I’m surprised that it took me this long to check out Samuel P. Taylor State Park. On trips to Point Reyes and elsewhere in Marin County, I would often pass signs for it and wonder if it’s worth a hike. It is. On a recent day that was not too hot but not too cold, I headed up to Barnabe Peak for a six-plus-mile hike that was a true joy. The park is a small one, and for awhile,… Read More »
Much of the attention over state parks closures has focused on a few popular spots, but there are many others around the North Bay that are also shutting down by next summer. And some have already trimmed their hours significantly, so if you’re looking for a new, but close to home, outing on a pleasant fall day, it may be time to get moving. East of Petaluma on Adobe Road, Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park provides a glimpse into the… Read More »
In perhaps the feel-good promotion of the summer, the Giants are having a Grateful Dead tribute day in a few weeks as a fundraiser for some Bay Area nonprofits. One beneficiary will be the efforts to keep state parks in Sonoma, Marin and San Francisco counties open. The deal includes a pre-game party inside AT&T Park hosted by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart (a Sebastopol area resident) and the most famous deadheader-turned-NBA-superstar Bill Walton. You will also get a Sonoma… Read More »
Here we go again. A year and half after avoiding the budget axe, it was announced today that a quarter of the state park system is slated to be shut down starting this fall. The news shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who has been living through California’s long fiscal nightmare. A day ago, the headlines were about 45 percent (yup, 45 percent) college tuition hikes. A week ago, it was widespread teacher layoffs. The parks closure is going to hit… Read More »
