First Annual San Benito Holiday Cheer

This Saturday, December 3, many of the local businesses of Hollister and San Juan Bautista will be participating in the First Annual San Benito Holiday Cheer. It is a local shop hop. To add to the fun, each business will be raffling a basket or bowl full of goodies. Sounds great!

For more info, check out the flyer below, which was distributed by the Hollister Downtown Association. Double-click on it for a larger version. If you still can't read it, click here to download a copy of the flyer.

By the way, San Juan Bautista will be holding its annual Holiday in Lights Parade on Saturday evening. Click here for more details.

Annual Winter Magic Bazaar and Luncheon

The ceiling at the old Hazel Hawkins Hospital building on Monterey Street

Today is the  holiday bazaar that the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Auxiliary puts on every year. Some  handcrafted goods, some vintage items from the Hazel Thrift Store, some new items, and a lot of good cheer.

The place: The Veterans Memorial Building on San Benito Street (corner of Seventh Street). The time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be served between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

100 Things I Like: Walking Around San Juan Bautista

April, 2010: The San Juan Cemetery also known as the Larios Cemetery

Strolling the shops in San Juan Bautisa is fun. So is roaming the grounds of the mission and the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. Next time you're in the Mission City, enjoy wandering outside the usual tourist perimeter.

For instance, take a walk up to the cemetery at the northwest end of the city. You'll see some glorious views from up there. And, if you're into wandering cemeteries, you won't be disappointed. You'll find eroding wooden crosses marking the grave sites of  unknown pioneers as well as elaborate monuments of city notables.  On on the way up or down, you may see a very cool red adobe house that looks like it belongs in Santa Fe. Don't ask me which street because I don't remember. That's the surprise of wandering.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Fremont Peak State Park

This was taken in January 2011 from Fremont Peak State Park.
I'm looking towards the northwest. That light stretch of blue beneath
the Santa Cruz mountains is Monterey Bay. For a look-see of the
southeast, click here.

From Fremont Peak, the Pacific Ocean looks like it's not so far away. Ha! Fremont Peak stands over 3,100 feet tall, one of the tallest mountains in San Benito County. It's so worth a drive up to this small state park, which is near San Juan Bautista. The hike up to the highest point is only half a mile from the parking lot. There are a few other trails to explore as well.

Before heading up, check out the Fremont Peak State Park web page to be sure it's open. California has been closing some of its parks due to lack of funds.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: After the Parade

The Clock Tower

One of the fun things about the Lights On Celebration parade is being downtown after dark. When the parade is over, people spill out to the middle of San Benito Street and stroll up and down for a while.  For a look-see of parade photos, check out the album at Take 25's Facebook page. Here's the public link to it.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.