• A wooden sign on the redwood "Land of Medicine Buddha"
    Hikes & Outdoor Activities,  Local Discoveries

    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…

  • Looking upward Redwood Trees in Pogonip Santa Cruz
    Day Trips from SF Bay Area,  Local Discoveries

    Oddball Day Trip in Santa Cruz Mountains

    Santa Cruz Mountains is not the direction most people think of while visiting this eccentric coastal town in California. Visitors flock to its famous Boardwalk to chill on the beach, soaking in the scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes it is forgotten that Santa Cruz also borders Big Basin and Henry Cowell Redwood State Parks. Two of the largest in the state! And, of course, the Pogonip Open Space where our Sunday trip started. Pogonip Open Space Our neighbor and former long-time Santa Cruz resident recommended checking out the old lime kilns and the rock garden in Pogonip. Now we understand why.  After chatting with a couple of students…

  • Panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean & Pigeon Point lighhouse
    Day Trips from SF Bay Area,  Local Discoveries

    Fun Things to Do on Pacific Coast Highway near SF Bay Area

    Once you’ve found “the way to San Jose”, there are so many different options for things to do and see, both in and out of town. This post is for those of you who love hopping in the car and taking casual day-trips just to see what’s out there. On this local adventure, we drove west out of San Jose to Santa Cruz, then up the coast on Hwy 1 or the “PCH”. And now we will share our tips on the fun things to do on the Pacific Coast Highway near the San Francisco Bay Area. Seymour Marine Discovery Center Our first stop was at Seymour Marine Discovery Center.…