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Morro Rock (Morro Bay)

Address: 60 State Park Rd. Morro Bay Ca. 93442

About 23 million years ago, plugs of long-extinct volcanoes formed the Morro Rock which is a State Historic Landmark. It is located in the City of Morro Bay and is part of San Luis Obispo County. Morro Rock had been designated as a bird sanctuary for the Peregrine Falcon and other bird species.

We drove for about 30 minutes from Pismo Beach. And we took US Highway 101 north to CA-1 north towards Morro Bay/Hearst Castle. Our drive to CA-1 North was very relaxing and scenic. We drove through Morro Bay Blvd all the way to Morro Rock. And we had to pass through a powerplant with three 450 foot tall smokestacks that were visible from miles away. There was ample free parking, walking trails, and public restrooms. We watched and enjoyed the different species of birds, sea otters, and other marine animals throughout the area while we ate our lunch. Some tourists watched and took pictures of a few sea otters that played in the water. The weather was very nice and sunny but became windy in the afternoon.

We saw a few warming signs posted on Morro Rock stated that there is no climbing on the rocks permitted and you can’t walk around the Morro Rock the entirety. During our first visit, we ate at Giovanni’s Fish Market Galley and had their delicious BBQ oysters, fish tacos, and halibut burritos. But this time we decided to eat at Tognazzi’s Dockside Restaurant and had their famous clam chowder soup with sourdough baguette, and calamari. They even had a local band performed and played music for the customers.

Overall, it’s a good place to hang out, enjoy the view and wildlife, walk around, eat and shop around the local stores and restaurants. It’s a good place to bring your family and just enjoy some quality time outdoors. But please make sure that you bring a jacket since it can be windy some days.

Tips: Since my daughter loves apples we went to Crill’s Salt Water Taffy candy store and bought a few varieties of candied caramel apple which is near Giovanni’s Fish Market and Galley. Make sure that you wear your masks, practice social distancing and wash or sanitize your hands. If you like seafood check out Kicker’s Seafood Restaurant in Morro Bay.

Let me know if you have any questions and what you think about the Morro Rock Hotel after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you

Click here to find a hotel/room close to Morro Rock in Morro Bay Ca.

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Ahwahnee Hotel (Yosemite National Park)

Address: Yosemite National Park #1 Ahwahnee Drive Yosemite Valley, Ca. 95389

In 1927 Ahwahnee Hotel opened for business and is called the Grand Hotel, well known for its stunning interior and rustic architectural design. The hotel is also a Natural Historic Landmark. It has been previously visited by queens and presidents such as John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover, Eleonor Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philips, and many more. It provides guests with elegance, hospitality, and great history. The Hotel is also in close proximity to Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Glacier Point. The Hotel is 150,000 sq ft Y shaped building and has 123 rooms which are 99 hotel rooms and 24 cottages.

It took us 4 hours and 15 minutes (220 miles) drive from San Francisco to Ahwahnee Hotel via CA-140 El Portal way. The El Portal route is less switchbacks and winding roads compared to CA- highway 120. We were in awe when we arrived at the entrance of the beutiful Ahwahnee Hotel. We were immediately greeted by the bell hop attendants, took our bags and brought it inside the hotel. We only waited in the lobby for a few minutes as our room was ready. We were impressed and surprise by the rustic and architectural design of our room with a private balcony facing the Glacier Point and Half Dome. And we have to use an old room gold keys and not the more sophisticated key card being used nowadays. The rooms decor is very classic and rustic with one bedroom, bathroom and a living room space.

We decided to explore the Hotel and walked around their architecturally designed lobby with 2 huge fire place, piano and some old artifacts and collectible items. My wife ordered a cocktail at their Ahwahnee bar which serve cocktails, small appetizers, and are only open from 2-9 p.m. It’s a great place to unwind and relax after a day of outdoor activities. We also visited and had lunch at their famous elegant Dining room which was named the crown jewel of Yosemite dining. We were impressed at the elegant, large dining room with Cathedral windows and a 34 ft high cross beam ceiling. Due to covid restrictions, we had to order first by the bar and had to eat at the available tables on a first come, first serve basis. We ordered chicken tenders for $9.25, Ahwahnee Boysenberry pie for $13.50, Seafood pasta for $25, soup of the day (miso soup) for $8.50 and seasonal grill cheese for $18.50. We were lucky enough to find an available table right by the cathedral window overlooking the meadows and trees. The tables were consistently cleaned and sanitized by the restaurant staff members. All our food came in large portions and delicious especially the seafood pasta and the Boysenberry pie. My daughter was surprised and happy to see from our window a few deers hanging out by the meadows.

Overall, it’s a very nice and grand Hotel with lots of amenities and great service. We would definitely come back again and stay overnight in the future. Some of the amenities are free WI-Fi, shuttle, valet parking, concierge, swimming pool and childcare services.

Tips: The Hotel is very close to The Village Store for reasonable price grocery items, Park Clinic, Degnan’s Deli, picnic areas and there is a giftshop inside the hotel for basic necessity and snack items. They also sell a wide variety of high quality chocolates. There are also a few tables available outdoor if you prefer to be outside. The outdoor swimming pool is open but we didn’t get to try it. And you can walk around the meadows just be careful of the deers especially during mating season. They have ample parking but don’t leave any food or scented items as the bears can break into your car at night if they smell food or scented items.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Ahwahnee Hotel and Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel close to Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County.

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Byodo-In Temple (Oahu)

Address: 47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

Byodo-In Temple is located on the Eastern side of the Island of Oahu and situated at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountain. Byodo-In Temple means “Temple of Equality” and it welcomes all comers to paradise. The Temple represents the Japanese coming into America and is located inside the Valley of the Temple Memorial Park. The Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii is a beautiful replica of a historic Japanese Buddhist Temple. The Temple is open 7 days a week from 8:30 am- 5 pm. The admission fee is $5 for adults, $2 for kids under 12 years old, and offers military and Kamaaina (local residents) rates.

We drove for about 35 minutes (16 miles) from our Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel to Byodo-In Temple via HI- 63 North. Our drive to Byodo-In Temple was very scenic, and fun, as we passed through the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, Nu’uanu Pali Lookout, Leonard’s Malasadas food truck, and the town of Kaneohe. We arrived at Byodo-In Temple around 3 pm and the free parking lot was almost full.

At the entrance, we had to pass through the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park and drove all the way to the end of the road until we reached the Byodo-In Temple. The parking lot was almost full as we arrived a little bit late around 3 pm. At the entrance booth, we paid $5 for adults ages 13 and up and $2 for kids ages 4-12 years old. We were surprised and in awe, as we crossed a small bridge and saw the beautiful Temple with the panoramic Ko’olau Mountain in the background. The temple was surrounded by a lush greenery garden with tropical plants and a large pond surrounded the Temple. We then proceeded to the 5 ft sacred bell called Bon-shu which is located before the entrance to the Temple. We all pulled back the large wooden log and it produced such a soothing, calming, relaxing sound that soothes others at ease. It is believed that ringing the sacred bell will bring blessings of happiness and longevity of life from Buddha. We had to remove our shoes/slippers before we went inside the peaceful Temple. There is this huge 9 feet buddha situated inside the middle of the temple that is housing all the sacred urns. It was such a beautiful and spiritual statue to see and experience. There were also a few visitors who said a prayer and lighted an incense stick inside the temple.

Our next stop was the gift shop and the large Koi pond surrounding the Temple. My daughter and I purchased a bag of fish food for $2 at the gift shop. My daughter had fun feeding the numerous large Koi fishes in the pond and was all fighting or jumping out of the water for food. We were surprised as a beautiful black swan suddenly emerged from the corner and joined the other Koi fishes. It swam back and forth towards us and entertained all the visitors who were busy taking pictures. Just don’t get too close to the swan as a safety precaution. We took lots of great pictures of the entire area of the Byodo-In Temple with its relaxing, tranquil settings.

Overall it was a great experience for us to be able to visit a sacred, peaceful, and tranquil place in Hawaii. It’s a place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle lifestyle in the city such as Waikiki. I would highly recommend this place when you visit the Island of Oahu. Our entire exploration of the Byodo-In Temple lasted for at least an hour and it was well worth it.

Tips: Ensure that you pack bottled water to stay hydrated and parking is a little bit challenging to find an open spot so be patient. Be respectful, be quiet and remove your shoes/slippers before entering the sacred temple. You will have to pass through a cemetery at the entrance and will need to drive all the way to the end of the road to reach the Byodo-in Temple.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Byodo-In Temple after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel near or around Byodo-In Temple.

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San Juan Bautista State Historic Park (San Benito County)

Address: 19 Franklin St, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045

San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is a California State Park and a nationally recognized historic landmark surrounding the historical town of San Juan Bautista in California. Father Fermin Lasuen is the successor to Father Junipero Serra and founded Mission San Juan Bautista in the year 1797. All the old colonial buildings during the Spanish and Mexican periods in the town were well maintained and preserved. The park’s four main historic museums/buildings that were built in the 1800s are the Plaza Hotel, The Zanetta House/Plaza Hall, The Plaza Stables, and the Castro-Breen Adobe. The park also has other additional buildings within the area such as the Blacksmith Shop, Historic Jail, and an Early American Settlers Cabin. The Park hours are from 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. and the admission fee is $3 for adults, free for children ages 17 and under. There is ample street parking available surrounding the Historic Park.

We drove for about 1 hour and 30 minutes (91 miles) from San Francisco to San Juan Bautista State Historic Park via US-280 South, US 101 South, and CA-156 East. On our way, we had to pass through a few farmlands, meadows, water reservoirs, and a Premium Shopping Outlet in the town of Gilroy. And there is also a National Park located within 45 minutes from San Juan Bautista State Historic Park called Pinnacles.

We arrived at the Historic Park at around 10:30 a.m. and parked our car on Washington Street on the side of the Castro-Breen Adobe Building. The San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is small and is about 6 acres of land. Walking around the entire historical park made us feel like we were back in the early 1800s during the Spanish Colonial Era. We paid the admission fee for access to the Park in the Plaza Hotel/Museum Store. The friendly cashier informed us that the admission fee for the San Juan Bautista Mission across the street is a separate fee. All the fees and merchandise purchase proceeds will be used to cover all the costs of maintaining the famous Historical Park.

We were lucky that it was a “Living History Day” event during the time of our visit. We get to meet and witness all the volunteer docents dressed up as the early settlers during the Spanish Colonial times. They were showing all the guests how the early settlers cook outside and lived their daily lives. The docents even showed us how to bake a biscuit in the early days by using a dutch oven. We even saw an actual Horno or Bee-hive oven that is made up of bricks, feed woods as fire and used for cooking meals in the early days. The baked biscuit was soft, moist, and delicious. We even touched a real skin of an otter, beaver which was our first time. The docents showed us all the tools that they used during the early times for cooking and performing daily chores. My wife enjoyed the taste of the block of Chinese tea. The showcasing, gathering, and demonstrations were held in the Castro-Breen Adobe building.

We explored and tour the inside of the Plaza Hotel which is the park’s entrance point and built-in 1814. The early Spanish soldiers used the Plaza as a barrack that protected the Mission. Each section inside the plaza has a placard in front that indicates the name of the room and explains its history or purpose in the early days. The Plaza has two floors and visitors are allowed to take pictures. The fun part was when we were on the second floor’s veranda that is overlooking the beautiful view of the mountain, mission, and the landscape.

The next building that we visited and very interesting is the Plaza Stable/Blacksmith Shop across the Mission. There were a lot of different stagecoach on display that was used in the early days and other transportations such as wagons, carriages, and fire wagons. San Juan Bautista used to be a transportation hub on El Camino Real between Los Angeles and San Francisco. My daughter enjoyed the presentation by one of the volunteer docents on how to heat metal on coal and be able to twist it and create a unique shape.

The most interesting information that we learned is that the town is situated along the famous San Andreas Earthquake fault. Some of the town buildings had sustained severe earthquake damage during the 1800 and 1906 San Andreas earthquakes. We explored the other buildings around the area such as the Historic Jail and the early settler’s cabin. The last place that we visited which is not a part of the park is the San Juan Bautista Mission which is located across the street from the Hotel Plaza.

Overall, it was a very nice, relaxing, full of history and educational experience for us. We would suggest that you get there early and save the entire day for you and your family to enjoy and explore the entire historical town. The weather changed in the afternoon as it got windy and cold but we were prepared and brought our jackets.

Tips: The admission fee for the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is separate from the San Juan Bautista Mission which you pay inside the Mission’s giftshop. There is a good local authentic Mexican Restaurant called Jardines and an Ice Cream Parlor called Margot’s that are close by. Places of interest that are close to San Juan Bautista are Gilroy Premium Outlet which is about 20 minutes away (great for shopping) and Pinnacles National Park which is about 45 minutes via CA-25 North (37 miles) great for hiking and nature trips. No dogs or pets are allowed except for service animals on a leash. Fourth graders often have field trip tours due to their school curriculum requirements. Customed Docent reenacts life in California during the “Living History Day” on the first Saturday of each month. We saw a few people have a nice picnic along the greenery area of the historic park.

Let me know if you have any questions and what you think about San Juan Bautista State Historic Park after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you

Click here to find a hotel close to San Juan Bautista Historic Park.

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Point Pinos Lighthouse in (Monterey County)

Address: 80 Asilomar Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

The Point Pinos Lighthouse was built in 1855 and is located on the Northernmost tip of the peninsula in Monterey California. The lighthouse is 43 feet tall, cylindrical concrete tower with a lantern and balcony rising at the center of the keeper’s house. Point Pinos Lighthouse is the west coast’s oldest actively operating lighthouse with its original lens to guide ships on the Pacific Coast and was lit on Feb. 1, 1855. The Point Pinos lighthouse and its scenic 1.3 acres grounds are surrounded by beautiful native plants, deers, and amazing panoramic ocean views. The lighthouse is registered on the “National Register of Historic Places.” Also the small lighthouse is built into an actual house. Point Pinos Lighthouse is open to the public on Saturday-Sunday from 1-3 p.m. only.

It took us about 2 hours (116 miles) to drive from San Francisco to Point Pinios Lighthouse via I-280 South, US 101 South, and CA-156 West. We passed through several beautiful beaches situated along the coast, and small coastal towns. We arrived at the lighthouse at around 1 p.m. and parked on the streets not knowing that there is free parking made up of gravel in front of the main entrance. Point Pinos Lighthouse is surrounded by the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf links. We were greeted by a friendly volunteer docent when we entered the main entrance to the lighthouse. The fee for the lighthouse tour (inside) is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages (7-17) and it’s on a donation basis. Due to time constraints, we opted to just explore the lighthouse from the outside and the surrounding area for free. There were a few friendly and knowledgeable volunteer docents available onsite for any questions about the history of Point Pinos Lighthouse. My family and I enjoyed the beautiful, impeccable landscape surrounding the lighthouse, especially our close encounter with the deers grazing in the grassy area. And the panoramic view of the beautiful ocean from the lighthouse was very relaxing and peaceful on a warm, sunny day.

Since Point Pinos is a snall lighthouse built into an actual house, the docent informed us that the tour inside is comprised of a visit to the kitchen, living room, bathroom, meeting room and upstairs where the ligth is kept but is currently closed and off limits. The lighthouse tour will also educate the visitors about the life of the lighhouse keepers in the earlier days.

Overall, we enjoyed our self guided tour of the property of Point Pinos Lighthouse and learned a few things about the history of the historical Lighthouse. The knowledgeable and friendly volunteer docents answered our questions. It’s a great place to visit with family, friends, couples, history buff and people that love lighthouses. We will surely take the tour inside the lighthouse in our next visit. The lighthouse is a hidden gem in the Pacific Grove area. Have a great day.

Tips: No pets, drones or motorized vehicles allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes and layered clothing for cold and windy weather. Close proximity to Monterey’s downtown and Lover’s Point Park. Ensure that you pay and take the short tour inside the lighthouse to see and learn more about the history of the lighthouse. Watch out for the deers that may be seen roaming around the property but don’t get too close for your safety. Enjoy the garden area where you can sit and enjoy the incredible view of the landscape and the ocean.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about the Point Pinos Lighthouse after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel close to Point Pinos Lighthouse in Monterey.

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Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park (Arizona)

Address: 220 Prison Hill Rd, Yuma, AZ 85364

Situated on a bluff in Yuma Arizona overlooking the Colorado River stand the ruins of Arizona’s famous Territorial Prison. In 1849, countless immigrants crossed by Ferry from Yuma to California. The territorial prison was authorized by the legislature in 1875. The first few prisoners were law violators such as the legendary stagecoach robber Pearl Hart and continued in operation for 33 years where all inmates were moved to a new facility in Arizona due to overcrowding.

It took us about 10 minutes to get to Yuma Territorial Prison from our Hampton Inn Hotel. It was very hot and humid at the time of our visit. We were greeted by the staff members and we paid an entrance fee of $14 for adults(14+), $8 for youth(7-13 yrs), and free for children (0-6 yrs). The staff member escorted us outside and briefly explained what to see, expect, and safety rules. It was a self-guided tour and we just followed the arrow or signs from each area of interest. I even saw the famous Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge built in 1915 and is a through truss bridge spanning the Colorado River in Yuma, Arizona. It was the first highway crossing of the lower Colorado and is the earliest example of a through truss bridge in Arizona.

The surrounding area is well maintained and clean with some benches available to sit down, rest and enjoy the view. One of the best part of our tour was the air conditioned Museum where it showcased or stored some of the inmates history, background including the women prisoners. They even have a room where to show a movie about the prison’s history.

The most interesting and memorable experience was going inside the individual cell, dark chambers, seeing their beds how the prisoners daily life back in the days. We even saw a guard tower near the entrance which provides a good view of the Colorado River and the local areas.

Tips: Bring bottled water as the weather is hot and humid in the summer. There is also a pathway leading down to the river underneath the Ocean to Ocean bridge where people were swimming and having a picnic.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Packway Materials unique art metal sculptures display

Address: 22244 Cassell Road Cassell, Ca. 96016

The large junk metal art sculptures were built by two brothers named Will and Richard Hathaway. It is located in Shasta County and about 2 miles from the intersection of Highway 299 and Highway 89. It is about 4 to 5 hours away from the San Francisco Bay Area. The unique metal art sculpture display can be viewed from the main road or from the comfort of your car. And the unique metal art display is made up of various construction supplies and other unusual materials. There were a lot of ample parking spots when we visited on a weekend.

We accidentally saw the metal art sculpture of creatures and dinosaurs after our visit to Burney Falls. It’s about a 20 minutes drive from Burney Falls. The metal sculptures were visible from the main road so we decided to pull over, walked around, and took great pictures. Some of the large metal art sculptures that we saw are dragonfly, penguin, dachshund, a rock man, an ant, 40-foot long dinosaur, giraffe, caterpillar, UFO, tin man, cat, a spaceship, snowman, and many more other creatures.

Overall, it is a fun stop if you are in the area and see fantastic arts made out of fun stuff. Great creativity and a fun area to explore and to walk around. The place also has a collection or display of a variety of old trucks.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the Parkway Materials metal art sculpture display after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Sea Ranch Chapel (Sea Ranch Community)

Address: 40033 CA-1 Sea Ranch Ca. 95497 (Northern Sonoma County)

Sea Ranch Chapel is a non-denominated sanctuary for prayer, meditation, and spiritual renewal. Open 7 days a week, 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset, and a gift from a Sea Ranch resident the Buffum family. It was built in December 1985 and is dedicated in memory of Navy Aviator Kirk Ditzler. It is about 3 hours and 117 miles from San Francisco via US 101 North and CA-1 North. The creative artist and architectural designer Mr. James Hubbell is the one responsible for the unique design of the Sea Ranch Chapel. The Chapel was also hand-built by local craftsmen. It is a must-stop place in the Sea Ranch area.

We saw the sign of the Sea Ranch on the right side during our drive from Fort Ross to the town of Gualala. We got lost looking for the place thinking that the Sea Ranch Chapel is inside the Sea Ranch Community which is a private road and no trespassing allowed. The Sea Ranch Chapel is on CA-1 after the Stengel and Shell Beach. There was ample parking when we arrived at the Chapel. Visitors usually just stay in the Chapel for about 15-20 minutes.

The beautiful, well maintained grounds and its unique architectural design was the first thing we noticed. We felt the energy when we went inside the Sea Ranch Chapel. We were in awe at the unconventional architectural design on both the inside and outside of the Chapel. Loved the attention to details on the inside of the Chapel from the ceiling to the floor. We even donated cash in exchange for a simple postcard for the upkeep of the place.

Overall, it is a hidden gem, unique, charming and serene place in the middle of nature to contemplate on life. We didn’t notice if the Chapel have a public restroom on site.

Tips: We also visited Black Point Beach (dark sand beach) and Stengel Beach which are located along CA-1 and before the Sea Ranch Chapel coming from Fort Ross.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about the Sea Ranch Chapel after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you

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“Stand By Me” Bridge (1986 Movie)

Address: 111 Bridge Way Burney, Ca. 96013

The famous train scene in the 1986 Movie ‘Stand By Me” where the 4 boys tried to outrun a train going across the bridge is located on the trestle in Burney, California near Lake Britton. It is about 4 hours and 30 minutes (290 miles) from San Francisco, California via I-5 North.

Our drive to the “Stand By Me” bridge was very scenic and relaxing due to the long road and huge trees along the way. Finding the exact location of the bridge is both an adventure and exciting for us. It was a very beautiful sunny warm day driving around on our convertible rental car. After we passed through the Lake Britton bridge, we immediately made a right turn on Eagle Mountain Lane with a visible sign of “Dusty Campground Site”. The narrow backroad was a combination of sand and gravel. We were confused or mixed up as we parked on the first abandoned railroad track before the gate. That was not the famous bridge and my wife saw a long colorful garter snake that crossed in front of her path but managed to escape the scary experience.

We proceeded to drive slowly through the dirt road for about 5 minutes and finally reached our destination. The “Stand By Me” bridge was barricaded with a few graffiti written on the cemented, fenced barricade. It prevents people from crossing or walking across the bridge as it is an old bridge and for safety measures. We just parked our car on the side of the road as we were the only ones there. You would know that you reached your destination as soon as you see the red clay-like dirt area near the bridge. If you drive a little further down the road you would reach the entrance to the Dusty Campground site.

Overall, it’s a good place to relax, enjoy nature and admire the gorgeous view of Lake Britton. And let your friends and family know about the place and maybe even watch the “Stand by Me” movie again on youtube.

Tips: And it’s about 6 minutes away (3.3 miles) via CA-89 from the famous Burney Falls. You can also enjoy and relax at the picnic area in Lake Britton.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about the ‘Stand By Me” bridge after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you

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Fort Ross

Address: 19005 Coast Hwy, Jenner Ca. 95450

In 1812, Russians established their outpost of Fort Ross in Jenner California. Fort Ross was used as an agricultural warehouse to supply Russian settlements in Alaska. Fort Ross was officially abandoned in the waning months of 1842.

Fort Ross is about 2 hours & 10 minutes drive from San Francisco via Hwy 1. We passed through a series of smaller towns such as Petaluma, Bodega Bay, and Jenner on our way to Fort Ross. From the town of Jenner, we drove for about 12 miles through a series of steep grades, sheer cliffs and lots of hairpins turns road. But the beautiful scenic view from the top of the mountain is all worth the drive.

We paid $8 as an entrance fee at the gate and drove through the paved parking area with lots of parking spaces available. We then parked our car closest to a historical huge windmill. We passed through the gift shop and walked through the trail with lots of beautiful trees which led us to Fort Ross.

As we came out from the trail we immediately saw the high walls of Fort Ross and the tower from the distance. It felt like we were back in the past at 1812. All the historical buildings were intact and well preserved. We went inside on most of the historical buildings such as the Blockhouses, Kuskov House, The Officials quarters, the Chapel, and Rotchev House. My favorite historical building was the corner tower facing the beautiful ocean with a few preserved cannons inside.

Overall, it is a great place to bring your family and learn about Fort Ross’s history and at the same time enjoy the picturesque coastal view of the ocean. There were a few picnic tables available for visitors to use.

Tips: All the historical buildings have a limit on the number of people allowed inside due to the Covid restrictions. Public restrooms are available near the gift shop. There is a trail in the back that will lead you all the way down to the beach cove with a bluish-green color of the water.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Fort Ross after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you