Fairfax, Santa Rosa & the fair

One of my friends has been showing me all of the cool places that she knows in the area. She took me to Alpine Lake, which is behind Fairfax and is actually the result of a dam (so technically it's a reservoir and not a natural lake). We ended up hiking half an hour around the lake and up through the forest to make it to our destination, which was a waterfall. Water had pooled at the base so we stuck our feet in the water and enjoyed our stop before heading back down the way we came.

(Alpine Lake)

Later that day, I went with my parents to a family friends' house up in Santa Rosa. They had a great pool, but it was the furniture all around the pool that I really enjoyed. For some reason it reminded me of something that would be in Alice in Wonderland. I was also shocked at how hot it got the further north you traveled from the water. Even five minutes into our drive and there was a noticeable difference once you left the coast.

(Fun poolside furniture at a family friends' house in Santa Rosa)

I concluded my day by visiting the Marin County fair, where I found this cute guy. The last time I had gone to that particular fair, I was 8 years old, so it was fun to check it out with a different perspective. 

(Mini Rex rabbit at the Marin County Fair)

San Francisco

(Golden Gate Bridge)

I've spent almost the past two months in the Bay Area and never get tired of this view. I took this photo from the Marin Headlands, when I was on my way to Rodeo Beach with my dog. After growing up in this area, it's nice to return and spend the summer down here with my family.

About a month ago, my friend and I were driving through the Headlands and looked across the bay to Baker Beach. We both realized that even after growing up in the Bay Area, neither of us had any memory of actually going to that beach. A few days later we decided to take a day trip into the city and visit Baker Beach before lunch. The beach was lined with fishermen along the shore and had good views of the Golden Gate Bridge. I had never seen the bridge from that angle, so it was definitely a new perspective. 

 (View to the east of Baker Beach)

(Overlooking Baker Beach)

Santa Cruz

(View of one of the beaches with the pier in the background.) 

Two weeks ago I visited Santa Cruz for the first time with a friend. We arrived in the late morning and walked along the boardwalk. After watching part of a beach volleyball competition, we walked down the pier and then went in search for lunch. We ended up in what seemed like the 'old downtown' part of Santa Cruz. There were a lot of small shops and only a few name brand stores. We ended up stopping at Saturn's Diner, where I proceeded to have a cup of chili and a slice of peach pie for lunch. Luckily we had a bit of time to lay on the beach before heading home. 

Cannon Beach & Shipwreck Beach

  

(Cannon Beach)

After a sailing regatta near Portland in May, my team decided visit the coast of Oregon, since none of us had been before. Friends of mine had visited Cannon Beach many times and had suggested I check it out since I was nearby. After an exhausting weekend of sailing and a long car ride to get to the coast, nothing could have prepared me for the incredible surroundings. We spent a few hours walking along the beach and checking out tide pools (there were the most amazing anemones and acorn barnacles). To watch the sunset, we ended up hiking up to this point, which overlooked the beach and had amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. 

(Sailors at Shipwreck Beach)

The next morning, we drove a few minutes from our campsite to Shipwreck Beach. The only vertical feature on the beach was the remains of a ship's hull. We spent an hour playing games and enjoying the sand before having to spend the rest of the day driving back up to Victoria. 

I am so glad that we were able to explore a few places on the coast of Oregon and can't wait until I'm able to return someday.