Marin Headlands, Golden Gate Natl. Recreation Area , California

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, on both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge, covers 75,398 acres, making it the largest urban National Park in the USA. It is 2 1/2 times the size of the City of San Francisco, California, and includes 28 miles of coastline. One of the best and last open areas is along CA-1, just north of the city. There is a Visitors Center for the Marin Headlands, hiking trails, Point Bonita Lighthouse, and some of the most stunning coastal scenery to be found anywhere.

To reach the Marin Headlands Take US-101 across the Golden Gate Bridge and follow it to CA-1. Turn left and this highway will take you north along the Pacific Coast. The road is narrow and winding in places. Allow plenty of time to stop along the way and admire the view.

Muir Woods National Monument, California

Just 5.6 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods National Monument is visited my more than one million people annually. This secluded canyon in Mill Valley protects the San Francisco Bay's last stand of Coast Redwoods, some 1,000 years old and towering over 260 feet high. Accessible hiking trails allow visitors to enjoy this cool, misty forest. There is also a cafe and a gift shop.

The site is named for the famous naturalist, John Muir, who once said, "This is the best tree lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world."To reach Muir Woods cross the Golden Gate Bridge on Hwy-101, then take the Hwy-1 exit and follow the signs. Crowds in summer are very heavy and parking is limited. We were there on a weekday in February, and even then the parking lot was full. In summer and on weekends some have had to to park along the road as much as a mile away.

Another alternative would be to take one of the commercial tours out of San Francisco. Public transportation to Muir Woods is not available.

Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, California

Cabrillo National Monument commemorates the spot where Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo anchored near Point Loma at the entrance to San Diego Bay in September 1542, just half a century after Columbus first landed in the new world. He was the first European to explore the west coast of the United States, setting sail from Mexico "to discover the coast of New Spain." Cabrillo died a few months later, but his expedition pressed on, exploring the previously unknown Pacific Coast all the way north to present-day Oregon.

It would be more than 300 years before maritime traffic had become heavy enough to warrant a lighthouse at Point Loma. A sandstone structure was erected in the mid-1850s at a point 422 feet above the sea. After 36 years it was replaced by a new light at a lower elevation, because the higher light was often enshrouded with fog.The Overlook at Cabrillo National Monument offers a splendid 360 degree view. In late winter gray whales pass this point on their annual 5,000 mile migration from their breeding lagoons in Baja California to their feeding grounds in the Arctic.

The National Monument has a statue of Juan Cabrillo, and also a modern visitor center and interpretative exhibits. It is open daily and a small entrance fee is required. Click the web link

New Point Loma Lighthouse, San Diego, California

The "new" Point Loma Lighthouse was constructed on the shore below the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in 1891 because the Old Light, at 422 feet above sea level, was frequently enshrouded in fog and thus of little use to mariners.

The Light is not open to the public but can be viewed from the parking area in Cabrillo National Monument. This is the southwesternmost tip of land in the continental United States.

These photos of the light were taken from a boat while on a whale watching tour, as we passed in and out of San Diego Bay.

Little Italy, San Diego, California

One of the side benefits of staying at La Pensione Hotel is that it is located in the heart of San Diego's "Little Italy." Otherwise we may not have discovered this very charming neighborhood, just a few blocks northeast of the harborfront and the Gaslamp District.

Little Italy in San Diego has been an ethnic business and residential community since the 1920's. It claims to be Downtown San Diego’s oldest continuous neighborhood business district. At one time, more than 6,000 Italian families lived in Little Italy and toiled to build San Diego into the center of the world tuna industry.

Today, you will find a wide array of authentic Italian restaurants, many with sidewalk dining areas which create a festive atmosphere. There are also several Italian markets and other businesses. We enjoyed strolling through Little Italy and felt safe walking the streets here at night since there were many people frequenting the restaurants

Sante Fe Depot, San Diego, California

Even if you don't ride the train to or from San Diego, it would still be well worthwhile to visit the Santa Fe Depot, just for it's architectural and historic interest.The depot is a bustling hub of activity, and has been since 1915.. The historic structure, which has a timeless Spanish Mission style beauty. almost met the wrecking ball back in 1971. Thankfully, a group of dedicated local residents opposed the tear down and were successful in preserving this historical landmark beside the tracks.

The station is still going strong with daily departures and arrivals, starting at 5:15 a.m. and ending at 10:15 p.m. The Depot provides Amtrak train service, The Coaster commuter train service as well as access to the San Diego Trolley.San Diego's Santa Fe Depot is also home to the San Diego Railroad Museum's business office, located in the Southeast corner of the building, directly under the right tower.

The Crookedest Street, San Franciscio, California

Lombard Street in San Francisco, California, is just an ordinary street for most of it's length, but one special block, just Below Hyde Street, is a superlative. It has the reputation of being the world's crookedest street, and for this reason it has become a tourist attraction. The street is paved with red bricks and beautifully landscaped, but you will find no shops or concessions there. The crookedest block, with ten turns, is a residential area of the Russian Hill neighborhood. Hundreds of people a day find their way here to take a ride or stroll on the "Crookedest Street"

Since we were staying near Fisherman's Warf, we found the best way for us to "Do" Lombard Street was to take the Hyde Street cable car and ask the conductor to let us off at the top of Lombard. The walk down the street isn't really crooked at all, since a straight sidewalk/staircase parallels the street. Reportedly the "crooks" were put there many years ago to break the force of the steep hill for horses pulling carriages up it. You can walk up Lombard Street if you have the energy, but vehicular traffic is one-way coming down. From the bottom of Lombard it is a short walk of a few blocks back to Fisherman's Warf.

This is one of those things you've just gotta do because it is there.

Haunted Jessop's Clock, San Diego, California

If you have a penchant for the unexplained, you will want to see Jessop's Clock while you are in San Diego.

Jessop's Clock was built in 1907 by the company of one of the city's noted jewelers, George Carter Jessop. The clock stood 21-feet-tall on a sidewalk in the city's downtown center for most of the 20th century. It has since been moved into Horton Plaza, a large outdoor shopping center in the heart of downtown.

The actual maker of the clock was Claude D. Ledger, an employee of J. Jessop and Son's Jewelry. It is said that on the day of Mr. Ledger's death the clock inexplicably stopped. The incident was reported in Ripley's "Believe It or Not" and appeared in newspapers all over the world.

Today the clock is listed as San Diego's Historic Landmark #372.