Directions here were very easy to find, parking was very open with handicap spaces on an early…read moreMonday afternoon! I noticed they had outhouse style restrooms which were cleaned, stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. The path down is slightly downhill, and is dirt paved. Wear shoes you definitely do not mind being covered in dirt. Maybe a three minute walk. There were people picnicking quietly for an afternoon date on the lawn with a blanket, that's a great idea. There is a large grass area for many families to enjoy together. Seeing it in person was really nice. Brought some teenage girls here who really enjoyed it. We enjoyed taking some pictures together. I definitely see why this area is used as a professional photography spot!! Will I come here again: if in the area and cooler weather absolutely for a gorgeous family style picnic!!

Pulgas Water Temple is definitely a unique little spot and the fact that it's completely free to…read morevisit is a huge plus. I can absolutely see why people stop here for photos and the dome and pool make for a very pretty setting. That being said, I spent maybe 10 minutes here before feeling like I had seen it all. There's not a lot to explore and my visit was made particularly less enjoyable by how crowded it was. There were at least three people doing elaborate professional photo shoots and dozens of what I can only describe as full-on Instagram productions happening around the area. It was noisy and there wasn't much room to move around and it really took away from what I imagine is a normally peaceful experience. I was here on a weekday afternoon as well so I'm not sure when a slower time might be to visit. I feel like I should preface this review with the fact that I stopped here immediately after spending the morning and early afternoon at Filoli, so in comparison it probably isn't helping me have a hugely favorable opinion of my experience here. There are also signs advising that no dogs are allowed, which I think is pretty ridiculous. This is definitely worth a quick stop if you're in the area, especially because parking is free and there's no admission fee. However, unless you are one of the people who are spread out on a blanket or carrying boxes of props for a full-on production, this is definitely not a place that you would spend very much time. For me it was an interesting, very quick, one time stop.

"Beautiful Vista Honoring a Fallen Policeman."…read more This is a really pleasant, inspiring Vista point. It is an honor of a CHP patrolman killed about 45 years ago, Ralph D Percival. It overlooks some beautiful scenary and it's a great place to just take a rest or have a snack. There is a concrete walkway that you can stroll around to various lookout points. There don't appear to be any facilities here however.

I've driven by this vista point thousands of times, but hadn't checked it out until a Geology class…read morefield trip in college. All I can say is that I missed out on a really nice place to stop and view the reservoir. Our professor had us look across highway 280 to the mountain range, and what appeared to be a valley that held the reservoir. She asked if we know that that depression that extended into the ocean was. Turns out, it is the San Andreas Fault. It is massive. Anyway this is a nice spot to visit and snap a few photos. It is always well kept and clean and there is a decent amount of parking.

Neat local flavor to take a look out…read more It's actually someone's house that they live in, so make sure to be mindful and polite when visiting (because I can't imagine how annoyed the neighbors would be with randos going in and out as well as just thinking this place is an eyesore with how rich and pretentious the neighborhood already seems). There are statues of the saber tooth there and Fred, some dinos. Lots of purple and orange colors. It's not only just Flintstones theme as there are bunnies, aliens, Terracotta warriors and an eclectic mix of decor. Neat, fun and interesting stop if you're nearby and on the way somewhere else.

Flintstones House Hillsborough CA Wed 4/12/23 ©…read moreLet me start by saying, this quirky house is not a tourist destination! For decades, this prominent feature in Hillsborough hills just off the scenic route Hwy 280 brought happy feelings to passers by! Of course it's been a curiosity for decades in existence... but wait! All it is, a wonderful single family residence, with a twist in a story full of intrigue & litigation! And it has its own Wikipedia page! I've told myself, Grey, you live close by, you've got to write about the Flintstones House! It's a curiosity worth noted, yet a source of controversy to its neighbors! A colorful authentically looking residence in the affluent Hillsborough community uniquely affected the inner moods within the neighborhood, while much of the story remained hidden from public eye. The listing wasn't on the Yelp maps until recently, a yelper put it on during the pandemic, the house itself has been gracing the hill for decades in existence. The Flintstones house has been renovated & changed hands some years ago... I believe it used to sport an off white stucco, at some point it got repainted bright orange & purple... sold in 2017 & that's when complaints began. As the storytelling goes, the original Flintstones suburban sprawl developed in real life! Much controversy to it in the recent years due to the current owner coloring it even brighter burnt color resembling the cave & decorating the yard even more...beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Neighbors considered yard decorations an eye sore! So they brought forth the law suits. The installations of dinosaurs became a point of contention. Maybe historic inaccuracies were getting on their nerves? :-) After all, all we know is that Fred & Wilma enjoyed the company of their pet dinosaur Dino, but were there many others in the Stone Age? What about a Giraffe, a woolly mammoth, and a Fred Flintstone himself?! I understand neighbors didn't want any attention in the affluent town they reside in. Well, the owner won the law suit! She gets to keep her dinosaurs! Not only that, but also $125K from the city for originating the architectural review in the first place! And we the public got to enjoy this amazing architectural creation for years to come! *Well, he packed his guitar and his bar-room tan, Gotta get some miles behind him as fast as he can, Another destination, some place else to play. *But as the night approaches, a change is in the air His heart is pumping fast, he's got no cares The music befriends him, it can take him anywhere It's a honky-tonk engagement But there's no better place to play His mind feels like crazy pavement He's getting crazed out every day [ Review #766 w 2 pix on May 2, 2023 ] Flintstones House! Hillsborough CA Wed 4/12/23 Yabba Dabba Doo! @Flintstones House Hillsborough CA Wed 4/19/23

I grew up in Contra Costa County, so the run-on cities on the Peninsula were not that well known to…read moreme. That includes Redwood City. This week, Dear Hubby and I were back in the Bay Area, roaming around San Mateo, "RWC", and Woodside, mostly. Various neighborhoods in RWC, in particular, were appealing in the late-autumn sunshine. Trees are plentiful, along with unique homes with varied architecture and creative landscaping. There's an air of pride in the community. Of course, being in the Silicon Valley lends itself to a high-value lifestyle. The vibe in the area near the San Mateo County Center showcased a mixture of historic and brand new, with more construction underway. If we'd had more time, I would have liked to park and walk in that area. On the Western side, we were surprised to learn of the Water Temple, where a last minute family wedding unfolded on Wednesday afternoon. I didn't know that RWC extended up to the 280 and beyond. That's the beauty of exploration - you never know what you'll encounter!

Redwood City bills itself as "Climate Best by Government Test," but that 1920s slogan is about the…read moremost exciting thing going for this mid-peninsula mediocrity. The revitalized downtown is trying desperately to be something it's not, with Broadway Street feeling like a developer's sterile vision of urban vitality--chain restaurants, overpriced gastropubs, and occasional boutiques that won't last another year. There's no actual character here, just manufactured "vibrancy" surrounded by bland mixed-use development that could exist anywhere from Arizona to Oregon. The city can't figure out what it wants to be, stuck in an identity crisis with pockets of genuine poverty and crime alongside tech money gentrification, lacking the authenticity of either. You get all the Bay Area problems--astronomical housing costs, homelessness, property crime--without any of the actual amenities or cultural institutions that make those costs remotely justifiable elsewhere. The waterfront is just a few corporate office parks and some marshland, the neighborhoods are either sketchy or cookie-cutter suburban sprawl, and the schools vary wildly in quality depending on which side of the tracks you're on. There's no compelling reason to visit Redwood City when every surrounding town does something better--San Mateo has a more functional downtown, Menlo Park has better schools, San Carlos has more charm. It's the participation trophy of Silicon Valley cities: technically there, technically functional, but utterly forgettable.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Another place checked off in my peninsula sightseeing spots. Been wanting to come here for a while…read moreand last week I was able to come out here on a Saturday morning around 8 AM and was able to enjoy this place all to myself. I've been in this area along Skegss point and have never seen it but after hearing about it and do some research it's literally just right off the road. I was actually disappointed I didn't have to walk or hike, but in the end it was a quick simple skip Across the highway and maybe 50 steps and you're there. You have to step down a few stairs but overall that's all it is. This tree is really huge and tall with a beautiful base and a few burls. Some healthy branches and greenery as you look up towards the sky underneath the canopy of other pines. I was able to adore and admire this tree for a good 15-20 minutes without any other people around took a few nice pictures proceeded on my way out to hike the local Corte Madera hike just a mile down the street. Now, many of you have may know there is another Methusalah tree in eastern Sierras at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White mountains of Inyo County. That one is still on my list to go find which I hope will be one day soon. Whether you're a local or tourist and in the area, this place is recommended to come or a pitstop along your way down towards Santa Cruz on Highway 35.

You have got to see the methuselah tree which is over 1800 years old! I'm in awe of gigantic…read moretrees! It is only 45 to 60 minutes south of San Francisco, right above the skyline just west of Woodside, CA. Methuselah is conveniently located just a short walk off of Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard) 3.3 miles north of Sky Londa and Alice's Restaurant and 0.5 miles south of the Caltrans' Skeggs Vista Point. The closest parking is across the road at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve. Be careful crossing the road as cars can come around the corner quickly. Methuselah will be visible from the road. Pass through the gate and follow the trail to the base of the tree. Methuselah is a massive old-growth redwood and it is the oldest and largest living tree in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Take a trip to see the methuselah. You won't be disappointed!

Rengstorff House was a wonderful venue for our wedding! The house and gardens were so beautiful…read morethat very little additional decoration was needed. We especially loved that there are multiple outdoor spaces to utilize for different portions of the event. The venue staff were very friendly, responsive and helpful to work with as we planned the event.

Rengstorff House is located on the premises of the Shoreline Parklands. This is a historic…read moreVictorian house / mansion and it is Mountain View's oldest home. There is a shared parking lot. My bf wanted to do docent-led tour, but unfortunately we showed up shortly after they closed on that Saturday afternoon (they closed at noon). We walked along the outer perimeter of the estate - hoping to get some photos, but there were some people taking photos at the front of the house, so we ended up leaving. Overall 3 stars, but rounded up to 4 stars because we did not get the full experience for a fair review.

This recent Gilded Age exhibit drew the crowds, and even with timed ticketing, we were wishing for…read moremore breathing room this past Monday. After viewing the exhibit in the historic house, we wandered through the always in bloom Rose Garden, and looked at the seasonal vegetables in the vegetable patch, admiring the large pumpkins. Lots to browse in the gift shop and nursery, and the Quail Cafe offers sandwiches, soup, salads, pastries, and coffee bar drinks.

This review is for the Fleurs de Villes exhibit…read more The Gilded Age flower displays shaped as women's dresses and attire from the series were amazing! The flowers were stunning and the smells incredible. I enjoyed visiting each of the rooms and got swept up in the history of the house. The floral dresses were amazing! I love how they wrapped leaves and flowers into vests and trains. Incredible work! We visited on day six of the show and the flowers were not at their best. I am sure the first couple days were just breathtaking! Overall, I enjoyed the history, antique decorations and the added bonus of the Gilded Age dresses. It was a treat to spend the day at the house and gardens.

I live in the south Bay, but I love to travel for food and support local businesses. Community…read moreevents are always my favorite because so many people come together, people in the Bay Area are so nice and welcoming, and you get to meet staff and business owners of small businesses in the area. Everyone was super friendly, happy to talk about their food, or drinks, or restaurants. The music and band was really good, and it was the perfect day to gather around to support local businesses. Thank you Yelp for doing this, another successful community event, and I cannot wait to visit the businesses that I stopped by and talk to. I had a really good ceviche and guac from the Mexican restaurant giving out samples, I went to various boobs that had beer, ales, and IPAs that were really delicious and I look forward to coming back to the Peninsula and supporting them.

Our 1st Yelp event together, minimum $20 Donation, lots of good Booze, Old Fashions, Espresso…read moreMartini, Margaritas, Wines, Beers & Tequilas. Great food samples from the Peninsula areas. Live Band was fun, friendly service & great weather.

1 of only 3 Public Frank Lloyd Wright sites in CA and they only allow visitors twice a year so…read morecount yourself an architecture nerd and a lucky-one if you do get a spot on the tour. Older review from before Covid, you can email hannahouse@stanford.edu for next tour dates. You can take as many pictures as you want outside but no pictures of the interior so I added some I found online. This is what makes this design unique compared to other FLW works: -Hexagons/honeycomb, back in 1936 imagine the precision that had to be done by hand to make the huge structure a honeycomb as well as small details like the stone tiles. One cut slightly wrong would have snowballed into huge misalignments. -First FLW work in non-rectangular structures -First FLW work in the Bay Area It's not as epic and grand as Fallingwater or as contemplative as Taliesin West and it is smaller than some of the US public FLW sites but it's only 1 of 3 in Cali you can see the interior of and you get a more complete picture if you can see inside/out and hear the docents anecdotes about the design and house.

Hanna House is one of the few northern California buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Located…read morein a residential neighborhood within the boundaries of the sprawling Stanford University campus, the home is currently occupied by a private party and is not open to the public. However, it once served as the official residence for the Provost where the university regularly held alumni and fundraising events and one might reasonably assume the home may someday return to it's previous semi-public stature. Although visitors are discouraged from trespassing on the property, the house has been magnificently maintained and is visible from the street below. A relatively new arrangement with the Stanford Historical Society will enable the public to tour the house twice each year. Interested parties should contact hannahouse@stanford.edu to receive information about future tour dates and booking arrangements.