Wildlife Viewing in Northern California

Check out the latest edition or "Rick's Tips," Blue Heron's free newsletter of fun things to do in the Bay Area, to learn more about viewing wildlife in Northern California.  You can see the newsletter by clicking here.  Subscribe to the newsletter by sending a request to Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

If you would like to take a private tour in Northern California to see some of the wildlife, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel by calling (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mailing Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. 

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

When taking guests to Monterey and Carmel, I usually stop at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse for a beautiful ocean view. Located about 50 miles south of San Francisco, the lighthouse was built in 1872 and is home to a 1st order Fresnel lens with 1008 prisms. While the Fresnel lens is no longer used, the tower still houses an automated light. Unfortunately, the lighthouse is in need of repair and is closed to the public. However, there are a small museum and gift shop on the grounds that are usually open Fridays - Sundays when the weather is good.

The view of the Pacific from behind the lighthouse is not to be missed. You can see waves crashing upon rocks, harbor seals frolicking in the water or sunning on the rocks, and, if you are lucky, migrating gray whales. In the distance, you can view Año Nuevo Island and Point. When docents are on duty, they usually have binoculars for visitors to use.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse is home to one of Hostelling International's facilities. Here you can enjoy ocean views from their hot tub and stay in private or shared accommodation at very reasonable prices.

If you would like to take a private tour from San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel that includes a stop at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Coffee and Sweets Along the Way to Monterey

The drive from San Francisco to Monterey along the coast takes between 2.5 and 3 hours, depending on how many times you stop for photos. You may also want to stop for some caffeine and sugar to keep the body going. There are two places I recommend.

About 30 - 40 minutes south of San Francisco, you'll come to the town of Half Moon Bay. It has a nice downtown with some interesting shops and a few galleries. At the north end of Main Street, in a small shopping center, you'll find the Half Moon Bay Coffee Company, home of strong coffee, espresso drinks, some yummy pastries, and full breakfasts. To get to HMB Coffee Co., take the left turn off of CA 1 onto Main Street. You'll come to a stoplight at CA 92. Go through the light and turn left onto Stone Pine Road. (You can see the Stone Pine Center and HMB Coffee Co. If you cross the Main Street bridge, you've gone too far.) Turn left onto Stone Pine Road Then turn right into the Stone Pine Center parking lot. The coffee shop is at the far end of the parking lot. Once you've fueled up, continue south on Main Street to see the town of Half Moon Bay. Main Street ends at Route 1 and you can continue south to Monterey.

Closer to the halfway point of your journey is the very small town of Davenport. Don't blink or you'll miss it. On the inland side of CA 1 is the Whale City Bakery, Bar & Grill. As the name implies, you can get sweets, full meals, coffee, and more potent beverages. It's a friendly spot to sit and enjoy a coffee and sweet. If it's a nice day, take your snack outside to the patio. Be sure to check out the surf shop next door.

If you would like to take a private tour from San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel that includes a stop at one of these bakeries, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com

Northern California: An Explorer's Guide

This new guidebook, written by San Francisco resident, Michele Bigley, was just released on June 1. It's a great resource for travel in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and all of Northern California - from Big Sur to the Oregon border.

Here's what Michele had to say about Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel, "A wealth of knowledge, Rick takes folks on customized tours of the Bay Area, Wine Country, Central Coast, Mendocino, and even the Sierra Foothills. You tell him what you want and he'll create the ideal trip. He knows more about wine and food than most."

Many thanks to Michelle for the nice review. If you're planning a trip to San Francisco, you can pick up "Northern California: An Explorer's Guide" at most good bookstores.

If you'd like to take a tour with a guide who "possesses a wealth of knowledge," please phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Beautiful Gardens South of San Francisco

Spring is here and Filoli has reopened for the season. This beautiful country estate, located about 30 miles south of San Francisco, is an historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The mansion was built by the Bourn family and designed by famed San Francisco architect, Willis Polk. Construction started in 1915 and the family moved in during 1917. The Roth family purchased the estate in 1937. Mrs. Roth lived there until 1975 when she donated the house and surrounding gardens to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Mrs. Roth was instrumental in making the gardens the world-class attraction they are today.

While the house is interesting, it's the gardens that make this a must-see attraction for flower lovers. If you are a film buff, you might have seen Filoli in "Heaven Can Wait," "Joy Luck Club," the "Wedding Planner," and other films. It was also pictured in the television shows, "Dynasty" and "Nash Bridges."

Visitors may take a self-guided or docent-led tour of the house and gardens. If you wish to take a docent-led tour, advance reservations are highly recommended. Filoli's 2009 season runs through October 25. The estate is open from 10:00 - 3:30 from Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday hours are 11:00 - 3:30. Filoli is closed on Mondays and on most holidays.

If you would like to take a private tour that includes a visit to Filoli, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

See Mating Elephant Seals

The largest mainland breeding colony of northern elephant seals can be found at Año Nuevo State Reserve. You have not seen anything until you see two-ton elephant seals battling over a prospective mate. The reserve is located about 90 minutes south of San Francisco on Hwy. 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.

Elephant seals may be found at Año Nuevo throughout the year. The breeding season runs from December through March. Adult males begin arriving in December and begin to battle to become dominant. The winners of these fights do most of the mating. By late March, the adult seals leave the park and only the weaned pups remain. In the spring and summer, adults return to the park to molt. During the fall, yearlings come ashore.

Año Nuevo is worth visiting at any time. However, seeing the seals breed is particularly fascinating. The breeding season runs from December 15 through March 31. During this time, visitors may only see the park on a guided walk. Advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling (800) 444-4445. The molting season runs from April 1 to August 31 and the fall haul-out season from September 1 to November 30. During these seasons, you will need to pick up a free permit for a self-guided hike from the entrance station. Try to arrive early to make sure you get a permit and have enough time for the hike.

A visit to Año Nuevo is a uniquely California experience. If you would like a private tour that includes a visit to Año Nuevo, please feel free to call me at (866) 326 - 4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Good Seafood with an Ocean View

Finally there is a restaurant with seafood that's as good as the view. Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay has top notch food along with nice views of the Pacific Ocean.

I had heard about the planning for this restaurant for many months but had missed news of its opening. Earlier this week, my wife and I had the opportunity to dine at Sam's. We are both East Coast natives, with West Coast sensibilities, who are picky about our seafood.

Upon arrival, we immediately noticed that Sam's has the ambiance of an East Coast seafood joint: nothing fancy and a bar with sports on the big screens. However, being on the West Coast, Sam's has a good wine list and some microbrews on tap. In addition, the menu tells you that Sam's "do(es) not thicken their chowders with tons of flour," fries their food in "cholesterol- and trans-fat-free vegetable oil," and "serves sustainably-fished seafood whenever possible and practical."

The real test, though, is the taste of the food; and we gave Sam's a tough test. My wife summered in Maine and is extremely picky about lobster rolls. I am a native of Baltimore and am the same way about crab cakes. We both felt that Sam's serves the best lobster rolls and crab cakes in the Bay Area. My wife believes a good lobster roll has three ingredients: fresh lobster, butter, and a roll. Sam's serves the mayonnaise on the side for those who prefer a little dressing on their roll and adds a fourth ingredient -- celery. For me, crab cakes should be all crab with just a little binder to hold the meat together. Sam's crab cakes passed the test but, not unexpectedly, are made with Dungeness Crab rather than my favorite Blue Crab. Excellent coleslaw accompanied both dishes. The crab cakes came with fresh, thin-cut fries and the lobster roll with house-made potato chips.

I highly recommend a visit to Sam's. On a nice day, dine outside so you can watch the waves while you eat. Sam's Chowder House is located on Highway 1, just south of Princeton Harbor. To make a reservation call (650) 712-0245. More information may be found at www.SamsChowderHouse.com.