Hilltromper Silicon Valley

01/29/2025

🎉 Saturday, February 1: Santa Cruz Mountain State Parks Volunteer Recruitment Fair!!!

🌲 A “job fair” style open house highlighting the long-term volunteer programs and possibilities is happening in Henry Cowell Redwoods, Big Basin, Portola, and Castle Rock State Parks.

🥾 Get fair details here: https://hilltromper.com/events/santa-cruz-mountain-state-parks-volunteer-recruitment-fair

Santa Cruz Mountains State Parks, Mountain Parks Foundation, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, Portola and Castle Rock Foundation

Who - You! And anyone interested in becoming a CA State Parks volunteer. Staff and current State Parks volunteers will be present to answer questions. What - A “job fair” style open house highlighting the long-term volunteer programs and possibilities in Henry Cowell Redwoods, Big Basin, Portola...

01/29/2025

🍇 Santa Cruz Mountains AVA! California’s Lesser Known Wine Region

🍷 Did yid you know that there are wineries producing world-class wine in the Santa Cruz Mountains? You can find elegant pinot noir, bright chardonnay, refined cabernet sauvignon, and many more grape varieties, all produced by small, family owned wineries in the mountains. Also, learn about:
• Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains Passport Celebration Day, Feb. 22
• Day Trips and Sips articles (hit the trails!)

🤔 Learn more: https://siliconvalley.hilltromper.com/article/santa-cruz-mountains-ava-california%E2%80%99s-lesser-known-wine-region

When we think of wineries near the Bay Area, Napa and Sonoma tend to dominate the conversation. But did you know that there are wineries producing world-class wine in the Santa Cruz Mountains?

01/23/2025

🗺️ Seeking a Family Adventure? Geocaching in the Santa Cruz Mountains

🤫 Imagine a world where every twist in the trail or bend in the brook could hold a secret. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, this isn't the stuff of fairytales—it's the exhilarating game of geocaching. Welcome to a captivating game of high-tech outdoor hide-and-seek!

🔦 Learn how to do it: https://siliconvalley.hilltromper.com/article/seeking-family-adventure-geocaching-santa-cruz-mountains

A comprehensive guide for families to explore, bond, and discover treasures hidden in Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties.

01/22/2025

🌱 Saturday, January 25: Mountain View Neighborhood Planting #2

🙏 Join Canopy to help grow and connect Mountain View's urban forest by planting street trees!

💚 Dig in to a greener tomorrow: https://siliconvalley.hilltromper.com/events/mountain-view-neighborhood-planting-2

Help grow and connect Mountain View's urban forest by planting street trees! Canopy needs your help, as a volunteer, advisor, committee member, educator, or supporter. Whether in neighborhoods planting trees, in the classroom inspiring the next generation, lending your voice and expertise on one of....

01/17/2025

Check this out in Santa Cruz on the 25th!

🎉 Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for the annual Laura Hecox Day open house on Saturday, Jan. 25th!

🦋 Hecox was a pioneering lighthouse keeper, naturalist, and the Museum's founder (her story and legacy is amazing!). Come learn about all the Museum’s rich cultural and natural history, connect with community partners, engage in arts, crafts, and games for kids, & get your hands dirty helping with the Pilkington Creek Restoration project.

😎 Free admission all day! Learn more: https://hilltromper.com/events/laura-hecox-day-0

01/16/2025

🏞️ Introducing Cloverdale Ranch Preserve!

🐄 Located along the San Mateo County coast, and recently purchased by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District from Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), it's one of the Bay Area’s newest and largest preserves. You've probably driven by it on Highway 1 without knowing it, since Pigeon Point Light Station is quite the distraction.

🥾 Learn more: https://siliconvalley.hilltromper.com/article/cloverdale-ranch-preserve

A huge piece of coastal wonder

01/15/2025

🚵 Saturday, January 18: Ride the Redwoods

💪 Join Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Docent Naturalists for an exhilarating and aerobic mountain bike ride through towering redwoods and a rugged landscape. This adventure is designed for experienced mountain bikers looking to explore the region's dynamic trails while learning about the history and ecology of the area, including the legacy of logging.

👓 Saddle up! https://siliconvalley.hilltromper.com/events/ride-redwoods

Join Midpen Docent Naturalists An Scharlaken, Steve Crawford, Roger Wigenstam, and Jianfei Hu for an exhilarating and aerobic mountain bike ride through towering redwoods and a rugged landscape. This adventure is designed for experienced mountain bikers looking to explore the region's dynamic trails...

01/15/2025

Great opportunity at Natural Bridges to learn about and share the magic of tidepools with others!

01/09/2025

🦈 The new year is a fitting time to visit Año Nuevo State Park!

🌊 Charming and picturesque (almost) beyond belief, Año Nuevo State Park enjoys an embarrassment of cultural and natural riches. Don’t miss a chance to be fascinated with its marine and human history.

✨ Explore this unique place and elephant seals! https://siliconvalley.hilltromper.com/article/a%C3%B1o-nuevo-state-park

Coastside State Parks Association, Santa Cruz State Beaches, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

World-class wildlife viewing.

01/08/2025

🏞️ Sunday, January 12: Exploring San Pedro Valley County Park

🍃 Join Greenbelt Alliance for a nature hike in the Santa Cruz mountains. This adventure takes us through grassland, coastal scrub, and riparian plant communities. We'll also enjoy a view of Brooks Falls as we walk—the only waterfall in San Mateo County Parks, but it's a doozy—the water plunges175 feet in three tiers!

🥾 Get your hiking boots ready: https://siliconvalley.hilltromper.com/events/exploring-san-pedro-valley-county-park

Join Greenbelt Alliance for a nature hike in the Santa Cruz mountains. This adventure takes us through grassland, coastal scrub, and riparian plant communities. We'll also enjoy a view of Brooks Falls as we walk—the only waterfall in a San Mateo County Park, but it's a doozy—the water plunges175...

01/05/2025

Nudibranchs come in many shapes and colors, and often have fun names as well! Sea lemons are one of the more common species seen at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Their preferred diet is sponges, and they often take on the color of the sponge they eat. At the front end of the sea lemon are a pair of sensory rhinophores and at the rear end are feathery gills.

01/05/2025

Calling kids of all ages! Join Museum friend Chloe Rickards in the Kids Room on 1/11 & 1/12 at the 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair! 🎨 Design a wearable mushroom cap, create fungi-tastic fine line art, or craft adorable mini toadstools 🍄
Learn more: https://loom.ly/PYVWHSw

01/05/2025

📣 Big news from Big Basin!

An additional 7.5 miles of trails are now open, reconnecting Big Basin Redwoods State Park to Castle Rock State Park and the regional trail network. This includes segments of Skyline to the Sea Trail from the park’s Main Day-use Area to China Grade Road and beyond to Castle Rock. Also, along Opal Creek the Hihn Hammond connector trail can now be accessed via a newly restored bridge on Redwood Loop Trail.

01/05/2025

01/05/2025

Explore Aptos with this Hilltromper guide! Hike through the Forest of Nisene Marks, savor local flavors at Cat & Cloud Coffee, and unwind with brews at Parish Publick House. 🌊 Think local, eat local.

https://hilltromper.com/article/day-trips-and-sips-hiking-aptos-redwoods-restaurants

01/05/2025

Show your love for Elephant Seals at Seal Adventures at Año Nuevo State Park, February 1 and 2! https://www.coastsidestateparks.org/events-0

01/02/2025

🎉 Happy New Year from the Immortal Ginkgo!

💌 An inspirational creature card with a message of ‘fortitude, endurance, and badassness.’ In addition to their striking appearance, ginkgos have an astonishing history. They’re often called “living fossils“ because they’ve been around for 200 million years. They coexisted with dinosaurs and survived their extinction.

🍃 Get inspired for 2025 with this article and artwork by Bridget Lyons! https://siliconvalley.hilltromper.com/article/happy-new-year-immortal-ginkgo

An inspirational creature card with a message of ‘fortitude, endurance, and badassness.’