Here are some of our favorite locations and activities.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, California 95006, +1 831-338-8861
This thirteen mile loop makes the three waterfalls, Berry Creek Falls, Silver Falls, and Cascade Falls, one of our favorite hikes. Come after a rainfall and the falls are massive.
Mount Hermon Adventures
17 Conference Drive, Felton, California 95018, +1 831-430-4357
Afraid of heights? We enjoy this challenge course; the higher in the tree tops you are, the more difficult the courses get. Mount Hermon also offers a zip line course.
Natural Bridges Visitor Center
2320 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, California 95060, +1 831-423-4609
Wave erosion carved the arches and only one of the three remain. October is a perfect month to visit the Monarch Preserve to observe their migration.
Shark Fin Cove
Davenport, CA 95017
This location has a steep climb down but if Ellie's mom can do it, you'll do just fine. The climb is a must if you want to explore the cave and get a closer look at Shark Fin Cove
Asilomar State Beach
Sunset Drive, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, (831) 646-6440
Asilomar provides plenty of beautiful boardwalk and not so crowded white, sandy beaches.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 California 1, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93923, (831) 624-4909
Very scenic coastal trails and home to plenty wildlife. Watch whales in the winter and sea lions all year round.
Garrapata State Park Bluff Trail
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93923
Come here in the springtime to see all the flowers in bloom. Come here year round and the bluff trails are just as beautiful.
McWay Falls
Big Sur, CA 93920, (831) 667-2315
Off the coast of Highway 1, in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, you can find this breathtaking 80ft waterfall. During high tide, it is a tidefall. Fact: The only other tidefall in California is Alamere Falls.