Capitola By the Sea - 2013

Capitola is one of my favorite places to visit.  It is easy to get around in a wheelchair.   During the summer, a wheelchair-accessible walkway is built and it juts out onto the beach.  Most of the restaurants have wheelchair access, and Mr. Toots Coffee House has a specially-made elevator for wheelchair access.

It can get crowded, especially during the summer months, so I've always had tried to go there in the morning.

To see more of my tour of Capitola,

please watch my video.

Lighthouse Field State Beach

Lighthouse Field State Beach is home to California's first surfing museum and it overlooks one of the local surfing hot spots - Steamer Lane.

It is one of my favorite places in Santa Cruz to visit because there is a long, paved walkway which stretches along the coastline, giving you a wonderful view of the Pacific Ocean and the beaches below.

You can watch and listen to the seals on Seal Rock, or enjoy watching the surfers as they ride the waves. There are several parking areas near the surfing museum and most of them have at least one handicap parking spot.

To see more of Lighthouse Field State Beach,

please watch my video.

Purisima Creek Redwoods - Redwood Trail

The Purisima Creek Trail's "Redwood Trail" is located on Skyline Boulevard, 6.5 miles south of Hwy 92.

This 0.6 mile, hardened-dirt trail has a few slight inclines as it winds through the redwoods. There are a couple picnic tables placed along the trail as well as a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. I enjoyed traveling along this, at times, challenging trail and it would be a great place to have lunch after your hike.

For a closer look of the Redwood Trail,

please watch my video.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is located in Boulder Creek, California. The park has two accessible trails. The first one is the Redwood Loop NatureTrail. This 0.63 mile, hard-packed dirt trail is very wide and mostly flat. I found it to be an enjoyable hike through the redwoods.

The other accessible trail is the Skyline to the Sea Trail. This 0.28 mile trail much more challenging. The 4-feet-wide trail has an elevation change of 29 feet. At one part of the trail, a couple hikers had to step off the trail in order for me to pass. That said, there is a bridge that has a wonderful view of the creek below, and you can't help but look up in awe at the ancient forest.

There are accessible bathrooms, picnic tables, camping sites, and the park headquarters is also accessible. The park entrance fee is $10.00. You may use the entrance fee receipt for any other state park you visit that day.

For a closer look of the two accessible trails at Big Basin,

please watch my video.

Francis Beach - Half Moon Bay

Francis Beach, located in Half Moon Bay, California, has a lot to offer. It has miles of wide, sandy beaches, picnic tables, and a campground with 52 individual sites. Another enjoyable aspect of this place is the 2.4 miles of the "Coastal Trail" which runs along the eastern boundary of this state beach. There is plenty of handicap parking and the bathrooms are accessible. The Coastal Trail is paved and flat. There are also 4 accessible camping sites.

For wheelchair users, Francis Beach has a beach wheelchair. It is free to use for up to 2 hours. It was my first time being in a beach wheelchair and, since this was also the first time since I became disabled that I have been on the beach and close to the crashing waves, it was a very special time.

Weather can be foggy, especially during the summer. It was quite windy when I was there in the spring. So plan on bringing extra warm clothing and checking the weather report ahead of time.

To see more of my tour of Francis Beach,

please watch my video.

Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve - Alpine Pond

Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve has two quarter-mile trails that are wheelchair accessible. The one I went to is the Alpine Pond trail. The trail's entrance is located in the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve parking lot which is next to the intersection of Highway 35 and Page Mill/Alpine Road. The gravel parking area has a couple of handicap parking spaces and a wheelchair-accessible bathroom.

The beginning of the trail takes you through a tunnel and down to the Alpine Pond. Next to the pond is the wheelchair-accessible David C. Daniels Nature Center and a floating pier. The well-maintained trail, which goes around the pond, is mostly hard-packed dirt with one stretch that is gravel. There are a couple of picnic tables and a viewing station that has wheelchair-accessible binoculars.

Even though the trail is only one quarter mile long, I found it an enjoyable trail to travel around on. The other wheelchair-accessible trail is located not too far off of Highway 35 and that trail circles around Horseshoe Lake.

To see more of my tour of Alpine Pond, 

please watch my video.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is one of the most beautiful parks I have been to. The 0.8 mile Redwood Loop Trail is an all-access trail. The wide, hardened-dirt trail is mostly flat with only a couple of small down hill downhill slopes that should be easy for anyone in a wheelchair to traverse. One can’t help but stand/sit in awe at the majestic redwoods that this trail showcases.

The parking lot has handicap parking and there are accessible bathrooms. The mornings can be chilly, so dress accordingly. The park entrance fee is $10.00. You may use the entrance fee receipt for any other state park you may visit that day.

To see more of the Redwood Loop Trail,

please watch my video.

Chickadee Nature Trail

The Chickadee Nature Trail, in Huddart County Park, is an all-access, 3/4 mile trail that loops around through a variety of native plants, trees, and even offers a few views of the San Francisco Bay Area. The trail, though (as of May 2011), is in need of maintenance. The hardened dirt trail gave me a bumpy ride in some areas. The left side of the trail loop had a wooden fence blocking off the trail. I read that the bridge was out. There was a trail heading down but it looked too steep for a wheelchair to safely navigate, especially on a dirt trail.

Toward the end of the right side of the trail loop, a tree that had fallen over the trail. Overall, though, it was a worthwhile adventure as I was able to enjoy the peaceful and relaxing scenery that the forest trail offered.

There is a $5 park entrance fee. There are two handicap parking spots next to the trail, and I didn't see any accessible bathrooms.

 To see more of the Chickadee Nature Trail,

please watch my video.

Stevens Creek Reservoir

I've been going to Stevens Creek Reservoir for many years now. It is one of my favorite hangouts due its beauty, the feeling of, "you're out of the city," and because it is only about a 15 minute drive from my home.

The parking area has 2 handicap parking spots. There is a bathroom, but isn't wheelchair accessible.