Showing posts with label Adventures. Show all posts

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Exploring Niles

Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2013










B and I often find ourselves in the Fremont/Niles area and so this past weekend we decided to explore the Niles area a bit more. I am on a hunt for a working record player and read in the local bay area paper that the Niles mom and pop record shop "Needle to the Groove" was the place to check out. We walked down from the hills and along the main thoroughfare which is most widely recognized for being a hot spot for Charlie Chaplin silent films back in the day. Niles has character in quirky houses, unusual architecture and quite an admirable selection of craft beers in their corner supermarket. Drank coffee at Niles Cafe and then walked back along the railroad tracks and enjoyed a new-to-me brewsky on the balcony overlooking the Niles canyon and surrounding hillsides.

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Take A Trip: Blue Ridge Trail- Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve

Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2013

I have a bucket list of trips and adventures I'd like to take. Often they are added to the list by recommendations from friends and take special circumstances to materialize. The Blue Ridge Trail at Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve is just one of those trips.

Although it's relatively close to where we live, without a car it's difficult to make it up to the reserve but everything fell into place when our family was in town and I thought it would be great to get out in nature and take in some of the local vistas. 

We started the day off right at the Davis Farmer's market picking up crucial items like cheese, beets and some fresh apple cider that was a godsend when all four of us neglected to bring water along with us for the hike.

 Then we headed to Putah Creek Cafe in Winters, CA. Folks at work swear by it almost as if it exudes magical food powers and it's been featured on the Food Network's Diners and Dives. It had to be good. 

Mushroom Prosciutto omelet. Awesome.

Winters has a great small town cozy atmosphere that really draws me in and makes me feel at home. B and I went home later just to peruse what houses were available for sale. We can dream I suppose. 

Here are some images from the hike. It was overcast and a bit frigid but the mushrooms were just beginning to budge out from underneath the leaf litter and the sweeping views of Lake Beryessa and the surrounding hillsides were awe inspiring. 

 Hiking Map of Blue Ridge Trail