If you would like to get out into a peaceful environment, but not too far away from civilization, go visit the UCSC campus during the spring months. I'll list a few highlights: the arboretum has a beautiful collection of plants. Wild flowers growing around the fields of the campus are beautiful too in the spring. There are female deer, bucks, and babies wondering around that may cross your path at any time. You will likely see hawks, kites (the bird kind), and man-operated gliders. There are several biomes: the dry area of the arboretum, the redwood forest, and the grassy fields. The hills will give you a good work out too. If you have young children, bring the stroller and get a better workout! The multipurpose trails weave around the campus, through trees, over bridges, past libraries, and high enough to get a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.
If you park at the Barn Theater on the weekend, the parking is FREE. To do a 3-mile round trip loop it will take about 1-1/2 hours with three children and a stroller. Here is a good
walking map.
For the first time in the 40 years that I have lived around this area, we saw a Golden Eagle! It was a juvenile that had caught a rodent and was peacefully eating it in the field. Immediately, I thought of God's word in Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
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| Lime Kilns near the start of the hike. |
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| A beautiful flower from the arboretum. |
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| UCSC is a beautiful campus. |
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| Old farm equipment nestled in a meadow of wild flowers. |
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| Orchard with yellow mustard flowers. |
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| Here is a cell phone photo taken of the juvenille Golden Eagle. |
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