I got a text from this winery re. some promotions that they were having and decided to take them up…read moreon the complimentary tasting. I have been to this winery before but it's been a while. The process of booking a time was flawless - response was immediate and the booking was made over text with a email reminder. I booked for a Sunday at 3:30pm, the tastings are 90 minutes and they close at 5pm. The drive is something else, it's beautiful but it is a long, slow drive up winding roads and I lost internet connection a couple of times on the drive but well worth it - the winery is on 360 acres, most of it undeveloped but you drive into the working portions. There is plenty of parking but some of it is far and the closest parking gets filled up quickly, especially on a beautiful day. I was told that it gets busy around 2pm so come before then to beat the crowd. I parked and checked in, you have to go inside to the tasting room to check in and pay. There is some seating outside and inside and also along the picturesque windows looking out into the vineyard. There is a private seating area, separate from the tasting room that is free to members or if you spend $500. The tastings themselves are $45 and they have 2 different flights. That is a bit expensive but not overly so. I picked the Pinot Noir and Chardonnary flight and they also have a darker red flight. You get 5 pours with each tasting. There were all women who were serving and they were GREAT - welcoming, friendly and helpful. I asked if they had any 2017 chardonnay left and the lady helping me made sure she checked and got me the answers to all my questions. The wines themselves are pretty pricey, the chardonnay's were $85. The Pinots are poured before the whites and when I asked about it, I was told that their chardonnays are acidic and pouring a red after makes the reds taste flat. All in all - a great visit. I would definitely recommend this winery and I will be going back!!

Thomas Fogarty has always been a gem in the Santa Cruz mountains. The tasting room staff is always…read morefriendly and the wine is spectacular. The view of the bay is to die for. The drive can be a bit trickery, but me being a local boy is not a hassle at all. Worth coming back for a splash or a library tasting. The Lexington label is my favorite at this time, but I am a sucker for good Pinot noir.

Mountain Terrace was truly a blessing for our wedding. We were searching for a ceremony location…read morejust two months before our date, and they reached out to us at exactly the right time. From the very beginning, their team was incredibly professional, caring, and reassuring .I felt completely taken care of and never had to worry about a thing. On the day of our wedding, the weather was misty and rainy, but the staff handled everything flawlessly. They were able to quickly set up the ceremony on the deck at the last minute, and it turned out beautifully. Their flexibility and calm coordination made such a difference and allowed us to fully enjoy the moment. Our guests were so pleased with the venue and couldn't stop commenting on how magical and serene the space felt, especially surrounded by the redwoods. We are so grateful to Mountain Terrace for helping create such a memorable and heartfelt wedding day. I would highly recommend this venue to any couple looking for a professional team, stunning setting, and a truly supportive experience.

After driving up a long and winding road up to the top of Skyline in Woodside you arrive at a…read morebeautiful event venue called Mountain Terrace. We attended a wedding of about 120 people. There is a huge grassy area where the ceremony was held but it would accommodate several hundred if the parking doesn't run out. The opening in the Redwoods overlooks the South Bay. A large tent was set up on the Terrace where the banquet was held. The event staff was fast and efficient in moving all the chairs from the ceremony to the banquet tables. Not sure if the food was catered or was made from the event kitchen. There is also a separate house across the lane that can be rented and utilized for the wedding party. The food with at was served consisted of Appetizers Crab cakes Mushrooms Vietnamese spring rolls Ceviche Spring mix with a warm egg Salmon with broccoli and potatoes Tri Tip with broccoli and potatoes Dessert S'mores Cannolis There is limited parking so the wedding provided shuttle buses from the bottom of the mountain.

A hidden gem that I've passed by for years without truly noticing it until I stumbled upon it on a…read moresatellite map long ago. It's fascinating how such a serene, monument-like structure exists right here. While it has become quite popular on social media lately for its "Instagrammable" aesthetics, it's much more than just a photo spot. As a hiker, I find this place incredibly grounding. It's part of the Hetch Hetchy water system that serves the Bay Area, and there is something truly profound about seeing the culmination of such a massive water project captured in this classical, temple-like architecture. Whether you're here for the photography or just for a quiet, contemplative walk, it's a beautiful spot that demands respect. A unique intersection of infrastructure history and architectural beauty. Highly recommended.

This historical landmark is beautiful. It's hidden and almost looks like it's in a middle of a…read moreforest. The parking lot is open Monday-Friday for only 30 mins. You can easily make a quick stop here or have a quick picnic in the grass area. It's gorgeous on a clear day. It's so peaceful.

My husband brought us here. We loved our time. So great that…read morethey sold cold water !!! We enjoyed the train ride so nice and we were the only ones since we came in a week day! I'm looking forward to coming back and bringing more family. Great photos and the ride is definitely worth the price.

Came here on a Saturday morning around 11am. Tickets for train and carousel is $5 per person and…read morefree for kids 2 and under. The train ride is less than 10 minutes with no cover so we brought our hats. It's a quick ride and you pass by the parking lot and a park. My girls enjoyed it. After we played by the nearby park. There is a bathroom close to the train ticket booth and lots of tables to enjoy a snack or even lunch. They were just starting the grill to cook the food for lunch but our girls were hungry so we left to get food elsewhere.

Fantastic venue for couples seeking authentic rural setting with beautiful views while not…read moresacrificing creature comforts for guests. Hope I can work a wedding here again in the future. John Marburger

I am a wedding planner and my team just did an amazing wedding at Pearson Ranch this past weekend!…read moreKaren and Chris and kind, patient, and extremely organized and made the entire wedding planning process a treat! This is a wonderful venue for those looking for a country wedding in northern California. I look forward to working here again!

This is beautiful little spot on Stanford Campus. A true gem of cacti of all kinds. I've been here…read moreabout 3-4xs times now, and it's always lovely to just walk around. It's definitely a beautiful greenery backdrop for photos as I did a photoshoot for a client here a few months ago. We took a bunch of photos here, and then we walked over to the Quad for an outfit change and a change of scenery. We saw *the* Robert Downey Jr. at the Quad that day! That was awesome! :D I usually come here on a Saturday or Sunday and just park at the medical clinic, which is basically right next to this spot.

This review is long overdue from 2020; I for visited this spot in 2016 or so and loved it so I…read morebrought my husband here during the Covid shut down in 2020 and we took a nice walk, it was awesome to check it out, explore the vacations cacti and spend some time in nature. Parking can be difficult. Overall a great and well kept garden e

I've only recently found out about this place. It was mentioned in the SJ Mercury Newspaper as a…read moreplace where artists can stay & do whatever they want there. Some even create artwork for Djerassi and then they invite the public to view the art. My friend A. made reservations. They only have 120 spots for the summer/fall series where they only take phone reservations for their popular FREE 2-mile hike (from 10:30-1p). Our date was Sun 7/20/08 and they said to be at 2325 Bear Gulch Rd West at 9:45am. We waited & waited some more, they finally met us as 10:10am. They then check to see if you have reservations & make sure everyone shows up in your party. Then you have to fill out a release form I think. I just signed it without reading it. Then you get in your car & follow them up the road. It's a long narrow road enough for 1 car only. Finally get to the Artists' Barn where there are 3 bathrooms for everyone to use. Chris, one of the guides, made sure everyone at the barn had clothes on. That's weird to me. The hike is really slow with lots of stopping to see the different artwork. Some moderate stretches of uphill, but mostly flat. I liked City of Salt by Nicholas Kahn, 2001-2002 David Nash-charred sphere, pyramid, cube in redwood stumps, 1989 John Roloff-Vanishing Ship, 1989 Roland Mayer-Dialog, 2004 Supposedly there are 35 sculptures/art pieces. We didn't see them all. One pit-toilet at nearly the end of the hike. Annual Open House, this yr: Sunday, Aug 3, 2008 from 1-4p. It's $25pp by reservation only. Have some self-guided sculpture tours & some food by their Program Chef. It was just ok for me. Maybe worth it to go once.

From the website:…read more "The mission of the Djerassi Resident Artists Program is to support and enhance the creativity of artists by providing uninterrupted time for work, reflection, and collegial interaction in a setting of great natural beauty, and to preserve the land on which the Program is situated. Each year dozens of artists from across the United States, and many from around the world, travel to the open hillsides and deep redwood forests of SMIP Ranch to take inspiration from the beautiful surroundings and seek refuge from the distractions of the outside world. While in residence, the artists work in peaceful isolation within a supportive community of fellow artists and Program staff, and thrive on the intellectual stimulation and collegial interaction that comes from living in this close-knit community." It is truly an amazing property and only open to the public at select times. We went on a Director's sculpture tour which takes about 4.5 hours and shows you only a small portion of the 580 acre property. Led by the director of the program, it's $40 a head but is really worth it. It's also a fairly strenuous hike with a nice picnic stop in the middle, pack a good lunch and water. And wear hiking boots: the terrain is wet, grassy, uneven and sometimes muddy. There is a portajohn at the picnic stop but otherwise it's all nature. Over 40 sculptures by the resident artists have been installed in the landscape and it is fascinating to discover them in this gorgeous natural setting. Other less comprehensive tours are available which are free, led by program staff, and are only 2.5 hours long but I am really glad we did this one. They also have an open house in July when the artists' studios are open to the public and a fundraiser in the fall. So go to http://www.djerassi.org/ and reserve a tour if they have any spots left. It is an amazing resource in the Bay Area that I think few people take the time to explore. Now that we are on the mailing list we will definitely be going back.

Saw this place one day out of the corner of my eye while lost on Kings Mountain Road when I saw the…read moresign... returned another day only to find it closed. Went today (open Saturday Noon till 4pm). Interesting place, a flashback to simpler but rougher times in the "old West". A little slow if you go on a day without the pre-mentioned & reviewed activities and/or events, but still nice to see how it was to live through memorabilia of that long-gone era. At one point I commented out loud that an item hanging from the ceiling looked to be a bedpan, and the attendant sitting bored behind the counter corrected me saying it was a popcorn popper, and the bedpan was 3-1/2 feet to the left, over the door. Interesting but boring unless you use your imagination. PHOTOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING: Lots of bygone era items to photograph but very dark. If you're into history this is nice to visit, but bring an external flash so you don't kill your camera battery using your built-in flash extensively. The exterior of these old structures is very photographically excellent... hint, hint. http://www.historysmc.org/woodside.html NO parking anywhere except for the unpaved dirt parking lot - if the parking lot is closed, then the "store" is also. Hours Tuesday/Thursday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday/Sunday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Admission Free (donations accepted within)

So during our little trip to Woodside, we decided to continue driving and drove past this huge old…read morewooden building, this place looked all old and such. Anyways, we decided to see what this place was and it turned out to be a museum of some sort. Simply put, back in the day this was the only rest stop between SF and SJ and most of the time people would stop here and take a break or so and then continue on their journey. Its a General Store/Post office/Dentists office/Shingle Making place. The owner of this place? Dr. Tripp. Him and this other guy who i forget the name of came from the East Coast and decided to go into the shingle business. And since they were surrounded by all these redwoods it was a pretty good idea. Anyways they opend up this general store for people passing by and etc. Dr. Tripp was also a dentist so he would also do dental check-ups for people too. Overall this place isnt very big, its got a lot of old stuff to look it. You can see some old food cans and wine bottles. Some real old piggy banks that do pretty neat coin tricks. Old shoes and stoves and a toaster which looks like a cheese grater. In the other rooms they have a bunch of huge saws and other gizmos and gadgets. There is also the old dentist chair and notary area/post office in the smaller room. So if your in the area take a quick look, our tour guide was Bill, or Bob dang I forgot but yea he or someone else will give you a tour and explain the story behind the place. And there is no fee and if you feel like donating money there is a barrel with the tag donation labeled on it. Also on every first sunday of May they have this little get together where they take you on a wagon ride and have little activites like making rope and ice cream etc, a pie eating contest, shingle making etc.. So bring some kids along, it might be a lot of fun. I mean seriously, when was the last time you actually went on a wagon ride?