The theme of this field trip is a variety of photography opportunities, socializing and beating the summer heat. See the Schedule Grid below to get a quick overview of where and when we will be a various locations on the coast. Don't expect to stop at all of the spots mentioned, look at this as giving you options to fit your interest. NOTE: HWY 84 is still closed. The major highways to take in and out are Hwy 17 into Santa Cruz or Hwy 92 at Half Moon Bay
Try to Carpool
Given the drive times of about 2 1/2 to 3 hours total (going from place and place to and from Palo Alto), many will find carpooling enhances the field trip greatly with better socialization. I'll add some info later to this page to make joining a carpool group easier.
Wilder Ranch State Park for a 2 hour photography hike with a start time of 9am. You'll likely need to leave Palo Alto before 8am to get there by 9am. There is the original ranch house and related buildings and wonderful coastal trails along the top of coastal cliffs.
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden. This spot stop starts at 10am, so this is the choice if leaving Palo Alto before 8am is too early for you, This is one of the best botanical gardens in the Bay Area, so if you have not been here before and enjoy botanical gardens, consider going here to be introduced to this garden. If you went of the Field Trip here in March, you may want to visit here to see the remarkable banksias and grevilleas
As you drive north from Davenport you will see the lighthouse on the coast.
There are several beaches along the way to Pescadero Beach - these include Bean Hollow (which has two parking lots about 2 miles apart. The Northern parking lot and section of beach is generally thought to be more interesting and is less typical of the coastal beaches.