Santa Cruz - June 2014

So this is what most people envision when they think of Santa Cruz, CA. This is a panoramic view of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk which is a pretty nice beach boardwalk very close to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. Santa Cruz is a beach town on the Monterey Bay and home to University of California at Santa Cruz. This gives the town a unique mix of being a college town, Silicon Valley suburb, and beach town all in one.

My first stop in Santa Cruz was the University. The campus is rather large with buildings nestled into the foothills and canyons. I have to respect those students who bike and walk to class as their daily workout is pretty strong. Although, walking through coastal redwood forests is not the worst place. They also maintain a very nice arboretum on campus which is very nice and showcases plants from around the world. I was able to get some interesting close-ups of some flowers as shown above. A wedding cut my time short here, but it was a nice escape from the standard Santa Cruz fare. You can even hear the steam whistle from the Roaring Camp Railroad!

After a fun night of teppanyaki and card games with some new friends, it was back to the beach for a little sun and fun. The boardwalk is one of the few remaining boardwalks from the turn of the century and has all the standards - candy, carnival games, rollercoasters, and a big sandy beach full of families escaping the heat. They still operate a vintage carousel which I recorded below:

Santa Cruz is a popular place with a well-earned reputation as a playground for college students, families, and beach bums alike. If you have $1 million for a small old house, you too can live there. Or rent a converted garage for almost $1,000 per month! For the rest of us, a weekend day trip is a perfect opportunity to escape the real world and gorge on junk food before hiking through the coastal redwoods. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.

Roaring Camp Railroads - June 2014

So, if you were a kid in the Bay Area and have a father who likes trains, you have probably been here - Roaring Camp Railroads. The park is near Santa Cruz in Felton, CA. It is done in the style of a mountain logging camp in 1880. While most of the area was being actively logged, this area of Big Trees was a popular tourist attraction and was spared the axe. The route ran from the beach to the mountains, and is still used for a beach train in the summer.

You probably did not drive here for the hot dogs. The core of the experience is riding a historic steam train. The sounds and smells are very unique and were responsible for building most of the United States. They could burn coal, oil, or wood depending on the location. The technology was also somewhat simple, although they require a tremendous amount of maintenance and labor. They also use a lot of water which eventually doomed them. However, they are still used all over the world for scenic railroads and making kids happy.

The route takes you up steep grades through the redwood forests to the top of a mountain. It is a narrow-gauge railroad with a narrower distance between the rails. Narrow-gauge allows for tighter curves and lighter bridges due to smaller rail cars, however they were only used in limited situations - like mountainous terrain. Some of the sections reminded me of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad though!

Ultimately, this is a place for kids and kids at heart. You can hear the steam whistle echoing through the valley and everyone is anxiously peeking down the track to see the first puffs of steam. It is just a cool experience for everyone and a good reminder of how much easier things are today! Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below:

Livermore Wine Tasting - May 2014

I recently had the opportunity to do some wine tasting in the Livermore Valley. Most people know Livermore for their new outlet mall or national laboratory, but this area is home to some very old wine. Before California was even a state, Robert Livermore was out planting wine grapes. Amazingly, he planted them in Livermore Valley! He was later joined by Mr. Wente and Concannon to create a thriving wine region just off Interstate 580 heading to the Bay Area.

First stop was the Wente Vineyards along Tesla Road. It was named for Nikola Tesla, although there are probably a few Tesla Model S electric cars driving there these days. The place is very beautiful with outdoor gardens, fountains and art, and even a bocce court. They are famous for their Chardonnay, although their reds are pretty good too. Livermore has a climate similar to most of the inner coastal regions of California with its own peculiar soils. Wente does not focus on the buttery, oaky Chardonnay, but produces a more fruit-forward wine.

Lots of people were having fun at Concannon Vineyard. For being a grandfather of California wine, the place still attracts the young. Concannon has a different style than Wente and focuses on several good red blends in their tasting room. The wineries charge a tasting fee, but this is an unfortunate consequence of modern wine tasters not actually buying the wine! Both vineyards host many events during the summer. Concannon has a beautiful old house in the vineyard that I am sure hosts a lot of events.

These vineyards in Livermore are literally in someone's backyard; Livermore is a suburb of San Francisco & San Jose. Nevertheless, the grapes were here first for good reason. Do yourself a favor and try them out if you are ever in the region. The experience is much more humble than Napa and a lot easier on the pocketbook. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.

Bodega Bay / Marin County - May 2014

In my opinion, there is never a bad day to visit the ocean. Sure, sometimes it is cold and foggy or warm and sunny, but it is usually so impressive that is suits any weather. When it is hot in Sacramento, it is a perfect time to leave the valley and head for the much cooler coast. Fortunately, the coast near Bodega Bay and Marin County are close enough for a brief visit.

OK, so there are other reasons to hit the coast. Specifically, the crab sandwich at the Spud Point Crab Company. They are notably famous for their clam chowder, but the freshly caught and picked sandwich on toasted bread always gets my favor. LOTS of fresh crab, a little dressing, and a beautiful ocean vista makes for a nice lunch. Unfortunately, the wind was very strong on my trip so I was unable to bear much time on the ocean.

I decided to head south into dairy country. Marin County is home to a major dairy industry, including many organic options. Clover Stornetta, Straus Family Creamery, and several cheese companies including my favorite Point Reyes Original Blue claim most of the milk from the cows. I took the above video just off California State Route 1 near Tomales, CA. The cheese from the area is simply amazing and tastes just like the fresh grass and sea air in the area - in a good way! I stopped at Cowgirl Creamery to see their operations and drove by dozens of family farms that supply the milk and cream I use on a daily basis.

Of course, no trip to the region is complete without a stop at Lagunitas Brewing Company. This place is EXTREMELY popular and almost always crowded, but they make good beer so that is expected. Lagunitas is famous for making very high alcohol beers, especially those that use a lot of hops. You need a lot of hops to counteract the higher malt content of a high alcohol beer, otherwise it is too sweet. Their only lager is a favorite of mine - Pils - a pilsner lager with just a little bit more alcohol. That said, I usually will not refuse an IPA or even a Little Sumpin' Sumpin' They have food, but fresh brewery-only beers is the biggest draw.

A sunny Memorial Day weekend is a great time to take a gorgeous drive to escape the heat, and getting some fresh seafood and beer is always a treat. It is nice to see where your food comes from and the people who make it taste so good. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.

River Cats Game - May 2014

Everyone usually has a fun time at a Sacramento River Cats game. I had the opportunity to attend one this month, and I did have a fun time - although I did not experience an earthquake like the last time. Last season, we felt a minor earthquake from the northern Sierras in the stands which was a little weird but nothing major. Fortunately, the action on the field is usually more exciting.

The above picture is from a day game in the 2013 season, but it is typical of what you will find on a sunny day in Minor League baseball. The right outfield is especially nice with Tower Bridge and the Sacramento skyline in the background. The play can sometimes rival those at the Major League level, but mostly these guys are still trying to make it to the big show. Occasionally, a major will drop down recovering from injury or moving around the order. There is even a rumor the River Cats may switch affiliation to my San Francisco Giants.

Of course, food is always a big reason to see baseball. The River Cats offer their Dinger Dog in honor of the team mascot. It is a 1/2 lb. hot dog on a giant bun. The thing is enormous and almost impossible to eat without a fork and knife. They also offer regular sized food and all the garlic fries you can handle! Surprisingly, their new gourmet burgers are really good and cooked well. And yes, they have beer.

This is the actual view from my $20 seat. Not bad, and you get free fireworks every weekend. The River Cats were down most of the game but came back late to tie and force extra innings. They managed to score a walk off run to win the game and most importantly start the fireworks. Then it is a short walk across the bridge back into Sacramento County and a very short drive back home.

Weather is always a gamble with the River Cats. We don't get rainouts, but it can either be very hot or pretty cold with lots of wind - especially early in the season. Most of the regulars dress in layers since the Delta Breeze can turn a warm evening into a cold night before the 7th Inning Stretch. Even if you are not a big baseball fan, you will probably have a good time at the game. There's lots of junk food, great people watching, and maybe even a grand slam home run to electrify the crowd. Please enjoy the rest of my photos below.