California State Parks

State Park Closures Trip
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park: A reminder of the human ideals

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park: A reminder of the human ideals

The noble tree is no doubt, used to her influential role during the world's most pivotal moments. Be it Buddha's Bodhi Tree, Eve's Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, George Washington's Cherry Tree or Boston's Liberty Tree where pre-American Revo-lut...

State Park Closures Trip
TWIN LAKES STATE BEACH: Trip # 33 of 70

TWIN LAKES STATE BEACH:  Trip # 33 of 70

Here it is folks! The answer to California's budget and state park woes! Just close down the one mile stretch of beach in Santa Cruz known as Twin Lakes State Beach and all of our problems will be solved!Okay, sarcasm exorcized. Frankly, I think I'v...

State Park Closures Trip
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park offers locals some needed nature

Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park offers locals some needed nature

Mapquest gave me two sets of directions to Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park, so I visted both. The two sites are one freeway exit apart in the heart of Chatsworth/Simi Valley. Both have what I call "pre-desert" terrain. No cactus or Joshua tree...

State Park Closures Trip
PLUMAS EUREKA STATE PARK: Trip #31 of 70

PLUMAS EUREKA STATE PARK:  Trip #31 of 70

Up until a couple of weeks ago, it seemed the only snow California was going to get this winter was at Plumas Eureka State Park. Once there, in addition to the novelty of the snow itself, winter delights include hiking mountain trails, cross country s...

State Park Closures Trip
Tule Elk State Natural Reserve is one of the many parks slated for closure

Tule Elk State Natural Reserve is one of the many parks slated for closure

It was a challenge putting together the itinerary for my visits to all of the southern California Parks on the closure list. Many of them have limited hours, and a few of them are geographically isolated. Tule Elk State Natural Reserve in Button-will...

State Park Closures Trip
Los Encinos State Historic Park given one-year reprieve from closure

Los Encinos State Historic Park given one-year reprieve from closure

Although mid October, it was a beautiful, sunny mid 80s afternoon at Los Encinos State Historic Park , a welcome break from LA's unseasonable triple digit heat of the past two days. The good news: Los Encinos has been given a one year reprieve from...

State Park Closures Trip
Why are two beaches in one town – Moss Landing – being closed?

Why are two beaches in one town – Moss Landing – being closed?

Zmudowski State Beach is the second of two beaches slated for closure in the small, central coast town of Moss Landing. (The other is Moss Landing State Beach which I had the pleasure of visiting earlier in the day.)As the gull flies, the two beaches a...

State Park Closures Trip
Watching the critters at Moss Landing State Beach

Watching the critters at Moss Landing State Beach

The sand dunes at Moss Landing State Beach are immediately west of the small parking lot. On the east side, just inches away from your front bumper, are small cliffs leading down to Elkhorn Slough, the famous National Estuarine Research Reserve. Elkh...

State Park Closures Trip
State park closures list (No. 26 of 70) Candlestick Point State Recreation Area

State park closures list (No. 26 of 70) Candlestick Point State Recreation Area

In the 1960s and 70s I must have driven by Candlestick Point State Recreation Area a couple of hundred times on my way to a San Francisco Giants baseball game, never realizing there was a state park right across the street from the stadium. Any outfiel...

State Park Closures Trip
Winter months known as the most beautiful time of the year for California’s Central Coast beaches

Winter months known as the most beautiful time of the year for California’s Central Coast beaches

The winter months of January and February have long been known to be the most beautiful time of the year for California's Central Coast beaches. And so it was the day after Valentine's Day at Garrapata State Park, ten miles south of Carmel. Clear ski...



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