Tucked within the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Uvas Canyon Park is a serene sanctuary just a stone’s throw away from bustling San Jose. As you embark on this picturesque journey, driving along a charming country road amidst rolling hills and sprawling valleys, you’ll instantly feel miles away from the fast-paced hustle of Silicon Valley. Uvas Canyon Park is one of our favorite destinations in the Bay Area to relax and recharge, especially after a rainstorm when the waterfalls are at their most dramatic. What? Waterfall hiking trails in the Bay Area? Yes! 😊 Join us to discover its natural beauty! Why Uvas Canyon Park is Worth Visiting…
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Land of Medicine Buddha: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
In the Santa Cruz Mountains, near the town of Soquel, there lies a magical place, Land of Medicine Buddha. Where life simplifies, and everything seems to make more sense. You’ll find yourself whisked away to a place where all is quiet and calm, just under an hour from San Jose. We’ve heard about Land of Medicine Buddha from another SF Bay Area travel blogger, Joyce Zee, who runs the “Around the Bay And Away” blog, and finally got a chance to visit it ourselves. Follow us on this unique hiking escape, and we hope it’ll inspire you to check it out as well. What is Land of Medicine Buddha? Land of Medicine…
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Foothills Park: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Foothills Park has been accessible solely to residents of Palo Alto, a posh town in the San Francisco Bay Area. Actually, you could earn yourself a fine of $1,000 if caught on the property without an accompanying resident of Palo Alto. No kidding! But in December of 2020, after half a century of exclusivity, Foothills Park finally opened its gates to the general public (non-residents of Palo Alto). Recently, our local news has been reporting about the park and its history. Naturally, we had to see what all the hoopla was about. Is Foothills Park worth visiting? And what is so special about this once-private park in the foothills of…
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Baylands Nature Preserve: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Driving east on San Antonio Road in Mountain View, we discovered the isolated marshlands of the San Francisco South Bay, Baylands Nature Preserve. Not knowing what to expect, we were amazed by the vast variety of birds there! We were so taken by our discovery that we wanted to encourage you to put it on your outdoor activities list for Palo Alto or Mountain View in the San Francisco Bay Area. We’ve seen this marshland area many times from a plane as we approached San Francisco or San Jose International Airports. From above, the area appears as empty wilderness, islands of grass, and well… marshes… What could possibly be there?…
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Alum Rock Park: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Alum Rock Park in San Jose, California is one of our recent outdoor adventures we’d love to share with you. Can’t believe we’ve lived in the SF Bay Area for years, and this was our first visit! Don’t make our mistake. If you are near San Jose and looking for a beautiful hike in a historical setting, Alum Rock Park is a great place to start. Alum Rock Park History and Curiosities Founded in 1872, Alum Rock Park is the oldest municipal park in the entire state of California! Modeled after European spa retreats, the park boasted close to 30 mineral hot springs, baths, pavilions, Tea House, and even a…
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San Jose Rose Garden: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, voted “America’s Best Rose Garden”, is one of the most popular urban outdoor places for visitors and residents alike. Nestled on the corner of Naglee and Dana avenues, it’s just a couple of minutes away from the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. There, now you have a whole day planned! 😊 We love visiting the garden, whether it’s for a relaxing stroll along the rows of rose bushes (over 3,500 of them with 189 varieties!), have a picnic or kick off the ol’ shoes and enjoy a book on the lush grass lawns. If you’re lucky, you might even get a chance to observe a wedding by…
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Ulistac Natural Area: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Ulistac Natural Area is the LAST 40-acres of undeveloped land in the City of Santa Clara. It is a phenomenal environmental walk that lets you experience how the San Francisco Bay Area looked long before the first settlers moved in. We are so fortunate to have an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the seasons bring to the Bay Area, and Ulistac is definitely a place to enjoy all year round. Like many locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Ulistac was inhabited by the Ohlone Tribe, who occupied the Northern California coast. They founded a village in this area, called “Ulistac”. “Ulis” means basket, and “tac” means place –…
