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Swoon in Half Moon (Bay) & San Gregorio Lagoon
Okay, you may not actually faint or be overwhelmed with ecstatic joy at the sight of Half Moon Bay or San Gregorio Lagoon. I was perhaps a bit hyperbolic (and it rhymed!). Nonetheless, I think you will at the very least be charmed by this lovely area. Half Moon Bay conjures up images of a peaceful bay with celestial light reflecting on rippling ocean waves. It is this and so much more. Located just 25 miles south of San Francisco and 91 miles north of Monterey, it is an area full of history, natural beauty, and fun shops. 
These pumpkins are so huge I can picture one being turned into Cinderella’s coach, just like in the fairytale! The Art & Pumpkin Festival
It is also home to the famous annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival. This event started in 1971 and is one of the oldest and largest festivals in California, attracting more than 200,000 visitors each year in October. It features all things pumpkin, including pie, pancakes, bread, cheesecake, sausages and ice cream. There is a costume contest, a pie-eating contest, and other fun activities for all ages. There are also arts and crafts featuring local artisans and live musical talent. The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off brings pumpkin farmers from all over the country. In 2018, a man from Oregon won the contest for the fourth time with a behemoth pumpkin weighing 2,170 pounds, the second heaviest pumpkin ever entered in the contest.
History of Half Moon Bay
During the 1700s, a Spanish Mission used the area as grazing land for cattle, horses, and oxen. It did not officially become a town until the 1840s. Its original name was “San Benito”, followed by “Spanishtown”. It was renamed Half Moon Bay in 1874. Today, you can still see historic buildings built during the 1800s in the downtown area. An interesting anecdote about Half Moon Bay is that it was used by “rum runners” during Prohibition due to its profusion of numerous hidden coves and its consistently dense fog.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in Half Moon Bay is on the National Register of Historic Places. 
If you didn’t go to church, you were sent next door. Not a good place to be! Beaches and Surfing at Half Moon Bay
There are several state beaches at Half Moon Bay including Surfers’ Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, and Francis Beach. The water is extremely cold and windy, and the weather often foggy, rendering it an unpleasant place to sunbathe or wade except during the warmer months in early fall. If you are a surfer with a wetsuit, however, this place is the cat’s meow. At the north edge of Half Moon Bay, off Pillar Point, is a famous surfing area, the Mavericks. Here, waves cresting 50 feet or more draw world famous surfers.
This breathtaking photo of the Mavericks courtesy of photographer Bryan Pezman @pezmanb Other Recreational Activities
If you are not into surfing, there is a scenic oceanfront trail running from Pillar Point Harbor to southern Half Moon Bay. There are also opportunities to go sea kayaking or paddle boarding. You can also take whale-watching tours here.
Pillar Point Harbor is actually and factually in nearby Princeton-by-the-Sea, just FYI. History of San Gregorio State Beach
San Gregorio State Beach lies just 11 miles south of Half Moon Bay. The area is historically significant because Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola camped here in the 1700s during a failed expedition to reach Monterey Bay. He and his crew eventually headed north to discover San Francisco Bay. Today, it is a great place to hang out and enjoy the gorgeous coastal views, have lunch, or hike on the many trails winding along the ocean’s edge. Numerous picnic tables and restrooms are available here. Be aware that dogs are not allowed as the beach is a nesting habitat for the shrinking population of western snowy plovers. Hours are daily from 8 am to sunset.
Importance of the Lagoon
The San Gregorio Creek forms a freshwater lagoon and was originally a coho salmon spawning site. Today, juvenile steelhead in the lagoon undergo a process called “smolting”, which enables them to prepare for life in the open sea. During the winter, the sandbar separating the lagoon from the ocean washes away and the matured steelhead swim out to sea.
Helpful Links: Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay, San Gregorio
I hope you enjoy Half Moon Bay and San Gregorio Lagoon as much as I did! Wishing you love, peace, happiness, & beautiful vistas!
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Glorious Garlic: Visiting Gilroy, the Garlic Capital
Gilroy and garlic are nearly synonymous in my neck of the woods. Gilroy, located in Santa Clara County about 35 miles south of San Jose, is considered the garlic capital of the United States. Before it was the garlic capital it was the prune capital (maybe this is how nearby Prunedale received its name?). Those prune pickers didn’t make much money, however, and people turned to growing garlic instead. During garlic season, from July through October, people can often smell Gilroy before they can see it. Some people have reported smelling the garlic as far south as Salinas and as far north as San Jose. Humorist Will Rogers described Gilroy as “the only town in America where you can marinate a steak by hanging it on the clothesline.” Gilroy does not lead the world in garlic production, however. It is called the garlic capital because Gilroy Foods processes more garlic than any factory in the world. Almost all pickled, minced and powdered garlic found in grocery stores worldwide comes from Gilroy Foods. Christopher Ranch is the largest commercial garlic producer here.
One of the most popular events in Gilroy is the annual Garlic Festival. The three-day long festival, held the last weekend in July, features everything garlic, including garlic-laced sausage and calamari, garlic pasta, garlic fries, garlic bread, and even garlic ice cream! The festival includes not only garlic delicacies but also beer and wine, arts & crafts, live entertainment, garlic-braiding workshops, and cooking competitions. Celebrity chefs such as Giada De Laurentiis have even made appearances. The festival is held outdoors at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy, and draws more than 100,000 people. It is a major fundraiser for local charities. This year saw the initiation of Garlic Train service from San Francisco and San Jose to Gilroy for the festivities.
How many opportunities do you get to pose inside a giant garlic bulb? Seriously? I passed but I still regret it. Helpful Hints for the Garlic Festival:
- Friday is the least crowded day at the festival
- It can be extremely hot, make sure to stay hydrated and bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- The following items are prohibited from the event: alcohol, bottles or cans, coolers, frisbees or water projecting devices, and pocketknives or weapons of any kind
- No pets are allowed except for service animals
- No RV parking is available
Garlic pancakes, anyone? 
The old City Hall, circa 1905, has been converted into a restaurant. It is also used to impale any objects unfortunate enough to come near its spiked tower. If you want to beat the heat and crowds at the Garlic Festival, there are still plenty of garlicky things to do in Gilroy the rest of the year. You can take a walking tour of the historic downtown area, which features dozens of amazing homes and buildings, including many structures designed by eminent California architect W. H. Weeks. Walking tour maps are available at the Gilroy Welcome Center and also near public parking downtown. You can visit the Garlic City Cafe, the Garlic City Casino, or Garlic World. You can even get a garlic flavored beer at Golden State Brew & Grill and then head out to hit some golf balls at the Garlic Country Driving Range. The possibilities are endless. As is the bad breath. Which is good if you want to ward off vampires, but not good if you are looking forward to kissing someone under the mistletoe! Some studies have shown that drinking milk while you consume garlic can help neutralize this effect, and other studies have shown that consuming garlic with mushrooms and basil may also be effective. I say the solution is to eat more pizza. It has cheese which is made from milk, and who doesn’t like mushrooms, basil, and garlic on their pizza?
If you enjoy wine, there are nearly two dozen wineries in the area including Stomping Ground, Heller Winery, Sarah’s Vineyard and more. After a glass of wine, you can head eight miles northeast of Gilroy to the famous Victorian resort, Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs, a California Historical Landmark. Other local fun spots include Gilroy Outlet Center, Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park on CA State Route 152 and Mount Madonna County Park also on 152.
Directions: From San Francisco take Hwy 101 southeast approximately 84 miles. From Monterey, take Hwy 156 northeast approximately 41 miles.
Helpful Links:
Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!
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Goat Hill Fair in Santa Cruz County
I had so much fun at the Goat Hill Fair today! If you love farmhouse decor and friendly folks you will love Goat Hill Fair, a biannual antique and vintage treasure event held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds near Watsonville, CA. It is primarily an indoor event with over 100 vendors featuring amazing and beautiful items in three large buildings.
I love this chippy paint baker’s table! Goat Hill Fair began in 2011 by organizer Cyndi Garofalo. It has grown substantially over the years. Once you go you will be hooked! People often return, year after year. For many, it offers a special girlfriend or Mom & daughter bonding experience. Certainly, some gentlemen will enjoy Goat Hill Fair as well!
A plethora of beautiful succulent arrangements. You will find all kinds of fun and interesting items at Goat Hill from architectural salvage items to vintage and antique furniture and decor, folk art, jewelry, wreaths, floral/succulent arrangements, and handmade items. It is very artfully curated and exceptionally organized. You will find great gift ideas as well as festive decor for your home.
Where: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds – 2601 E. Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076
When: Two shows per year, one in November and one in May. Shows are held for two days, both Saturday and Sunday. 2019 show dates are May 18-19 and November 9-10.
How Much: Tickets sold online and at the gate – $10.00 (good for both days)
Hours: 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and 10 am to 3 pm Sunday
Helpful Tips:
- I would highly recommend purchasing the “Early Goat” tickets that enable admission at 8:30 am, to avoid the huge crowds later. These can be purchased online and are $25.00.
- Free and abundant parking, including handicapped parking, is available
- A variety of food & beverage vendors are available and there is also a bar with beer, wine, Bloody Marys, & mimosas
- A covered tent with seating for dining is available
- No pets are allowed except for service animals
- Purchased items can be held for you at a central kiosk, make sure to get your kiosk ticket from the vendor after you pay for your item(s)
Website: Goat Hill Fair
Phone: 408-221-5054
Email: cyndi_garofalo@yahoo.com
Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness and beautiful vistas!
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Notable Reads: November Book Bucket List
There is nothing more satisfying than finishing a good book. Because I am currently laid up with a broken foot and can’t pursue hiking and other fun outdoor pursuits, I find I have much more time to read! Here is my list of notable reads for November. I would highly recommend all. If you like to read a book before watching the movie you may like to know that the first three books on my list have been made into movies to be released in the near future.
1. Beautiful Boy, by David Sheff. For those of you who are parents, your heart will break as you hear the story of how Sheff’s brilliant and beautiful son Nic begins a tormented life of addiction. This life involves multiple rehabs, stealing from and lying to his family, and near death episodes, followed by periods of recovery we silently hope will lead to a happy ending. Sheff relates how this experience affected him and his family. At one Al-Anon meeting, Sheff writes “As I’m speaking in a rush of tears and panic, I think, Someone else is talking. This is not my life. Finally, drained, I say, ‘I don’t know how all you people in this room survive this.’ And I cry. So do many of the others.” Sheff reveals how Nic’s two younger siblings react to his addiction. His daughter Daisy asks “Do you know why that guy does drugs?” His son Jasper replies “He thinks it makes him feel better…I don’t think he wants to do them, but he can’t help it. It’s like in cartoons when some character has a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The devil whispers into Nicky’s ear and sometimes it gets too loud so he has to listen to him. The angel is there, too, but he talks softer and Nic can’t hear him.” The story ends with Nic completing a final rehab stay and his father’s epilogue. We have all been touched by friends or family members with addiction problems. This book is a reminder that addiction affects everyone, and that where addiction is concerned, suffering is inevitable. The guilt a parent feels is overwhelming. Sheff writes “Sometimes I know that nothing and no one is to blame. Then I slip and feel utterly responsible. Then sometimes I know that the only thing that is knowable is that Nic has a terrible disease.” Sheff does an awesome job in reassuring us that are not alone. Apparently, his son Nic has written a companion book to this, I will definitely be checking that out as well. Beautiful Boy has been made into a movie that will be released November 9, 2019.
2. The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, explores relationships in France during World War II and the German occupation. “Some stories don’t have happy endings. Even love stories. Maybe especially love stories.” This poignant statement seems to be the theme of the book, in that the love between the father and his daughters is thwarted and ends in death. Likewise, the relationship between one of the protagonists, Isabelle, and her lover Gaetan is thwarted and ends in death. There is rape. There are concentration camps. Families are separated, children ripped from their mother’s arms. At the heart of the story is the strength of two very different sisters, Isabelle and Viane. The story begins with Viane’s discovery of something which makes her remember her past, during World War II, and this is something hard for her to remember. Her patronizing son is clueless, until the very end of the story. He asks her why she never told him about this part of her life. She responds, “Men tell stories. Women get on with it. For us, it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over. Your sister was as desperate to forget it as I was.” Be prepared with a box of tissues at the end, because Hannah will tug at your heartstrings like no other author. This haunting novel has been made into a movie that will be in theaters January 25, 2019.
3. Where’d You Go Bernadette, by Maria Semple. We have all met or seen Bernadettes at some point: super anxious, often highly intelligent people who blame the world for their every problem. This could be a real downer to read, but Semple has made it extremely funny. Bernadette, formerly a high powered and award-winning architect, moves with her husband from LA to Seattle for his job with Microsoft. There, she has multiple miscarriages and her daughter is born with a heart defect. Whether or not this has contributed to her state of mind, she has nonetheless become an irascible and misanthropic human being, and her friend tells her “People like you must create. If you don’t create, Bernadette, you will become a menace to society.” The friend is right, as Bernadette progressively becomes more anti-social and neurotic. She hires a virtual assistant online who does everything from paying her bills to finding medication for her which leads to further problems. Marital problems ensue, although her 15-year-old daughter, Bee, is her mother’s staunchest supporter throughout the book. When her mother goes missing, she will stop at nothing to find her. In the end, her husband gives Bee a note to give her mother, reinstating his love and support for Bernadette by underscoring her achievements.
“1. Beeber Bifocal
2. Twenty Mile House
3. Bee
4. Your escape
Fourteen miracles to go.”
This book is certainly innovative, using a variety of formats including emails, letters, FBI documents etc. to tell the story. It made me laugh many times. A fun read! It has been made into a movie which is scheduled for release in March 2019.
4. My Ántonia, by Willa Cather. I think this novel is appropriate for the month of Thanksgiving because it fully embraces the importance of friendship and family. Written in 1918, it is the final, and ostensibly the best book of her “prairie trilogy”, following O Pioneers and The Song of the Lark. The story begins when orphaned Jim Burden goes to live with his middle-aged grandparents in Nebraska. There, he befriends Ántonia Shimerda, the eldest daughter in a family of Bohemian immigrants. Jim’s grandparents have a better understanding of how to survive in the environment and have a home, outbuildings, and even hired hands. The Shimerdas, as immigrants, were basically scammed and although they paid good money for a homestead, end up living in a cave. I love Cather’s description of how the Shimerdas kept their food warm in a featherbed. I also love her descriptive language: “it seemed as if we could hear the corn growing in the night; under the stars, one caught a faint crackling in the dewy, heavy-odored cornfields where the feathered stalks stood so juicy and green”. Both children learn how harsh and yet rewarding life is like for pioneers in sparsely populated rural Nebraska. There are many life adventures including when Jim’s grandparents move to town and Ántonia gets a job in town working as a housekeeper for the Harlings. The academically astute Jim goes on to become a successful attorney in New York City. Conversely, Ántonia, who has had to work in the fields or as a housekeeper all her life to help support her family, ends up getting scammed by her super turd biscuit fiance. She eventually marries another man and has several children, but never manages to escape poverty. Yet, she is very happy. Her family is the most beautiful and important thing to her. My Ántonia is basically a story of how friendship withstands the test of time and how meaningful and beautiful that is. When Jim sees Antonia years later and is startled to see the physical changes in her, he thinks to himself “how little it matters…I know so many women who have kept all the things that she had lost, but whose inner glow has faded. Whatever else was gone, Ántonia had not lost the fire of life”. At the end of the book he muses, “For Ántonia and for me, this had been the road of Destiny; had taken us to those early accidents of fortune which predetermined for us all that we can ever be. Now I understood that the same road was to bring us together again. Whatever we had missed, we possessed together the precious, the incommunicable past.” I tend to re-read this book every few years and I am never disappointed. A real gem.
Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you love, peace, happiness, and good reading!
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Adventures at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Located next to the ocean in historic Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is bursting at the seams with fantastical sea creatures. It is full of wonderful adventures just waiting to happen!
The jellyfish are my favorites! These sea nettles trail their long tentacles in order to catch plankton. Stinging cells on their tentacles paralyze the prey so they can move it to their mouths for a sea snack.
The Moon jelly, or Medusa luna, is so beautiful, I can’t stop staring!
Another attraction at the aquarium is the giant kelp forest. You may inadvertently find yourself swaying side to side with the gently moving kelp as fish swim peacefully by and huge silvery schools of sardines swirl in the light. The 28-foot high forest is one of the tallest in the world.
These Tube anemones anchor themselves two feet or more into the sand so that if a predator threatens them they can quickly disappear!
“I’d like to be, under the sea, in an octopus’s garden, in the shade”, goes the Beatles song. You may find yourself humming along to this tune when you see the octopus’s garden at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. At least I did.
Monterey Bay Aquarium even has penguins! You can learn so much about them during the twice-daily penguin feeding times. These penguins are from South Africa and are fast and agile swimmers. They are super cute!
Strawberry anemone and other sea creatures appear so magical and mesmerizing. This just makes me want to be a mermaid so I can live somewhere this pretty.
A sagacious stingray (we don’t know if he really is wise, but I think he probably is!) glides through a school of sardines or anchovies. I still have trouble discerning the difference between those two teenie weenie fishes. We are told that anchovies swim with their tails going up and down, and sardines swim with their tails going side to side. It’s hard to tell from a distance!
A leopard shark cruises the kelp forest, looking for worms, clams, and other creatures to suck from the sand.
Of course, there is nothing cuter than sea otters. The sea otters at the aquarium are rescued animals unable to survive in the wild. It is so fun to watch them frolic and play in the water. The aquarium runs a wonderful program that saves sea otters by rescuing, treating and releasing injured otters, providing surrogate parents for stranded pups, and finding homes for sea otters who can’t return to wild. Sea otters almost became extinct in the early 1900s because they were hunted for their soft, luxurious fur. As a result, in California, there were only about 50 sea otters by the 1930s. Although the population has grown over the years, conservation efforts continue to preserve this adorable and beloved endangered species.
Where: Monterey Bay Aquarium is located at 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
Admission: Adults aged 18-64 are $49.95, Children ages 3-12 are $29.95 and under 3 free. Students are $34.95 ages 13-17 or with college ID. Seniors 65+ are also $39.95
Hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily
Phone: 831-648-4800
Website: Monterey Aquarium
Helpful Info:
- Refreshments are available on site at a restaurant, cafe and coffee bar inside the Aquarium
- Daily Shows & Feedings provide fun educational experiences for all ages, including sea otter, penguin, open sea, kelp forest, and seabird feedings
- Parking is available in numerous parking garages in the area and there is metered street parking
- The entire aquarium is wheelchair accessible
- Tons of educational, fun and hands-on experiences for children
- If you want to avoid the crowds, I recommend going between 2 pm and 5 pm on weekdays
- If you are staying at a local hotel, check for partner deals with the aquarium including 2-day tickets for the price of 1-day
Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!
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Pretty Fall & Winter Pedicure Toe Nail Art Ideas
With fall and winter holidays just around the corner, don’t forget your toes! There is nothing more fun (and relaxing) than having a pedicure and choosing pretty colors and designs are important. Take time to browse through my cute toe nail art designs for your own inspiration!
I love the deep rich autumn brown with the coppery gold artwork. It creates a very fall vibe.
Nothing will put you in the Christmas spirit like getting a cute pedi with these festive holiday toes! It is like giving a present to yourself, literally!
Gold & Cherry Red is a great combo for New Year’s Eve and into 2019!
I hope you enjoyed my nail art designs. Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and super cute toes!
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Clementine & Co. in Carmel, California
Clementine & Company is a stunning shop filled with beautiful home decor, furniture, vintage finds, and gift items. It was founded by two sisters, Emily and Amanda, in 2016. Per their website, the sisters “grew up in a large family with a designer/artist father and a creative mom who flipped houses for a living. The sisters joined forces, put their creative energies together, and opened a shop in picturesque Carmel, CA that incorporates flea market finds with the latest trends in interior design.”
I am always impressed with the stylish decor here and there are always some wonderful surprises! The textiles, lighting, ceramics, furniture, and beautiful decor flood your senses. Every nook and corner is utilized to provide a pleasing view no matter where your gaze wanders.
I love finding inspiration here; the tableaus are so lovely.
It is fun to explore the variety. Always new and interesting finds here! They also have wonderful seasonal decor.
Clementine & Co. also features a professionally curated online store that can ship items right to your doorstep. How’s that for convenience? Check out Clementine & Co. yourself! You will not be disappointed!
Where: 153 Crossroads Blvd. Carmel, California, 93923 (located in the Crossroads Carmel Shopping Center)
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 6pm and Sun 11am to 5pm
Phone: (831) 620-1200
Helpful Links: Store Website
My latest snag from Clementine. As a coffee addict, I appreciate the size of this mug in addition to the cute inscription! Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love & happiness!
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Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville, California
With autumn in the air, nothing is more fun than visiting the apple orchard. When I lived in the Midwest, I would giddily make my annual pilgrimage to the local apple orchard, bundled up in a warm sweater and hat. I would join others piling onto the hay wagons that would be pulled by a tractor out into the orchard. There, we were abandoned with bushel baskets to pick apples from trees in the crisp, cool autumn air. We returned later to the apple barn with our haul. At the apple barn, there was hot apple cider and fresh, warm cinnamon donuts. I have so many fond memories of this, I was feeling pretty bummed to be orchardless in California, that is, until my friend Lauryn told me about Gizdich Ranch. 
While you don’t need to bundle up at this apple orchard, and there are no hay wagons, hot donuts or cider, it is a true gem. Located in a quiet, rural area, the 60-acre Gizdich Ranch has a reputation for being a local favorite. It is located at 55 Peckham Road in Watsonville, CA, 31 miles north of Monterey and 94 miles south of San Francisco. They have been in business for more than 80 years. As you drive through the quiet countryside to Gizdich Ranch, you will notice quaint Victorian houses with gingerbread porches, old-fashioned windmills, and little red barns. It almost feels like you have traveled back in time to a place where people churn butter, make quilts and drive to church every Sunday in a horse and buggy. It’s just that cute.
No matter the season, Gizdich has something good in store. In the spring and summer you can pick strawberries, olallieberries, and boysenberries, and in the fall, apples (or you can purchase them already picked). Gizdich is especially famous for their freshly baked pies. You can buy pie by the slice or an entire pie. You can even get a scoop of ice cream with your pie. Or, you may prefer a homemade apple dumpling drowning in a to-die-for caramel sauce. They also carry homemade jams, fresh pressed apple juice and other yummies, doodads, and gimcrackery. The apple juice is often sold out for good reason, it is delicious! If you are wondering about what to serve for dessert at Thanksgiving, you can pre-order pies here. Gizdich sells around 6,000 pies this time of year!
While the produce at Gizdich is not certified organic, they use many techniques, including applying beneficial insects and organic sprays, to avoid the use of pesticides. I snagged some heirloom Pippins (grown by George Washington on his estate in Virginia) and they were super crisp, sweet and tasty. Pippins are just one of 17 apple varieties available at Gizdich.
One of the most popular flavors for jam and pie is ollalieberry. If you are from the midwest, like me, you have probably never heard of ollalieberry. Olallies are a cross between blackberries and red raspberries and let me tell you, they are heavenly!
If you are hankering for something more substantial to eat, Gizdich’s has a deli that serves picnic lunches including sandwiches, chips, cookies, an apple, and a drink. There are picnic tables and benches where you can sit down and enjoy your goodies. There is also an antique shop on the premises which was closed when we were there.
Hours: They are open every day from 9 am to 5 pm
Helpful Hints:
- Weekday mornings are the quietest, by afternoon the school buses are arriving and you will be standing in lines or dodging the kiddos
- If you are picking berries, bring your own take-home containers; Gizdich provides containers for picking only, there is a fee charged for boxes to take berries home in
- If you will be outside during hot and sunny weather, bring sunscreen and a hat
- It can be dusty here with dirt roads
- Credit cards are accepted as well as cash
- Signs can be a bit confusing, we ended up at the pick your own orchard and had to continue further around the corner to the actual farm and store.
- You can place phone orders before you arrive
- Ample parking is available
Contact: Call 831-722-2458 or visit their website Orchard
Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and a very lovely autumn!
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Surfing Museum Lighthouse in Santa Cruz
“Let’s go surfin’ now, everybody’s learning how, come on and safari with me” begins the popular Beach Boys song “Surfin’ Safari”. This could well be the theme song of the beautiful seaside city of Santa Cruz, California. Surfing is an obsession here. Legend has it that three Hawaiian princes first brought surfing to America while visiting Santa Cruz in the 1800s. This is the story of how a lighthouse built shortly after the civil war transformed into a shrine to surfing culture. 
The beach north of the museum offers a serene view. Santa Cruz’s original lighthouse was completed in 1870, constructed at Point Santa Cruz and modeled after the Ediz Hook Lighthouse in Washington Territory. By 1878, the prolific formation of new sea caves along the cliffs at Point Santa Cruz began to jeopardize the lighthouse’s structural integrity, with the potential for collapse. It was removed from its foundation and moved on wooden rollers three hundred feet further inland, using a team of horses.
A handful of lighthouse keepers and their families lived at Point Santa Cruz. The most notable was Laura Hecox, the daughter of the first lighthouse keeper, Adna Hecox. When her father passed away, she became the official keeper, a job she held until her resignation in 1916. Laura began the study of shells and amassed an expansive and well-renowned collection of artifacts, some of which can be viewed today at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.
In 1941, the Coast Guard built a twenty-six-foot high tower 200 feet seaward of the lighthouse which became the station’s official beacon, and the original lighthouse and grounds were leased to the city of Santa Cruz for a park. In 1948, the Coast Guard sold the aging lighthouse with the stipulation that it be entirely removed from the property. A local carpenter purchased it and completely dismantled it for the lumber. The city of Santa Cruz later purchased the property at the site of the original lighthouse. The lighthouse that had stood here for over seventy years was gone forever. This could have been the end of the story, but a tragic accident brought about a very beneficial reinvention.
It’s fun to watch today’s surfers catching waves. In the background is Santa Cruz’s beach boardwalk. Surfing can be a perilous sport, and in 1965, a promising young 18-year-old surfer named Mark Abbott lost his life at nearby Pleasure Point surf break. In 1967, Mark’s grieving parents wanted to do something positive to commemorate their son. They donated life insurance money for the completion of a new 550 square foot new lighthouse in honor of their son. The Abbott Memorial Lighthouse was built of red brick and featured a lantern from the defunct Oakland Harbor Lighthouse. A beautiful plaque inside the lighthouse reads “This lighthouse is further dedicated to all our youth whose lives, through fate or misadventure, are terminated before realizing their true potential. May their spirits find new dimension in the unknown horizons that await us all.”
In 1986, the lighthouse became home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, the first surfing museum in the world. In 2008, it was nearly closed due to city budget difficulties. The Santa Cruz Surfing Club Preservation Society raised enough money to keep the lighthouse open temporarily, and other donors soon came forward to rescue the museum.
While I am not a surfer, I was truly impressed by the extensive collection of photographs, videos, surfboards, and other surfing memorabilia in the museum. Notable features include locally crafted redwood surfboards from the 1930s and the very first wetsuit invented by Santa Cruz native Jack O’Neill. You really feel the passion that this sport has elicited in people and the historic role (over 100 years) it has played in the area. Santa Cruz is highly respected in the surfing world. In 2011, Santa Cruz received approval as a World Surfing Reserve, ranking highly on criteria such as wave quality and consistency, surf culture and history, and its unique environmental characteristics. There are over 23 surf spots in the region, including the iconic Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point.
It is a beautiful place to relax and contemplate the sea and sun. The museum/lighthouse has been a staunchly revered local landmark and hosts the annual “Caroling Under the Stars” tradition each Christmas. Admission to the museum is free but donations are welcome. There are numerous benches around the area and it is wheelchair accessible. It is a beautiful and peaceful place to sit and watch the surfers, enjoy a picnic lunch, or just bask in the sunshine while enjoying the beautiful beach.
Location: 701 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Summer Hours (July 4 – Labor Day): 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (closed Wednesdays)
After Labor Day Hours: Noon – 4:00 p.m. (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and
Phone: 831 420-6289
Helpful Hints: No restrooms are on the premises, but public restrooms are available approximately one block south of the museum on the opposite side of the street.
More Information: Santa Cruz Lighthouse and Surfing Museum
Plaque commemorating Hawaiian Princes who introduced surfing to Santa Cruz in 1885. Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!
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Eight Best Books To Curl Up With This Fall!
With fall coming, it’s a great time to curl up in a quiet place with a good book. I have some recommendations that I think you will enjoy!
1. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. This is a ghost story and a bit scary, perfect for Halloween! The story is told from the perspective of a local doctor in England following World War II. It has apparently been made into a movie (released just last month) which I have not seen. The story focuses on a mansion, called Hundreds Hall. The narrator reveals his first experience with the mansion when he was a 10-year-old boy and his mother had been employed there as a servant. He later returns and finds the mansion to be in a state of dilapidation and disrepair. He befriends the once well-do-to family living there and observes the ensuing creepy events from a purely scientific perspective. Various bizarre happenings are easily explained away. Yet, he seems to understand that some things cannot be easily explained. He states to his colleague, “The subliminal mind has many dark, unhappy corners, after all. Imagine something loosening itself from one of those corners. Let’s call it a germ. And let’s say conditions prove right for that germ to develop–to grow, like a child in the womb. What would this little stranger grow into? A sort of shadow-self, perhaps: a Caliban, a Mr. Hyde. A creature motivated by all the nasty impulses and hungers the conscious mind had hoped to keep hidden away.” Warning: may cause nightmares!
2. The Harry Potter Series is inordinately addicting. Yes, adults can read these too. I didn’t start until my boys were grown and gone and I was going through their old books. Once I started, I was hooked! I finally understood their frenzied quest for each new book in the series. Wonderfully entertaining! I recommend starting with the first book and proceeding sequentially.- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter an the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
3. Agatha Christie mysteries. Favorites include The Murder at the Vicarage, The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side, and The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I used to scour rummage sales, book sales, and flea markets for every tattered Agatha Christie novel I could find. I love Miss Marple and Hercules Poirot, the consummate detectives. In the Mysterious Affair at Styles, Poirot states to his friend assisting with the investigation, “You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely.” Fun reading and the British ambiance in each book is addicting.
4. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. If you are a hopeless romantic and like mysterious men in capes and masks you will most likely find this gothic horror mystery appealing. Basically, the Phantom lurks in the opera house, seemingly appearing in places out of nowhere as if by magic. He falls in love with a beautiful young singer and ends up kidnapping her although he later lets her go. Much melodrama ensues. Although creepy, it is definitely sad, beautiful and poignant and you feel sorry for the Phantom, who will live a loveless life alone in the dark depths of the opera house.
5. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman. In this tale, Susanna Owens has three children. The children, Franny, Jet, and Vincent know that they are different from other people and have special abilities, but feel unsupported by their mother. Finally, the children visit her Aunt Isabelle in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been both feared and sought out for help over the years. Aunt Isabelle, dressed in black, encourages the children to embrace who they are. The children see the help she provides to the local folk, who are invited into her kitchen to sit at the old pine table. “The price for a cure might be as low as half a dozen eggs or as high as a diamond ring, depending on the circumstances. A token payment was fine in exchange for horseradish and cayenne for coughs, dill seeds to disperse hiccoughs, Fever Tea to nip flu in the bud, or Frustration Tea to soothe sleepless nights of the mother of a wayward son.” Monterey is mentioned in this book, as Vincent, a musician, participates in the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Vincent’s two granddaughters, Sally and Gillian, end up being raised by Franny and Jet in Practical Magic after their parents die in a tragic accident.
6. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. “There are some things, after all, that Sally Owens knows for certain: Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can.” You have probably seen this quote morphed in one way or another onto plaques and signs on Etsy. Hoffman’s use of creativity, superstition, and vivid description make her books wonderfully entertaining reads. She also tugs at your heartstrings with the losses and lessons her characters experience. Once you are hooked you will be back for more!
7. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I will be forever awestruck and imprinted by the amazing characters in this book, including the scary convict, sweet Pip, beautiful Estella, and creepy Miss Havisham. Pip assumes his benefactor is Miss Havisham; the discovery that his true benefactor is his convict shocks him. I have to say that Miss Havisham is the weirdest character ever and that is what makes this book so interesting. A wealthy spinster, once jilted at the altar, she insists on wearing her wedding dress for the rest of her life and lives in a ruined mansion with her adopted daughter, Estella. She keeps all the clocks in the mansion set at twenty to nine, the exact moment her fiance ran off, leaving her at the altar. She tries to make Estella jaded towards men and plays sick games with poor Pip. She is one of the most strange and grotesque characters in the story. Pip states “I saw that the bride within the bridal dress had withered like the dress, and like the flowers, and had no brightness left but the brightness of her sunken eyes. I saw that the dress had been put upon the rounded figure of a young woman and that the figure upon which it now hung loose, had shrunk to skin and bone. Once, I had been taken to see some ghastly waxwork at the Fair, representing I know not what impossible personage lying in state. Once, I had been taken to one of our old marsh churches to see a skeleton in the ashes of a rich dress, that had been dug out of a vault under the church pavement. Now, waxwork and skeleton seemed to have dark eyes that moved and looked at me. I should have cried out if I could.” In adopting Estella, she seeks to protect the girl from the hurts she herself has suffered and she trains Estella to love no one. Estella ends up not only unable to love men but unable to love Miss Havisham. I love Charles Dickens!
8. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. In this story, a headless horseman wreaks havoc on the townsfolk. He is believed to be a Hessian soldier who lost his head to a cannonball during the Revolutionary War. In the story, he rides forth nightly to the scene of battle in search of his head. Ichabod Crane, a lanky schoolmaster competes with Brom Bones for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel. One autumn night, Crane borrows a horse named Gunpowder to travel to a Halloween party at the Van Tassels’ homestead. The horse is described as “a broken-down plow-horse, that had outlived almost everything but its viciousness. He was gaunt and shagged, with a ewe neck, and a head like a hammer; his rusty mane and tail were tangled and knotted with burs; one eye had lost its pupil, and was glaring and spectral, but the other had the gleam of a genuine devil in it. Still, he must have had fire and mettle in his day, if we may judge from the name he bore of Gunpowder. He had, in fact, been a favorite steed of his master’s, the choleric Van Ripper, who was a furious rider, and had infused, very probably, some of his own spirit into the animal; for, old and broken-down as he looked, there was more of the lurking devil in him than in any young filly in the country.” Upon reaching the party, Crane proposes to young Katrina but is spurned. As he rides home, dejected, he encounters a cloaked horseman and realizes that his companion’s head is not on his shoulders, but on his saddle. Ichabod rides for his life, but as he nears the bridge, the horseman rears his horse and hurls his severed head at Ichabod.I like movies, but honestly, I think books are so much better. Wishing you peace, love happiness, and fun reading!