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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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 –…
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Rancho San Antonio: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
In the heart of the fast-paced Silicon Valley, Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve offers a refreshing escape from the daily grind. With its lush green meadows, scenic rolling hills, and dense wooded forests, Rancho San Antonio is perfect for anyone who enjoys just “getting away” now and then, without having to travel very far. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountain range, this park is a local favorite destination for hiking, biking, and even horseback riding. Rancho San Antonio is easily accessible from anywhere in the Bay Area, and is quite extensive. The 165-acre Park combined with the 3,988-acre Preserve, has plenty of hiking…
