthouse)

More Info
  • Free car parking in the lighthouse grounds
  • The tallest lighthouse on the Pacific Coast where one can climb to the top; Fee is $7.50/adult
  • Guided and self-guided tours available
  • Check out the lighthouse hours here 
  • Gift shop near the lighthouse

After spending the long Labor Day weekend in Mendocino and Fort Bragg, we decided to stop at Point Arena lighthouse while returning to the Bay Area. The lighthouse is located to the south of Mendocino and can be reached within an hour’s drive from Mendocino. Point Arena is the tallest lighthouse in California, where one can actually climb to the top! Although I wonder why Pigeon Point lighthouse, which is of same height as Point Arena is considered to be the tallest in California. The Pigeon Point lighthouse has been closed to the public since December 2001.

Unfortunately, the day was overcast when we started in the morning, but we still adhered to our plan to go to the lighthouse hoping the fog would clear up. The weather website claimed it to be a warm and sunny day and undoubtedly it was wrong, so wrong! 

The drive from Mendocino to Point Arena was amazing. The roads were not as coiling as I expected and the views of the ocean were unsurpassable. We specifically remember driving on the road that offered a fantastic view of the serene Navarro River from an elevation. We pulled over to capture a quick picture and we on our way to Point Arena.

View of Navarro River

Ideally, I think one can see the beautiful white lighthouse as soon as you take the Lighthouse Road, which splits from CA1. The foggy weather did not reveal the lighthouse, no matter how hard we tried to find the 115 feet tall structure. As we approached the lighthouse grounds, we saw the beautiful white lighthouse emerging from the fog.

Point Arena Lighthouse

We went inside the gift shop that sold souvenirs, sweaters, jewelry made of abalone, etc. And needless to say, they were pricey. We badly wanted to go up to the lighthouse, but knew it would be waste of money ($7.50/adult) and time given the bad weather. On a bright day, I can bet that the view from the top would blow one’s mind.

View from the coastal trail

We waited here for a while and there was still no luck with the fogs clearing up. While returning via the Lighthouse Road, there was a spot where several cars were parked on one corner and we noticed folks walking on the rocks along the coast. We followed suit and were so glad we did it. There was a plethora of grottos in the ocean and several places where one can walk on those grottos. Simply beautiful! We continued on the trail for a bit and noticed a farm at a distance where cows were grazing. This place is marked on the map in this blog post.

View of natural grottos

We would certainly love to return to Point Arena lighthouse on a clear day to enjoy the breathtaking views from the top.

Tips
  • Excellent vantage point to see whales migrating between December and March

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Sunday, September 2, 2012

Russian Gulch State Park


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What
  • Hiking
  • View of Pacific Ocean
  • Devil’s Punchbowl
  • Waterfalls

More Info
  • $8/car parking fee
  • Multiple parking spaces in the park

As soon as we entered the park entrance, we took the trail to the first right and started walking on the trail surrounded by redwood and other tall trees. There are several places along the trail that offer a magnificent view of the bridge about the Russian River and several natural hole-in-the-rock formations. The waters displayed a deep green color. There were several picnic benches and BBQ pits along the trail.

Bridge above Russian River

We continued walking until we reached the thing that I so desperately wanted to see – Devil’s Punchbowl. The 100 foot diameter Punchbowl was formed by the formation of a natural tunnel from the ocean. The view of the fierce waters making its way through the tunnel into the Punchbowl was both freaky and fascinating. Ropes and poles have been placed along the circumference for safety. We walked around the Punchbowl and continued walking on the trail along the ocean. The trails are not well marked and parts of the trail are narrow and have tall dry shrubs on either sides.

Devil's Punchbowl

The Russian Gulch State Park also has a beautiful waterfall that one can hike to. We were completely enervated after the long day and the park was going to close in 30 minutes. Hence, continued on the trail to return to the parking lot.

Natural hole-in-the-rock formations

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Mendocino Bay Overlook


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What
  • Scenic viewpoint of the Big River Beach, Mendocino Headlands and Mendocino Bay

More Info
  • Free admission
  • Free parking on the streets

Mendocino Bay Overlook, which is less than a mile away from the Mendocino Headlands StatePark is a not so popular, yet a beautiful scenic viewpoint of the Mendocino Headlands and the Big River Beach. As soon as we drove past the bridge that crosses the Big River Beach, we took the first right, the Brewery Gulch Road and to the immediate right is the entrance to the Mendocino Bay Overlook. There is no dedicated parking lot and it is easy to miss the small gate at the entrance, that has a little post reading “Mendocino Bay Overlook”.

View of the Pacific and Mendocino Headlands State Park

We parked the car on the narrow street and walked on the short trail for 2 minutes to reach the  breathtaking viewpoint. The vastness of the Pacific and the Mendocino Headlands State Park could also be seen from here. To the right is a closer view of the sandy, family-friendly Big River Beach. The aerial view of mouth of the Big River Beach emptying into the Mendocino Bay was simply fascinating.

View of the Big River Beach

There was nobody else here but an old couple sitting in their chairs and relaxing by the Bay. It seemed like they had been here for hours, enjoying the spectacular views and the placid waters.

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Mendocino Headlands State Park


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What
  • Hiking
  • Abalone Diving
  • Big River Beach
  • View of Mendocino Bay
  • View of Pacific Ocean
  • Natural grottos

More Info
  • Free parking
  • Free admission

Mendocino Headlands State Park is a treat to people of all age groups and interests. Whether you are a casual explorer or a hiker or an abalone diver or a photographer or somebody who simply wants to relax in the beach, this state park will satiate you.

There are a few parking lots in the state park, where one can park the car and walk on the coastal trails. It all depends on you, whether you want to simply get out of the car and capture gorgeous views or hike the ~5 mile coastal trail. The plethora of natural grottos along the coastal bluffs amazed us and there are a few places where one can safely walk on top of the grottos.

Natural grottos

We walked on the rugged coastal terrain and simply sat there for a long time enjoying the beautiful waters, unique rock formations and the thunder-storm like sounds of the water hitting against the rocks. To the far right was the family friendly Big River Beach emptying into the Mendocino Bay. The Mendocino Bay Overlook, a spectacular viewpoint of the Mendocino Bay can also be seen from the trail.

Mendocino Bay to the far left

While walking on the coastal trail, we noticed a couple of folks going abalone diving in the ocean. We spent over an hour here and took off to our next destination, Mendocino Bay Overlook which is less than a mile from the Mendocino Headlands State Park.

Tips
  • Excellent viewpoint to see the sunset
  • Mendocino Music Festival is held here in July; check out more about the music festival here   

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Glass Beach


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What
  • Beach with rounded sea glasses
  • Beachcombing 

More Info
  • Free parking
  • Free admission

I am not an early bird, but had to wake before the first light to watch the sunrise from the Glass Beach. We found a parking lot near a bridge that is a little past Old Haud Rd and Stewart St. The trail immediately next to the parking lot took us on the coastal bluff and beach nearby looked very different from what we saw in the pictures. This beach was sandy, as opposed to the pictures of Glass Beach that had lot of stones that looked like glasses.

Just before sunrise from the coastal bluff

We knew that we had reached the wrong place and decided to return to the car when suddenly we saw a tinge of a bright light behind the mountains. It was so beautiful that we decided to stay on the coastal bluff for a few minutes to watch the big ball of fire rising.

Sunrise from the coastal bluff

Luckily we saw somebody at the parking lot who directed us to the Glass Beach, which is at the junction of Old Haul Dr and W Elm St. A short trail to the Glass Beach soon split into two; the one to the right takes you to the Glass Beach State Park.

Glass Beach

As we were here at the crack of dawn, nobody else was in the beach. It was very quiet, serene, undisturbed and peaceful. Stepping closer to the beach, we noticed those shiny rounded sea glasses of all colors - red, blue, white, orange.

Rounded sea glasses

Apparently, from 1949 to 1967 this place was a public dump where people trashed all kinds of things including glass bottles and even cars. Years of pounding action by the waves on this trash caused the creation of these rounded sea glasses on the beach. Very interesting.

It is okay to pick up the sea glasses and enjoy its beauty, but you will be frowned upon you if you take them home. So, don’t!

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MacKerricher State Park


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What
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Ten Mile Beach
  • Sandhill Lake
  • Lake Cleone
  • Laguna Point
  • Seals
  • Whales
  • Ducks, Pelicans, Seagulls
  • Tidepools
  • View of Pacific Ocean
  • Skeleton of a gray whale

More Info
  • $8/car parking fee 
  • Several parking lots in the park
  • Restrooms nears Laguna Point

Lake Cleone

There are several parking lots in this huge state park; we parked the car near Lake Cleone, a very small freshwater lake popular for fishing. We walked to the beach, climbed on the rocks nearby and saw the beautiful sight of the waves crashing against the rocks. At a distance there were lots of birds sitting on the rocks off the shore. To our right was the Ten Mile Beach and to our left, the Laguna Point.

Birds near the Ten Mile Beach

Laguna Point Trail

Length: ~0.6 miles; Elevation: Insignificant; Time: 1 hour; Difficulty: Easy

We started walking on the beach towards the trailhead to the Laguna Point. From the trailhead, there is a paved boardwalk that takes you along the coastline and forms a loop. Along the trail, there were several scenic viewpoints to see the beautiful and vast ocean. A couple of detours from the trail took us to the tidepools, where we saw tidepool sculpins, starfish, mussels, hermit crabs, etc. The water was so clear that we could see the ocean bed from parts of the trail.
View of Laguna Point to the left, from North Overlook

We soon reached the Laguna Point, which is a prime vantage point to see the migrating gray whales and humpback whales between November and March. Harbor seals can be seen throughout the year on the rocks nearby. California sea lions can be usually seen from here from fall through mid-spring. We even noticed several birds such as black oystercatchers, pelagic cormorants, western gulls, surf scoters, pelicans, herons, black turnstones. We continued on the trail that soon took us back to the parking lot.

Don’t miss out the skeleton of a gray whale at the park entrance.

Gray Whale Skeleton

Tips
  • Gray whale skeleton is at the park entrance
  • Check out the time of low tides and come here during low tides to see the rich tidepools
  • Excellent vantage point to see seals, sea lions and whales (between November and March)

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