Santa Cruz
The city of Santa Cruz, California is known for its moderate climate, natural beauty, amazing coastline and redwood forest.
This sleepy beach town is within one-hour driving distance from San Francisco or San Jose.
You can certainly make Santa Cruz a stop on your Bay area itinerary, but I think it deserves to be its own destination. There is so much to do and see – you can easily spend a week without getting bored.
During one of my visits, I made Santa Cruz my base camp and made side trips to San Francisco. I got to enjoy the slow-paced life of a resort town while satisfying my craving for a bustling city very-once-in-a-while.
Santa Cruz can also be a stop on the epic California Highway 1 road trip. During that trip you can experience
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This 3-mile (one-way) walk takes you through important points of interest like: world famous surfing area “Steamer Lane”; Santa Cruz Surfing Museum; Lighthouse Point; and Natural Bridges State Beach. At the state beach enjoy the beautiful rock formations and bird and sea lion populations.
Fun facts: Much of the movie "The Lost Boys" was filmed on location in Santa Cruz. Many scenes were shot at the Boardwalk and the Wharf.
Natural Bridges State Beach is the winter home of the Monarch butterfly. From October to February, the Monarchs flock to this park to rest for the winter.
Tip: Make sure to wear layers and bring a jacket or sweater when you visit Natural Bridget State Beach. In get very windy and chilly in the afternnon.
Another nice walk is along the San Lorenzo River. The is a well maintained path on both sides of the river with pedestrian bridges connecting the two banks. The trail goes all the way from the beach (close to the Boardwalk) to highway 1.
You can stop at Lorenzo Park for a relaxing picnic or you can take a side trip to downtown shopping on Pacific ave.
Also within walking distance, the Town Clock, Del Mar Theatre and Mission State Historic Park.
Bright sunshine to frigid snow, all within hours of travel. A place for everyone, all ages, all cultures, all types of people. When choosing a place to live, we decide on the one that pleases us and our busy lives. For those who enjoy constant activity and sunny warm beaches, California and Florida tend to be on their list. Once learning all that California has to offer, they will jump on the decision to pack their bags and head for their new home. California offers exploration and something new every day. “If they can’t do it in California, it can’t be done anywhere.” -Taylor Caldwell (Fun Quotes about California by Stephen Frank, www.capolitical news.com)
I have been to San Juan Capistrano twice now, once in fourth grade, and then recently during Ski week. Because of my familiarity, going back there was like visiting a memory, and automatically I had a deeper emotional connection with the place and what it stands for. Some of the places that really resonated with me this time include:
State of California. "San Diego." California State Parks Office of Historic Preservation. http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21478 (accessed March 19, 2014).
Located just beyond the south entrance to the park is the visitors center and ranger station. Here you can find maps to trails, information about camping, fishing and boating, and information about the flora and fauna to be found within the park. This is a good place to start your visit, get oriented, and plan your day.
San Francisco belongs to California state in America and located on the west coast of American continent connecting to Pacific ocean, so it has been an important entrance for many ships from east to America including China, Japan, Korea, Russia, etc. California used to belong to Spain and Mexico, until 1848 America won California after United States war with Mexico. At the same year in 1848, gold was found accidently in Sutter’s Mill, California, and the gold rush att...
Santa Catalina Island, often known as Catalina Island, is located off the coast of Southern California, southwest of Los Angeles. Catalina Island forms part of the Channel Islands archipelago. Catalina is the only island, out of eight, that has been significantly developed. There are two major settlement location within the island - the city of Avalon and the unincorporated town of Two Harbors (“Visit Catalina Island,” 2014). Beyond the town boundaries the island is covered by wild life that it is owned and operated by the Catalina Island Conservancy ("The Official Catalina Island Website,” 2013).
Five miles of shoreline exist at this location to catch a wave. But, the surf along the north beach area draws boarders for the best rides. In fact, this area earns these waters recognition as one of the best surfing beaches in northeast Florida.
Mission San Buenaventura is located along the Coast of Southern California in the city we now know as Ventura, California.
A few miles from the Salinas River. Close to the hillside banks. In a very nice southern area with a river, mountains, and beautiful sandy land.
Just consider all the glorious caves we will be able to explore. The prominent attraction is a a two-mile cave loop that provides nearly 20 caves to explore. Some caves may be too much of a risk they we may not need to enter but others are as safe as climbing a two foot wall. We can also take guided tours of the park, hike along scenic trails, climb cinder cones, and learn about the natural volcanoes and high desert in northern California.
As I walk towards the ocean with the sand warm beneath my feet, the waves lap at my ankles, seeming as if they want to pull me out to sea. The sun rises over the horizon, reflecting off the waves and shimmering like gold. The salt air smells tangy as it stings my nose with the smell I crave while I am away from the ocean. The Outer Banks in North Carolina has been my favorite place to go from my first memories. I look forward to going there every summer because there at the ocean I feel at home. It is a place where I can forget every stress in my life and be totally at peace. It is a place where my family can spend time together, not like at home where we all have activities and places to be. The Outer Banks is not a beach where the ocean is forgotten; there is no partying and no boardwalks, nothing but nature to fill your days there. The beach is not crowded to the point where it is hard to even walk to the beach ,and looking for shells is not even an option. This beach is a very peaceful and surreal place. The noises of people do not overwhelm you at this beach; all you can hear are the sea gulls and the waves.
I’ve been living there almost my whole life, the Presidio, that is. I did used to live in Berkeley, though I can’t quite remember what it was like. I’m used to the Presidio, the fresh air, the beautiful landscapes and all of that. Though there will most definitely be aspects of the Presidio that I will not miss! For instance: the little to no amount of customization you can do to your house, the occasional loud smelly garbage truck parking right outside your window, the gutter strategically placed right next to the car door so you’re likely to lose your keys for good if you drop them, the odd field of hay growing across the street, the raccoons living in a bush right outside our garage, and most of all: the coyotes who eat everyone’s family pets. Aside from that there are nice flowers in the hay across the street, and there are beautiful owls and hawks that will fly by every once in awhile. So it isn’t completely bad.
Moving to Los Angeles, I had an image of what I thought it would be like in my mind. I imagined that there would be countless skyscrapers and busy little tourists littering the streets walking to and fro, mesmerized by attractions such as the Hollywood sign and the hazy mountainous backdrop. As I ventured up from my previous living situation down in Sunny San Diego, the anticipation of my much-needed big city fix was slowly let down as I approached a much smaller place than I had dreamed of. Los Angeles is barren and leaves a lot to desire. But only so just at a quick glance! With the challenge given to set out and explore, I set out with an open mind to see what carefully selected spots had been picked out for me to truly check out the city of angels.
The light breeze and lush greenery at this place makes it a hit amongst joggers and morning walkers. Right outside the park, you can find various attractions for kids such as swings, merry-go-round, horse cart, shooting game and food stalls.
This island boasts a less touristy experience and you’ll probably be able to find a secluded beachfront even during the summer months. If you’re looking for golden sand and turquoise waters, look no further than Grandes Playas de Corralejo. For those with special needs, there are walkways and ramps to help get around on the sand. This beach even has a team dedicated to assisting disabled travelers so they can enjoy a relaxing day.