Monday, February 24, 2020

|| California Expeditions, Frame 26 - 50

25. Thousand Steps Beach (2/23)
  • Drive 133 south to the Laguna Beach, then 4-5 miles to the 7th street, turn left and park at the Mission Hospital parking lot, weekend is fine and free parking
  • Walk to the 9th street to the public access to the thousand steps beach
  • Extreme vertical and long stretch on the staircase, beautiful rock formations and trees grown on the rocks
  • Peril at end house
26. Nix Nature Center (2/23)
  • $3 parking fee, and limited parking
  • Look for the Green trails they are easy
  • North something and Barbara Lake trails - cross the little sycamore canyon to the other side of the 133 south
  • Dirt road and flat, can use the trekking poles
27. San Clemente Beach (2/29/2020, Leap Year; 9/25/2021) and San Onofre Park
  • Exit 74 on I5, then use the meter for parking, 10 am-5 pm only, otherwise free; $0.75 for every 30 min; multiple parking lots, one at the pier is busy
  • About 2 hours walk on the trail, mostly in dust, no elevation, no shade
  • Amtrak trails along the way, beautiful rock formations and endangerment as well
  • Peril at end house
  • Park at 243 Avenida Lobeiro, Calafia Beach Park for free (didn't try this one)
  • (2021 trip) Exit at 73 for 399 Calafia San Clemente State Beach, $6 for two hours parking; but can park at the street, try 2401 at Ave La Costa and Plaza A La Playa.  This is a cul de sac, and go down the sign that says tsunami go up ground stairs to access the beach and the number 4 safeguard station
  • San Clemente outlet (4/17/2022 Easter), lots of casual sports shops, flip flog, sun diego; parking lot was used for calvary church easter summons; beautiful setting, people tailgating style or in beach chairs or lawn chairs; big screen and stage
28. Peters Canyon Regional Park (5/23/2020)
  • Jamboree Rd north all the way, turn left into parking lot, it's a small lot, $3 for parking from the vending machine, credit card only (Chase works well)
  • Need to wear heavy booting shoes and use walking sticks
  • Follow Lake View trail, there are several difficult elevations and declines
  • Follow the parking lot lane to go directly into the mountain climbing trips, three hill tops, looks difficult
29. Irvine Regional Park (5/30/2020)
  • Just a few more minutes after the Peters canyon, $5 park ranger fee per car
  • It's a small park after all, numbers are labeled at the parking lot
  • P parking at the end of the Santiago trail, and is a good spot to start walking.  Horseshoe is a moderate trail, and is more difficult for us right now
  • Lots of picnic tables suitable for families, go early for a table in the shades
  • Walk around the park for about 2 hours, 10K steps in total
30. Diamond Valley Lake (6/6/2020)
  • 90min drive into the inland, passing 55n-91w-15s-canyon road
  • Parking at marina $10 and $3 each person to be on the trail
  • Trail has 21 miles around the lake, dirt road, no shades, very long winded around the horseshoe shaped hilltops
  • Beautiful lake water with boating scenes, rarely visited by anyone; wild flower trails are for early March only, and currently blocked off; check instagram for wild flower status
31. Turtle Rock Trail (6/14/2020)
  • North of turtle rock community park, to the west, past chaparral park, go to the turtle rock viewpoint
  • Short concrete steps to climb to the top of mountain vista view, in total 7000 steps for a loop
32. San Joaquin marsh reserve (6/27/2020)
  • 10 minute drive, turn right into Michealson drive, pass the gated areas a few times to come to the marsh parking and parking overflows; at the same time, there are two front end parking lots with 7-8 spot each that can park the car, but would imagine will require some walks into the marsh area
  • The marsh area consists of a few ponds, some have dried out, these are bird resting and living places, dirt roads with some shades, 1.7 loop of the south pond is probably the largest
  • Visitors are typically photographers, taking bird pictures; there are really nobody else
33. Upper Newport Backbay, north bound (6/13/2020)
  • 2301 University Drive, 8am entry with probably 5-6 empty parking lot spaces, no fee at all
  • In between costa mesa and newport cities, wealthy neighborhood
  • Two trails, one dirt road and the other bike road, going north on the bluff west trail and end in constellation trail head inside a small loop in the Santigao drive, one of those smaller lanes
34. Portuguese Reserve Bend, close to Long Beach (7/3/2020)
  • The main entrance to Portuguese Bend Reserve is near Del Cerro Park at the end of Crenshaw Boulevard (nearest cross street is Burrell Lane) in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
  • https://pvplc.org/_lands/portuguese_bend.asp
  • Street parking is available on Crenshaw Blvd. or at Del Cerro Park. Head east to the Burma Road trailhead for the overview of the entire Reserve
  • https://pvplc.org/_lands/docs/PBRBrochure2017.pdf
  • Easy trail, Ishibash, Toyen, Donor One and Paint Brush Trail Loop is a 3.2 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Rancho Palos Verdes
  • Moderate trail, Palos Verdes Bluffs Trail is a 2.7 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Rancho Palos Verdes
  • https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/portuguese-bend-reserve
  • 60min drive, at end of Crenshaw, there are street parking, need to arrive before 8am to get a spot
  • Hard rocky roads, with steep ascend and descend, unbeatable views though
35. Sand Canyon Reservoir (see Quail Hill Trail in the first 25 trips, 6/21/2020)
  • start at the quail hill trailhead and walk south on Shady Canyon trail about 1 mile for the best views overlooking the water
36. Upper Newport Backbay, south bound (6/20/2020, 6/26/2022)
  • 2301 University Drive, 8am entry with lots of parking lot spaces, no fee at all
  • Walking north bound all the way into the East Bluff after the Jamboree bridge from the San Diego creek trail.  There might be parking spots along the street that can stretch further into the other side of the back bay
  • Researching on parking at CVS or Ralphs.  The bluffs community blocks all public access.  Go to Park Newport community gate road, at end of road, there are 10 street parking spots that give access
  • (6/26/2022) Walk past the Irvine Blvd into Santiago into Galaxy then stopped at the Galaxy view park (can street park in the front of the park), get past that back into Santiago, can turn further and see the little park.  Round trip 11000 steps
37.  Joshua National Park (6/19/2020, 11/26/2020, 2/19/2022)
  • 2.15 hours drive without traffic, $30 for parking, park opens at 8am
  • The park is suitable for sports, walking, hiking, climbing; no shades, no rest areas, and is about 20 degrees higher than the irvine temperatures; very hot if sporting around after 11am
  • Three entrances, the east entrance has the most that can be explored
  • Hidden Valley (went in twice now), Barker Dam and Skull rock trail are 1 mile and 1.7 miles, yet to be taking on for adventure
  • Turn from Palm 29 into Blvd for 5-6 miles, and turn right at Blvd into Keys view
  • Cactus garden is closer to the southern entrance, small and more plain driving roads along
  • Hiking trails https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
  • Next stops could be Indian cove, rock of horrors, jumbo rocks and keys views
  • 2/19/2022 - Walked Baker Dam and Cap rock and some jumbo rock nature trails.  Also exited on the north;Indian cove is too hot and don't know what it is
  • Next time should try echo parking close to the barker Dan, split rock (furthest on road parking)
38. July 4th fireworks at the Heritage Park at Dana Point (7/4/2021)
  • Parked at Dana Hill high school, plenty of parking.  Walked to the right hand side to the DP trolley bus station S8, supposedly the bus would arrive every 15 minutes, and it came through the vertical road
  • Rode the shuttle to S12 at the bottom of the heritage park but S16 all the way to the uphill right in front of the luxury resort place; sat right beside the big tree and grill station, directly in front of the Doheny state beach harbor area
  • Fireworks started at 9am, one boat with 4/5 firing up stations, lasting 20 minutes; at the background, we saw San Clemente fireworks, so it was very unique and pretty
  • Walked back in 35 minutes, walked downhill directly to Golden Lantern, all straight uphill roads, a bit tough with two lawn chairs
39. Big Bear, 2 hours drive (8/8/2020)
40. O'Neill Regional Park (7/4/2020)
https://www.daytrippen.com/oneill-regional-park-day-trip/
  • 35min drive on 405 then local roads passing through industrial area or the San Margarita area
  • $5 parking fee, saw three deers in the entrance; turn right after the parking fee booth, passing the creek and stick to Mesa, then park at the turnaround place at end of Mesa
  • Mesa trail is easy and less than 2 hours back and forth
  • Family party place, high up on top of the valley / canyon
41. Casper Wilderness regional park (7/25/2020)

42. Laguna Niguel Botanical garden (7/18/2020)
  • 25min drive beyond the laguna beach 133.  It's free parking and free entry after the Laguna Niguel commonway community park
  • Small miniature space, steep inclining to the top of the hills, there are many nature trails up and down.  Vegetation, flowers, plants and features of girl scouts, butterfly gardens etc
  • 4000 steps in total, not that interesting, may be going back again in the spring time
  • https://www.daytrippen.com/laguna-niguel-regional-park-day-trip/

43. Mile square park (8/1/2020)
  • 25 minutes drive via 405 north towards long beach, exit 12, $5 parking on the weekend.  There is really no need to pay for the parking fee, as street parking is quite easy along the mile long four sides of the park
  • This is a completely urban park in the middle of city life and city traffic, all paved roads and grassy lands well taken care of
  • Golf course runs more than half of the park, archery range, football, lakes, most of the people coming to the park are Asian, more like vietnamese living nearby
  • https://www.daytrippen.com/mile-square-park-fountain-valley-day-trip/

44. BBQ Music Festival at Fountain Valley (8/19/2022)
  • https://www.bbqmusicfest.com/
  • Friday ticket $5; Sat and Sun tickets $13 but Groupon has codes that can get it down to $9; free parking
  • Fountain Valley Sports Park, Fountain Valley Sports Complex, 16400 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; Entrance is at Brookhurst Street and Heil Avenue
  • BARCODE AND QR TICKETS CAN ENTER AT MAIN GATE 1 OR GATE 2 ENTRANCE. WILL CALL BOOTH IS ONLY AT MAIN GATE 1 ENTRANCE.
  • Taste and experience firsthand the fiery chicken, pulled pork, tri-tip, pork ribs, sausages... and sides (all available for purchase) that makes barbecue so popular in the USA
  • Small venue, half of the facility was just carnival rides, the other half has about 10 vendors of various BBQ from the local communities; bought food from Oak and Light smoke (very good and flavorful tri-tip sandwiches) and S&E BBQ (not very good, 2 hours wait between in-line and ribs, and lacking orders)
  • Mostly neighborhood attending the weekend event, it's not a national scale; customers are mostly old and working class; space is very tight
45. La Jolla coves and seashores (11/27/2020, 5/22/2021, 1/29/2022, 11/19/2022)
  • 80min drive on I5 then into the La Jolla community; Westfield mall is close by with many upscale brand shops
  • Lots of parking space around the area, just need to have patience; Jim's cove staircase needs advanced reservations
  • Mostly high end eating places along the coastline, so bring your own drinks and food
  • Very beautiful rock formations, sea water, sea lions, birds and etc
  • 10K steps from the most northern coastal walk starting point to the southern beach end point; plenty of parking in the not so crowded south place
  • Drive further, 15 minutes south via La Jolla Blvd, to the broadwalk via Mission Ave, lots of bars, vendors, piers, surfing, sliding activities; mainstreet fun; parking is tricky but there's big grocery store CVS lot

46. Mount Rubidoux (11/14/2020)
  • Drive 55N then 91N for 45min one-way to the riverside community.  Follow signs to the park, after the cemetery, either street parking or at the baseball ground parking, it's free
  • Mount Rubidoux has 3 miles of uphill walks with multiple pass ways, easy to follow, at the top of mountain, there is a flag post, church cross, small castles and world peace stone bridge
  • It's about 1-2 hours stay, gives a panoramic overlook into the riverside county.  It's a popular place and there are many residents in the area, although there are fences all over the place, not sure about the general security and such

47. Point Dume Nature Preserve (11/28/2020)
  • https://www.daytrippen.com/point-dume-nature-preserve-day-trip/
  • $8 weekend parking one fee.  The trail has 1.4 miles and 6000 steps but with some rapid climbs and declines and rocky roads (dangerous), but views are amazing and the experiences are unique
  • The Malibu state beaches are about the same, endless seas and beaches and sea animals.  Should take drink and food inside the car, and can take the lawn chairs out in the shade and watch the cliff hanging
  • 1.5 hours drive, 405 then 10W then PCH for another 20 miles in some tight space between the mountain ridge and the shoreline, amazing views, and cars park alongside the roads
48. LA farm
49. Palos Verdes Peninsular (11/26/2022)
  • https://www.daytrippen.com/palos-verdes-peninsula-day-trip/
  • 1 hour drive
  • 3 parking lots to consider - 1) Vincente lighthouse parking lot, very large, at the south end 2) middle of the seacove trail (use the Starbucks or Trader Joes at Hawthorne for google destination) 3) the north end (that I didn't take the address for, small lot, for like 10 cars)
  • Total 8000 steps from one end to the other; from the south end, there are probably another 5 miles going south in the same views of the Portuguese bend
  • Very quiet, very serene sceneries, occasionally with bench; the lighthouse is closed, but the views are breathtaking
50. Dory Fleet (8/15/2020)
  •  Two long lines, right for spot prawns, left for crabs, but go in the middle of the line and directly to the back for fish and urchin stands
  • $3 per pound for crab, $24 for shrimp, 8 soles for $29, $11 for halibut cuts, $7 for black fish, red rock fish seems to be expensive
  • Arrive at 430am, the market opens at 530am, the crab line moves quickly
  • Overall things look fresh but they are expensive



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