BUTTERFLY TOWN USA, Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove is called “Butterfly Town, USA” for a reason. From October through early March, thousands upon thousands of monarch butterflies migrate here, traveling from as far away as Alaska. It’s a fascinating natural phenomenon: To get here, the delicate little guys travel as far as 2,000 miles, covering 100 miles a day at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Many settle in Pacific Grove’s Monarch Grove sanctuary, a eucalyptus stand on Grove Acre Avenue off Lighthouse Avenue, as well as the “butterfly trees” at George Washington Park (Pine Avenue and Alder streets). It’s a sight you’ll never forget. For more information log onto www.pacificgrove.org.
WHERE TO STAY: Pacific Grove Hotels

CAP’N GIDEON’ ELKHORN SLOUGH SAFARI, Moss Landing
I’ve actually received letters from readers about how much fun they had on this trip. Just north of Monterey on Highway 1 is Moss Landing, home of Captain Yohn Gideon’s Elkhorn Slough Safari. Friendly Cap’n Gideon loads guests onto his 27-foot pontoon boat, then embarks on a 2-hour journey of the Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Reserve. It’s not uncommon to see a raft of up to 50 otters sunning themselves, as well as harbor seals and hundreds of species of waterfowl and migratory shorebirds. An onboard naturalist answers questions, while Cap’n Gideon educates on the surroundings and hands out binoculars. For more information log onto www.elkhornslough.com.
WHERE TO STAY: Monterey Hotels

ELEPHANT SEAL MATING SEASON, Ano Nuevo State Reserve
One of the most spectacular animal attractions on the entire California Coast is the elephant seal breeding grounds at Ano Nuevo State Reserve (located 55 miles south of San Francisco off Highway 1), where you can see massive elephant seals sunning themselves on the beaches year-round. But from December through March, people reserve tickets weeks in advance for a chance to witness a fearsome clash between the 2-ton bulls over mating privileges among the females (talk about tough love). Reservations are required for the naturalist-led tours (held rain or shine Dec 15-Mar 31). Even if it’s not mating season, you can still see the elephant seals lolling around the shore almost year-round, particularly between April and August when they come ashore to molt. For more information log onto www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523.
WHERE TO STAY: Half Moon Bay Hotels

DRAKE’S BAY OYSTER FARM, Point Reyes National Seashore
If you love oysters, keep reading. Deep within Point Reyes National Seashore on the banks of Drakes Estero (a pristine and nutrient-rich saltwater lagoon) is Drake’s Bay Oyster Farm. Okay, so it doesn’t look like much—just a cluster of wooden shacks and oyster tanks surrounded by piles of oyster shells—but it produces some of the finest oysters in the world that you can purchase by the sack-full at a fraction of what the restaurants charge. The staff is very friendly and doles out all the information you’ll ever want to know about the bivalves, including a lesson on how to properly shuck them. They even provide oyster sauce and picnic tables for instant gratification, but I prefer to drive down to the Point Reyes Beach parking lot, crack open a cold one, and feast in front of the crashing waves. For more information log onto www.drakesbayoyster.com.
WHERE TO STAY: Point Reyes Hotels

POINT REYES BIRD OBSERVATORY, Bolinas
Even if you can’t tell a condor from a bushtit, you’ll enjoy an outing to the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, one of the few full-time ornithological research stations in the United States. This is where ornithologists keep an eye on more than 400 feathered species that live in the region. Admission to the visitor center and nature trail is free, and visitors are welcome to observe the tricky process of netting and banding the birds. It’s a wonderful way to spend the day with the kids, learning about the ecosystem of birds and other wildlife while playing “I spy” with your bird-spotting book and binoculars. For more information log onto www.prbo.org.
WHERE TO STAY: Point Reyes Hotels

A HIKE TO ALAMERE FALLS, Point Reyes National Seashore
Some of Point Reyes National Seashore’s best and least crowded highlights are accessible only on foot, such as Alamere Falls, a freshwater stream that cascades down a 40-foot bluff onto Wildcat Beach. Load up your day pack with sandwiches and drinks, bring your camera, park at the Palomarin Trailhead, and get ready for one of the finest hikes on the California coast. The 7.5-mile out-and-back day trip will take you past lakes, through towering groves of eucalyptus, and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Enjoying a well-earned picnic lunch at the falls is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a sunny day in the Bay Area. For more information log onto www.nps.gov/pore.
WHERE TO STAY: Point Reyes Hotels

FULL MOON KAYAKING TRIP, Tomales Bay
One of my favorite things to do in Point Reyes is paddle through placid Tomales Bay, a haven for migrating birds and marine mammals. But doing it under a full moon? Now that’s cool. A local company called Blue Waters Kayaking offers daytime outings for locals of all ages and levels, but it’s their 3-hour moonlit tours that are truly special. As you glide across the placid bay, the moon lights the water with an almost mystical glow while night herons and osprey silently glide past you like airborne apparitions. For more information log onto www.bwkayak.com. WHERE TO STAY: Point Reyes Hotels

TIDE POOL ADVENTURES AT FITZGERALD MARINE RESERVE, Moss Beach
Get back in touch with your inner child and spend the day plonking through one of the best tide pools in the Bay Area, looking and touching all those weird and slimy things living or growing on the rocks. Located about 7 miles north of Half Moon Bay on Highway 1, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is one of the most diverse tidal basins on the West Coast, as well as one of the safest, thanks to a wave-buffering rock terrace 150 feet from the beach. Call before coming to find out when it’s low tide (all the sea creatures are hidden at high tide) and to get information on the docent-led tour schedules (usually offered on Saturday). It’s a great way to spend the day with the family. For more information log onto www.fitzgeraldreserve.org.
WHERE TO STAY: Half Moon Bay Hotels

17-MILE DRIVE, Pebble Beach
C’mon, when’s the last time you spent the day touring Pebble Beach’s legendary 17-Mile Drive? Right then: Set aside a Saturday, pack a picnic, fork over the $9.25 entrance fee, and prepare to see some of the most exclusive real estate in the world. Admission to the drive includes an informative map with 26 points of interest. Highlights include Seal and Bird Rocks, the famous Lone Cypress tree, and Cypress Point Lookout with its 20-mile view to the Big Sur Lighthouse. The drive also traverses the Del Monte Forest, thick with tame black-tailed deer. In fact, one of the best ways to see 17-Mile Drive is by bike. For more information log onto www.pebblebeach.com.
WHERE TO STAY: Pacific Grove Hotels

VISION QUEST SAFARI BED & BREAKFAST, Salinas
Imagine waking in a private bungalow to find a cheetah sleeping on your porch and then having an elephant deliver your breakfast basket with its trunk. That’s just another morning for guests at the Vision Quest Safari Bed & Breakfast, one of the nation’s most unique B&Bs. Amid the ranch’s pride of exotic animals are deluxe Africa-style tent cabins with wild animal-theme decors. Yes, those are real lions and tigers roaring through your canvas walls, and guests can join trainers on their evening walks among the animals (daily public tours are available as well). Okay, so it’s not for everyone, but if you want to spend a night doing the wild thing, hoo boy. For more information log onto www.wildthingsinc.com.
WHERE TO STAY: Monterey Hotels

HIKING PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT
The 24,000-acre Pinnacles National Monument is one of the Bay Area’s best weekend hiking destinations, and I’m betting you never even heard of it. Located southeast of Salinas, Pinnacles consists of hundreds of towering crags, spires, ramparts, and hoodoos—the eroded remains of a volcano formed 23 million years ago. Its mild-winter climate and plentiful trails make it an ideal fall-season site for hiking enthusiasts. It’s also a haven for bird-watchers, home to six endangered California condors and one of California’s largest breeding populations of raptors (bring binoculars!). You could spend days here, but it’s possible to cover the most interesting features in a weekend. For more information log onto www.nps.gov/pinn.
WHERE TO STAY: Monterey Hotels

KAYAKING ADVENTURES ON MONTEREY BAY
Even if you’ve never paddled a boat in your life, just about anyone will have an amazing adventure paddling around the placid Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary on stable sit-on-top kayaks. You don’t need a tour guide—just rent some sea kayaks in downtown Monterey and paddle out to the kelp forests along Cannery Row. You’ll be amazed at how much wildlife surrounds you: harbor seals swimming next to you, sea lions lounging on the rocky shore, diving pelicans, and adorable sea otters playing in the kelp. For more information log onto www.montereykayaks.com.
WHERE TO STAY: Monterey Hotels

BICYCLE TOURS OF SONOMA VALLEY
Sonoma and its neighboring towns are so small, close together, and relatively flat that it’s not difficult to get around on two wheels. In fact, if you’re not in a hurry, there’s no better way to tour Sonoma Valley than via bicycle. There are several bike rental and tour companies in Sonoma Valley, whose staff will happily map out the best bike routes, or take one of their organized excursions to Sonoma region wineries (some even provide a van to lug any bottles of win you buy along the way). The rental cost typically includes helmets, locks, maps, and everything else you’ll need. Tandem bikes are available as well. For more information log onto www.sonomavalleybiketours.com.
WHERE TO STAY: Sonoma Hotels

HARLEY FARMS GOAT DAIRY, Pescadero
My all-time favorite place to visit when I’m in the Half Moon Bay region is Harley Farms Goat Dairy, the only working dairy farm left in San Mateo County. The charming and charismatic Dee Harley and her gaggle of 220 or so goats have been supplying the top restaurants in the Bay Area with some of the finest goat cheese in the world. Believe me: No matter how old you are, a visit to Dee’s rustic barn loft to meet her goats, learn how goat cheese is made, and sample some product straight from the source is a experience you’ll never forget. Tours are by reservation only, but you can stop by any day between 11am to 5pm. For more information log onto www.harleyfarms.com.
WHERE TO STAY: Half Moon Bay Hotels

SAN FRANCISCO BAY HISTORY CRUISE ON THE USS POTOMAC, Oakland
It took the Potomac Association’s hundreds of volunteers more than 12 years—at a cost of $5 million—to restore the 165-foot presidential yacht Potomac, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s beloved “Floating White House.” Now a proud and permanent memorial berthed at the Port of Oakland’s FDR Pier at Jack London Square, the revitalized Potomac is open to the public for dockside tours, as well as 2-hour History Cruises around Treasure and Alcatraz islands. Combined with a visit to Jack London Square, it’s a great way to spend a Sunday. For more information log onto www.usspotomac.org.
WHERE TO STAY: Berkeley Hotels

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 1st, 2008 at 2:35 pm by Getaway Guru and is filed under Thrills & Adventure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.