When I was 14 or so, my family took a trip to Santa Cruz, where we hung out near the
Natural Bridges State Beach (2531 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060).
At least there were bridges there then (as seen in the black-and-white picture my father took at the time). The "now" picture in color shows what happens in the formula ocean+time+solid rock.
My daughter and I stayed at the
Davenport Roadhouse and Inn (1 Davenport Ave, Davenport, CA 95017--you can't miss it. It's an old stagecoach/Wells Fargo stop). The Inn is a cross between clean (accommodations) and
funky (the old building itself). We ate a few meals in the restaurant on the first floor
(breakfast, highly recommended!). A few miles to the south, Santa Cruz has a fantastic walkway that runs from Natural Bridges State Park all the way to the (not quite open yet) Boardwalk.
We cruised Capitola with it's gorgeous beach and candy-colored cabanas.
A trip down would not be complete without a number of stops. One of our favorites (both there and back) is
Swanton Berry Farm on Highway 1, Davenport. Organic strawberries, pies and general conviviality.
 |
| Courtesy of Ano Nuevo State Park |
|
A morning spent at
Ano Nuevo State Park
(1 New Years Creek Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060), included a hike along the easy trails out to the breeding ground of northern Elephant seals, once hunted nearly to the point of extinction. Hikes during this time of year (molting season) require signing in for a free permit at the ranger station/shop. Though there's only one actual trail, the long hike is 100% worth it, because the farther beaches take you within 20 feet of dozens of these enormous creatures. Mature female Elephant seals weigh in between 1,200 -2,000 pounds (much smaller than the males--up to two-and-a-half tons--who populate the beach in December). What we saw were moms and pups--all bigger than your average Volkswagon.
Lunch at
Duarte's Tavern (
202 Stage Rd, Pescadero, CA 9406) was notable mainly for the spicy, lime-juiced cole slaw, in spite of Google map's listing of Duartes as "iconic" on it's map
I once spent the night in a dorm room at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, (210 Pigeon Point Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060) operated by Hosteling International. It's a typical HI set-up, with shared kitchen and bathrooms, but one thing that makes it special is the hot tub, which overlooks the ocean. Get there early in the day--you have to sign up for a time in the popular tub.
And on the way back, no trip south would be complete without a stop at
Reppeto Florist and Nursery (12331 San Mateo Rd, [Hwy. 92], Half Moon Bay, CA 94019) for bouquets of cut flowers to bring home. The bunches sold (for really low prices, as you can see) are not large, but the variety is mind-blowing.
The 55-acre San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park is just starting to burst into bloom
with a variety of magnolia trees that delight the senses. Every year
at this time, the garden publishes a map so visitors can follow a
walking tour through the various "rooms" in the well-laid out garden acreage, on the look-out (or more like "look-up") for the white or pink blooms - some the size of dinner plates. But magnolias are only one of the charms of this plant-fest. A few favorites: the succulent garden, which is ablaze with red-hot pokers, the redwood grove for the cool peace of giant sequoias, and the little ancient plant walk near the north entrance. Entry is free for San Francisco residents; for non-residents, single entry is $6-12. If you're thinking you might like a place to walk and unwind during the workday though, consider membership: individual membership is $70 a year, allowing free entrance any time to both the botanical garden and the park's fabulous Conservatory of Flowers, the oldest building in the park, a Victorian wedding cake filled with exotic orchids and tropical plants - a great place to warm up on a chilly day. 
If greenery is your thing, there's plenty of free plantings around the park, in bloom every season of the year. And it's almost time for the ornate tulip plantings to spring up around the windmills on the west side of the park!
