2011 San Benito County Bike Week

Straddle your bicycles, girls and boys, men and women! This week (May 9 to May 15) is the San Benito County Bike Week. 

On Thursday, May 12  are two special events.

• Bike to School Day. Participating schools will provide student bikers with a free breakfast.
• Bike to Work Day.  Free breakfast and coffee will be available to all biking commuters between 6:30 and 9 a.m. Stop by the Briggs Lawn (4th and San Benito) or Adams Square, next to Santa Barbara Bank and Trust (formerly San Benito Bank) on Tres Pinos Road.

For more details about San Benito County Bike Week, head over to this page at the Council of San Benito County Governments Web site.

Another Peek of San Juan Bautista

I enjoy wandering around San Juan Bautista and peeking at the gardens there. Don't you just like the feel of this garden?

Unbelievable. The week in San Juan Bautista is over and I hadn't even scratched the surface. Not to worry, I'll be posting photos of the quaint town more often. To see other spots shown this past week, click here.

Fremont Peak State Park

This week, I shall be taking you over to San Juan Bautista, which is just a short hop from Highway 25, heading west on Highway 156. 

That high peak is in Fremont Peak State Park. The peak, also known as Gavilan Peak, is over 3,100 feet high. From up there, you can see the San Benito Valley, the Salinas Valley, and Monterey Bay. On a very, very clear day, you might see the Sierra Nevadas.

The park offers hiking, picnicking, and camping fun. It's also a great place to see the stars. The Fremont Peak Observatory Association gives evening and solar programs to the public throughout the year. For more about them, check out this link.

For more info about Fremont Peak State Park, click here.

The Wild Chickens of San Juan Bautista

This week, I shall be taking you over to San Juan Bautista, which is just a short hop from Highway 25, heading west on Highway 156. 

The chickens run wild in San Juan Bautista. All over town. So be careful as you drive up and down the streets. And, if you happen to be eating outdoors at a picnic table or on a restaurant patio, don't be surprised if a chicken suddenly stands beside you. 

Plaza Hall

This week, I shall be taking you over to San Juan Bautista, which is just a short hop from Highway 25, heading west on Highway 156. 

San Juan Bautista was a bustling city in the 1800s. Several stage coach lines stopped in the city every day. The Plaza Hall, also known as the Zanetta House, is one of the original structures from that time. It is part of the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. Several rooms in the building have displays showing furniture, clothing, and other items from the 1800s. To learn more about this historic park, click here.

On the first Saturday of every month, the park holds a Living History Day. Park visitors can talk with Victorian ladies, mountain men, and other characters from various days of yore, as they give craft and cooking demonstrations. To learn more, check out the Plaza History Association Web site.