Go Wild! Travel Exclusive: Sea lions and redwoods in the wild Golden State
The sun blazes overhead through the redwood branches in Muir Woods.
All photos by Krysti Sabins, WildNewJersey.tv
By Krysti Sabins, WildNewJersey.tv
My two-week excursion to California took me to the great urban centers of Los Angeles and San Francisco - but it was my forays outside the cities that may be most memorable.
Yes, there was smog in Los Angeles, but if you travel into the hills, it is amazing how quickly the desert environment kicks in. Even though it was early summer, down from the hills it never left the 70s, especially when you hit the "June gloom" at the beaches.
Soon I ventured out of L.A. and made my way to San Francisco. It is, indeed, a beautiful and unique city with its massive hills, cable cars, beaches and bridges. Those famed sea lions still flop around Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf.
The sea lions at Pier 39 of the Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco pile on top of each other in order to bask in the warm sun.
Right outside of this bay city lies Muir Woods, the home of many old-growth redwoods. President Theodore Roosevelt declared the land a National Monument in 1908, the first to be created from land donated by a private individual. The original suggested name was the Kent Monument, but philanthropist William Kent insisted the Monument be named after naturalist John Muir. After all, Muir's environmental campaigns helped to establish America's entire National Park system.
Not far from the forest is Muir Beach, a quaint area where locals and tourists hold bonfires and barbecues right on the beach.
A lookout point above Muir Beach close to the San Francisco Bay area.
Dairy farms line the coast of California on the way to Point Reyes lighthouse north of San Francisco.
Eventually on the 16th, I headed back to good ol' Jersey. It was great to return to the nice, hot, and humid weather of the Northeast.
Krysti Sabins is a photojournalist and videographer for WildNewJersey.tv and NewGreenMedia.tv . Some of her work can be viewed at her blog, http://krystisabinsphotography.blogspot.com/ or her portfolio site, www.krystisabins.com .
The redwoods in Muir Woods outside of San Francisco, California tourabove
the heads of passerby at a dizzying height of nearly 380 feet.
the heads of passerby at a dizzying height of nearly 380 feet.
Seagulls flock around San Francisco Bay with Alcatraz silhouetted in the distance.
Dale Trumbore points out the Hollywood sign in the desert hills of Los Angeles, California.
The sun sets over Muir Beach on the coast of California.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 7/29/2010 10:00 AM 
Categories: Go Wild! Travel Exclusive
Tags: roosevelt muir woods fisherman's wharf sea lions california redwoods pier 39 san francisco los angeles national park
Categories: Go Wild! Travel Exclusive
Tags: roosevelt muir woods fisherman's wharf sea lions california redwoods pier 39 san francisco los angeles national park
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