"Me and my, me and my, me and my, me and my, me and my friends"…read more---Red Hot Chili Peppers Me & my friends left the City aka San Francisco for Fairfax for a hike. Deer Park has lovely trails. It is truly a choose your own adventure as some trails are more challenging than others. The Deer Park Trailhead is a short drive from lovely downtown Fairfax. One thing I love about this hike is it has a densely forested mountainous vibe to it. For those that like trees & hills this hike is for you. Two thumbs up!

This is really an unusual Trailhead. There's an old school nearby, and you have to take the trail…read moreto the left of the school. When I came out of the open space, it wasn't clear where the trail went. The trail goes beside the old school and Childcare Center. There are two restrooms as well as a drinking fountain. I counted about four picnic tables as well. If you are on a bike the trail beside the school is skinny and steep but just for a short while. So just be careful about the other hikers.

It has always been an item on my bucket list to see bioluminescent plankton. However I held very…read morelittle hope of ever seeing it because it was my understanding that you never know when or where it'll ever appear. So when my wife mentioned that Napa Valley Paddle was doing a guided kayak tour though bioluminescent waters in Tomales Bay I had no choice but to book a trip. I've been kayaking exactly twice before and both times on lakes in broad daylight. So I was a little nervous about kayaking in a salt water bay in the dark. Hopefully the water is smooth and it doesn't get too choppy for my wife and I. Also, I had low expectations, maybe the plankton won't be there that night, and if it is, it's probably a very subtle glow that you almost have to use your imagination to see. When we arrived we found ourselves in a parking lot at the Miller Boat Launch in Marshall. We got some basic instructions on kayaking, given life vests and whistles and headlamps set to red light to wear backwards. It was all pretty laid back and chill. As the sun went away and the fog came in we paddled out to Hog Island and by the time we were close to it, it was dark enough that some people were beginning to see the water light up. Fortunately the water was very calm and it was comforting to see all the red headlamps on the water to guide us on our way. We paddked clear across the bay to the other side where there were cliffs making the water especially dark there. This is where we turned off all of our lights. There was no subtlety at all, it was nothing less than magical. The water lit up with every paddle and every splash. It was a smooth blue glow in the dark with occasional spatks mixed in. We spent a good while paddling around and splashing and generally bring awed by the trippy water. Then it was time to start heading back, the goal was to paddle around the other side of Hog Island where the water is also very fun to look at. However the water glowed the whole way there even. Unfortunately this is also when conditions changed. We had a nasty headwind and the water got choppy. We were seriously worried we might capsize as we paddled like crazy to get to the island again. When we finally got there, we were done. We just wanted was to get back to the car and go home and drink hot coacoa. So we kept on paddling as hard as we could while we struggled to keep the kayak heading in the right direction. People were starting to scatter and soon the only lights to follow were at the boat launch we came from. Whether that actually was the boat launch was debatable but it was the only indication of civilization so we kept heading in that direction. Maybe it was because we were heavier than anyone else or perhaps we just couldn't paddle very well but we lagged behind in the dark. To make things even more interesting the conditions continued to worsen. We had to fight the wind and the choppy water harder as we made that last leg of the paddle back to shore. Fortunately the lights we were aiming for did happen to be where we needed to land and although we missed the dock we did get to shore soaked but not dreched and we managed to actually make it without going into the drink. Needless to say, it became an adventure however no one could have predicted conditions would change like they did. Apparently under typical conditions we would have had a tail wind and that part of the trip should have been the easy part. A professional paddle boarder who was with our group told us those conditions were "insane" and it was not something she would have willingly attempted unless it was over a short distance in daylight. So we feel better about ourselves having a hard time making it back. I'm very glad we did this, it's a beautiful memory, and a great story to tell, and I highly recommend going.

We met Tanya downtown at the river walk and she set us up with a Fagan Marsh kayak trip the next…read moreday. Loved talking with Drew beforehand, learning about wetland restoration efforts and how quickly nature can rebound. The slough was peaceful and sparkling on this sunny October afternoon. We observed cranes and fish nibbling at surface snacks. In the distance, you can see Mount Tam and a bit closer--the Brazos railroad bridge. While there is much to see and do in Napa, this experience at the end of our trip was a definite highlight.

My girlfriend and I had a great time renting two kayaks from this shop! The crew was super friendly…read moreand helpful, and their delivery service was very convenient! Would definitely use them again and recommend them to anyone!

We love Marty and his crew!! They really take the time to…read moremake sure that we were happy and would enjoy our day on the lake. They made sure we had everything we needed and really made us feel special. They are easy to use as they make it easy to book, register, and get onto the lake - way better than any other place to rent boats! Josh and Jeremy were GREAT! We highly recommend and will definitely be returning next summer!!!!

My family and I had an excellent experience. The river was challenging, but it was a very memorable…read moretrip! This is run by a lovely, local couple who almost felt like family in the short time we were there. They boosted the confidence of my son with reassurance and also took the time to help us get back to our vehicle after it unexpectedly broke down on our way to the river. Just wanted to say they are really good people. They also gave us great guidance to navigate the river with quality equipment!

First off, we do this river day trip every year. We -highly- recommend experiencing the river, it's…read morealways fun and rarely disappoints (even as our kids get older!) While we have used different outfits lately - we had a great experience with Russian River Adventures a few years back, so we came in excited to return. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing, mainly due to poor planning by the staff. We booked for four people on a Thursday - my wife, myself, and our two teens (14 and 16)--with the expectation that we'd have two boats, which is standard for this group size. However, the team miscounted the boats that morning. When we pointed this out, instead of fixing the mistake, they pulled us aside and crammed all four of us into a boat intended for three, squeezing in an extra seat to make it "fit." Visibly frustrated, the team promised to speak with the owner and make it right (it was two high schoolers running it that day). I didn't argue and wanted to at least try to have a good time and not be that Dad. The result on the boat? A very cramped and uncomfortable setup that made the inflatable much harder to steer and navigate--especially on a 9-mile river trip. This wasn't the experience we paid for or expected based on our prior trips. The staff seemed more focused on moving us along rather than making it right. Still haven't heard from the owner. We'll likely explore other options next time around. Disappointed to see the service slip like this.

We wanted a Japanese garden with a waterfall cascading down a…read more 17-foot drop in front of our home and to have two Japanese bridges cross the stream at different heights. We thought this idea would be difficult to execute because it would need engineering, electrical work, plumbing, lighting, plants, boulders, and a beautiful design. We contacted Jorge and explained what we wanted and after a consultation of about an hour at our home, he said he would think about it and give us a proposal. We were amazed at the conceptual design that he had and that he had diagrammed, overwhelmed by his attention to detail in the bid, and incredulous that he and his crew brought it flawlessly to fruition. The job took about 4 week and the transformation is incredible. We have had neighbors tell us that it is not only a thing of beauty but is a calming influence with the sound of the rushing water. One neighbor puts his chair at the bottom of the waterfall and meditates for long periods of time. We love the sound of the rushing water and keep our front door and windows open to hear it through the day and evening. Jorge and his crew are highly skilled, extremely knowledgeable, neat considering the tons of material they needed to do this job, highly professional, and priced very fairly for the stunning beauty they create. Jorge managed the entire job and communicated with us every step of the way. You can trust your project will be done perfectly if you engage their services.

They are very organize. They were on time for the price quote and for the job. Communication was…read moreeasy.easy and they are very nice. Thanks for your help.

Outstanding experience!!! I would give 100 stars if I could. We used them for scattering my dad's…read moreashes (he was a big time sailor) and they were phenomenal. Our captain, Mark and first mate, Ruby, checked in as we sailed out to see if we wanted to try to go under the Golden Gate Bridge as the weather started a bit rough. But we did and it was magical! Everyone (many who never sailed before) and those who had loved the entire experience! We plan on going back for a fun adventure soon! Thanks so much!!!

Captain Kirk's did an all-around fantastic job. The boat was perfect, the crew was attentive and…read moreknowledgeable. We felt the excursion was a great value and would definitely book again.

I have lived in the Peninsula for years and had no idea this place existed until I chaperoned my…read morechild's 2nd grade field trip here. The visit was very educational. The kids participated in a variety of hands-on activities, including working together to pull a fishing net and small fish out of the water. They were able to touch different fish, shrimp, and even small sharks, and observe plankton under microscopes. The staff were knowledgeable and engaging, and the kids had a wonderful time throughout the visit!

What a hidden gem in Redwood City! I got to visit the Marine Science Institute with my 3rd grader…read moreand her classmates. I never knew this place existed. We had the best interactive learning experience here. Children were split up into 4-5 groups with an educator from the institute. We were lucky to be in Emma's group. The kids got to see and touch shrimp, fish, spider crabs, mussels, clams, sea sponge and more! We also learned about the leopard shark and got to pet one. The kids worked collaboratively to collect samples from the bay and even got to look at plankton under a microscope. At the very end of the field trip the children all pulled on ropes together to reel in a giant net. They caught a few fish. It was such a fun experience. Thank you!!! Highly recommend