Lighthouses in California

California boasts of some pretty lighthouses. If you are lost of options of what to do for a weekend, this might help. With summer nearly set in, the coast is a perfect place to be on a hot day. The lighthouses below are along California Highway 1. Driving along this highway is an experience with amazing views of the coastline and the ocean, however be prepared for lonely, single lane curvy roads and not many gas stations. So fill up whenever your tank is half and check for any road closures on THIS website.  

The lighthouses mentioned below have been visited on various single day or overnight trips. Read on for details.


View California Lighthouses in a larger map

1.) CABRILLO LIGHTHOUSE, MENDOCINO, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA:

Our previous post has all the information you need. Click HERE for the information.

For latest and upto date information regarding timing and other events planned for 2013, click on this link: http://www.pointcabrillo.org/events.htm.

2.) POINT REYES LIGHTHOUSE, POINT REYES STATION, CALIFORNIA

Visit our previous post. Click HERE for more information.

3.) POINT BONITA LIGHTHOUSE, SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA

Still an active Lighthouse, this is a short drive from San Francisco ( about 30-40 min ) to the Lighthouse. From the parking lot it is a steep 1\2 mile trail that has stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.

Timing: The tunnel to the lighthouse is open SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY FROM 12.30 - 3.30 PM. Our trip was completed in July 2009. Latest updates on yelp, confirm that the old bridge has been replaced with a new one. In 2009, limited peopled could pass the bridge and there was always a wait. Things may have changed since then with a new bridge. We haven't been there after 2009, but if you have do let me know details so I can update it on the post. Parking is limited. Carry a lunch \ snack and enjoy the views.

Trail to Point Bonita

Pt. Bonita  Lighthouse

San Francisco 

4.) PIGEON POINT LIGHTHOUSE, PESCADERO, CALIFORNIA:

Location: about 50 miles south of San Francisco on CA Highway 1.
The lighthouse is currently closed to the public however the grounds are open. For more information here is the LINK for timings, and guided tours.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

You can check out other places en-route on CA-1 by clicking on this link : http://www.savsmich.com/2012/11/ca-1-central-coast.html

5.) SANTA CRUZ LIGHTHOUSE, SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA

Location: About 30 miles south of Pigeon Point Lighthouse on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. Parking is available in a parking lot close to the lighthouse.
Address: W. Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, Ca

Santa Cruz Lighthouse

Enjoy the day at the beach or a walk along the Pier. Enjoy some sea food and watch the pelicans, pelicans or watch for a stray sighting of dolphins swimming.

In winter, visit the Natural Bridges State Beach to view the Monarch butterflies. More details on the butterflies and when you can see them can be found HERE.

6.) CABRILLO NATIONAL MONUMENT \ OLD POINT LOMA LIGHTHOUSE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

This lighthouse can be visited throughout the year. This lighthouse has been restored to look what it was like in the 1800's. Get a glimpse of what the rooms looked like. Read stories of the past in its exhibits. Read stories of San Diego's efforts during the World War II, of the 19th Coast Artillery and the army's efforts to defend the harbor.

Enjoy some beautiful views of San Diego skyline. Latest information can be found HERE regarding the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and the Cabrillo National Monument.

Cabrillo Monument, San Diego

Lens at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse

If your going to San Diego, the Cabrillo Monument can be found at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr. San Diego, CA

1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr  San Diego, CA

Fruit Picking

"UPDATED" May 24th, 2016

"Get the kids to pick their own vegetables and fruits and there are higher chances of them eating it". Don't we hear this at every doctors visit?

How about doing something exciting and fun together. May\June is a start of the harvest season where many farms offer  "You Pick" which means the public can go and pick their fruit and take home. Brentwood, Gilroy, Salinas valley have certain months allocated where you can go and pick your own fruit! Strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, oranges, nectarines, apples and more.

Cherries

I've compiled a few " Farms for You Pick" Here are some links to help you pick your pick for ""You Pick""! Get your sunscreen, water, cash, snacks, sandwiches and head over for some fun and excitement and cute pics. Please click on the respective links and check for their opening dates and other details.

BRENTWOOD: This has a list of all the farms in Brentwood
http://harvest4you.com/
http://www.everythingbrentwood.com/brentwoodcherrypicking.html

BRENTWOOD: Find a farm: http://harvest4you.com/find-a-farm/

PESCADERO: SWANTONBERRY FARM
http://www.swantonberryfarm.com/upick

SAN FRANCISCO AREA:
http://redtri.com/san-francisco/u-pick-fruit-in-the-bay-area-3-juicy-farms/

Peaches

WATSONVILLE: GIZDICH RANCH
http://www.gizdich-ranch.com/indextwo.php?gr=pikyorsef

PORTOLA VALLEY: WEBB RANCH
http://www.webbranchinc.com/farmers_upick_straw.htm

Check out this link from Webb Ranch on how to be a good berry picker:
http://www.webbranchinc.com/library/upick2013.pdf

> Pick inside the bush for the best flavor
> Ripe berries come off easily
> If you have to pull hard, berries will be sour

"Have fun Fruit Picking " - Savsmich

Peaches

Point Reyes Lighthouse, California

This is a very popular destination. Located about 50 miles north of San Francisco, this scenic area drives people to get a glimpse of the whale migration, the Tule Elk that roam free around the Tomales Bay, the elephant seals, wild flowers and of course the Lighthouse.

Point Reyes Lighthouse

* Winter: March Whale Migration Viewing at Point Reyes Lighthouse* : DECEMBER 28TH - MID APRIL 2014

In Winter, due to the high volume of people visiting the area to view the whale migration, private vehicles are prohibited. Hence, a shuttle from Kenneth C Patrick Visitor Centre ( Drakes Beach ) is required to visit the Lighthouse on the weekend. Purchase tickets at the visitor centre until 3 pm. Return to the Lighthouse shuttle stop by 5.00 pm. This is the last bus to take you back to the visitor centre. It is about a 7 mile walk back and you surely wouldn't want to be left behind! Click on this link for the latest updates: Winter Shuttle

When we visited in March, it was very foggy by 3pm and we were told that we may not be able to hike to the lighthouse. However we decided to purchase tickets and at least go up to the shuttle stop and decide from there. The drive to the Lighthouse from Drakes beach was about 15 minutes, beautiful, narrow roads with the fog hugging the coastline and green pastures with cows grazing and a couple of timid deer along the way. Luck was in our favor. Fortunately the fog cleared just after a few minutes into the hike.

There maybe times when the Lighthouse is closed due to inclement weather so be prepared and expect fog and wind throughout the year. Check this link for other hikes that you can take around the area: Short Hikes. A 0.4 mile hike from the shuttle stop takes you to the visitor centre. From here it is a steep 308 steps down to the lighthouse. Going down is always easier than climbing back up. Here is a pic of the stairs and the lighthouse.

Stairway to the Lighthouse 

Notes: Carry a sweater and a pair of binoculars. There are no gas stations near the Lighthouse area.

For other locations to see see the whale migration click : WHALE WATCHING AREAS IN THE CALIFORNIA:

click for LATEST INFORMATION, TIMINGS AND VISITING IN SUMMER

View of the Pt. Reyes North and  South beach from the trail head

San Francisco Carnaval

Who's ready for some Samba down the streets of San Francisco. Head over this Labor day weekend to experience this popular Multicultural Carnaval Parade on May 26th.

The San Francisco Carnaval features Latin, Caribbean and South American dancers both local and visiting. Its a fun event with the parade filled with the sound of the drum beats, dancers on stilts, samba dancers and a street festival which typically includes food, art and craft and street dancing. The parade winds its way down San Francisco's Mission District. This years theme is Carnaval Harlem Shake. So if your visiting Northern California this is one event is not to be missed. It is a free event. Travel by public transport ( Bart, Caltrain, etc. ) if you want to avoid the hassle of traffic and getting parking space. Get there early so that you can get a good viewing/photography spot.

For more details on the parade route, timing and other events Click here: San Francisco Carnaval

For Parking in San Francisco check this link. Click here: Parking  information

Here are some pictures from our archives.

Dancers on a float

A dancer

A dancer with her colorful attire

Colorful attire

A dancer

Dancing the samba

A Dancer

portrait of a dancer

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

In San Francisco, the Golden Gate bridge is the most visited by millions of visitors. Within this fast paced multi cultural city, there needs to be a place to recuperate, relax and enjoy..The Golden Gate Park which is more than 3 miles in length is a great place for bicycling, jogging, picnicking, boating, and gardens along with meadows. If you want to spend a day in the park, there are many things that can be done. What better way to spend a birthday than to go to a favorite location or just explore and be in the midst of nature. So I selected the Golden Gate Park for mine.


View Golden Gate Park in a larger map

We headed towards the Great Highway that lead us to the end of the Golden Gate Park just before Ocean Beach. Located here are 2 windmills. These windmills were operated for a couple of years till new technology to irrigate the entire park was introduced. 

1.) THE NORTH DUTCH WINDMILL:

This Dutch styled windmill is adjacent to the Queen Wilhermina Tulip garden which was a gift by Queen Wilhermina of the Netherlands who donated the structure to the city in 1902. Each year the garden boasts of  a mighty towering nonfunctional windmill against the backdrop of a bed of beautiful Tulips that symbolize peace and reconciliation. The garden currently has on display Dutch master Daffodils, Pink tulips, Geraniums Dragon heart, and Geum Coccineum ( Cooky). 

The garden is a quiet place to enjoy a snack, read a book or just marvel at the beauty of the displays.

North Dutch Windmill

2.) THE SOUTH MURPHY WINDMILL:

Location: Southwest corner of Golden Gate Park or 48th Ave and Lincoln

This windmill is also non functional. It is a nice photo opportunity too. Nothing much here except for the windmill house next door.

South Murphy Windmill

Parking: You can park anywhere near 47th Avenue and John F Kennedy Drive or on Lincoln Way and 48th Ave. If you are parking near the South windmill, it is a 0.4 mile walk to the North Windmill through the park or alongside the beach. To go to the North windmill, the route through the shaded stroller friendly park will take you towards the Chalet restaurant. Walk past this and turn left taking the stairs up to the location.

3.) JAPANESE TEA GARDEN:

If you have an hour and nothing much planned in the Golden Gate park, this is a good option to think about. This maybe the oldest Japanese Garden in the US. Perfectly manicured tress from Japan adorned with lots of cherry blossom trees surrounding the mini lake colored with Koi and the pagodas act as a perfect backdrop for relaxation, fun and photography. Take a stroll thought the garden and don't forget to climb the U Bridge. Kids love it. Take a picture of the Bronze Buddha, the Pagodas and the landscape.
In Spring, there is a Tea Demonstration. Enjoy the blossom trees that bloom between March and April. For more information click here. Entrance is free if you enter the garden before 10 a.m.

Pagoda

4.) CONSERVATORY OF FLOWERS:
Take me to a botanical garden or even a flower patch and I'm a happy camper. Here is one place within close proximity to the Japanese Tea garden. Learn and see exotic, rare and unseen flowers here. Strollers are not allowed within the conservatory and can be parked near the entrance. Allot about 1-2 hours to see all the exhibits for viewing and photography. There are tropical, potted, highland, lowland, aquatic and special exhibits here. Click for further details, timing, and address here. If you love flowers, you will love this place. Here are some of my favorite clicks.

Orchids

Aquatic plants

You can visit my other post which has some more San Francisco attractions by clicking here. The above attractions have been featured as some of the most visited and maybe good to visit at least once. 

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

Whilst reading some magazines, I came across a link to a mini zoo in Palo Alto, California - The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. I gathered a few friends who had kids of the same age as my son and decided to check it out.

Peacock

Slithery Adventures - Bay Area

There is always a need to keep kids busy. And summer is when you have to really look around for stuff to do. 2011 was when I was searching around for toddler activities for my 2\3 year old. I landed on various websites which gave me ideas. But there was one particular activity that caught my eye. This post may have various opinions about taking children, their safety etc. It's a personal decision no doubt, every one will have their pros and cons. However, I personally wanted to experience it. This is all about an experience with lizards, snakes and pythons. You do not have to read on and can drop off here if you wish. Click on Read more to see the rest of the post.

I found a program at a library that introduced these creatures to the public: curious kids and adults alike. The owner Brian Gundy from this website ( for goodness snakes ), brought with him, reptiles, boa constrictors, alligator lizards and different kinds of snakes. He even let you hold them in your hand or put one over your neck and take pictures at the end of the program. It was a learning experience attending this public event and educational as we learnt a lot about these less talked about animals. Personally I would not keep them as a pet, but I surely got a chance to see the creatures first hand and up close. Below are some of my pictures taken in 2011. You can get adequate information by clicking on this link. 

The public invited to experience them

Albino ball python

With a  python

Alligator lizard 

Lizard

an experience!

kids experience

closeup 

Kids experience it too

Blue tongued lizard

Coincidently, 2013 has been named the Year of the Snake. 

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park

They are the widest, tallest and the oldest living trees on earth! Visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon, brings back memories of our trip back in the summer of 2007! It is located in the Southern Sierra Nevada in East California.

Entrance via Highway 198 @ Hospital Rock 

We drove up via Hwy 198, a very curvy route as compared to driving back home on Hwy 180. No doubt it was very scenic as we were driving alongside Kings River. We camped at one of the campsites within the park. Always fun to camp under the stars and amongst silent bears that visit at night ;-). We had one that opened an unclosed dumpster just where we were camping. This is pretty common in California's parks so don't worry :-) Here are a few things we did over a weekend.

Caltrain Holiday Train

2019 Update:

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019

Location	Arrival/Show
San Francisco	4:00 p.m.
Burlingame	5:25 p.m.
Redwood City	6:10 p.m.
Mountain View	7:25 p.m.
Santa Clara	8:00 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019

Location	Arrival/Show
San Francisco	4:00 p.m.
Millbrae	5:20 p.m.
San Mateo	6:00 p.m.
Menlo Park	7:05 p.m.
Sunnyvale	7:50 p.m.

Caltrain 2019 Link: http://www.caltrain.com/riderinfo/specialevents/holidaytrain.html

 Update 2015: http://www.caltrain.com/riderinfo/specialevents/holidaytrain.html

UPDATE: Here is the link for the 2014 Caltrain Holiday Train Schedule. 

http://www.caltrain.com/riderinfo/specialevents/holidaytrain.html.

Come December and everyone is in the Holiday Spirit! Santa Claus, Gifts, shopping, sweets, cookies and helping the needy. December 2012, we got the opportunity to welcome Santa in a different way. He started his journey from San Francisco down to Santa Clara, Ca bringing a smile on everyone's faces. He was accompanied by his elves, a melodious group of musicians and carollers and a very festive decorated train with 60,000 lights - our local Caltrain. The Holiday train made stops at a few stations on the way at specific timings.

In the X'Mas spirit, opportunities to donate toys and gifts are available. This is a free family event that brings cheer to each one and has been taking place since 2001. Arrive early to get a good spot on the platform.  Parking lot gets full fast. Here are some pictures from December 2012.

Waiting for the Holiday Train

Santa greeting kids

Santa's troop

Holiday Train lights

Santa departing to the next station

Carolling on the Holiday Train

Santa waving to the crowd

                           

Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto

Looking for a new place to take your kids and enjoy nature simultaneously? Read on for details..

Kids are full of energy and all of us try to find activities to keep them occupied on a weekend. Driving around town, we landed at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto, Ca. One thing that I always carry with me when we go out is our camera. And boy does it come in handy?

Snowy Egret

Niagara Falls, Canada

It was in the 1990's when I first viewed David Copperfield's stunt over the Niagara falls. It was silence that gripped the room with an unknowing result for minutes if he would survive. It was surely not an easy task for any human being trying to deal with cold rapidly flowing water to come out alive. To see what I am talking about click on David's stunt link. Thinking about this event, 19 years later reminds us of our memorable visit to Niagara Falls in 2009. One cannot imagine what the falls look like till you see it. Pictures and videos do not do justice. You must experience it yourself.

Horseshoe Falls from Skylon Tower

If you are in the Canadian Niagara Falls and Toronto area the following are our recommended MUST DO's:

1.) MAID OF THE MIST:

For timings of the tour and pricing click here. The boat ride to the bottom of the falls is an experience by itself. After purchasing the tickets, we took an elevator to the dock.We took a late June afternoon around 3 pm tour which wasn't crowded and no wait time which was great! We were provided with a complimentary poncho. Though this may not help to keep your shoes and trousers dray. The American falls from the boat was very pretty and unique. The breathtaking view was when we reached the base of the Horseshoe falls. Be prepared to get sprayed; in fact you will be drenched. The sound of the falls was so thunderous that we couldn't hear each other. The experience cannot be described in words! For more details on the Maid of the Mist click here.

View of the Maid of the Mist with Horse Shoe Falls

2.) BEHIND THE FALL TOUR:

Viewing the falls upfront and experiencing it first hand was great! How about extending that feeling to go behind the falls? Yes there is a tour for that too. Get your tickets early in the day as they are first-come, first -serve and are timed. The ticket would have you a reserved time slot. The wait at the entrance can be long so be prepared for this. Strollers are not allowed inside. [Our notes are from our 2009 visit and not sure if the process is still the same now.]

Behind the falls tour

Once inside, you will have to walk through a long tunnel. Interesting notes of information of the falls are mentioned along the way. You will be able to hear the falls that are pretty intense and loud. The best part of this tour is the observation deck. This is another spot where you will get drenched. Ponchos were provided, however again they don't help a lot. This is probably the best place to experience the falls up-close apart from the Maid of the Mist boat trip.

3.) SKYLON TOWER:

Okay, so you have experienced the fall from below and the sides, now how about from the top? A 20 minute walk from the Journey behind the falls to the Skylon tower can be the next step. The view from top of the tower gives you a birds eye view of the American Falls & the Horseshoe falls from 775 ft above.  The ride in the exterior yellow bug elevator takes 52 seconds from bottom to the observation deck. Be prepared for the trill once in the elevator! For more information and pricing click here. Dining in a revolving restaurant, 3D\4 D movies are some things that you can do once up. The views are phenomenal you can take memorable panoramic pictures of the falls.

4.) FALLS VIEW AT NIGHT WITH FIREWORKS:

View the falls during the day and at night! At night, there is a spectacular display of fireworks over the falls. Click here to view the current schedule. The falls are lit up in special colors in support of charity organisations! Got that from the event website page. Didn't know that till now. Its beautiful!

Falls View at night

5.) CLIFTON HILL:

Take a leisurely walk or want to have some more fun. Check this link for restaurants, movies, casinos, nightclubs and more.

6.) QUEEN VICTORIA PARK:

Here is the link for flowers in bloom during the year. Get some beautiful pictures of the flowers and the American Falls, stroll along the beds or just relax with the landscape around you.

Some general thoughts we had after we completed our trip.

1.) Stay near the falls and book a room facing the falls. You may want to upgrade your room to a higher level. The views are amazing and its so worth it seeing the falls at night or sipping a cup of hot coffee in the morning overlooking the scenic view.

2.) Take a waterproof camera for the maid of the mist and the behind the falls tour. You will surely want to take loads of pictures and memories home without having your expensive camera destroyed.

4.) Visit the Butterfly Conservatory.

5.)  View amazing floral displays at the Niagara Floral Showhouse

6.) Enjoy a romantic horse carriage ride along the falls. Click here for details.

7.) Many may have varied opinion on which side American or Canadian is the best. Having to view both the American and the Horseshoe falls is one vacation you will never forget for years to come.

7.) CN TOWER:

Another unforgettable memory when in Toronto is to be able to see the entire city from the top of CN Tower standing tall at a height of 1122 ft! Located at 301 Front St. West ( & John St ).  For detailed information on parking and how to get there, check the website link here. 

To get to the top, the elevator takes less than a minute ( 58 secs ) to reach a height of 1100 ft. The high speed glass elevator provides picturesque views of Toronto. Once up, you will have the opportunity to stand on a glass floor ( facts from CN Tower website : glass floor: 2 1\2 inch thickness and view 1122 ft straight down below. It was the most scariest thing I've done ever in my life! It took me a good 15 mins to finally mentally prepare myself that I was going to do this. After plucking up courage I inched my way forward slowly and stood on the glass floor peering down 1122 ft below me watching the cars parked below that looks like ants! This is what it looked like.. 

The outdoor sky terrace will also give you and idea of how powerful the breeze can feel right up 1122 ft! Great experience and unforgettable moment standing on the glass floor!. For all the information needed here is the link. CN Tower

CN Tower from the freeway ( the tallest building )

CN Tower Glass Floor