Alex Looking Out at the Coast Guard Pier
Some of my happiest memories we have shared as a family have been spent outdoors. Every year we make the 14 hour drive from our home in Peoria, Arizona to Carmel to visit my parents who have been living there since 1989. The central coast of California provides many opportunities to appreciate and photograph the beauty of the natural world. I will be writing a series of blogs about exploring the Monterey Peninsula beginning with the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey.
Father and son at the Coast Guard Pier Monterey, CA July 2015
A walk along the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey offers wonderful views of wildlife, the shoreline, and the harbor. I love to watch the sea lions that gather on the rocks surrounding the pier. Whether they are animated and calling out to one-off my another or sitting in quiet repose, there are plenty of camera worthy moments.
Sea Lion in Monterey
Two of the poems included in our book, The Restorative Power of Spirit: Poems of Faith and Hope, were inspired by photographs taken of sea lions resting by the pier. Photography and writing both allow me to truly appreciate and celebrate the beauty and artistry of all living beings.
Nature’s Blessing
Your Moment
In addition to sea lions, on any given day you may discover sea otters enjoying a meal, a starfish resting just below the water’s surface and/or crabs inching along the rocks.
Sea otter in Monterey
Marine life photo collage
View of Cannery Row from Coast Guard Pier
To find out more about visiting the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey click on the following link: http://monterey.org/Services/Harbor-and-Marina/Coast-Guard-Pier.
To see more images from Monterey and the central coast, I invite you to visit our portfolio at Bigstock:
https://www.bigstockphoto.com/search/contributor=SILVERBROOK+IMAGES&safesearch=n
Be sure to check back in next time when I will be visiting Pacific Grove!
Also, coming soon-the launch of our new online shop on Shopify.com- SILVERBROOK IMAGES: experiencing life one picture at a time.
Wishing you a wonderful day and safe travels!
Sheryl Brooks
Temecula City Hall and Villa di Calabro Winery
To celebrate 20 years of marriage, my husband and I ventured out of Arizona to enjoy an extended weekend in Temecula, California- a picturesque city in Southern California approximately 60 miles north of San Diego. The Temecula Valley is home to a growing wine region that boasts over 30 wineries. Ever since our honeymoon in Napa Valley, we have enjoyed exploring the different wine regions in California and Arizona. The stunning views and the beautiful grounds of the different wineries and their vineyards make for a memorable and romantic experience.
The Temecula Valley is only a five hour drive from our home in Peoria, Arizona. We spent our first day exploring Old Town Temecula, an eclectic mix of restaurants, gift shops, and tasting rooms. At Villa di Calabro Winery we toasted our anniversary with red wine and sampled a delicious variety of herb infused olive oils paired with different flavored balsamic vinegars. After dinner, we enjoyed a leisurely stoll around Lake Harveston, just a short drive from Old Town.
Our next two days were spent exploring the different wineries. The experience of driving past rolling hills lined with grapevines invariably takes us back to our honeymoon. The beautiful setting and relaxed, friendly atmosphere of the different tasting rooms we visited made this anniversary celebration one we will never forget. Here are a few images from some of the wineries that we visited-
Falkner Winery and Pinnacle Restaurant
Maurice Car’ rie Winery
Longshadow Ranch Winery
1969 was a good year- Birth year for both Mount Palomar Winery and Joe!
Cougar Winery
Danza del Sol
For more information about the Temecula Wine Valley, including the different wineries and discount promotions available, visit http://www.temeculawines.org I highly recommend checking out the Sip Passport if you will be visiting during the week.
No matter where you travel to- whether you are close to home or far away- may your journey be safe and your memories joyful!
Happy Travels!
Sheryl Brooks
My husband and son at the trail’s entrance
Water partially fills the well
There is something wonderful about exploring your own backyard. We took a Sunday drive from our home in Peoria, Arizona to visit the Verde Valley. In less than two hours, we had escaped the Valley heat and travelled to an elevation of 3560 feet to visit Montezuma’s Well, a detached unit of Montezuma’s Castle National Monument. Montezuma’s Well is a collapsed travertine dome that partially fills with water rising deep from the ground and exits through a swallet or channel in the travertine. An estimated 1.6 million gallons of water flows daily through four vents at the bottom of the well, eventually emptying out into an irrigation ditch on the other side. The National Park Service reports that some parts of the ditch are believed to be 1000 years old. To visit Montezuma’s Well is to walk in the footsteps of history. The legacy of the Sinaguan Indians can be seen in the cliff dwellings that are carved into the limestone walls of the well. The land is still considered sacred and you can feel the energy of the people who once called this area home. It is a beautiful hike and definitely worth the trip. For more information about Montezuma’s Well, visit the website of the National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/moca/planyourvisit/exploring-montezuma-well.htm
Looking out over Montezuma’s Well
Ruins of cliff dwellings in the limestone rock
There is a lot to be said for exploring your own backyard. A day trip can offer a simple, but enjoyable retreat from your everyday routine. No matter where your travels may take you in the days and weeks ahead, I pray that you are safe and that the memories you create are filled with joy
Happy Travels!
Sheryl Brooks