Showing posts with label Pacific Coast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pacific Coast. Show all posts

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Free December Days at the Monterey Bay Aquarium


We, residents of San Benito County, are in luck! Between today and Sunday, December 13, 2015, admission into the Monterey Bay Aquarium is f-r-e-e. Free!

The aquarium offers free entry every year during its Community Open House to not only San Benito County residents, but also residents of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Thank you very much, Monterey Bay Aquarium!

San Benito County residents: To take advantage of the free access, you must show a valid photo ID with your local address. The aquarium also accepts a recent utility bill or monthly San Benito County Express bus pass as proof of residence. If you're a student attending a community college or university in San Benito, Monterey, or Santa Cruz county, you can show your student ID.

For information about the Monterey Bay Aquarium's hours, exhibits, and other matters, click here to go its website.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Whale City Bakery, Bar & Grill


Yesterday, the Husband and I ran away from Hollister for a few hours and headed to the coast. I realized it has been a long while since I've been to the beach when I saw the kitesurfers at Waddell Beach. Wowza!

For lunch, we stopped at the Whale City Bakery, Bar & Grill in Davenport on Highway One. A family-run operation, it opened in the 1990s as a bakery. Then somewhere along the line, the family added sit-down service for yummy meals. Several nights a week, the restaurant also offers live music.

By the time I thought about taking photos, our plates were nearly empty. The Husband had a Reuben sandwich bursting with corned beef and sauerkraut that came with a healthy portion of green salad. He was glad he didn't opt for the french fries, otherwise he would've been stuffed.

I had the calamari appetizer, which was lightly coated and fried. I was happy that they threw in the squid heads. While the Husband was working away on his second half of the sandwich, I asked for a cup of coffee and lemon poppy seed muffin. Very mellow coffee. Although the muffin was dense, it did not feel heavy on the tummy at all. The exact nutrition was what I needed to propel me up a hiking trail later on.

Whale City Baker, Bar & Grill is a perfect stop for a meal if you're ever up near Davenport. Some people say that you can actually see whales from the restaurant. And, they didn't mean the murals. For more info about the restaurant, head over to its website or Facebook page.


Tuesday, April 14, 2015

L is for . . .


Location, location, location.

And, Hollister is an excellent location to live.

It's seven miles east of San Juan Bautista, one of the 21 California missions.



It's 30-some miles from Pinnacles National Park, one of the newest parks in the U.S. National Park Service.



It's about an hour away from Monterey and Santa Cruz. 




It's also an hour away from San Jose and Silicon Valley.



And, depending on how you drive, 90 minutes to two hours from San Francisco.



Click here to find other A to Z challenge participants.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Took Wing


One definition of to take wing is to become joyful.  Perhaps, these ocean birds flying over the Asilomar State Marine Reserve may not be able to smile, but I like to think their spirits wore joyful smiles. I know that's how I felt as the Husband and I took wing and wandered around Monterey yesterday.


Sunday, March 10, 2013

Monterey Peninsula


Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Fisherman's Wharf. Cannery Row.  17-Mile Drive.  Presidio. Asilomar Beach. Big Sur. Carmel Mission. California State University, Monterey Bay. These are just a few of the major attractions in the Monterey Peninsula. And, of course,  the Pacific Ocean.



The Monterey Peninsula consists of several communities, including Marina, Seaside, Sand City, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and so on. Hollister is about 32 miles away from the northern end of the Monterey Peninsula. We are fortunate.

To learn more the Monterey Peninsula, check out these links:


The theme for this week, March 4 to March 10,  is the Pacific Coast.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Point Lobos


The Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is another gem on the Pacific Coast that is near Hollister. It's only 48 miles away, just to the south of Carmel-by-the Sea off of Highway One. I suggest you turn off all your electronics when you visit the reserve so you can truly have a relaxing experience. Everything is magical, from watching the ocean waves to viewing the wildlife to seeing the different shapes of trees and rocks.



Point Lobos is the general name for the natural reserve and two adjoining marine protected areas. It's short for Punta de los Lobos Mariños, or the Point of the Sea Wolves. The sea wolves refer to the rocks off this point. Hmmm.



For more info about the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, check out these links:

The theme for this week, March 4 to March 10, on Take 25 to Hollister is the Pacific Coast

Friday, March 8, 2013

Moss Landing


It's about 28 miles from Hollister to Moss Landing, a small harbor village off Highway One. You know you're there when you see the menacing looking power plant across the highway from the village. When I was a kid, the brother told me it was the M & M factory, which I believed for the longest of times. Whenever I see the plant, I still like to pretend that I believe M & M candies are being made in it.



Moss Landing is a cool place to hang out. You can walk along the beach. Check out the antique shops. Eat at yummy restaurants. Fish. Bird watch. Go up a little ways and hike or kayak the Elkhorn Slough. And a lot more. One caution: It can be a long wait to turn left from Highway One into Moss Landing. Also, if you turn left onto the highway from Moss Landing.

For more info about Moss Landing, check out these links.

The theme for this week, March 4 to March 10, on Take 25 to Hollister is the Pacific Coast

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Santa Cruz Beaches


The Monterey Bay  includes the coastline of both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Monterey is the southern end, while Santa Cruz is the northern end. Usually, we think of the south as being warmer than the north. But, when it comes to beaches in this region, nope. The beaches of Santa Cruz county are warmer, once the fog moves out. 



There are more than 20 public beaches on the Santa Cruz county coastline, which stretches from Watsonville (south) to Davenport (north).  Public access is also available to beaches which involves passing through private property, such as the Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos.

For more info about Santa Cruz beaches, check out these links:
 

You can view hillsides of Pampas Grass when you walk the public access trail
to the beach at the Seascape Beach Resort.

March 4 to March 10 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: The Pacific Coast

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Año Nuevo State Reserve


Have you ever seen northern elephant seals up close? Want to?

There are a few places along the Pacific Coast where northern elephant seals gather on the beach throughout the year. One such place is the Año Nuevo State Reserve, which is part of the California State Parks system. It's about 65 miles northwest of Hollister, or about 20 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1.

From December to March, reserve visitors can only view the northern elephant seals on guided walks. During this period, the mammals mate, give birth, and wean their pups that later head to sea in April. In the spring and summer, the elephant seals return to Año Nuevo to molt.

For more information about the park and elephant seals, check out these links:
March 4 to March 10 theme for Take 25 to Hollister:The Pacific Coast

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Hollister to Santa Cruz

Lighthouse Point

Santa Cruz is home to the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, as well as the University of Santa Cruz. The beach town is also known for being one of best surfing places along the Pacific coast.

According to mapquest.com, Hollister is about 44 miles from Santa Cruz. And, when I was a kid, my family drove over every Fourth of July to hang out at the Boardwalk. The fog always lifted by 11 a.m.

Surfers at Lighthouse Point

 For more about Santa Cruz, check out these links:

Monday, March 4, 2013

There's the Ocean. . . Right Over There

The theme for this week, March 4 to March 10, is the Pacific Coast.

Here's a look of the Pacific Coast from Fremont Peak above San Juan Bautista.
That light blue "line" at the foot of the mountains, on the left, is the northern end of Monterey Bay. To see how Fremont Peak looks like from over there, click here.

You've heard the stories. Maybe you have a doozy of a story yourself. A middle-aged (or older) Hollister local (current or former) is standing in a line at a theater (or store or restaurant or somewhere else) in another city. He (or she) notices the young man (or woman) standing next to him (or her) wears a sweatshirt with the word Hollister on it. So, of course, the Hollister local starts up a conversation.

"Hi, I'm from Hollister, too," the Hollister middle-aged person says.
"Huh?" the sweatshirt wearing young person says.
"Go Balers!"
"What?"
"Aren't you from Hollister, California?"
"No."
"Oh, sorry, I just saw your sweatshirt and thought you were from my hometown."
"I bought this in the Hollister store. You're from Hollister, California? Wow. Are you a surfer?"
"What?"

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