Below you can find links to all my travel blog posts on specific location, organized in logical "Chapters". Click on the relevant Chapter name below and you jump to all related posts.
Chapters:
- 15 min
from Sunnyvale
- Skyline Ridge Parks (hwy 35)
- South Bay Parks
- South East Bay
- East Bay
- San Francisco
- hwy 1 - Santa Cruz to San Francisco
- hwy 1 - San Francisco to Fort Bragg
- hwy 1 - Santa Cruz to Pismo Beach
- Marin & Sonoma County
- Gold Country
- Sierra
- Eastern Sierra
- South California
- North California
- Nevada
- Utah
- Arizona
- Hawaii
- Alaska
- Road Trips
- Costa Rica
General:
15 min from
Sunnyvale
This section includes many small/medium parks and places near Sunnyvale that let you take short escape from the city into nature.
Places to visit:
- Fremont Older Preserve, Saratoga
- McClellan Ranch Preserve
- Rancho San Antonio Preserve
- Stevens Creek paved Trail (Sunnyvale to Waterfront)
- Stevens
Creek County Park & Lake
- Pearson-Arastradero Preserve
- Stanford Dish
- Villa Montalvo
- Saratoga Quarry Park
- Bay Waterfront Trails
- Don Edwards and Alviso Marina County Park
- Vasona Lake County Park
- Los Gatos Creek County Park
Skyline Ridge Parks (hwy 35)
This
section includes many large parks that cover the high mountain ridge that stretch between
the inner bay south valley to the ocean. The parks
are relatively large with trails going into the woods and stream, usually the parks
are less crowded and are connected between
themselves so you can have long hikes or bike rides.
The parks along hwy #35 were not damaged by the 2020 summer fires. The large Santa Cruz
fire was more to the south west from the mountain ridge line.
Places to visit:
- Sanborn County Park
- Lake Ranch Reservoir
- SamTrail
- MonteBello Preserve and Black Mountain
- Los Trancos Open Space Preserve
- Skyline Trail and Saratoga Gap
- Castle Rock State Park
- Summit Rock Trail
- John Nicholas Trailhead
- Skyline Ridge Preserve
- Long Ridge Open Space
- Russian Ridge Preserve
- Coal Creek Preserve
- Portola Redwoods State Park
- Sam McDonald County Park
- Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
- El Corte de Madera Creek
- Windy Hill Preserve
- Stanford Dish
- Wunderlich County Park
- Huddart County Park
- Edgewood County Park
South Bay Parks
South Bay Parks are usually large parks on hills surrounding the south bay. The landscape is combination of trees and open grassland with nice viewpoints. It recommended to visit them during winter when they are all green. Most of parks has nice lakes at the nearby creeks.
Places to visit:
- San Jose - City Center
- San Jose - Diridon Train Station
- San Jose - SAP Center
- San Jose - The Alameda St.
- San Jose - Japantown
- Bear Creek Redwood
- St. Joseph's Hill Preserve
- Anderson Lake County Park
- Pacheco State Park
- Coyote Lake County Park
- Almaden Quicksilver County Park
- Mount Madonna County Park
- Rancho Canada del Oro
- Santa Teresa County Park
- Sierra Azul Preserve
- Calero County Park
- Mount Umunhum
- Henry W. Coe State Park
- Pinnacles National Parks
South East Bay
South East Bay Parks are located east of San Jose and the bay area, usually on the foothills or deep in the mountains. The hills landscape is usually combination of oak trees and open grassland with nice viewpoints to the bay. It recommended to visit them during winter when they are all green.
Places to visit:
- Joseph D. Grant County Park
- Lick Observatory
- Alum Rock Park
- Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve
- Ed R. Levin County Park
- Hiking Ed R. Levin to Mission Peak
- Don Edwards Bay National Wildlife Refuge
- Sunol Regional Wilderness
- Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area
- Coyote Hills Regional Park
San Francisco
- San Francisco – How to plan your 2-3 days visit
- San Francisco - Union Square
- San Francisco - Cable Car
- San Francisco - Chinatown
- San Francisco - Columbus Ave.
- San Francisco - Coit Tower
- San Francisco - Lombard St
- San Francisco - Pier 39
- San Francisco - Ghirardelli Square
- San Francisco - Crissy Field
- San Francisco - The Palace Of Fine Arts
- San Francisco - Presidio
- San Francisco - Yoda Fountain
- San Francisco - Andy Goldsworthy's Wood Line
- San Francisco - Lyon Street Steps
- San Francisco - Japantown, Fillmore St. and Alta Plaza Park
- San Francisco - City Hall and Civic Center
- San Francisco - Financial District
- San Francisco - SoMa (South of Market) District
- San Francisco - How Weird Street Fair
- San Francisco - The Embarcadero St and East Piers
- San Francisco - Alcatraz Island Tours
- San Francisco - Chase Center
- San Francisco - Twin Peaks
- San Francisco - Castro St.
- San Francisco - Corona Heights Park
- San Francisco - Mission District
- San Francisco - Mission Dolores Park
- San Francisco - Bernal Heights Park
- San Francisco - Treasure Island
- San Francisco - Golden Gate Bridge
- San Francisco - Land’s End Park
- San Francisco - Legion of Honor Museum
- San Francisco - Golden Gate Park
- San Francisco - 16th Avenue Tiled Steps
- San Francisco - Irving St.
- San Francisco - Haight-Ashbury
- San Francisco - Glen Canyon Park
- San Francisco - Mt. Davidson Park
- San Francisco - The Painted Ladies
- San Francisco - Hayes St.
- San Francisco - Fleet Week, Oct. 2019
- San Francisco - Fleet Week, Oct. 2021
hwy 1 - Santa Cruz to San Francisco
- Santa Cruz Ocean Front
- Natural Bridges State Beach
- Monarch Butterfly at Natural Bridges SB
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Fall Creek Unit
- The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
- Seacliff State Beach - Aptos
- Capitola
- Wilder Ranch State Park
- Davenport Beach
- Rancho Del Oso Nature and History Center
- Pigeon Point Lighthouse
- Martin’s Beach
- Butano State Park
- Ocean Beaches near Half Moon Bay
- Half Moon Bay Harbor Mavericks Beach
- Moss Beach
- Devil's Slide
- San Pedro Valley Park
- Mori Point (Pacifica, CA)
hwy 1 - San Francisco to Fort Bragg
- Highway 1, San Francisco to Fort Bragg – A Trip Planner
- Point Reyes – Day Trip from San Francisco: A Trip Planner
- Point Reyes – Drakes Beach and Lighthouse
- Point Reyes – Pierce Point Ranch and Tule Elk Reserve
- Point Reyes – Alamere Falls
- Point Reyes - November 2022 Visit
- Bodega Bay
- Bodega Bay - Feb. 2023 Picture Gallery
- Sonoma Coast State Park - Goat Rock
- Fort Ross State Historic Park
- Fort Ross - Feb. 2023, Picture Gallery
- Salt Point State Park
- Gualala Point Regional Park
- Bowling Ball Beach (Schooner Gulch State Beach)
- Point Arena Lighthouse and Stornetta Public Lands
- Manchester State Park
- Fort Bragg and Mendocino, CA - 3 Days Visit Planning
- Navarro Beach and Redwood Park
- Van Damme State Park
- Mendocino town and Headlands State Park
- Russian Gulch State Park
- Russian Gulch State Park – Fern Waterfall Hike
- Russian Gulch State Park – Devil’s Punchbowl Hike
- Point Cabrillo Light Station
- Fort Bragg - Pudding Creek Trestle and Beach
- Glass Beach, Fort Bragg
- MacKerricher State Park
- Usal Beach - Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, CA (4x4 drive)
Marin & Sonoma Country
- Highway 1, San Francisco to Fort Bragg – A Trip Planner
- Golden Gate NRA, Marin Headlands - Visit Planning
- Golden Gate Bridge View Vista Point North
- Golden Gate NRA, Rodeo Beach
- Golden Gate NRA, Battery Kirby Beach
- Golden Gate NRA, Tennessee Valley
- Golden Gate NRA, Point Bonita Lighthouse
- Muir Woods National Monument
- Mount Tamalpais State Park
- Mount Tamalpais State Park - Steep Ravine Trail
- Mount Tamalpais State Park - Cataract Trail
- Trione-Annadel State Park
- Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
hwy 1 - Santa Cruz to Pismo Beach
- Moss Landing & Elkhorn Slough
- Elkhorn Slough Estuarine Reserve
- Monterey
- Big Sur Highway 1 from Monterey to Morro Bay
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- Garrapata Beach - Calla Lily Flowers Blooming
- Bixby Creek Bridge
- Point Sur Lighthouse and Top-Secret Naval base
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Pfeiffer Beach
- Partington Cove
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - McWay Falls
- San Simon: Hearst Castle and Elephant Seal Point
- Montaña de Oro State Park
- Morro Bay
- Carrizo Plain National Monument
- Pismo Beach
Gold Country
Sierra
- Yosemite
- Yosemite National Park – How to plan your One-Day visit
- Yosemite National Park - Bear Pictures
- Yosemite NP – Winter (Snow) Visit Planning
- Yosemite NP – Hiking Mist trail to Vernal Falls and Nevada Fall
- Yosemite NP – 4 Miles Trail to Glacier Point
- Yosemite NP – Hike to Half Dome Diving Board
- Yosemite NP – Tioga Pass Road
- Yosemite NP – Cloud Rest Hike
- Yosemite NP – Tioga Pass North Dome Hike
- Yosemite NP – Tioga Pass May Lake Hike
- Yosemite NP – Tioga Pass Tenaya Lake
- Yosemite NP – Tioga Pass Tuolumne Meadows
- Yosemite NP – Tioga Pass Lembert Dome Hike
- Yosemite NP – Hetch Hetchy Visit Planning
- Yosemite NP – Hetch Hetchy, Laurel Lake Day Hike
- Yosemite NP – Hetch Hetchy, Wapama Falls Day Hike
- Yosemite NP – Tuolumne Sequoia Grove
- Yosemite NP – Wawona Pioneer Yosemite History Center
- Yosemite NP – Mariposa Sequoia Grove
- Yosemite NP – Inspiration Point Hike
- Yosemite NP – Tunnel View to Dewey Point Hike
- Yosemite Valley - Pictures from my Oct. 2022 visit
- Yosemite NP – Snow, Pictures from my Dec. 2, 2022 visit
- 68 miles hike at Ansel Adams Wilderness - Day 1
- 68 miles hike at Ansel Adams Wilderness - Day 2
- 68 miles hike at Ansel Adams Wilderness - Day 3
- 68 miles hike at Ansel Adams Wilderness - Day 4
- Introduction - 4 days Hike in the Hoover and Yosemite Wilderness
- Day 1 - 4 days Hike in the Hoover and Yosemite Wilderness
- Day 2 - 4 days Hike in the Hoover and Yosemite Wilderness
- Day 3 - 4 days Hike in the Hoover and Yosemite Wilderness
- Day 4 - 4 days Hike in the Hoover and Yosemite Wilderness
- Sierra
- Hope Valley – Highway 88
- Hope Valley (Highway 88) - Autumn Colors
- Hope Valley (Highway 88) - Autumn Colors, Oct. 2021
- Hope Valley - Lower Blue Lake and Tamarack Lake
- Caples Lake and Carson Pass (Highway 88)
- Highway 4 Road Trip - Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway
- California State Highway 108
- Kings Canyon National Park
Eastern Sierra
- The Road from Mojave to Lone Pine
- Olancha Sculpture Garden, Highway 395
- Red Rock Canyon State Park (CA)
- Alabama Hills (CA)
- Lone Pine to Death Valley - hwy 190
- Cerro Gordo Ghost Town
- Death Valley
- Death Valley Road Trip
- Mojave Desert – Highway 127 from Death Valley to Baker
- Beatty Nevada and Rhyolite Ghost Town
- Death Valley – Titus Canyon Drive
- Death Valley – Ibex Dunes and Saratoga Springs
- Death Valley – Striped Butte Valley 4x4 Drive
- Death Valley – Sidewinder Canyon
- Death Valley – Badwater
- Death Valley – Artist's Palette Drive
- Death Valley – Hiking Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch
- Death Valley – Zabriskie Point
- Death Valley – Salt springs sunset visit
- Death Valley – Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- Death Valley – Ubehebe Crater
- Death Valley – Racetrack Playa
- Death Valley – Saline Valley, Salt Lake
- Death Valley – Saline Valley, Warm Springs
- Manzanar
- Trona Pinnacles
- Bishop and highway 168 west into Bishop Creek Canyon
- Bishop California - North Lake (2021)
- Sabrina Lake - Hike to Blue Lake
- Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
- White Mountains (California) - Ancient Bristlecone Patriarch Grove
- Hiking White Mountain Peak, California
- Mammoth Lakes
- Devils Postpile National Monument
- Mammoth Lakes Hot Springs
- June Lake Loop
- Mono Lake: South Tufa Area
- Mono Lake North: Rattlesnake Gulch and Black Point
- Virginia Lakes
- Bodie Ghost Town
- Twin Lakes, Bridgeport
- Fall Colors in California - Trip to Eastern Sierra
- Mojave Desert – Mojave, California
- Mojave National Preserve – Visit Planning
- Mojave National Preserve – visit planning, 2 days trip itinerary
- Mojave National Preserve – Barstow, CA
- Mojave Desert – Amboy CA, historic Route 66
- Mojave National Preserve – Baker, CA
- Mojave Desert – Highway 127 from Death Valley to Baker
- Mojave National Preserve – Aiken Mine Road (4x4 drive)
- Mojave National Preserve – Lava Tube
- Mojave National Preserve – Cow Cove Petroglyphs
- Mojave National Preserve – Cima Dome & Joshua Tree Forest
- Mojave National Preserve – Drive from Cima Rd to Hole-in-the-Wall
- Mojave National Preserve – Hole-in-the-Wall
- Mojave National Preserve – Essex Road to Kelso Dunes (4x4 Drive)
- Mojave National Preserve – Kelso Depot
- Mojave National Preserve – Kelso Dunes
- Joshua Tree National Park – Visit planning
- Joshua Tree NP – Cholla Cactus Garden Trail
- Joshua Tree NP – Arch Rock Nature Trail
- Joshua Tree NP – Geology Road (4x4 drive)
- Joshua Tree NP – Hidden Valley Nature Trail
- Joshua Tree NP – Barker Dam Nature Trail
- Joshua Tree NP – Keys View
South California
South California
- San Diego - La Jolla
- LA - Disneyland Park
- LA - Downtown
- LA - Griffith Observatory
- LA - Hollywood Blvd
- LA - City Hall
- LA - Little Tokyo
- LA - Arts District
- LA - Santa Monica
- LA - Venice Beach
- Santa Barbara - Old Mission
- Santa Barbara - State St.
- Santa Barbara - Beach
- Solvang
- Tule Elk state reserve - Highway I-5 a nature rest area
- For the following south California locations please see Eastern Sierra section:
- Joshua Tree National Park – Visit planning
- Mojave National Preserve – Visit Planning
North California- Lake Tahoe Area
- Bear at South Lake Tahoe
- Emerald Bay State Park – Lake Tahoe
- Eagle Lake Hike – Lake Tahoe
- Susie Lake Hike – Lake Tahoe
- Hope Valley – Highway 88
- Highway 4 Road Trip - Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway
- Sierra Butte Hike (North California)
- Sierra City (North California)
- The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola
- California North Central:
- North California - Waterfalls Loop Road-Trip (Redding – Shasta)
- McArthur Burney Falls State Park
- Potem Creek Falls, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Hatchet Creek Falls, Shasta County
- McCloud River Falls, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Lake Siskiyou and Faery falls, Shasta County
- Heart and Castle Lakes Hike, Shasta County
- Hedge Creek Falls, Shasta County
- Castle Crags State Park
- Northeast California 5 Days Road Trip (from Lake Tahoe to Lava Beds NM)
- Lassen Volcanic NP – Trip Planning
- Lassen Volcanic NP – Echo Lake and Cluster Lakes loop hikes
- Lassen Volcanic NP – Kings Creek Waterfall Hike
- Lassen Volcanic NP – Sulphur Works and Ridge Lakes Hike
- Lassen Volcanic NP – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes
- Lava Beds National Monument (North California)
- California North Coastline:
- Redwood Parks at Northern California Coastline – Visit Planning
- Highway 101 Attractions between Leggett to Avenue of the Giants
- Highway 1, San Francisco to Fort Bragg – A Trip Planner
- Humboldt Redwoods State Park
- Humboldt Redwoods State Park - Founders Tree Trail
- Trinidad, California
- Redwood National Park - Redwood Creek Hike to Tall Trees Grove
- Redwood National Park - Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - Fern Canyon
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park - Grove of Titans Trail
- Crescent City, California
Nevada
Utah
- South Utah - Parks Grand Circle
- Utah Southwest - For The Advance Travelers
- Zion National Park
- Bryce National Park
- Kodachrome State Park
- Toadstool Hoodoos
- Lone Rock Beach NRA
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Buckskin Gulch
- Alstrom Point
- Cottonwood Road Utah
- Devils Garden Escalante
- Peek-a-boo Spooky slot Canyons Escalante
- Reflection Point Escalante
- Monument Valley NP
- Mexican Hat and Goosenecks SP
- Valley of the Gods
- Natural Bridges NM
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands NP - Island in the Sky
- Goblin Valley SP
- Capitol Reef National Park
Arizona
Hawaii
- Kauai - Island Visit and Trip Planning
- Kauai - Queen's Bath
- Kauai - Hanalei Beach
- Kauai - Turtle Cave
- Kauai - Wailua Falls
- Kauai - Poipu Beach
- Kauai - Sealodge Beach
- Kauai - Waimea Canyon State Park
- Kauai - Anini Beach and Kalihikai Park
- Maui – Overview, Visit Planning and Tips
- Maui - Lahaina and the North West beaches
- Maui - Īao Valley State Park
- Maui - Haleakalā National Park
- Maui - The Road to Hana
- Maui - Oheo Gulch, Haleakala National Park
- Maui - The road on the back side of Haleakala (hwy 31)
- Big Island – Overview, Visit Planning and Tips
- Big Island – Beaches, Northwest Ocean Shore
- Big Island - Waterfalls at Wailuku River State Park
- Big Island – Pepeekeo Maikai Scenic Route
- Big Island – Driving North of Hilo, Northeastern Ocean Shoreline
- Big Island - Akaka Falls State Park
- Big Island - Waipi'o Valley
- Big Island - Pololū Valley
- Big Island – Drive through the island central high section
- Big Island - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
- Kauai - Island Visit and Trip Planning
- Kauai - Queen's Bath
- Kauai - Hanalei Beach
- Kauai - Turtle Cave
- Kauai - Wailua Falls
- Kauai - Poipu Beach
- Kauai - Sealodge Beach
- Kauai - Waimea Canyon State Park
- Kauai - Anini Beach and Kalihikai Park
- Maui – Overview, Visit Planning and Tips
- Maui - Lahaina and the North West beaches
- Maui - Īao Valley State Park
- Maui - Haleakalā National Park
- Maui - The Road to Hana
- Maui - Oheo Gulch, Haleakala National Park
- Maui - The road on the back side of Haleakala (hwy 31)
- Big Island – Overview, Visit Planning and Tips
- Big Island – Beaches, Northwest Ocean Shore
- Big Island - Waterfalls at Wailuku River State Park
- Big Island – Pepeekeo Maikai Scenic Route
- Big Island – Driving North of Hilo, Northeastern Ocean Shoreline
- Big Island - Akaka Falls State Park
- Big Island - Waipi'o Valley
- Big Island - Pololū Valley
- Big Island – Drive through the island central high section
- Big Island - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Alaska
Road Trips
- Arizona Road Trip Planning Suggestions
Redwood Parks at Northern California Coastline – Visit Planning
North California - Waterfalls Loop Road-Trip (Redding –Shasta)
Northeast California 5 Days Road Trip (from Lake Tahoe to Lava Beds NM)
Costa Rica
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