Out & About
San Diego Harbor not only bounds downtown to the west, it also marks the edge of a rich habitat. As you look out to the bay, you can see Coronado/North Island. Technically, the “island” is …
Saturday afternoon, I saw Samantha walking by Balboa Park’s Organ Pavillion, wearing the coolest looking top I had ever seen. The blouse’s funky print reminded me of something you’d see in a ‘70s fashion magazine. …
Not far from land, but safe from predators such as snakes, coyotes, raccoons, and domestic animals, the California least terns make their nests on Stony Point on Fiesta Island. This federally-listed endangered species primarily eats …
Week after week, people pour in and out of their favorite fitness classes, myself occasionally included. I’ve noticed fitness classes becoming a new kind of runway, where you can flaunt your style while you sweat …
The La Jolla/Bird Rock Bike Path begins at the southern end of Bird Rock at the intersection of La Jolla Hermosa and Camino de la Costa. On the north end, the trail turns around when …
Seems as though not everyone was prepared for the rain this season. I’ve seen a lot of sunny-day flip flops and tank tops being worn in defiance of the weather gods. I don’t like it …
The Daley Ranch in Escondido offers a little bit of heaven for all of its visitors. Hikers, bikers, and equestrians can find trails that vary from easy to difficult, dirt to paved, narrow to wide. …
Denk Mountain is the unofficial name of the highest point in the City of Carlsbad. It may be a little presumptuous to call it a mountain, but at 1041 feet of elevation, it is high …
In 1969, the Buena Vista Lagoon was set aside as California’s first ecological reserve. It continues to be a refuge for birds and other wildlife and can be a great place to observe migrating waterfowl, …
Coyote Mountain is sandwiched between the Coyote Creek fault and the Coyote Mountain/Clark Lake fault within the San Jacinto Fault Zone. Pressure from these right-lateral faults has caused the uplift creating Coyote Mountain and the …
The Birding Trail was established at a time when San Felipe Creek discharged into a large wetland, or cienega, with intermittent pools of open water. It was an important stop for migratory birds. The pools …
This little canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is only a hop, skip, and a short off-road drive southwest of downtown Borrego Springs. It is a popular local canyon for day hikes, and surprisingly, internationally …
The Painted Gorge near Ocotillo and Plaster City offers the opportunity to explore the brightly colored mud hills of an ancient marine layer and volcanic flows. This particular excursion is of variable length and difficulty, …
Harper Canyon is home to hundreds of magnificent ironwood trees (Olneya terota). They can become quite large and, though the pinnately compound leaves don’t provide abundant shade, they are evergreen and attractive year around. Since …
The Hoyt Park Trail in Scripps Ranch offers a chance to escape traffic and crowds in a quiet canyon shaded by eucalyptus trees. It is a short distance from the Scripps Ranch Village Shopping Center …
Olivia Canyon. also known as 47th Street Canyon, is the eastern-most canyon of the City Heights Canyons Loop Trail system. There are five trailheads into this canyon. Near the entry at 47th Street, you will …