One of the most interesting hikes I've been on in the South Bay!…read more We took a random hike on a Sunday afternoon, and it actually wasn't too crowded in the lot or on the trail. There's a number of different types of trails you can go on. It fascinated me how it alternated between a regular trail, to smoother hills, to a bit of a rocky climb. I would definitely recommend stopping by, especially for the gorgeous views!

Have long eyed the Castle Rock State Park and glad we finally went! The park charges a nominal…read moreparking fee ($10 at time of writing); the parking fee is waived if you have one of the supported passes. Check their site for more info: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=538# We really enjoyed our hike here. The space is beautiful, and the trails are well-maintained. The trailhead had plenty restrooms as well. We made it up to Goat Rock Lookout, back down, then detour to the waterfall. It took ~1.5 hours in total, which was perfect for a end-of-day hike before the park closes at sunset. The view up at Goat Rock Lookout was breathtaking!

This is a nice little 6-acre open space area in a residential neighborhood. I like it because you…read moredon't have to go far into the hills to see the redwoods, it's close to town. A short boardwalk trail goes around the trees. The preserve has a trail to Shoup Park, it's about a mile there and back with the preserve loop trail. I think this place would be much better in the wintertime when the streams are full of water. In the summer it was dry and hot even in the shade. This would be a good place for a birder; I heard many birds throughout and saw a few woodpeckers.

If I need a place to get away and pray and meditate or just quiet my mind, take a walk or be in…read moreamazement at nature, this is one of my escapes. Let nature speak to your soul.

I've done over half a dozen hikes here, including the treacherous black mountain trail, and I think…read morethis is one of the best hiking areas near Cupertino! Rancho San Antonio offers hikes for just about every level, and all of the trails are well maintained. Some of the higher elevation trails like the PG&E trail offer great views of Silicon Valley. Wildlife like turkeys can be seen along the trails.

Rancho is a family favorite spot for so many reasons. Parking can be a little tricky, especially on…read moreweekends, but it's worth a stop! Love the farm animals, and being in nature! Bring a lunch and spend the day outside!

Loved the trail, but FYI there are a ton of ticks. We're lucky our dog is on Simparica Trio, but we…read morestill found one biting and stuck on her belly. Make sure to check your pups carefully after!

First time hiking this trail. Heard about it via friend. The entrance we used was tucked in behind…read morea residential area. Once we walked through the gates you see the steep slopes you are about to engage, there is no gradual beginning. Put your big kid undies on and get er done. Once you get up the initial incline, the trail is pretty consistent. There are a few more hurdles, nothing too difficult. However, it was quite muddy due to the recent rain. That added a minor level of difficulty with attempting not to fall. Beautiful views of snow capped Mount Hamilton... there are different trails to choose from. Nonetheless all views are breath taking. I will definitely go back.

I biked the Sunnyvale Bay Trail for the first time recently and had a really good time! The trail…read moreis paved, mostly flat, and easy to ride, which was perfect for me as it had been a while since I last biked. There were some really pretty views of the bay along the way, and it felt peaceful even though there were other people out walking and biking. It's a big trail so you can go for however long you want - we started around north Sunnyvale, rode to Shoreline Park in Mountain View, and then turned around which took us around 4-5 hours with breaks. Had signal throughout the trail and I would recommend using AllTrails as we did accidentally take a few detours. Will be back either for another bike ride or walk!

This was a great spot to go for a run this past weekend. I found street parking on West Caribbean…read moreDrive at Borregas Ave. It was quiet on the trail with very few people around on a Sunday afternoon. At times it felt like just me and the birds, which included seagulls flying low and foot paddling in the water, egrets, and ducks galore, even little ducklings swimming in the ponds on this beautiful day. Near the sewage treatment, the water was really green, and there was a bit of a stench in the air. But the views were just lovely. Plus, there weren't a lot of pesky flying insects bothering me during my recent visit in late May, which made for a more pleasant experience. The terrain was mainly gravel and the trail mostly flat, which is what I prefer. There were also more forks along the way than expected, it's good I had time to explore. The paths connect to other trails in Mountain View, so it's ideal for those looking to do a longer distance. Me, I kept it under three miles, as I didn't wanna get stuck out there after dark. Everything worked out.

For the first time ever we biked the Baylands trail. It's so lovely. Our friend's husband knew…read moreexactly where to go, thank goodness. There are a lot of different ways to get around. I enjoyed the views of the water, the birds and how it wasn't too busy. We ended up biking to a golf course to have lunch. The park was busy when we got back from our ride. There are well kept bathrooms. People were looking for parking, so I'm going to say not enough spaces unless you go further. Overall, I look forward to going back.

Bayland Park Trail -- A Perfect Random Family Adventure…read more Sometimes the best family outings are the ones you don't really plan. We took the family out for a random weekend adventure after doing a scavenger hunt at the D&D Garden, and decided to check out Bayland Park Trail. Honestly, it ended up being such a nice little stop! The trail gave us a chance to slow down, enjoy the scenery, and just spend some quality time together. The kids especially enjoyed seeing the boat planes coming through, and we spotted quite a bit of wildlife along the way, which made the experience even better. It's not necessarily about doing something huge or spending a ton of money. Sometimes just getting the family outside, exploring somewhere new, and making those random memories is what makes a weekend great. Definitely a nice family-friendly spot if you're looking for something relaxing, outdoorsy, and a little different. We had a great time just being together and enjoying the unexpected sights along the trail.

Honestly? Alviso Marina County Park isn't really bad after all. The first time I went was a few…read moreyears ago when I visited after a rainy day and that the trails are very muddy. Rarely any people came here. However from this visit, I came in the right time. It was sunny during the day and many people came here for a reason. Keep in mind that it's not a regional park but rather a wetland. When you look at the water, it's colored slightly red from its edges. Also, the trails are light since there is no elevation here. It's really good for jogging and biking. I've seen people do that here. The trails are very long which is why I selected a stop so I can turn back to where I started. Ideally, you want to come here in earlier in the morning so that you can hike longer and end sometime in the early afternoon. It was hot outside and I prefer not to hike longer. Basically, I powered walk from halfway. It's not necessary to bring hiking shoes due to light trails but you should use them if it's muddy. Perhaps, I should come here way earlier so that I can maybe hike longer.

A great place to go for a walk. There's free parking in a lot. The trail is wide, flat and…read moresurrounds a large salt pond. There's no shade so come prepared with a hat and sunscreen if you come on a hot day.

"Beautiful Mountain" Yes, indeed!…read more PSA: No dogs allowed - I had to leave mine at home. It's ok, you can enjoy this one alone! Take the drive! Yes, the road is windy and please slow for cyclists on your way up. Come along, sing a song. Dancing feet, magical retreat. Bring a friend or brave alone, it'll be worthwhile - 2, 4, or 7 miles! Our small group hiked the 7 mile loop, and had many photos stops along the way. Our leisure hike took approximately 4.5 hours. We spotted a tarantula early on the trail, other hiking groups, a backpacking group, bikers in groups and a few solo peeps. Shaded Hike & Open Space Sunny Hike: If you're wanting a shaded hike, start on the White Oak Trail located to the right of the Monte Bello parking. If you begin your hike on Bella Vista Trail, it's more of an open space with direct sunlight. Start early and enjoy! =)

Monte Bello is a hidden treasure for the Mid-Peninsula area…read more Funny thing, though. For being hidden, it's sure well known. To get there, you drive seven miles up a narrow, windy road. You're wondering if there's anything here besides big houses on tree-filled hills. Make a sharp left at Foothills Park - oops, never mind, you don't live in PA, you can't drive in here. More driving, more driving . . . and you finally get there, only to find a spacious parking lot crammed with cars. Here's why I gave it five stars: At first, it looks like typical landscape on this part of the Peninsula. But then I went down the narrow Stevens Creek Nature Trail. And ended up in a deep, dark forest with a babbling brook, pretty wildflowers, romantic bridges, and interpretive signs to explain what you're gazing at. If you felt like you got away from it all by driving up Page Mill Road, now you *really* feel like you're away from it all. Monte Bello also has a few peaks to climb up, and a backpacking camp. I'm itching to come back to try these out. I was not here long enough to really appreciate Monte Bello, but I saw enough to appreciate it a LOT. I had written about Russian Ridge that it's part of a conglomerate of Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserves that gives you a few days of outback hiking. Monte Bello is part of that conglomerate, which combines with Los Trancos (and Foothills Park, but don't tell anyone, shhhh) to give you even more wandering. And bring a lunch, because you'll be so mesmerized that you may forget to leave and get food.