Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 43) nty’s great outdoors Adventure, a guided narrated bike outing. Cyclists can choose to pedal up the mountain and back, or ride the steam train up and then coast the downhill trail past auburn redwood trees. South county’s rural paths lure road bikers through scenic coastal routes. Hikers can explore the hundreds of miles of hiking trails along coastal terraces, mountain meadows and majestic redwood groves. One popular path is the Skyline to the Sea Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The 30-mile trail threads its way along a lush, riparian corridor from the mountains to Waddell Beach. Birders will enjoy the pathways of the Wetlands of Watsonville and Elkhorn Slough to the south, some of the few undisturbed coastal wetlands remaining in California. Located along the globally significant Pacific Flyway, the wetlands are one of the largest remaining freshwater marshes on California’s Central Coast. Serving as a year-around habitat for over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds, the Wetlands of Watsonville provides a resting stop for birds on their migratory journeys. A variety of birds can also be spotted in the county’s many state parks. A different kind of green space can be found at Santa Cruz County’s golf courses. Designed by beloved Scotsman, Alister MacKenzie, the Pasatiempo Golf Course is ranked among the nation’s top 100 courses by Golf Digest. The PGA-rated Seascape Golf Course in Aptos has attracted its own share of champions. And in the San Lorenzo Valley, the Boulder Creek Golf and Country Club is the place to give your set of irons a workout amidst a forested piece of paradise. More public courses include DeLaveaga Golf Course in Santa Cruz, a championship par72 course known for its natural beauty and challenging layout. Spring Hills Golf Club in Watsonville offers enjoyment for all levels of golfers, while Scotts Valley’s Valley Gardens is an executive 9-hole course. Fishermen drawn to the sea can rent a skiff or take a chartered excursion from the Santa Cruz Harbor or the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. For fishing, boating and hiking from March to September, the Loch Lomond Recreation Area provides countless ways to spend a perfect afternoon. One of Santa Cruz’s most soothing sporting events, the “Wednesday Night Sailboat Races” happens April through October at Harbor Beach near the Crow’s Nest restaurant. Relax with a glass of wine at one of the harbor’s eateries and watch the colorful regatta. Or catch a ride from the Harbor and be part of the action. With these and many more sporting options awaiting you, make a game plan to take in Santa Cruz County’s great outdoors. 43 Photo: frank Balthis www. s a n t a cr u z co u n ty. t r a v e l http://www.santacruzcounty.travel
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