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Troops 493/494 or Crew 494 Past or planned outing top
Arboretums,
Preserves & Refuges
Astronomy
Birds
Geology
- Rocks
Geology
- Fossils
Marine
Life & Tide pools
Arboretums,
Preserves & Refuges
-
Conservatory
of Flowers, Golden Gate Park The
Conservatory of Flowers is a spectacular living museum of rare and
beautiful tropical plants under glass. From Borneo to Bolivia, the
1500 species of plants at the Conservatory represent unusual flora
from more than 50 countries around the world. Immersive displays
in five galleries include the lowland tropics, highland tropics,
aquatic plants, potted plants and special exhibits.
http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/
-
Cosumnes
River Preserve
Located in Central California, south of Sacramento. Managed
by The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and
partner organizations. Riparian forests, oak woodlands, migrating
birds. Open daily sunrise to sunset. Self-guided tour on Willow
Slough Trail. Naturalist-led tours on weekends. Information: (916)684.2816;
e-mail
info@cosumnes.org;
www.cosumnes.org.
-
Elkhorn
Slough, Located in Central California, north of Monterey
near Moss Landing. The reserve is managed by the Elkhorn Slough
Foundation. Habitat contains waterfowl, seals, sea otters. Open
Wed.–Sun. 9 am–5 pm. Docent-led hikes, 10 AM Sats. and Suns. Information:
(831)728.2822 or
www.elkhornslough.org/.
Return to Top
-
Golden Gate National Park Natural flowers of
Golden Gate National Park
http://www.nps.gov/goga/wildflowers/index.htm
-
Grizzly
Island, Suisun Bay The
Grizzly Island Complex combines natural tidal wetlands and artificially
diked marshes. Each habitat attracts a special kind of wildlife. Pass
some hours along the bay or on the graveled foot trails at Peytonia
Slough. Experience the renewing rhythm of the tides, the changing
complexion of marsh life. Some animals, like the California
clapper rail and Suisun shrew, live exclusively in these tidal wetlands.
Pay attention to the available
visit dates due to days that the island is open for hunting.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/region3/grizzlyisland/general.html
-
Jasper
Ridge Biological Reserve
Jasper Ridge includes all the representative ecosystems of the Santa
Cruz Mountains, including a large area of serpentine grassland that
produces a spectacular wildflower display in the spring. Docent-led
tours focus on many different aspects of the Preserve. Contact the
tour service at (650) 327-2277. Check the
JRBP website
for additional information
http://jasper1.stanford.edu/
-
Jepson
Reserve In Central
California, Solano County, east of Fairfield. The preserve
is managed by Solano Land Trust (formerly Solano County Farmland
and Open Space Foundation). Native bunchgrass prairie and spring
wildflowers. Docent-led tours on Saturdays and Sundays in spring.
Self-guided trail open all year. Information: (707)432.0150 or
http://nrs.ucop.edu/reserves/jepson.html.
-
Milagra
Ridge In addition
to the Mission Blue butterfly, several other endangered species
make their home on Milagra Ridge. They include the San Bruno Elfin
butterfly, the red-legged frog, and the San Francisco garter snake.
Students from Oceana High School's Environmental Studies Course
are helping to restore native plant habitat on Milagra Ridge to
help protect these endangered species.
http://www.nps.gov/goga/clho/miri/index.htm
-
Ring
Mountain Open Space,
MOSR Tiburon
http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/PK/Main/os/osdring.cfm
-
Strybing
Gardens, Golden Gate Park The
mild Mediterranean climate of San Francisco enables Strybing to
grow and conserve plants from all over the world, including plants,
which are no longer found in their native habitats. There are 55
acres of sanctuary - landscaped gardens and open spaces - and over
7000 varieties of plants from around the world!
http://www.strybing.org/Gardens/index.html
-
Sweeney
Ridge From
mountain lions to mice, and from paintbrush to poppies, Sweeney
Ridge has a broad and colorful palette of wildlife. Bobcat, coyote,
fox and black-tailed deer live among the coastal scrub of Sweeney
Ridge. Biologists and volunteers have also found a variety of smaller
animals, such as wood rats, rabbits, voles, shrews and lizards.
Sweeney wildflowers span the spectrum from scarlet Indian paintbrush,
orange monkeyflower and yellow aster, to purple lupine and blue-eyed
grass.
http://www.nps.gov/goga/clho/swri/index.htm
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Astronomy
Astronomical Observing
A few courtesies that will enhance your experience: Do not touch any
of the telescopes unless the owner instructs you on the proper method.
In particular, avoid touching any glass optical surfaces. Please be
sure children are supervised around telescopes.
Dress warm! Even summer nights can be quite cold.
Have a red filter over any light source. Red light does not bother night
vision as much as other colors or white light. A piece of red "cellophane"
wrapped over the end of a flashlight will work great.
Please consider dimming your vehicle's headlights when driving into
the observing areas. Its best to arrive before sundown if you are unfamiliar
with the area.
- Chabot Space & Science
- Telescope Viewing
Regular hours are every
Friday & Saturday evening, weather permitting: November – March:
7-10 pm; April – October: Dusk-10:30 pm (Daylight Saving)
- Nearly twice as large as Mars appeared
last summer, Saturn will be brighter and closer to Earth than it has
been in over 30 years. Come view through the telescopes and be dazzled
by the rings and the colors of the 2nd largest planet.
- Free Telescope
Viewing - Every Friday and Saturday Evening, 7-10pm
Saturn will be visible December 5 - February 28
(weather permitting)
- http://www.cosc.org/visit/observatories.asp
- De Anza Planetarium
http://planetarium.fhda.edu/index.html
- Foothill College Foothill Observatory
is open for public viewing every clear Friday evening from 9:00 p.m.
until 11:00 p.m. Visitors can view the wonders of the universe through
the observatory's 16-inch reflecting telescope and 6-inch refracting
telescope.
http://www.foothill.fhda.edu/ast/friday.htm
- Fremont Peak SP, Off
of Highway 156, 11-miles south of San Juan Bautista on San Juan Canyon
Road. The park features an astronomical observatory with a 30-inch
telescope, which is open for public programs on selected evenings.
Observatory Programs: April through
October on moonless Saturday evenings starting at 8:00pm.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=564
- Joseph Grant SCCP
The Halls
Valley Astronomical Group host monthly stargazing at Grant Park. They
meet either at Telescope Row or Halley Hill Observatory, both located
within Grant.
http://www.snap-design.com/HVAG/
- Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton
Summer Program http://www.snap-design.com/HVAG/
; Lick Observatory is open to daytime visitors nearly every
day of the year from 12:30 to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, and from
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. The Observatory is closed
to the public on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
http://www.ucolick.org/public/visitors.html
-
Sugar Loaf Ridge SP, The park is about
one hour away from San Francisco and seven miles east of Santa Rosa.
The park also houses one of the largest public viewing telescopes;
a 40-inch telescope at the Ferguson Observatory. It can be rented
with the group campsite for private parties. http://www.rfo.org/
Return to Top
Birds
- Index of Bird sightings
in Northern California
http://www.spflrc.org/~walker/index.php
- Andrew
Molera SP
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/pdf/birdchecklist.pdf
- Audubon Canyon Ranch Bolinas
This thousand-acre wildlife sanctuary
has a rich mosaic of natural communities. The number of nests in this
colony varies from year to year but usually totals more than 100 pairs,
with Great Egrets making up the majority in recent times.
http://www.egret.org/
-
Baylands Park
, Sunnyvale Over
60 different species of birds are found throughout the year at Sunnyvale
Baylands Park and are listed on the Bird List. Find out more about
burrowing owls, a Species
of Special Concern. Mammals: Most of the mammals found here are
wary of people. Look for droppings of jackrabbits on the path. Signs
of gophers and ground squirrels are seen near their many burrows.
In the seasonal wetlands,
salt marsh harvest mice,
an endangered species, may be hiding from hawks overhead.
-
Elkhorn Slough By far the best water bird habitat in Monterey
County is the Moss Landing/Elkhorn Slough vicinity; indeed, this tidal
slough and adjacent freshwater ponds combine for some of the best
birding in all of North America.
http://www.elkhornslough.org/birds1.htm; Also information
on various sites for birding around Elkhorn Slough:
http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/elkhornslough.html.
This site provides more information on the reserve and
provides information on docent tours:
http://www.elkhornslough.org/index.html There is a $2.50 fee to
use the trails.
- Moro Bay Moro
Bay is also a bird sanctuary with more than two dozen endangered species,
including brant, brown pelican, black rail, peregrine falcon
and snowy plover. The last estuary of its kind between Mexico and
Northern California, Morro Bay is a major stop of the Pacific flyway.
More than 70 migratory bird species make their winter home here.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/morro.html
- Point Pinos Located in
Pacific Grove, there have been 336 varieties of birds that have been
recorded in this are. http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/pinos.html
- Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
More than 300 species
of birds and mammals, both resident and migratory, use the
Refuges. The marshes support fish, frogs, and invertebrates, which
are used by grebes, white pelicans, egrets, herons, and bitterns as
a food resource. Shorebirds probe the mud for insects, snails, and
worms, while raptors prey on the abundant waterfowl, rodents, and
small birds. Woodpeckers, marsh wrens, and finches are a few of the
many songbirds which feed and nest in the Refuges' cottonwoods, willows,
and wetland plants.
http://sacramentovalleyrefuges.fws.gov/observation.htm
- Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge
http://pacific.fws.gov/refuges/field/CA_salinas.htm
The refuge is located 11
miles north of Monterey at the confluence of the Salinas River and
Monterey Bay. Take the Del Monte Avenue exit from Highway 1 and drive
3/4 mile west to the parking lot.
- San Mateo County Information
about birding in San Mateo.
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/sm.htm
- Santa Clara Audubon The
SCVAS headquarters is located at McClellan Ranch Park, 22221 McClellan
Road, in Cupertino http://www.scvas.org/
- Santa Cruz County
http://www.santacruzbirdclub.org/sites.html
- This is an informal and interim where-to-bird
guide for northern Santa Cruz County. It is interim, because we have
tried to meet merely for the time being a widely voiced desire for
this information, while a much more substantial and all-county guide
to birding makes its way toward eventual publication. When that happens,
we will remove this online one.
- Santa Cruz County Bird Check List:
http://www.santacruzbirdclub.org/chlists.html
- Sonoma County Bodega
Bay is probably the hottest birding spot in Sonoma County. More rare
birds have been spotted here than in any other area in the County.
Owl Canyon, "Hole-In-The-Head" and the bushes below Diekmann's
Store have consistently yielded great finds.
http://audubon.sonoma.net/birding/bodega_bay.html
- California
County Birding Resource
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/county.htm
- Return to Top
Geology:
Rocks & Fossils
Rocks
1. Opal Mountain Black Mountain
- 5 miles north of Fossil Bed Road via dirt road . Jasper . Nodules
. Opal
2. Mule Canyon - 3 miles
north of Yermo . Agate . Borax . Celestite . Jasper . Olivine . Petrified
Wood . Satin Spar . Silver . Travertine . Olivine
3. Alvord Mine - 7 miles
north of Manix via dirt road . Agate . Calcite . Chalcedony . Jasper
. Pyrite
4. Pisgah Crater - 1 mile
south of Interstate-40 off of Historic Route 66 . Lava . Volcanic Bombs
5. Cady Mountains - 6 miles
north of Pisgah via dirt road . Agate . Chalcedony . Geodes . Jasper
6. Afton Canyon - 1 miles
southeast of Afton off ramp via dirt road . Agate . Calcite . Chalcedony
. Jasper . Nodules
7. Broadwell Dry Lake -
6 miles north of Ludlow via Crucero Road; west to hilly area . Banded
Agate . Moss Agate . Geodes . Jasper . Onyx
8. Halloran Spring - Turquoise
Mountain North of Halloran Springs . Azurite . Turquoise
- Barstow Rockhounding, BLM
http://www.ca.blm.gov//needles/rock.htm
- Flat Top Mountain,
Needles DAG This
area contains plentiful jasper and can be reached by
taking the Water Road exit (Camino) off I-40 and traveling approximately
4 miles south to an intersection with the pipeline road then turning
east for 3 miles. Keep in mind the area just to the north of the pipeline
road is wilderness and although rock collecting is allowed, motorized
travel is not.
- Turtle
Mountain. Parker Dam Desert Access Guide (DAG) The Turtle
Mountain Wilderness and surrounding areas have long been known for
it's beautiful rocks, good jasper, opalite, and much more. Each rain
seems to uncover something new. Three proven locales are Mohawk Spring,
Mopah Peaks, and Negro Peak. In addition chalcedony rose and agate
can be found on either side of Turtle Mountain Road.
-
Chemehuevi Wash. Parker Dam DAG On the south side
of Havasu Lake Road, just 2 miles east of the intersection of power
line road, you can find red, yellow, white and brown moss, banded
and picture agate, as well as blue opal and agate, and rhyolite. Continue
east on for 2.2 miles, then take the dirt road south 1 mile to find
colorful agate, brecciated red and white jasper, opalite in pastel
shades of pink, yellow, chalcedony rose and crystal-lined geodes.
- Vidal
Junction. Parker Dam DAG The large wash north of U.S. Highway
62 just 2 miles east of Vidal Junction is an excellent site for collecting
Chalcedony, which can be found from Highway 95 extending east approximately
1 mile. More can be obtained near the Whipple Mountains, about 4.5
miles to the north.
-
Chambless. Amboy DAG Explore this area in the Marble
Mountains for hematite and magnetite, found in reddish-brown iron
deposits near mining shafts, and apple green epidote found in the
washes. An abandoned quarry yields sizable chunks of limestone and
marble. Next canyon has a tiny mountain of garnet, with dark red and
brown crystals forming small clusters. Green epidote is scattered
about and much of it contains bright metallic hematite blades. Further
east is yet another canyon with gray ridge of limestone imbedded with
many interesting fossils. To reach this site turn north from Chambless
on Mactull Ave. and travel 2.2 miles to the southern foothills of
the mountains
- Marble
Mountain Rock collecting area This rock collecting area
yields green epidote, dolomite, chrysocolla, chalcedony, serpentine,
marble, garnet and specular hematite, iron and kenatite, chalcedony
crystals, geodes and gold. You can access this site by taking one
of the many dirt roads that lead into the area from R 66 in and around
the town of Chambless.
- Ship
Mountains. Amboy DAG Nodular masses of beautifully colored
and patterned opalite can be found in the Ship Mountains. The combination
of pastel colors and fine quality make this material highly prized
by collectors although it is necessary to dig into the blown sand
to obtain it. To access this site drive east 12 miles from Chambless
on Old Route 66 then turn south on Danby road for 1.7 miles to the
old Danby town site. Then drive west for 6.9 miles and turn south.
Drive .6 miles. To access the second site drive an additional .4 miles
and turn south and drive .9 miles. The last .4 miles to the site require
4 wheel drive or may be covered on foot.
- Hauser Geode Beds
http://www.desertusa.com/magjan98/stories/hauserbeds.html
- Jade Cove, Big Sur Jade
Cove is a day use facility that's part of Los Padres National Forest
in Big Sur. California Jade can be found along the coast and collecting
is allowed for loose jade. Jade Cove is located on the Big Sur Coast
about 35 miles south on Highway 1 from Monterey. Jade available is
Jadeite, Serpentine and Nephrite
Webpage for Jade Cove
Return to Top
Fossils
One of the classic
Cambrian trilobite fossil sites in the western U.S. is located at this
beautiful outcrop in a 60 foot thick formation over 550 million years
old. Trilobites were small marine crustaceans that resembled modern
day horseshoe crabs. You can identify the site by the quarry holes and
pink, dark green and light brown shale spread along the hillside. By
splitting the shale you stand a good chance of finding a complete trilobite.
This area can be found by taking historic route 66 to the town site
of Chambless then taking Cadiz Rd. approximately 4 miles.. Turn left
on the first dirt road and park near the base of the forth ridge and
hike the remaining ¾ of a mile to the site.
Over the years
this site has been used heavily and it is recommended that only one
trilobite per person be removed.
Mussel Rock, San Mateo County, CA - Take Highway 1 south
towards Pacifica. take exit for Skyline by. (35) north. Follow for two
miles, turn left onto Westmoor Ave. Turn left again onto Skyline dr.
Follow south for 2 miles, until it loops around - it will descends toward
the sea. When it ends, take a right. This road goes along the top of
the seacliff. 1/4 mile down the road the road splits - take the left
road - this leads to the parking lot. When you reach the parking lot,
you'll see a long stretch of coastline to the north.
-
Petrified Shells, Capitola
This relaxing walk-through fossil
site is located on a large
sea cliff in the northern
Monterey Bay area in the town of Capitola of Santa Cruz County in
Central California.
The sea cliff is a geological outcrop
named the "Purisima Formation" that spans through the
Pliocene Epoch (3 to
5 million years ago). During the same time the first hominids, such
as "Lucy", appeared on earth. Mollusk shells of at least
55 different species are abundant through a distance of approx.
3000 feet.
Fossils to be collected are razor clams, cockles, geoduck-type clams,
small gastropods, moon snails, sand dollars (astrodapsis??), Balanus(up
to 3", in colonies - one locality), cetacean skeletal elements
(uncommon), and shark teeth - C. carcharias, Carcharocles megalodon,
and Isurus planus (very very rare)
Tools and Equipment Required
Geological Hammer
Chisel
Goggles (important
if chiseling hard rocks)
Helmet (just in
case - for working close to the cliff)
Carry bag
- Petrified Trees, Napa Valley
http://www.gtlsys.com/Trees/Trees.html
This site is located in the Napa Valley in Sonoma County, just north
of San Francisco. It's named 'The Petrified Forest' and is registered
as California Historical Landmark #915. It's privately owned and tour
services are available. There is no collecting allowed in the tour
area. However, the Store/Museum sells a great variety of
petrified wood and other very interesting fossils.
-
Pleasanton, Alameda County,
CA - on Pleasanton-Sunol road, 500 feet south of railroad overpass,
large extensive railroad
cut exposing vertically tilted strata of the lower Miocene Briones
fm. - cockles, clams, astrodapsis brewerianus, annelid colonies, unnamed
gastropod, and (very rare) desmostylus sp. teeth. From
Pleasanton-Sunol Road, take this south for approx. 1 mile. You will
cross under a railroad bridge for the Union Pacific Railroad, and
400 feet or so beyond that will be a cliff 100 feet east of the road,
on the other side of the tracks.
- Red Rock Canyon State Park
the canyon is considered
a wonderful classroom for the study of geology, paleontology, and
photography as well as an ideal place for family camping and exploration.
http://mojave.topcities.com/redrock/redrockfossils.html
-
Salt Point State Park 90 Miles north of
San Francisco on Highway 1 is Salt Point SP. If you like fossils,
geology and tide pools, Salt Point has all of them! Within the park,
the earth has pushed up the ground and exposed layers of rock that
show different ages of formation. There are parts where the wind and
ocean have worn away the rock creating unusual sculptures. And there
are fossils of clams, crabs and tube worms. Troop 494 camped at Salt
Point as part of their Summer 2004 Cycling Trek. Link to Salt Point
article: http://eqdoc.home.netcom.com/salt2.html
-
San Mateo Co.,
CA - Portola Valley, 200 feet upriver from junction with San Francisquito
on banks of Toroges Creek - unconsolidated layers and cemented stratum
layers of fins grained sandstone, middle Miocene temblor formation
- balanus sp. Fossils are sand dollars, clams, cockles, and petrified
wood.
- San
Francisquito Creek, San Mateo County.
Take highway 280 north or south
to the Alpine road exit. Take this east. Drive 1/4 mile and park at
the first turnout on the right. Follow the pedway to the bridge, and
San Fransisquito creek is the creek below. Take a trail down, and
follow the creek. Middle Miocene. Fossils are mussels.
-
Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz Co.,
CA - take highway 17 south from San Jose, take Mt. Herman exit north
to S.V., take Scotts valley drive right and then first left onto bean
creek road. Go north for 1.5-2 miles, until you reach a very large
exposure with sand showing signs of extensive digging, and very large/long
shoulder. Use a sieve, look for sand dollars astrodapsis tumidus,
snails - Thais lamella?, and shark teeth (Isurus hastalis) as well
as isolated bone frags. Upper miocene Santa margarita formation.
-
Trilobite Fossil Needles
This beautiful fossil site is located near the base of a mountain
in the Marble Mountains range, located 2.4 miles from the historic
Route 66 in the Mohave Desert of San Bernardino County, California.
The trilobites are located in a 60 foot thick formation named the
Latham Shale close to the base of the mountain and inside the Early
Cambrian age (approx. 560 million years ago).
- Turtle Mountain
Parker Dam Desert Access
Guide (DAG) The Turtle Mountain Wilderness and surrounding areas have
long been known for it's beautiful rocks, good jasper, opalite, and
much more. Each rain seems to uncover something new. Three proven
locales are Mohawk Spring, Mopah Peaks, and Negro Peak. In addition
chalcedony rose and agate can be found on either side of Turtle Mountain
Road.
- Vidal Junction
Parker Dam DAG
The large wash north of U.S. Highway 62 just 2 miles east of Vidal
Junction is an excellent site for collecting Chalcedony, which can
be found from Highway 95 extending east approximately 1 mile. More
can be obtained near the Whipple Mountains, about 4.5 miles to the
north.
Fossil website
http://www.colossal-fossil-site.com/index.html
Return to Top
Marine
Life & Tidepools
- Ano
Nuevo SR
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=523 Ano Nuevo
is famous for the colony of Elephant Seals that use the beach in the
winter months. Reservations are required.
Elephant Seal Walk
- Baylands Preserve,
Palo Alto
Baylands Preserve is the largest tract of undisturbed marshland
remaining in the San Francisco Bay. Fifteen miles of multi-use trails
provide access to a unique mixture of tidal and freshwater habitats.
Many consider this area to be one of the best bird watching areas
on the West Coast.
http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/parks/baylands.html
-
Baylands Park Sunnyvale Birds:
Over 60 different species of birds are found throughout the year at
Sunnyvale Baylands Park and are listed on the Bird List. Find out
more about
burrowing owls, a Species of Special Concern. Mammals: Most
of the mammals found here are wary of people. Look for droppings of
jackrabbits on the path. Signs of gophers and ground squirrels are
seen near their many burrows. In the seasonal wetlands,
salt marsh harvest mice, an endangered species, may be hiding
from hawks overhead.
-
Elkhorn Slough, Moss Landing http://www.elkhornslough.org/
Located in the middle of Monterey Bay, Elkhorn
Slough (map) is
an ecological treasure, providing habitat for plants,
animals,
and more than 340 species of birds.
The slough harbors the largest tract of tidal salt marsh in California
outside of San Francisco Bay, and its watershed includes dunes, coastal
marsh, oak woodlands, and unique
maritime chaparral. Designated a Globally
Important Bird Area, the slough is a key stopover for hundreds
of thousands of migrating birds and a major fish
nursery for Monterey Bay.
- The Farallones Marine Sanctuary
Association
The Sanctuary contains vital nursery an spawning grounds for fish
and shellfish. At least 36 species of marine mammals have been observed
here. Twenty-five endangered and threatened species live within its
borders. The Sanctuary is also a feeding ground for endangered blue
and humpback whales.
http://www.farallones.org/default.asp
-
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
http://www.fitzgeraldreserve.org/index.html Fitzgerald
Marine Reserve provides excellent tidal pool viewing. Check their
website to see the regulations and tide information.
Link
to troop outing
- Marine Mammal Center, Marin
Headlands Since 1975, over 9,000 animals have been rescued
and treated at our hospital facility. Each year marine science education
programs and events reach over 60,000 school children. Groups
of 10 or more should contact the Education Department several weeks
in advance to schedule a visit. Groups may schedule a self-guided
visit free of charge or pay for a guided education program. For more
information about our group programs, please contact our Education
Department at 415.289.7330 or visit our
group programs page. Tours must be scheduled during our regular
visiting hours of 10 am to 4 pm.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
Located along Cannery Row in Monterey, the Monterey Bay Aquarium features
a large number of marine habitats including kelp forests and shoreline
displays. http://www.mbayaq.org/
- Marine
Sanctuaries
http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/welcome.html
- Montana
de Oro State Park This park
features over 8,000 acres of rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches,
coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including 1,347-foot
Valencia Peak. At the Ocean Bluffs Trail, climb down to the
beach to explore the tidepools. You can't miss the giant-size
flourescent lime green sea anemones, plus turban snails, rock crabs
and sea stars.
Webpage
- National
Wildlife Refuge System Pacific Region http://pacific.fws.gov/refuges/
- Natural
Bridges State Park Further along
the beach, tidepools offer a glimpse of life beneath the sea. Low
tides reveal sea stars, crabs, sea anemones, and other colorful ocean
life. During the spring and summer months, visitors can take a tide
pool walk on the rare rocky shore habitat of Natural Bridges and learn
about the unique natural community that resides in the inter-tidal
zone. These tours are offered on every weekend with low tides.
http://www.santacruzstateparks.org/parks/natbridges/index.php
- O'Neil Sea Odyssey, Monterey The
Sea Odyssey program is a 3-hour learning experience that takes place
aboard the 65-foot Team O’Neill catamaran with follow-up lessons at
the shore-side Education Center.
http://www.oneillseaodyssey.org/learning/
-
Partington Cove & Canyon Partington Cove Trail
begins 1.8 miles north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park entrance
at the point where Highway 1 crosses Partington Creek.waters of the
cove. From an iron gate, follow the dirt road that drops down into
the canyon cut by Partington Creek, then cross the creek on a wooden
footbridge and pass through a hundred-foot-long tunnel that was blasted
through the rocky cliffs.
Partington Cove webpage or Partington
Cove
- Point
Lobos State Reserve Over two hundred
fifty different animal and bird species, and over three hundred fifty
plant species have been identified at the Reserve.
http://pointlobos.org/
- Point
Pinos, Pacific Grove
This viewing area has the nickname "The Great Tidepool"
and was even referred to in one of John Steinbeck's novels.
http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/pinos.html or
http://www.93950.com/steinbeck/4.htm
- Salt
Point State Park
This viewing area has the nickname "The Great Tidepool"
and was even referred to in one of John
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