Heidi’s guidebook for San Lorenzo Valley

Heidi
Heidi’s guidebook for San Lorenzo Valley

Hiking destinations

Great hiking trails and gift shop with unique redwood collections. I suggest the hike to the Observation Deck which provides a great view all the way to the ocean.
335 íbúar mæla með
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park Rd
335 íbúar mæla með
Great hiking trails and gift shop with unique redwood collections. I suggest the hike to the Observation Deck which provides a great view all the way to the ocean.
This is actually part of Henry Cowell Unit, but the trailhead is separate from the main park. This features many excellent trails, and sometimes less crowds. The hike to the historic lime kilns is a great one!
36 íbúar mæla með
Fall Creek Unit Trailhead
Felton Empire Road
36 íbúar mæla með
This is actually part of Henry Cowell Unit, but the trailhead is separate from the main park. This features many excellent trails, and sometimes less crowds. The hike to the historic lime kilns is a great one!
Tragically much of this park was destroyed by the CZU fire in 2020, however, it has recently reopened as of July 2022. Reservations are required as the parking is limited now until further developments are completed. Visit the Big Basin and CA State parks website for details.
230 íbúar mæla með
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
21600 Big Basin Way
230 íbúar mæla með
Tragically much of this park was destroyed by the CZU fire in 2020, however, it has recently reopened as of July 2022. Reservations are required as the parking is limited now until further developments are completed. Visit the Big Basin and CA State parks website for details.
Great picnic sites and hiking trails, can also be accessed from Skyline Blvd. I recommend the John Nicolas Trail for the Mountain Bikers. My husband Eric constructed that trail and it was featured in Sunset Magazine!
12 íbúar mæla með
Sanborn County Park
16055 Sanborn Rd
12 íbúar mæla með
Great picnic sites and hiking trails, can also be accessed from Skyline Blvd. I recommend the John Nicolas Trail for the Mountain Bikers. My husband Eric constructed that trail and it was featured in Sunset Magazine!
Great hiking, bouldering, and rock climbing destination!
64 íbúar mæla með
Castle Rock ríkisparkur
15451 CA-35
64 íbúar mæla með
Great hiking, bouldering, and rock climbing destination!
Portola Redwoods State Park
9000 Portola State Park Rd
Best kept secret!
Black Mountain hike
9 íbúar mæla með
Monte Bello Preserve
4301 Page Mill Road
9 íbúar mæla með
Black Mountain hike
Great wildflowers
14 íbúar mæla með
Russian Ridge Preserve
14 íbúar mæla með
Great wildflowers
Great hiking trails
Skyline Ridge Preserve
Great hiking trails
nice and cool in the summer heat
37 íbúar mæla með
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve
37 íbúar mæla með
nice and cool in the summer heat

City/town information

Great little downtown to stroll the shops and support the locals. Visit the antique shop, stroll through Air and Fire to pick up some crystals and local magic. Head to Wild Roots for some great deli sandwiches or sushi, get the best pizza at the local pizza and pub, as well as the best Chinese food at the Red Pearl. Joe's bar is the famous local dive bar, if that is more your style. Jenna Sue's and the Tree House Cafe are the best coffee/bakeries and BOTH are really good! Jenna Sue's still has the best biscuits and gravy though.
18 íbúar mæla með
Boulder Creek
18 íbúar mæla með
Great little downtown to stroll the shops and support the locals. Visit the antique shop, stroll through Air and Fire to pick up some crystals and local magic. Head to Wild Roots for some great deli sandwiches or sushi, get the best pizza at the local pizza and pub, as well as the best Chinese food at the Red Pearl. Joe's bar is the famous local dive bar, if that is more your style. Jenna Sue's and the Tree House Cafe are the best coffee/bakeries and BOTH are really good! Jenna Sue's still has the best biscuits and gravy though.
They have food trucks and live music at the Historic and famously haunted, Brookdale Lodge.
Brookdale
They have food trucks and live music at the Historic and famously haunted, Brookdale Lodge.
The Ben Lomond local theater puts on some great shows, the local market is also pretty good, but the Mountain Feed is really the best place in town. Casa Nostra and Tyrolean Inn both have some good food options. Casa Nostra is great Italian food, and Tyrolean Inn has great traditional German food/beer. Both have some lovely outdoor beer garden patios.
Ben Lomond
The Ben Lomond local theater puts on some great shows, the local market is also pretty good, but the Mountain Feed is really the best place in town. Casa Nostra and Tyrolean Inn both have some good food options. Casa Nostra is great Italian food, and Tyrolean Inn has great traditional German food/beer. Both have some lovely outdoor beer garden patios.
The Mystery Spot, Zip-lining in Mt. Hermon, visit the Old Growth at Henry Cowell, take a dip in the San Lorenzo (farther down stream from our house), and some excellent dining options as well.
22 íbúar mæla með
Felton
22 íbúar mæla með
The Mystery Spot, Zip-lining in Mt. Hermon, visit the Old Growth at Henry Cowell, take a dip in the San Lorenzo (farther down stream from our house), and some excellent dining options as well.

Food scene

Closest local restaurant, still pretty new, but good fish and chips and other pub food.
9 íbúar mæla með
The Sawmill Restaurant and Ale House
15520 California 9
9 íbúar mæla með
Closest local restaurant, still pretty new, but good fish and chips and other pub food.
Best Pizza EVER!
33 íbúar mæla með
Boulder Creek Glass
13200-b Central Ave
33 íbúar mæla með
Best Pizza EVER!
Best Organic Food Store!
89 íbúar mæla með
Wild Roots Market
13159 Central Ave
89 íbúar mæla með
Best Organic Food Store!
Best Chinese Food, Sue is the best!
27 íbúar mæla með
The Red Pearl
13151 CA-9
27 íbúar mæla með
Best Chinese Food, Sue is the best!
Yum...coffee and pastries.
22 íbúar mæla með
Jenna Sue's Cafe
13090 CA-9
22 íbúar mæla með
Yum...coffee and pastries.
Good sushi, but not open regular hours since covid.
26 íbúar mæla með
Tae's Edo Sushi Bar
13271 CA-9
26 íbúar mæla með
Good sushi, but not open regular hours since covid.
This place is totally worth the detour, both for food and atmosphere. Also, there's TONs of hiking options all along Skyline Blvd via the Mid-peninsula Open Space District
65 íbúar mæla með
Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline Blvd
65 íbúar mæla með
This place is totally worth the detour, both for food and atmosphere. Also, there's TONs of hiking options all along Skyline Blvd via the Mid-peninsula Open Space District
A bit crowded since its newly opened, but good place for food and cocktails.
6 íbúar mæla með
Humble Sea Tavern
6256 California 9
6 íbúar mæla með
A bit crowded since its newly opened, but good place for food and cocktails.
34 íbúar mæla með
Taqueria Vallarta
893 41st Ave
34 íbúar mæla með

Sightseeing

If golfing is your thing...
14 íbúar mæla með
Boulder Creek Golf and Country Club
16901 Big Basin Hwy
14 íbúar mæla með
If golfing is your thing...
They have cool music events too.
10 íbúar mæla með
lille æske
13160 CA-9
10 íbúar mæla með
They have cool music events too.
Music scene!
41 íbúar mæla með
Felton Music Hall
6275 Hwy 9
41 íbúar mæla með
Music scene!
great play ground area and historic bridge
22 íbúar mæla með
Felton Covered Bridge County Park
Graham Hill Road
22 íbúar mæla með
great play ground area and historic bridge
Cool little playground, picnic area, open field, skateboard ramp, and outdoor exercise equipment and right across the street from the Sawmill for food.
Garrahan Park
15520 California 9
Cool little playground, picnic area, open field, skateboard ramp, and outdoor exercise equipment and right across the street from the Sawmill for food.
We've never gone to try this locally, but I hear its a real fun time!
49 íbúar mæla með
Mount Hermon Adventures
17 Conference Dr
49 íbúar mæla með
We've never gone to try this locally, but I hear its a real fun time!
A bit of a tourist trap, but still fun nonetheless.
208 íbúar mæla með
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Rd
208 íbúar mæla með
A bit of a tourist trap, but still fun nonetheless.
Good old fashioned fun.
745 íbúar mæla með
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
745 íbúar mæla með
Good old fashioned fun.
Just stop in here for fun, so many great things to gift, or buy for yourself!
22 íbúar mæla með
Mountain Feed & Farm Supply
9550 CA-9
22 íbúar mæla með
Just stop in here for fun, so many great things to gift, or buy for yourself!

Wineries

Local wineries to enjoy.
16 íbúar mæla með
David Bruce Winery
21439 Bear Creek Rd
16 íbúar mæla með
22 íbúar mæla með
Hallcrest Vineyards
379 Felton Empire Rd
22 íbúar mæla með
32 íbúar mæla með
Beauregard Vineyard
10 Pine Flat Rd
32 íbúar mæla með
19 íbúar mæla með
Byington Vineyard & Winery
21850 Bear Creek Rd
19 íbúar mæla með
6 íbúar mæla með
Big Basin Vineyards
830 Memory Ln
6 íbúar mæla með
32 íbúar mæla með
Venus Spirits
200 High Rd
32 íbúar mæla með

Dispensary

If you need some good herbs for smoking or edibles.
Creekside Wellness
12603 California 9